Game recaps, fun facts from around MLB ( games played on 7/31) …
Two postponements : STL/MIL & MIA/WSH ( Covid )
A strong pitching performance, two saves and a retribution HR ...
Yankees 5 ( 5-1 ) Red Sox 1 ( 3-5 )
Aaron Judge hit a two run home run in the third inning, his third in the past three games to put the Yankees ahead and they never looked back.
DJ LeMahieu had three hits out of the leadoff spot for New York and Third Baseman Gio Urshela hit his first homer of the season. The Yankee bullpen tossed 3 1/3 perfect innings behind starter Jordan Montgomery with RH Chad Green throwing two innings and striking out four batters.
Boston First Baseman Michael Chavis hit a home run for their only score.
Braves 11 ( 5-3 ) Mets 10 ( 3-5 )
Atlanta scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning keyed by Catcher Travis d’Arnaud’s bases loaded triple to come back from a one time six run deficit and post the win. d’Arnaud had three hits, a walk and five RBIs to lead the way.
Second Baseman Robinson Cano had three hits for the Mets including his first home run of the season ... he’s hitting .360 in 25 AB’s thus far.
Each team used five pitchers in the 24 hit slugfest.
Tigers 7 ( 5-3 ) Reds 2 ( 2-5 )
Detroit got dominant pitching by three relievers ( Gregory Soto, Buck Farmer and Bryan Garcia ) as they each threw a perfect frame behind starter Spencer Turnbull who went six innings of three hit baseball to record his first win of the season.
Catcher Austin Romine stood out offensively for the Tigers with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Nick Senzel and Nick Castellanos each had an RBI for the Reds.
White Sox 3 ( 3-4 ) Royals 2 ( 3-5 )
Right Fielder Adam Engel hit a three run home run for the White Sox in the second inning and starting pitcher LH Dallas Keuchel ( 5 1/3 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s ) and three relievers ( Jimmy Cordero, Evan Marshall and Alex Colome ) made it stand for the win.
Catcher Salvador Perez had three hits for the Royals and First Baseman Ryan McBroom doubled and homered.
Twins 4 ( 5-2 ) Indians 1 ( 5-3 )
Twins starting pitcher Randy Dobnak tossed five scoreless innings allowing only three hits to record the win. Tyler Clippard, Tyler Duffey, Sergio Romo and Taylor Rogers each tossed an inning behind him to close out the game.
Max Kepler and Alex Avila homered for Minnesota while Eddie Rosario and Jorge Polanco each had two hit games.
Second Baseman and leadoff hitter Cesar Hernandez had two hits for the Indians ... starting pitcher Mike Clevinger only lasted four innings in the contest ( 4 R, 6 H, 5 BB, 5 K’s ) but the bullpen excelled as four hurlers each tossed a scoreless frame.
Orioles 6 ( 3-3 ) Rays 3 ( 4-4 )
Orioles Second Baseman Hanser Alberto continues to impress with a three hit game ( including a double and triple ) and two runs scored ... the 27 year old is hitting .440 in 25 AB’s this season. Anthony Santander and Pedro Severino also homered for the O’s.
Thirty year old rookie Cole Slusser ( RH ) has emerged as the closer for Baltimore as he posted his second save of the season with a perfect ninth inning - two K’s. The team used six pitchers in the contest.
Tampa also used six hurlers ... Second Baseman Brandon Lowe hit his first home run of the season in the fifth inning - a solo shot.
Baltimore traded veteran LHP Richard Bleir to Miami after the game for a player to be named later ... the Marlins continue to rebuild their roster.
Padres 8 ( 6-2 ) Rockies 7 ( 4-2 )
On the third time this season a team has intentionally walked Manny Machado to get to him, San Diego’s Tommy Pham made them pay. He hit a three run homer on a full-count in the ninth inning to give the Padres an 8-5 lead. It followed a solo home run by Shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr to lead off the inning ... one of his two hits in the game.
Rockies closer Wade Davis' Coors Field woes continued. He gave up all four runs on in the ninth. Colorado rallied to score twice in the bottom of the ninth but fell one run short.
Shortstop Trevor Story and Right-fielder Charlie Blackmon each had three hits for the Rockies and each hit home runs.
Cubs 6 ( 5-2 ) Pirates 3 ( 2-5 )
Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish was dominating as he went six scoreless innings allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out seven to post his first win of the season. Second Baseman Jason Kipnis had two knocks including a fourth inning solo home run and Right Fielder Jason Heyward contributed two hits and two RBIs.
Third Baseman Colin Moran had two hits for Pittsburgh including a home run and First Baseman Josh Bell hit his first homer of the season.
Astros 9 ( 4-3 ) Angels 6 ( 2-6 )
Twenty three year old Left Fielder Kyle Tucker had three hits, four RBIs and scored twice to lead the Astros offense. George Springer and Yuli Gurriel each had two hit ballgames.
The Angels used nine pitchers and walked seven batters. Their team ERA this season climbs to 5.12 and a 2-6 start gives them the worst MLB record to start the 2020 season. Brian Goodwin hit a triple and a two run home run for LA and Shortstop David Fletcher notched two more hits.
The Angels Mike Trout is on maternity leave and missed the game.
Giants 9 ( 4-4 ) Rangers 2 ( 2-4 )
Wilmer Flores has become Mr Versatility for the Giants as he played First Base in the ball game ( his third position played this season ) and hit a three run home run in the fifth inning to lead San Francisco to the win. Darin Ruf, Chadwick Tromp and Mauricio Dubon each had two hits for the Giants who used six pitchers in the contest.
Rangers starter LH Mike Minor was tagged for six runs on nine hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings. Shin-Soo Choo hit his first home run of the season leading off the game to give the visiting Rangers an early advantage.
Mariners 5 ( 4-4 ) A’s 3 ( 3-4 )
The Mariners won their third straight ballgame as they prevailed in their season home opener. Starting pitcher Taijuan Walker threw 7 scoreless innings of 1-hit ball while striking out eight. Kyle Lewis and JP Crawford each had two hits and Kyle Seager hit a two run double.
Shortstop Marcus Semien tripled and had two RBIs for the A’s.
Diamondbacks 5 ( 3-5 ) Dodgers 3 ( 5-3 )
The D-Backs DH Christian Walker delivered a bases clearing double in a four run eighth inning to propel Arizona to a come from behind win. It was his second hit of the ballgame. Ketel Marte and David Peralta also had two hit games. Archie Bradley closed the door in the ninth inning to earn his second save of the year. ( always thought he could close 🤔).
Mookie Betts had three hits for the Dodgers including his first home run for LA and made an outstanding throw in the bottom of the first inning from the right field corner that reached the third baseman on the fly to get Marte out as he tried to stretch a hit into a triple 😳 ... impressive.
Corey Seager and Chris Taylor each had two hits for LA ... Seager hit his third dinger of the year in the eighth inning.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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