Game recaps, fun facts from around MLB ( games played on 8/12 )…
Postponement : STL/PIT ( Covid )
14 games played ...
Orioles 5 ( 9-7 ) Phillies 4 ( 5-8 )
White Sox 7 ( 10-9 ) Tigers 5 ( 9-7 )
Offensive Standouts :
Chicago :
Tim Anderson had two singles, a triple and home run out of the leadoff spot. James McCann had two hits. Luis Robert doubled and had three RBIs. Eloy Jimenez homered.
Detroit :
Willi Castro had three hits including a home run. Jonathan Schoop homered and had two hits.
Pitching Performances:
Chicago’s Dylan Cease went six innings for the White Sox (5 R - 1 earned, 7 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s )
Evan Marshall went 1 1/3 scoreless in relief and Alex Colome pitched a perfect ninth inning for his fifth save.
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Diamondbacks 13 ( 8-11 ) Rockies 7 ( 12-6 )
Arizona scored eight runs in the seventh inning.
Offensive Standouts :
Arizona :
The team had eighteen hits - four players had three apiece ( Kole Calhoun, Starling Marte, Christian Walker and Nick Ahmed ) ... Marte had four RBIs, Ahmed scored three runs and David Peralta had two hits and three RBIs.
Colorado :
Garrett Hampson had four hits. Nolan Arenado had three hits including two home runs. Ryan McMahon hit a three run home run. Charlie Blackmon had his 14 game hitting streak come to and end.
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A’s 8 ( 13-6 ) Angels 4 ( 7-12 )
Offensive Standouts :
Oakland :
Matt Chapman had two hits and Stephen Piscotty, Robbie Grossman and Matt Olson each homered.
Los Angeles :
Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon each homered.
Pitching Performances:
The Oakland bullpen was again dominant with 3 1/3 scoreless/hitless innings.
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Cubs 7 ( 12-3 ) Indians 2 ( 10-9 )
Offensive Standouts :
Chicago :
Anthony Rizzo had two hits and homered. Kris Bryant also homered.
Cleveland :
Franmil Reyes had three of the team’s eight hits.
Pitching Performances:
Kyle Hendricks went seven innings ( 1 R, 7 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s ) to post his third win for the Cubs.
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Marlins 14 ( 8-4 ) Blue Jays 11 ( 6-9 ) - 10 Innings
Miami scored three runs in the top of the tenth inning.
Offensive Standouts :
Miami :
Jesus Aguilar had three hits and four RBIs. Brian Anderson hit a three run home run. Jonathan Villar, Matt Joyce and Jon Berti each had two hits. The team had fourteen hits.
Toronto :
The Jays hit seven home runs ... Bo Bichette went 5 for 5 including a home run and scored three times. Rowdy Tellez had three knocks including a tater and Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Travis Shaw, Randal Grichuk and Danny Jansen each had two hits ... Shaw, Guerrero and Jansen joined in the homer parade ... the team had eighteen hits.
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Royals 5 ( 8-11 ) Reds 4 ( 8-10 )
Offensive Standouts :
Kansas City :
Salvador Perez had three hits including a double and home run and three RBIs.
Cincinnati:
Jesse Winker had two hits including a home run. Freddy Galvis also had two hits and hit a two run home run. Josh VanMeter hit a pinch hit home run.
Pitching Performances:
Brad Keller went six shutout frames for KC ( 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K’s ) for his second win of the season.
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Yankees 6 ( 12-6 ) Braves 3 ( 11-9 )
Offensive Standouts :
New York :
DJ LeMahieu went 4 for 5 including a triple and scored twice ... he’s now hitting .431 in 65 AB’s for the season. Clint Frazier went 3 for 4 with a home run in his first game of the year. Luke Voigt had two hits and Gary Sanchez homered.
Atlanta :
Dansby Swanson had three hits ... Nick Markakis and Johan Carmago each had two hits including a two run home run.
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Mets 11 ( 8-11 ) Nationals 6 ( 6-8 )
Offensive Standouts :
New York :
Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso each had three hits and hit home runs. Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith each had two hits ... Smith homered as well.
Washington :
Juan Soto had three hits including two home runs and four RBIs. Howie Kendrick and Starlin Castro each had two hits ... Castro homered as did Kurt Suzuki.
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Astros 5 ( 8-10 ) Giants 1 ( 8-12 )
Offensive Standouts :
Houston :
Alex Bergman had two hits. Martin Maldonado hit a three run home run.
San Francisco :
Mike Yastrzemski had three of the team’s seven hits.
Pitching Performances:
Houston’s Zack Grienke went 6 1/3 innings ( 1 R, 7 H, 1 BB, 7 K’s ) ... Brooks Raley ( 1 2/3 ) and Blake Taylor ( 1 IP ) were perfect behind him.
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Twins 12 ( 12-7 ) Brewers 2 ( 7-9 )
Offensive Standouts :
Minnesota :
Mitch Garver had three hits and scored twice as did Byron Buxton who homered twice. Marwin Gonzalez and Luis Arraez each had two hits. Miguel Sano homered.
Milwaukee :
Justin Smoak and Luis Urias each had two hits.
Pitching Performances:
The Twins Kenta Maeda went 6 2/3 innings - 2 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K’s for his third win. Lewis Thorpe threw two scoreless frames behind him.
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Rays 9 ( 11-8 ) Red Sox 5 ( 6-12 )
Offensive Standouts :
Tampa :
Kevin Kiermaier, Brandon Lowe and Yandy Diaz each had three hits. Lowe homered. Austin Meadows also homered and had two hits. Willy Adames and Yoshi Tsutsogo each hit home runs. The team had fifteen hits.
Boston :
Kevin Pillar went 4 for 5 and JD Martinez hit a grand slam home run in the eighth inning. The team had twelve hits.
Pitching Performances:
Blake Snell went five shutout innings ( 4 H, 0 BB, 6 K’s ) for his first win.
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Rangers 7 ( 8-9 ) Mariners 4 ( 7-13 )
Texas scored five runs in the bottom of the 8th inning.
Offensive Standouts :
Texas :
Derek Dietrich in his first game of the season went 3 for 3 with a double and two runs scored. Willie Calhoun had two hits and three RBIs.
Seattle :
Austin Nola hit a double and home run. JP Crawford had two hits. Dan Vogelbach hit a two run home run.
Pitching Performances:
Four Rangers relievers pitched an inning each of scoreless baseball with Rafael Montero picking up his fourth save.
Taijuan Walker went six innings for the Mariners ( 1 unearned run, 6 H, 1 BB, 5 K’s )
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Dodgers 6 ( 12-7 ) Padres 0 ( 11-8 )
Offensive Standouts :
Los Angeles :
Justin Turner had two hits including a three run home run. Edwin Rios also had two hits.
San Diego :
Trent Grisham had two hits including a double.
Pitching Performances:
Six Dodgers hurlers combined on the six hit shutout. Starter Tony Gonsolin went 4 2/3 innings - 3 H, 1 BB, 8 K’s.
Zach Davies pitched seven innings for the Padres ( 2 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K’s )
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Did ya know 🧐 ... that going into today’s action the major league rate of sacrifice bunts was .001 of total plate appearances ( 25/18,174 ) ...
In 2019 it was .004 ( 776/186,518 )
In 2018 it was .004 ( 823/185,139 )
In 2017 it was .005 ( 925/185,295 )
In 2016 it was .006 ( 1,025/184,580 )
In 2015 it was .006 ( 1,200/183,628 )
For National League clubs only it’s also .001 ( 12/8,584 ) in 2020 with the DH rule in place
For the prior five NL years without the DH rule ...
In 2019 it was .006 ( 531/93,238)
In 2018 it was .006 ( 564/92,885 )
In 2017 it was .007 ( 653/92,673 )
In 2016 it was .007 ( 675/92,540 )
In 2015 it was .008 ( 747/91,790 )
The AL the past five years ...
In 2019 it was .003 ( 245/92,280 )
In 2018 it was .003 ( 259/92,254 )
In 2017 it was .003 ( 272/92,622 )
In 2016 it was .004 ( 350/92,040 )
In 2015 it was .005( 453/91,838 )
The bottom line ... sacrifice bunts in MLB have been minuscule the past five seasons ( less than 1 % of plate appearances ) although done more in the NL than AL ... this year they are of even less a consideration all around .... almost non-existent ( .001 of all plate appearances ) ... just sayin 😎
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
