National League
Yesterday, we took a quick look at the American League, so today it's the senior circuit in view after nearly two weeks of play.
Mets Hold Slim Lead in East
With their 6-3 win at Atlanta Thursday, the Mets leapfrogged over the idle Phillies into first place in what appears to be baseball's most contentious division. The only team likely to be out of it by August 1 or sooner is the Miami Marlins, though with the Braves, Mets, Nats, and Phillies all flawed to some extent, that's not exactly a surety.
New York is just 1/2 game to the good over the Phillies, who did themselves loads of good in the off-season, snatching up the biggest free agent prize in Bryce Harper among other pick-ups, including All-Star infielder Jean Segura. The deal sent first baseman Carlos Santana and shortstop J.P. Crawford to Seattle.
Segura was one of the top hitters in the AL last season, notching a .304 batting average. A sure-handed fielder, Segura fills a big hole in Philadelphia at short, though he's unlikely to add much power. He hit just 10 homers last season with 63 RBI. Look for him to up his runs total of 91 last season to over 100 if he's batting at or near the top of the lineup. He's batting .304 though 11 games and has crossed the plate 10 times.
Harper is off to a decent start, with four homers and 10 RBI to go with a .314 batting average. In his new surroundings, Harper may challenge for the batting title. He hit .330 with Washington in 2015 and is in a good spot in a hitter's ball park. Last year's .249 average will be overlooked if he produces as expected.
The Mets have as good a shot as any team to take the division if they get quality starts from the rest of the rotation and score runs for Jacob deGrom. The keys are the keep Noah Snydergaard healthy, get Steven Matz though six innings and get solid innings from middle relievers Robert Gsellman, Jeurys Familia, and Seth Lugo. Closer Edwin Diaz, with five saves already in the books, appears to have his role nailed down.
Washington still may have the best rotation in the division, but will miss Harper's bat. Atlanta, last season's division winner, will be in it as long as Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. stay healthy. Their pitching matches up well anywhere they play.
Cards Catch Brewers With Five Straight Wins
After a 3-5 start, St. Louis has reeled off five straight wins, including Thursday's 11-7 rip over the visiting Dodgers. The Cardinals may not have much thunder in their lineup, but as long as they get good pitching, their youthful lineup seems capable of keeping them in games, especially if the old man behind the plate - 36-year-old Yadier Molina - continues to play like a future Hall of Fame inductee.
Paul DeJong, Kolten Wong, Harrison Bader, and Marcel Ozuna form the nucleus of the offense, and the pickup of Paul Goldstein from Arizona gives the Cards' long-ball potential. Goldstein is batting just .180, but he's already swatted six homers. He needs to be more consistent (and he likely will be) for the Cardinals to hang in over the long haul.
In Milwaukee, the Brewers - also at 8-5 with the Cards - will have every opportunity to defend their 2018 division title and move forward in the playoffs. With the remarkable Christian Yellich leading the charge, Milwaukee is likely to repeat, especially if the Cubs continue to flounder. At the moment, Chicago is tied with the Reds for last place at 4-8, 3 1/2 back of the Brew Crew and Cardinals.
San Diego Improved With Machado
The Padres couldn't get much worse than their 66-96 mark in 2018, so they pulled the trigger and landed Manny Machado in the off-season after Machado had bailed on the Orioles mid-season for a playoff shot with the Dodgers in 2018.
A post-season hero Machado is not. His lifetime .213 average in the playoffs and World Series included 16 games with the Dodgers, a .227 batting average, three homers and 12 RBI. Those numbers are unlikely to raise any eyebrows, save those of Machado's detractors. Over the course of a full season in San Diego, Manny is likely to be "the Man" in bordertown California.
Thus far, Manny's helped the Padres to first place in the West, their 9-5 mark a game better than LA's 8-6 record. With three homers, seven RBI and a .245 batting average, Machado is probably trying a little too hard to impress his new team and fans. If he shakes off the nerves, he's capable of 35 homers and 100 RBI for the next six years or so. He had 35 and 86 in 2015, 37 and 96 in 2016, 33 and 95 in 2017, and 37 and 107 splitting time between Baltimore and LA.
Obviously, Machado can't do everything for the Padres. He'll need help, especially from the pitching staff, which includes left-handed rookie, Nick Margevicius, who has shown promise in three starts, winning two of them, against one loss. in 16 innings, quick Nick has fanned 12 and sports an ERA of 1.69.
It's a long season, and while the Padres probably won't go worst to first, the contenders in the division are few and far between. The Giants haven't been able to figure it out for a few years and don't look very competitive in 2019. Ditto the Rockies. Arizona has a good mix of veterans and good pitching, but the Dodgers, should they play to their potential, may run away and hide in the West.
The Dodgers are just a game off the pace and that's without Clayton Kershaw, who started the season on the 10-day IL. He's slated to make his seasonal debut Friday night, agains the Brewers. LA opens a three-game series with Milwaukee and will host the Reds for three following the weekend. Cody Bellinger has been carrying the team, batting .411, with seven HRs and 19 RBI.
Other series of note this weekend are San Diego at Arizona and the Mets at Atlanta. Both series began on Thursday, with the Mets topping the Braves, 6-3, and the Padres nipping the D-Backs, 7-6.
Showing posts with label Manny Machado. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manny Machado. Show all posts
Friday, April 12, 2019
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Brock Holt First To Hit For Post-Season Cycle In Boston Rout; George Springer Leads Astros; Manny Machado Powers Dodgers Into NLCS
Players of the Day for Monday, October 8, 2018
American League
Brock Holt became the first player ever to hit for the cycle in the post-season, completing his historic feat in the ninth inning with a home run off Yankee emergency reliever, catcher Austin Romine.
Romine was called to the mound due to the game's out-of-control condition, as Boston handed the Yankees the worst post-season loss in their long history, whipping the home squad 16-1.
Holt, batting seventh, didn't begin his assault on Yankee pitching until the fourth inning. After grounding out harmlessly in the second, Holt led off the fourth with a scratch single to center and later scored on a bases-loaded walk to Mookie Betts. Later in the frame, he tripled in a pair of runs as the Red Sox plated seven runs.
After grounding out to first in the sixth inning, Holt lashed a ground rule double to center in the eighth, driving in two more runs and smacked his homer with one on base in the ninth.
The win left the Yankees down in the series two games to one, facing elimination when the teams meet at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. Game time is 8:07 pm ET. C.C. Sabathia goes to the mound for New York. Rick Porcello is the starter for the Red Sox.
Houston will be returning to the AL championship series for the second straight year after sweeping the Indians, finishing off the Central division champs with an 11-3 romp.
George Springer led a 13-hit attack with two solo homers and a single in six at-bats. He hit .429 over the three-games of the divisional series.
The Astros completely outclassed the Indians in the sweep, outscoring their opponent by a combined score of 21-6.
Houston awaits the winner of the Boston-New York series in their quest to win a second straight AL championship.
National League
The Dodgers dusted off the Braves in game four of the divisional series with a 6-2 victory, as Manny Machado led the way, going 2-for-5 with four RBI.
Machado got the Dodgers going with an RBI double in the first, driving in Max Muncy, and finished off the Braves with a three-run homer in the seventh.
LA returns to the NL championship series for the third straight season, meeting the Brewers for the right to go to the world series. The best-of-seven series begins Friday in Milwaukee.
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| Holt hits for cycle |
American League
Brock Holt became the first player ever to hit for the cycle in the post-season, completing his historic feat in the ninth inning with a home run off Yankee emergency reliever, catcher Austin Romine.
Romine was called to the mound due to the game's out-of-control condition, as Boston handed the Yankees the worst post-season loss in their long history, whipping the home squad 16-1.
Holt, batting seventh, didn't begin his assault on Yankee pitching until the fourth inning. After grounding out harmlessly in the second, Holt led off the fourth with a scratch single to center and later scored on a bases-loaded walk to Mookie Betts. Later in the frame, he tripled in a pair of runs as the Red Sox plated seven runs.
After grounding out to first in the sixth inning, Holt lashed a ground rule double to center in the eighth, driving in two more runs and smacked his homer with one on base in the ninth.
The win left the Yankees down in the series two games to one, facing elimination when the teams meet at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. Game time is 8:07 pm ET. C.C. Sabathia goes to the mound for New York. Rick Porcello is the starter for the Red Sox.
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| Springer: 2 HR, 2 RBI |
Houston will be returning to the AL championship series for the second straight year after sweeping the Indians, finishing off the Central division champs with an 11-3 romp.
George Springer led a 13-hit attack with two solo homers and a single in six at-bats. He hit .429 over the three-games of the divisional series.
The Astros completely outclassed the Indians in the sweep, outscoring their opponent by a combined score of 21-6.
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| Machado: 2-4, HR, 4 RBI |
National League
The Dodgers dusted off the Braves in game four of the divisional series with a 6-2 victory, as Manny Machado led the way, going 2-for-5 with four RBI.
Machado got the Dodgers going with an RBI double in the first, driving in Max Muncy, and finished off the Braves with a three-run homer in the seventh.
LA returns to the NL championship series for the third straight season, meeting the Brewers for the right to go to the world series. The best-of-seven series begins Friday in Milwaukee.
Friday, September 14, 2018
J.D. Martinez Crushes HR #41 As Boston Sweeps Blue Jays; Manny Machado Leads Dodgers Over Cardinals
Players of the Day for Thursday, September 13, 2018
American League
A day after the Red Sox became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot, J.D. Martinez took another step toward a possible triple crown.
Martinez socked his 41st home run of the season in Boston's 4-3 win over the visiting Blue Jays, sweeping the three-game series. Martinez's first-inning solo blast tied him with Oakland's Khris Davis for the AL lead in homers, and upped his RBI total to 122, far and away the most in the majors (Davis is second with 109). His .330 batting average is second in the league to teammate Mookie Betts, who leads the majors with a .340 mark.
While the chances of Martinez catching Betts in batting are slight, he looks to be the logical choice for AL MVP as the Red Sox cruise toward the AL East pennant.
Boston has the best record in the majors at 101-46. They've won four straight and lead the second place Yankees by 10 1/2 games. Their magic number to clinch the division is six. Boston welcomes in the NY Mets for a weekend series beginning Friday at 7:10 pm EDT.
National League
Just prior to the July 31 trade deadline, the Dodgers picked up Manny Machado from Baltimore, and, for the past month and a half, the 26-year-old shortstop has been providing benefits.
In the opener of a critical four-game series at St. Louis, Machado struck repeatedly, as the Dodgers banged out 16 hits in a 9-7 win over the Cardinals.
The Dodgers and Machado got off to a fast start with three runs in the first inning. Machado singled and scored on former Cardinal, David Freese's, triple. In the third, Machado doubled home Justin Turner. His sac fly in the fourth plated another run and his 34th homer of the season - 10th as a Dodger - completed LA's scoring in the seventh.
On the year, Machado is batting .302 with 92 RBI and 14 steals. In 50 games as a member of the Dodgers, Machado is batting .277 with 10 homers and 28 RBI. He was 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs in Thursday's victory.
The win left the Dodgers 1 1/2 behind the Rockies in the NL West and a game behind St. Louis for the second wild card.
Game two of the series is Friday, 8:00 pm EDT.
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| Martinez: Al MVP? |
American League
A day after the Red Sox became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot, J.D. Martinez took another step toward a possible triple crown.
Martinez socked his 41st home run of the season in Boston's 4-3 win over the visiting Blue Jays, sweeping the three-game series. Martinez's first-inning solo blast tied him with Oakland's Khris Davis for the AL lead in homers, and upped his RBI total to 122, far and away the most in the majors (Davis is second with 109). His .330 batting average is second in the league to teammate Mookie Betts, who leads the majors with a .340 mark.
While the chances of Martinez catching Betts in batting are slight, he looks to be the logical choice for AL MVP as the Red Sox cruise toward the AL East pennant.
Boston has the best record in the majors at 101-46. They've won four straight and lead the second place Yankees by 10 1/2 games. Their magic number to clinch the division is six. Boston welcomes in the NY Mets for a weekend series beginning Friday at 7:10 pm EDT.
National League
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| Machado: 3-4, HR 3RBI |
In the opener of a critical four-game series at St. Louis, Machado struck repeatedly, as the Dodgers banged out 16 hits in a 9-7 win over the Cardinals.
The Dodgers and Machado got off to a fast start with three runs in the first inning. Machado singled and scored on former Cardinal, David Freese's, triple. In the third, Machado doubled home Justin Turner. His sac fly in the fourth plated another run and his 34th homer of the season - 10th as a Dodger - completed LA's scoring in the seventh.
On the year, Machado is batting .302 with 92 RBI and 14 steals. In 50 games as a member of the Dodgers, Machado is batting .277 with 10 homers and 28 RBI. He was 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs in Thursday's victory.
The win left the Dodgers 1 1/2 behind the Rockies in the NL West and a game behind St. Louis for the second wild card.
Game two of the series is Friday, 8:00 pm EDT.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Manny Machado Belts a Pair As Orioles Down Yankees; Phillies Take First Place On Maikel Franco's HR, 4 RBI
Players of the Day for Tuesday, July 10, 2018
American League
Manny Machado took out some Baltimore frustration on New York pitchers, crashing a pair of home runs in the Orioles' 6-5 victory at Camden Yards.
Machado's solo shot in the fifth tied the game at three; his two-run bomb (444 feet) in the seventh tied the game again, knotting the score at 5-5.
Later, in the decisive ninth inning, Machado was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting up Jonathan Schoop for an RBI single that plated Caleb Joseph with the game-winner.
The subject of swirling trade rumors, Machado's homers were his 22nd and 23rd of the season and his three RBI upped his total to 63. The slugging third baseman is sixth in the AL in home runs and third in RBI.
The Yankees dropped 3 1/2 game behind the Red Sox in the AL East division. Boston has won eight straight.
The Orioles, already 37 1/2 games out, have taken two of three from the Yankees and will be looking to capture the series in game four, Wednesday, 7:05 pm EDT.
National League
With sole possession of first place in the NL East staring them in the face, the Philadelphia Phillies wasted little time getting out in front of the Mets en route to a 7-3 victory.
Maikel Franco swatted a three-run home in the first inning as the Phils batted around on Mets' starter Drew Gagnon. The Phillies continued to add to their lead until Franco put the game away in the sixth with an RBI single and a 7-1 lead.
Surprising nearly everyone, the Phillies have played consistently enough to surpass both Washington and Atlanta in the division. Atlanta lost to Toronto, 6-2, and is a game back, while the Nationals took a 5-1 win at Pittsburgh to hold third place, 5 1/2 out.
Franco, 25, is an integral part of the Philadelphia youth movement. In his third full season, he's batting .276 with 12 homers and 45 RBI.
The Phillies have take two straight at Citi Field and will be looking to sweep the Mets when they take the field at 7:10 pm EDT, Wednesday.
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| Machado: 3-4, 2HR, 3RB |
Manny Machado took out some Baltimore frustration on New York pitchers, crashing a pair of home runs in the Orioles' 6-5 victory at Camden Yards.
Machado's solo shot in the fifth tied the game at three; his two-run bomb (444 feet) in the seventh tied the game again, knotting the score at 5-5.
Later, in the decisive ninth inning, Machado was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting up Jonathan Schoop for an RBI single that plated Caleb Joseph with the game-winner.
The subject of swirling trade rumors, Machado's homers were his 22nd and 23rd of the season and his three RBI upped his total to 63. The slugging third baseman is sixth in the AL in home runs and third in RBI.
The Yankees dropped 3 1/2 game behind the Red Sox in the AL East division. Boston has won eight straight.
The Orioles, already 37 1/2 games out, have taken two of three from the Yankees and will be looking to capture the series in game four, Wednesday, 7:05 pm EDT.
National League
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| Franco: 2-4, HR, 4RBI |
With sole possession of first place in the NL East staring them in the face, the Philadelphia Phillies wasted little time getting out in front of the Mets en route to a 7-3 victory.
Maikel Franco swatted a three-run home in the first inning as the Phils batted around on Mets' starter Drew Gagnon. The Phillies continued to add to their lead until Franco put the game away in the sixth with an RBI single and a 7-1 lead.
Surprising nearly everyone, the Phillies have played consistently enough to surpass both Washington and Atlanta in the division. Atlanta lost to Toronto, 6-2, and is a game back, while the Nationals took a 5-1 win at Pittsburgh to hold third place, 5 1/2 out.
Franco, 25, is an integral part of the Philadelphia youth movement. In his third full season, he's batting .276 with 12 homers and 45 RBI.
The Phillies have take two straight at Citi Field and will be looking to sweep the Mets when they take the field at 7:10 pm EDT, Wednesday.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Manny Machado Walks Off Yanks In Baltimore Win; Jose Martinez Powers Cardinals Over Padres
Players of the Day for Tuesday, September 5, 2017
American League
Baltimore third baseman, Manny Machado, kept Oriole hopes alive with a two-out, bottom of the ninth two-run homer, defeating the New York Yankees, 7-6, at Camden Yards.
Machado's blast capped a multi-inning, five run comeback after the Yankees scored six runs in the third inning to lead 6-1. The Orioles countered with home runs, the first, a solo shot by Machado in the bottom of the third, followed by another solo belt by Jonathan School in the fifth and Mark Trumbo's two-run blast in the sixth.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore relief corps kept the Yankees off the scoreboard for the final six innings, setting up Machado's dramatic finale.
Machado has been on a tear of late, batting .341 with 12 homers and 35 RBI in August. So far in September he's at .381, with two homers and three RBI. After a slow start, Machado is approaching the league leaders. He has 32 home runs and 91 RBI.
The victory moved the Orioles to within one game of the second wild card, now held by the LA Angels, who took over from Minnesota and lead the Twins by 1/2 game. The Angels outlasted the A's, 8-7, in 10 innings, while the Twins lost, 2-1, at Tampa Bay. The Yankees still are in the top wild card position, with a 2 1/2 game lead over the Angels.
Game three of the series in Baltimore is slated for a 7:05 start on Wednesday.
National League
With their third straight win, the St. Louis Cardinals continue to creep upward in the wild card standings, their 8-4 victory at San Diego Tuesday has them three games behind Colorado for the second wild card spot, with Milwaukee squeezed in between, 2 1/2 out.
Rookie first baseman, Jose Martinez, was once again the catalyst, going 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs and three RBI. Martinez socked a two-run homer in the first inning, doubled and scored in the third and pounded a solo shot in the seventh for good measure.
Hitting his best stride when it counts most, Martinez has a seven game hitting streak going and is batting a sizzling .563 (9-for-16) in September with three home runs and six RBI. On the season, the 6'6" Martinez has a .310 batting average, 13 home runs and 34 RBI in just 203 at bats.
St. Louis will seek to extend their winning ways in game three of the four-game series in San Diego, Wednesday at 7:10 pm PT.
STREAKING: The Cleveland Indians extended their winning streak to 13 straight Tuesday with a 9-4 win over the White Sox. It's the longest streak in the majors this year and has the Indians up 11 games in the AL Central. In the West, Houston has won six straight.
Arizona won its 12th straight, topping the Dodgers, 3-1. First place Los Angeles has lost five straight but still leads the NL West by a cool 11 1/2 games.
American League
Baltimore third baseman, Manny Machado, kept Oriole hopes alive with a two-out, bottom of the ninth two-run homer, defeating the New York Yankees, 7-6, at Camden Yards.
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| Machado walks off Yanks |
Meanwhile, the Baltimore relief corps kept the Yankees off the scoreboard for the final six innings, setting up Machado's dramatic finale.
Machado has been on a tear of late, batting .341 with 12 homers and 35 RBI in August. So far in September he's at .381, with two homers and three RBI. After a slow start, Machado is approaching the league leaders. He has 32 home runs and 91 RBI.
The victory moved the Orioles to within one game of the second wild card, now held by the LA Angels, who took over from Minnesota and lead the Twins by 1/2 game. The Angels outlasted the A's, 8-7, in 10 innings, while the Twins lost, 2-1, at Tampa Bay. The Yankees still are in the top wild card position, with a 2 1/2 game lead over the Angels.
Game three of the series in Baltimore is slated for a 7:05 start on Wednesday.
National League
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| Martinez: hot rookie |
With their third straight win, the St. Louis Cardinals continue to creep upward in the wild card standings, their 8-4 victory at San Diego Tuesday has them three games behind Colorado for the second wild card spot, with Milwaukee squeezed in between, 2 1/2 out.
Rookie first baseman, Jose Martinez, was once again the catalyst, going 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs and three RBI. Martinez socked a two-run homer in the first inning, doubled and scored in the third and pounded a solo shot in the seventh for good measure.
Hitting his best stride when it counts most, Martinez has a seven game hitting streak going and is batting a sizzling .563 (9-for-16) in September with three home runs and six RBI. On the season, the 6'6" Martinez has a .310 batting average, 13 home runs and 34 RBI in just 203 at bats.
St. Louis will seek to extend their winning ways in game three of the four-game series in San Diego, Wednesday at 7:10 pm PT.
STREAKING: The Cleveland Indians extended their winning streak to 13 straight Tuesday with a 9-4 win over the White Sox. It's the longest streak in the majors this year and has the Indians up 11 games in the AL Central. In the West, Houston has won six straight.
Arizona won its 12th straight, topping the Dodgers, 3-1. First place Los Angeles has lost five straight but still leads the NL West by a cool 11 1/2 games.
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Manny Machado Grand Slam Lifts O's Over Angels; Chris Taylor Leads Dodgers To 5th Straight
Players of the Day for Friday, August 18, 2017
American League
Baltimore remained a serious contender in the wild card hunt with a wild, 9-7 win over the LA Angels on Manny Machado's dramatic, walk-off grand slam, his third home run of the game.
Machado socked a two-run homer in the third inning, adding a solo shot in the fifth, but his power display still wasn't enough, as the Orioles went scoreless in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, trailing the Angels at Camden Yards, 7-5.
In the ninth, Angel reliever Yusmeiro Petit got one out, but left with runners aboard first and second for Kenyan Middleton. After allowing a single by Tim Beckham to land the bases, Machado continued his mashing, sending the ball deep into the center field stands to the cheers of the partisan Baltimore crowd.
Machado, who drove in seven of Baltimore's nine runs, has been on a tear in August. Riding a six-game hitting streak, the Oriole third baseman is batting .360 for the month, with eight home runs and 28 RBI. He has 26 home runs and 81 RBI after a slow start.
The win put the Orioles two games behind the Angels, who are currently tied with the Twins for the second wild card. The Yankees lead the wild card standings by 3 1/2 games.
Baltimore can do itself more good in games two and three of their series with the Angels. Game two is scheduled for Saturday night, a 7:05 pm ET start.
National League
Just in case the LA Dodgers need extra hitters in their already power-laden lineup, the team that's leading the NL West by a shocking 19 games activated slugger Adrian Gonzalez for the disabled list on Friday, where he's been since June 11.
In his first at-bat in his first game back, Gonzalez lashed a double and scored for LA on Chris Taylor's second inning double as part of a four-run rally that put the Dodgers on a path to an 8-5 win over the homesteading Tigers.
While Gonzalez went hitless the rest of the game, Taylor, batting from the leadoff spot, Taylor would produce three more hits, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and a pair of singles, two RBI, a run and his 14th stolen base of the season.
In his first full season with the Dodgers (traded from Seattle last season), Taylor has become the go-to utility fill-in, playing left and center field, shortstop, second, and third base at various times this year. On Friday, Taylor was at short for the fifth time this season. On the year, he's batting .310, with 17 home runs, 58 RBI and 69 runs.
The Dodgers, winners of five straight, play game two of the three-game series in Detroit Saturday at 4:05 pm ET.
American League
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| Machado: 3HR, GS, 7RBI |
Machado socked a two-run homer in the third inning, adding a solo shot in the fifth, but his power display still wasn't enough, as the Orioles went scoreless in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, trailing the Angels at Camden Yards, 7-5.
In the ninth, Angel reliever Yusmeiro Petit got one out, but left with runners aboard first and second for Kenyan Middleton. After allowing a single by Tim Beckham to land the bases, Machado continued his mashing, sending the ball deep into the center field stands to the cheers of the partisan Baltimore crowd.
Machado, who drove in seven of Baltimore's nine runs, has been on a tear in August. Riding a six-game hitting streak, the Oriole third baseman is batting .360 for the month, with eight home runs and 28 RBI. He has 26 home runs and 81 RBI after a slow start.
The win put the Orioles two games behind the Angels, who are currently tied with the Twins for the second wild card. The Yankees lead the wild card standings by 3 1/2 games.
Baltimore can do itself more good in games two and three of their series with the Angels. Game two is scheduled for Saturday night, a 7:05 pm ET start.
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| Taylor: 4-for-5, 2 RBI |
Just in case the LA Dodgers need extra hitters in their already power-laden lineup, the team that's leading the NL West by a shocking 19 games activated slugger Adrian Gonzalez for the disabled list on Friday, where he's been since June 11.
In his first at-bat in his first game back, Gonzalez lashed a double and scored for LA on Chris Taylor's second inning double as part of a four-run rally that put the Dodgers on a path to an 8-5 win over the homesteading Tigers.
While Gonzalez went hitless the rest of the game, Taylor, batting from the leadoff spot, Taylor would produce three more hits, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and a pair of singles, two RBI, a run and his 14th stolen base of the season.
In his first full season with the Dodgers (traded from Seattle last season), Taylor has become the go-to utility fill-in, playing left and center field, shortstop, second, and third base at various times this year. On Friday, Taylor was at short for the fifth time this season. On the year, he's batting .310, with 17 home runs, 58 RBI and 69 runs.
The Dodgers, winners of five straight, play game two of the three-game series in Detroit Saturday at 4:05 pm ET.
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Trevor Williams Allows One Hit In Pittsburgh Victory; Manny Machado's Grand Slam Fuels Orioles
Players of the Day for Monday, August 7, 2017
American League
Manny Machado broke a 2-2 tie with a two-out, seventh-inning grand slam, leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 6-2 victory over the LA Angels.
The decisive home run was Machado's only hit of the night, but it was his third home run and 10th RBI over the past four games. Opening their three-game series in LA with a win continues Baltimore's solid second half run. The Orioles have won eight of their last ten and improved to .500 (56-56) with the victory.
LA's Mike Trout delivered his 1,000th career hit with a double down the left field line in the fourth inning and later scored on a sac fly. Two innings later, he homered on his birthday for the fourth time in his six big league seasons, accounting for the Angles' only runs of the game.
Game two of the series is set for a 7:07 pm PT start on Tuesday.
National League
With almost no hope of making the playoffs via the wild card, the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to hang close in the NL Central, where they are in fourth place, though just 4 1/2 games behind division leader, Chicago.
Following a rough patch of eight losses in ten games, the Pirates have won four of their last five, including the first of two against the visiting Tigers, a 3-0 victory on Monday.
Rookie hurler Trevor Williams delivered seven shutout innings, surrendering only a third inning single by James McCann and a pair of inconsequential walks for the win. Other than McCann, who eventually made his way to third base, no other Detroit batter advanced past first base.
Williams(5-4) fanned five, throwing 107 pitches.
Pittsburgh and Detroit will finish off their interleague meeting Tuesday, 7:05 pm ET at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
American League
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| Machado: Grand Slam |
Manny Machado broke a 2-2 tie with a two-out, seventh-inning grand slam, leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 6-2 victory over the LA Angels.
The decisive home run was Machado's only hit of the night, but it was his third home run and 10th RBI over the past four games. Opening their three-game series in LA with a win continues Baltimore's solid second half run. The Orioles have won eight of their last ten and improved to .500 (56-56) with the victory.
LA's Mike Trout delivered his 1,000th career hit with a double down the left field line in the fourth inning and later scored on a sac fly. Two innings later, he homered on his birthday for the fourth time in his six big league seasons, accounting for the Angles' only runs of the game.
Game two of the series is set for a 7:07 pm PT start on Tuesday.
National League
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| Williams: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER |
Following a rough patch of eight losses in ten games, the Pirates have won four of their last five, including the first of two against the visiting Tigers, a 3-0 victory on Monday.
Rookie hurler Trevor Williams delivered seven shutout innings, surrendering only a third inning single by James McCann and a pair of inconsequential walks for the win. Other than McCann, who eventually made his way to third base, no other Detroit batter advanced past first base.
Williams(5-4) fanned five, throwing 107 pitches.
Pittsburgh and Detroit will finish off their interleague meeting Tuesday, 7:05 pm ET at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
Monday, August 7, 2017
Manny Machado 4-5, HR, 5 RBI in 12-3 Oriole Win; Hyun-Jin Ryu Throws 1-Hit Ball For 7, Dodgers Win 4th Straight
Players of the Day for Sunday, August 6, 2017
American League
Widely regarded as the most balanced division in the majors, four of the five teams in the AL East posted wins on Sunday, the lone loser, last place Toronto, in a 7-6 defeat by Houston.
That left the standings unchanged for the top four teams. The Red Sox lead the Yankees by three games, the Rays by 5 1/2 and Baltimore by 7 1/2. Despite Baltimore handing the visiting Tigers a 12-3 defeat at Camden Yards, the Orioles failed to gain any ground, but they are just 2 1/2 out of the second wild card slot, so, with their powerful lineup and many divisional games upcoming, they bear watching.
Manny Machado spearheaded the Baltimore offense, going 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, a two-run homer, and five RBI.
After a horrible first half, Machado has apparently fixed whatever was wrong with his swing. He hit .327 in July, raising his average from .217 to .246, and thus far in August he's batting .423 (11-for-26) with three home runs and eight RBI. Sunday's four-hit barrage was his third multiple-hit game of the month.
Baltimore will have to improve on its 55-56 record down the stretch if the Orioles are to reach the playoffs. Upcoming is a ten-game road trip to the West coast, playing the Angels, A's and Mariners beginning Monday. If Baltimore can be successful on the road - they're 20-33 thus far - they may have a future in October.
National League
No team appears capable of slowing down the inexorable march to the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Leading the NL West by a whopping 15 1/2 games, LA won its fourth straight, defeating the NY Mets at Citi Field in New York, 8-0, as Hyun-Jin Ryu tossed seven complete innings of one-hit ball in the Dodgers' 8-0 whitewash.
Ryu, who improved to 4-5, was impressive, striking out the first three batters he faced and setting down the first six before Travis d'Arnaud singled to open the third inning. The hit didn't matter, as Ryu breezed through eh remainder of the inning, putting away the last 15 batters he faced in order.
Ryu struck out eight and did not allow a walk. Tony Cingrani and Kenley Jansen each pitched an inning in relief, neither allowing a Mets hit.
The Dodgers continue to outpace the entire league. Since the all-star break they are an astonishing 18-3, and they ride their winning streak into Arizona to play a three-game series with the Diamondbacks beginning Tuesday.
American League
Widely regarded as the most balanced division in the majors, four of the five teams in the AL East posted wins on Sunday, the lone loser, last place Toronto, in a 7-6 defeat by Houston.
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| Machado: 4-5, HR, 5 RBI |
Manny Machado spearheaded the Baltimore offense, going 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, a two-run homer, and five RBI.
After a horrible first half, Machado has apparently fixed whatever was wrong with his swing. He hit .327 in July, raising his average from .217 to .246, and thus far in August he's batting .423 (11-for-26) with three home runs and eight RBI. Sunday's four-hit barrage was his third multiple-hit game of the month.
Baltimore will have to improve on its 55-56 record down the stretch if the Orioles are to reach the playoffs. Upcoming is a ten-game road trip to the West coast, playing the Angels, A's and Mariners beginning Monday. If Baltimore can be successful on the road - they're 20-33 thus far - they may have a future in October.
National League
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| Ryu: 7 IP, 1 H, 0ER |
Ryu, who improved to 4-5, was impressive, striking out the first three batters he faced and setting down the first six before Travis d'Arnaud singled to open the third inning. The hit didn't matter, as Ryu breezed through eh remainder of the inning, putting away the last 15 batters he faced in order.
Ryu struck out eight and did not allow a walk. Tony Cingrani and Kenley Jansen each pitched an inning in relief, neither allowing a Mets hit.
The Dodgers continue to outpace the entire league. Since the all-star break they are an astonishing 18-3, and they ride their winning streak into Arizona to play a three-game series with the Diamondbacks beginning Tuesday.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Corey Seager Blasts 3 HRs As Dodgers Bury Mets, 12-0; Manny Machado Homers Twice As O's Drop Tribe
Players of the Day for Tuesday, June 20, 2017
American League
Don't count the Baltimore Orioles out just yet. There's still plenty of games to be played, the Yankees have surrendered first place to the Red Sox by losing seven straight, and the O's have one of the most potent lineups in either league, as evidenced by the eruption off Manny Machado's bat in Baltimore's 6-5 victory over Cleveland.
Like the Orioles - 13-25 since May 9 - Machado himself has been in something of a funk, batting just .227, including Tuesday's 4-for-4 effort. His solo homer in the first inning was his 14th and his 15th - a three-run shot - tied the game at 5-5 in the sixth. Machado also scored what turned out to be the game-winner in the seventh, doubling to lead off the inning and scoring on Adam Jones' double down the first base line.
His four RBI gave him 34 on the season, so, if the all star third baseman gets on a roll, he can challenge last season's 37 home runs and 96 RBI.
Tying the series at a game apiece, the Indians saw their lead in the AL Central chopped to 1 1/2 over Minnesota, while the Orioles find themselves at .500 (35-35), 4 1/2 back of Boston in the East.
Game three of the four-game, Camden Yards series is scheduled for Wednesday, at 7:05 pm ET.
National League
Another day, another Dodger hero.
While Cody Bellinger hit his league-leading 22nd home run, Corey Seager smacked three out of the park as the Dodgers won their fifth straight, whipping the Mets, 12-0.
Seager socked a two-run homer in the first inning, a solo shot in the fourth, and a three-run belt in the sixth as the Dodgers completely outclassed the fading Mets. For good measure, the LA shortstop added his 19th double, going 4-for-5 with six RBI.
Seager is batting .293 with 12 homers and 38 RBI. The Dodgers are 27-10 at home.
The win didn't matter in the standings for the Dodgers as the first place Rockies won their sixth straight, a 4-3 win at Arizona. The good news for LA is that they are only 1/2 game behind Colorado in the NL West, with the Diamondbacks now two games off the pace.
Leading the series at Dodger Stadium two games to none, Los Angeles will try to extend their winning streak to six on Wednesday, when they host the Mets in game three at 7:00 pm PT.
American League
Don't count the Baltimore Orioles out just yet. There's still plenty of games to be played, the Yankees have surrendered first place to the Red Sox by losing seven straight, and the O's have one of the most potent lineups in either league, as evidenced by the eruption off Manny Machado's bat in Baltimore's 6-5 victory over Cleveland.
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| Machado: 2 HR, 4 RBI |
His four RBI gave him 34 on the season, so, if the all star third baseman gets on a roll, he can challenge last season's 37 home runs and 96 RBI.
Tying the series at a game apiece, the Indians saw their lead in the AL Central chopped to 1 1/2 over Minnesota, while the Orioles find themselves at .500 (35-35), 4 1/2 back of Boston in the East.
Game three of the four-game, Camden Yards series is scheduled for Wednesday, at 7:05 pm ET.
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| Seager: 3 HR, 6 RBI |
Another day, another Dodger hero.
While Cody Bellinger hit his league-leading 22nd home run, Corey Seager smacked three out of the park as the Dodgers won their fifth straight, whipping the Mets, 12-0.
Seager socked a two-run homer in the first inning, a solo shot in the fourth, and a three-run belt in the sixth as the Dodgers completely outclassed the fading Mets. For good measure, the LA shortstop added his 19th double, going 4-for-5 with six RBI.
Seager is batting .293 with 12 homers and 38 RBI. The Dodgers are 27-10 at home.
The win didn't matter in the standings for the Dodgers as the first place Rockies won their sixth straight, a 4-3 win at Arizona. The good news for LA is that they are only 1/2 game behind Colorado in the NL West, with the Diamondbacks now two games off the pace.
Leading the series at Dodger Stadium two games to none, Los Angeles will try to extend their winning streak to six on Wednesday, when they host the Mets in game three at 7:00 pm PT.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Austin Jackson Delivers as Cubs Sweep Reds; Manny Machado Homers Twice in Orioles' Win over Blue Jays
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| Machado: 2HR, 3RBI |
American League
It's a little late in the season (and too late to make the playoffs), but the Baltimore Orioles took their second straight from the Blue Jays, Thursday's 6-4 win coming courtesy of Manny Machado, who parked a couple of belts into the deepest parts of Camden Yards (left-center and center field) - his 32nd and 33rd homers - and also singled and scored, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs.
The Orioles lost the opener of a twin bill on Wednesday which clinched the AL East for the Blue Jays, but topped them in the nightcap, 8-1. Thursday's defeat left Toronto tied with Kansas City for the best record in the league (which would mean home field advantage in the championship round of the playoffs) with just three games to go.
In New York, the Yankees clinched a playoff spot with a 4-1 win over the Red Sox and can wrap up home field for the wild card game with one win in their final series of the season, at Baltimore, beginning Friday night at 7:05 pm EDT.
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| Jackson: 3R HR |
The Rangers also clinched a playoff spot, topping the Angels, 5-3. Texas has a three-game edge on Houston in the AL West and can clinch the division with a in in any off their three remaining games, all at Texas, against the Angels, who are four games out and trail Hosuton by one in the wild card race along with Minnesota.
National League
Austin Jackson clubbed a three-run homer in the first inning and later walked and scored the final run for the Cubs in the fifth inning as Chicago completed its sweep of the Reds, taking the third game by a 5-3 score.
Jackson, a speedy outfielder, was acquired by the Cubs from Seattle prior to the July 31 trading deadline and has played in 26 games for Chicago. His homer was his first in a Cubs' uniform.
The win was the fifth straight for the Cubs, leaving them two behind Pittsburgh in the wild card race. Both the Pirates and Cubs have clinched playoff spots but where the game will be played is yet to be determined. Chicago heads to Milwauke for a three-game series starting Friday, while the Pirates host the Reds, losers of 12 straight, over the weekend.
Pittsburgh can get the game at home by any combination of two wins or Cubs losses, so, if the Cubs lose Friday and the Pirates win, the game will be at Pittsburgh. Chicago is hoping to overtake the Pirates, something they've been unable to do thus far, though that scenario - among others, such as a tie for the wild card - seems unlikely.
In any case, here are the MLB rules for tie-breakers.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Adam Jones, Manny Machado Star as Orioles Outlast A's; Jaime Garcia Pitches Gem for Cardinals
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| Machado: Walk-Off HR |
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| Jones: HR, 4RBI |
American League
While the Yankees were coming from behind to win at Toronto, 4-3, taking back first place in the AL East from the Jays by 1/2 game and ending an 11-game Toronto win streak, the Orioles were in Baltimore, going into extra innings against the Athletics, eventually coming away with an 8-6 victory in 13 innings.
Manny Machado provided the fireworks in walk-off fashion, socking his 25th home run of the season with one out and one aboard, leaving the Orioles in third place, five games behind the interim leader of the division.
Helping the Baltimore cause in the regular course of the game was Adam Jones, who singled twice, whacked a fifth-inning, three-run homer (his 20th), and drove in four runs. Jones has 60 RBI on the year. Chris Davis also belted his 32nd home run of the year and drove in two runs, tying him with Toronto's Josh Donaldson at 85 RBI.
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| Garcia: 8 1/3 IP, 0 ER, W |
National League
While other teams seem to have their winning and losing streaks and various ups-and-downs, the St.Louis Cardinals simply continue to plow ahead like an old mule, leading the NL Central, as they have since nearly the start of the season, by a solid six games.
After taking two of three from the Pirates during the week, the Cardinals entertained the Miami Marlins in the first of a three-game series at Busch Stadium, though the result may have not been exactly what the guests were seeking nor expecting.
Jaime Garcia turned in an outstanding start, nearly going the distance. Working into the ninth, Garcia finally turned the ball over to Trevor Rosental after the Marlins got on the board with an unearned run. Garcia had held Miami to six hits, but with two aboard and only one out, Rosenthal came in to do his job for the 35th time this season, allowing one hit, but getting the final two outs to secure the 3-1 St. Louis victory.
Garcia (5-4) had everything working, fanning six and walking only one batter. He threw 96 pitches, 69 of them for strikes. Having missed almost all of July due to injury, Garcia is back on his best game, lowering his ERA to a ridiculous 1.57.
Earning wins in his last two starts, Garcia has not allowed an earned run over the past 15 1/3 innings.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Manny Machado, Jon Johnson Help Orioles to Tie for First; Michael Morse's Grand Slam Get Nationals Closer to NL East Title
Players of the Day for Saturday, September 29, 2012
American League
Even though they've scored oly eight more runs than the competition all season, the Baltimore Orioles remain in contention for both the AL East title and the wild card, tying the Yankees for first place in the AL East with a 4-3 win over Boston as the Yanks were losing 3-2, to Toronto.
Manny Machado broke a 3-3 tie with a solo homer in the seventh inning and Baltimore's relievers put the game away with hitless eighth and ninth innings. Jim Johnson earned his AL-best 49th save of the season, putting away the Red Sox in order to end the game.
Machado put the O's on the board with an RBI single in the second inning, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
The Orioles finish up their series with the Red Sox Sunday afternoon, then head to Tampa for a critical three-game series with the Rays which could impact both the AL East, but, more likely, the wild cards.
National League
Washington's Michael Morse socked a first-inning grand slam, staking the Nationals to a 4-0 lead in the second of their three-game series with St. Louis, eventually winning in 10 innings on Kurt Suzuki's two-run double, for a 6-4 victory.
The win got the Nationals to within one win of wrapping up the NL East, the only division in the National League yet to be decided. Atlanta topped the Mets, 2-0, but remain four games behind the division leaders.
St. Louis' loss left them two games in front of the Dodgers for the second wild card as LA stopped Colorado, 3-0.
American League
Even though they've scored oly eight more runs than the competition all season, the Baltimore Orioles remain in contention for both the AL East title and the wild card, tying the Yankees for first place in the AL East with a 4-3 win over Boston as the Yanks were losing 3-2, to Toronto.
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| Manny Machado |
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| Jim Johnson |
Machado put the O's on the board with an RBI single in the second inning, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
The Orioles finish up their series with the Red Sox Sunday afternoon, then head to Tampa for a critical three-game series with the Rays which could impact both the AL East, but, more likely, the wild cards.
National League
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| Michael Morse |
Washington's Michael Morse socked a first-inning grand slam, staking the Nationals to a 4-0 lead in the second of their three-game series with St. Louis, eventually winning in 10 innings on Kurt Suzuki's two-run double, for a 6-4 victory.
The win got the Nationals to within one win of wrapping up the NL East, the only division in the National League yet to be decided. Atlanta topped the Mets, 2-0, but remain four games behind the division leaders.
St. Louis' loss left them two games in front of the Dodgers for the second wild card as LA stopped Colorado, 3-0.
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