Game recaps, fun facts from around MLB ( games played on 7/28 ) …
An almost no hitter, leaping catch and outstanding bullpen efforts highlight the day ...
The Marlins/Orioles and Phillies/Yankees games were once again postponed due to COVID concerns.
Indians 4 ( 3-1 ) White Sox 3 ( 1-3 ) - Game One
Indians starting pitcher RH Aaron Civale went six innings allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out nine batters ... another quality start for a Cleveland pitcher ... perhaps the best starting staff in all of baseball.
DH Francisco Lindor had two hits including a two run home run ... Carlos Santana had two hits and two walks, Cesar Hernandez and Bradley Zimmer ( homered ) also had two hits.
Shortstop Tim Anderson had two doubles and a home run for the White Sox.
Indians 5 ( 4-1 ) White Sox 3 ( 1-4 ) - Game Two
Cleveland Center Fielder Oscar Mercado made a leaping catch in the top of the eighth inning to turn what seemed off the bat to be a sure extra base hit into the third out of the inning ... the second year player who became known for web gems last season as a rookie helped the Indians pull off a rare DH sweep.
First Baseman Carlos Santana continued his hot hitting with two hits including a two run first inning home run. Starting pitcher RH Adam Plutko went six innings allowing two runs on five hits ( no walks ) to pick up the win.
First Baseman Jose Abreu had three hits for Chicago including a double.
Blue Jays 5 ( 3-2 ) Nationals 1 ( 1-4 )
Jays starter RH Tanner Roark limited his former team to one run on three hits ( no walks ) over five innings to post the win. Two juniors ( Vladimir Guerrero Jr & Lourdes Gurriel Jr ) each hit solo home runs and First Baseman Rowdy Tellez had two RBIs
Shortstop Trea Turner had two of the Nationals four hits in the game.
Cubs 8 ( 4-1 ) Reds 5 ( 1-4 )
Cubs Shortstop Javy Baez had three hits including two home runs, scored three runs and drove in three more to lead Chicago to victory ... in addition he dazzled defensively. Kyle Bote and Jason Kipnis each contributed two hits with Bote hitting his first homer of the season. RH Alec Mills went six innings of two hit baseball for the mound win.
Nick Castellanos doubled and homered for the Reds ... Freddy Galvis also homered - a two run shot in the ninth inning.
Rays 5 ( 4-1 ) Braves 2 ( 2-3 )
Rays outfielder Yoshi Tsutsogi and DH Jose Martinez each had two hit games and accounted for all five of the Rays runs as they scored twice and knocked in three.
Neither starting pitcher went beyond four innings but the Rays bullpen once again dominated as they yielded no earned runs and just two hits over the last five frames.
Second Baseman Ozzie Albies had two of the Braves six hits.
Pirates 8 ( 2-3 ) Brewers 6 ( 2-3 )
Pittsburgh scored six runs in their last two at bats ( seventh and eighth innings ) to earn a come from behind victory. Second Baseman Adam Frazier hit a two run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to provide the game winning runs ... he also scored two runs. Left Fielder Bryan Reynolds had two hits.
Second Baseman Keston Hiura hit a two run home run and had three RBIs for the Brewers.
Tigers 4 ( 3-2 ) Royals 3 ( 2-3 )
Tigers Second Baseman Jonathan Schoop and Left Fielder Christian Stewart each hit two run home runs to account for the scoring ... Right Fielder Cameron Maybin had two hits including a double. Six Detroit hurlers combined for the win with the bullpen tossing six shutout frames including four consecutive perfect innings to end the contest.
Second Baseman Whit Merrifield hit a third inning three run home run to tally the Royals score.
Mets 8 ( 3-2 ) Red Sox 3 ( 1-4 )
Mets starter LH David Patterson made his major league debut a good one as he pitched 5 2/3 innings allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three batters. Left Fielder JD Davis hit a two run home run and had two hits ... Jeff McNeil and Robinson Cano also had two hit games.
Right Fielder Kevin Pillar had three hits for Boston including two doubles.
Twins 6 ( 3-1 ) Cardinals 3 ( 2-2 )
Twins Third Baseman Josh Donaldson and Shortstop Jorge Polanco each had two hits, hit home runs and drove in two runs apiece to lead the Minnesota attack. Starting pitcher RH Homer Bailey went five frames to post the win.
DH Matt Carpenter and Third Baseman Tommy Edman each had two hits for the Cardinals.
Diamondbacks 4 ( 2-3 ) Rangers 1 ( 1-3 )
Arizona starting pitcher RH Merrill Kelly threw a gem going 7 2/3 innings allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out seven batters. He had a no hitter going into the seventh inning. Second Baseman Ketel Marte led the offense with two knocks.
Rangers Second Baseman Rougned Odor homered in the seventh inning for their only score.
Dodgers 5 ( 3-2 ) Astros 2 ( 3-2 )
Things got a bit heated as some high and tight deliveries by Dodgers reliever RH Joe Kelly and a good bit of trash talk momentarily emptied benches ... the Dodgers bullpen dominated by tossing 5 1/3 innings of scoreless one hit baseball ... the only hit allowed by them came in the ninth inning ... rookie RH Brusdar Grateral picked up his second MLB win by tossing triple digit sinkers in a perfect inning of work.
Left Fielder AJ Pollock led the way offensively with three hits for the Dodgers.
Shortstop Carlos Correa had three of the Astros four hits in the game including a home run.
Rockies 8 ( 3-1 ) A’s 3 ( 3-2 )
Rockies Left Fielder Sam Hilliard hit a double and home run and had two RBIs. Starting pitcher RH Antonio Senzatela went five innings ( 2 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K’s ) to record the win.
A’s Center Fielder Ramon Laureano had another two hit game ... he’s hitting .412 in 17 AB’s thus far in the season.
Angels 10 ( 2-3 ) Mariners 2 ( 1-4 )
Third Baseman Anthony Rendon made his Angels debut ... homered, walked and scored twice plus had two RBIs ... that’s pretty good eh ...
Albert Pujols also homered and had two knocks and leadoff hitter Shortstop David Fletcher continued the hot start with two hits ... he’s now hitting .556 in 18 AB’s
DH Tim Lopes had two hits including a home run for the Mariners.
Padres 5 ( 4-1 ) Giants 3 ( 2-3 )
San Diego Shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr hit a three run home run in the third inning and Right Fielder Wil Myers hit a two run blast in the fourth inning to account for the Padres runs.
Four Padre relievers tossed four innings of scoreless relief behind starter RH Zach Davies to secure the win.
Giants Center Fielder Mike Yastrzemski and Third Baseman Wilmer Flores each had two hit games.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
................................