A beautiful Sunday afternoon for baseball!
Mitch Haniger has 2 home runs and 3 RBI in Seattle’s 7-2 victory over the Yankees. James Paxson fresh off the injured list gives up 5 run, but only 2 of them earned, thanks to a Gio Urshela error, over 4 innings. Urshela is having a fine offensive season batting .331 with 9 home runs and 26 RBI, but he’s currently tied for the second most errors in the majors with 9.
The Blue Jays bats power up today led by Randal Grichuk with his 2 home runs (11 on the year) and 5 RBI as Toronto tops the Orioles 13-5.
Tampa Bay makes quick work of the Tigers today 6-1. Brandon Lowe and Austin Meadows both drive balls over the fence. Charlie Morton gives up only 1 hit while striking out 7, but threw 106 pitches to get through just 4 2/3 innings and doesn’t factor into the decision.
The big Kansas City slide continues as they lose this one to Texas 9-2. Robinson Chirinos with line of the day going 3-5 with 2 home runs (8) and 6 RBI. Mike Minor fans 9 over 7 1/3 innings to move to 6-2 on the year.
Max Kepler with his 18th home run in Minnesota’s 6-3 victory over the White Sox. Yoan Moncada with his 15th in the loss.
The dude can’t stay out of the headlines! Mike Trout hits 2 home runs, to give him 16 on the year, and adds 3 RBI as the Angels beat the A’s 9-3. In the first inning, Trout deposits a Joakim Soria offering into the stands for his 300th career home run. Hats off to you Mr. Trout! Khris Davis 0-3 and now down to .287.
Alex Verdugo was 3-4 with 2 RBI and Andrew Benintendi, hitting from the 6-hole, was 2-3 with 3 RBI in Boston’s 6-3 victory over the Astros. Nathan Eovoldi had a mediocre performance giving up 3 runs over 6 innings to bring his ERA DOWN to 6.15. He’s now 6-3 on the season. That just sounds horrid.
The Padres skunk the Reds 5-zip behind solo shots from Franchy Cordero (1), Francisco Mejia (4), Jurickson Profar (3), and Eric Hosmer (5). Zach Davies stays on the right track tossing 7 2/3 giving up 5 hits to move to 7-1.
Juan Soto could give Cody Bellinger a run in the hunt for the triple crown. Today Soto hits his 16th home run and is now hitting .352 as the Nat’s take down the Marlins 7-1. Stephen Strasburg doesn’t miss a beat striking out 10 over 7 2/3 to go to 4-0.
Austin Slater goes 4-5 including his 8th round tripper in San Francisco’s 7-3 win over the Pirates. Trevor Cahill gives up 3 runs over 8 1/3 to pick up his 1st victory of the year.
Kris Bryant clubs 2 home runs (10), both off of Corbin Burnes, to help the Cubs double up the Brewers 6-3. Yu Darvish picks up his 5th win and Craig Kimbrel strikes out the only batter he faces for his 9th save.
Dexter Fowler forces extra innings with a 2-run shot in the bottom of the 9th, but Ketel Marte puts the Diamondbacks up for good by smashing his own 2-run dinger in the top of the 12th. Arizona beats the Cardinals 7-5.
Andrew McCutchen and Didi Gregorius combine to go 5-11 with 7 RBI in Philadelphia’s 12-7 win over Colorado. Nolan Arenado with his 13th in the loss.
Cody Bellinger doesn’t stop at 20! He hits his 21st in the 1st inning off of Adam Plutko as LA skates by the Indians 3-2. Walker Buehler moves to 4-1 giving up 2 runs over 5 2/3 and Joe Kelly strikes out 2 of the 3 batters in the 9th for his 1st save of the year.
Atlanta comes back after yesterday’s demoralizing loss to double up the Mets 6-3. Freddie Freeman blasts his 13th and Bryse Wilson goes to 5-1 by tossing 7 2/3 of scoreless ball.
Transactionally Speaking:
Just one significant one today…The Braves give Mike Foltynewicz a 3 year extension for $28,400,000.
Standings:
The Rays move to 6 1/2 over the Red Sox;
Twins take advantage of the KC slide and are now up 5 1/2;
Angels up 5 1/2 on the ‘Stros;
Braves cling to a 1/2 game lead on Washington;
St Louis 2 games up on the Pirates; and
The Dodgers have a healthy 6 game cushion over the Padres.
Major League Leaders:
Somehow Adam Eaton is still over the .400 mark at .401;
Cody Bellinger leads in home runs with 21 and runs scored at 57;
Max Kepler has 53 RBI;
Adalberto Mondesi with 25 stolen bases;
Carlos Martinez is your ERA leader with 1.96;
Jack Flaherty the only pitcher with 8 wins;
Gerritt Cole still leads strikeouts with 96;
Zack Greinke has a .84 WHIP; and
Will Smith leads with 15 saves.
NL Player of the Week is Trea Turner as he goes 12-21 with 3 HR and 8 RBI; and
Max Kepler winning in the AL going 9-20 with 4 HR and 13 RBI.
That’s your weekly MLB wrap-up. 11 holiday games are on tap for tomorrow, but for now it’s time for grilling and beers! Cheers to everyone!
Nightly Unwind 