Seven all-star replacements were named today, and somehow after an immaculate nine-pitch, three-strikeout inning, Carlos Carrasco still isn’t on that list. Big Sexy landed a minor league deal with a new team (sorry Mets fans), and the Nationals, Dodgers, D-Backs and Astros all stayed red hot this Friday.
Pittsburgh Pirates (40-47) 1
Chicago Cubs (43-43) 6
CHICAGO- Neither starter lasted more than four innings, but the Cubs bullpen outperformed that of the Pirates. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo combined for three homers and all six RBI in the win.
San Diego Padres (37-49) 4
Philadelphia Phillies (28-57) 3
PHILADELPHIA- Canadian rookie Nick Pivetta handed the Phillies a second straight quality start, but it went to waste when the bullpen came in. An Austin Hedges sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth gave San Diego the road win, and added to Philadelphia’s worst record in the league.
Atlanta Braves (41-44) 4
Washington Nationals (51-35) 5, 10 innings
WASHINGTON- 2013 NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey outdueled last year’s NL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, but Atlanta’s closer couldn’t shut the door to give Dickey the win. Jim Johnson allowed the Nats to tie it with three runs in the ninth, and a Daniel Murphy RBI single off Ian Krol walked things off an inning later in the nation’s capital.
Boston Red Sox (50-37) 8
Tampa Bay Rays (45-43) 3
TAMPA BAY- Drew Pomeranz is making a push to be an All-Star for a second straight year. The 28-year-old lefty tossed six innings of two-run ball to improve to 9-4 with a 3.60 ERA on the season. To seal the deal, closer Craig Kimbrel set the side down in order in the ninth to continue his own historic season out of the pen.
Houston Astros (59-28) 12
Toronto Blue Jays (40-46) 2
TORONTO- George “Dinger” Springer saw just nine pitches in his four at-bats out of the leadoff spot last night, but went 4-4 and sent two of those hits into the seats. For Toronto, Aaron Sanchez’s second return from the DL this year lasted just 1 2/3 innings as he gave up eight runs (five earned). The Astros are on pace for 110 wins this season.
Milwaukee Brewers (49-40) 9
New York AL (44-40) 4
BRONX- The Baby Bombers’ struggles continued Friday night. Despite Aaron Judge’s 30th homer of the year, and a 4-2 lead, the Yanks’ bullpen allowed seven earned runs and the Brewers, who made five errors, came out on top.
Detroit Tigers (38-47) 2
Cleveland Indians (46-39) 11
CLEVELAND- After winning 2/3 in Detroit last weekend, the Indians got things started the way they’d like to this weekend. Four pitching replacements were named today on the AL All-Star team’s staff, yet somehow Carlos Carrasco still isn’t on it. With seven innings of two-run ball tonight, he improved to 10-3 with a 3.44 ERA this season. Speaking of all-stars, Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley went a combined 7-13 in the Tribe’s victory.
Baltimore Orioles (40-46) 6
Minnesota Twins (45-41) 9
MINNEAPOLIS- After losing 103 games a year ago, the Twins somehow find themselves just two games behind the Indians for first place in the AL Central with the All-Star break fast approaching. Despite Minnesota trailing 6-0 after three, Brandon Kintzler notched his 24th save of the year. He also received the call that he’ll be going to Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic. Most importantly though, the Twins are bringing Big Sexy back! Bartolo Colon has landed a minor league deal with the organization and will suit up with the Rochester Red Wings as soon as this weekend. The Red Wings will play as the Rochester Plates on August 10th. Let you consider that one for a while.
New York Mets (39-45) 6
St. Louis Cardinals (41-45) 5
ST. LOUIS- 2017 has been a huge disappointment for each of these recently successful franchises. Jacob deGrom won his ninth game, defeating Carlos Martinez (6-8), and proving why he was more deserving of an all-star spot. Jay Bruce’s 22nd long ball of the year proved to be the difference in this one.
Chicago White Sox (37-48) 4
Colorado Rockies (51-38) 12
DENVER- German Marquez gave the Rockies seven innings of three run ball in this one as all three of Colorado’s all-stars went deep. Melky Cabrera went 1-for-4 for Chicago, but don’t expect him to be a member of the White Sox much longer with the trade deadline a few weeks away.
Los Angeles Angels (44-46) 0
Texas Rangers (42-44) 10
ARLINGTON- This game was the tale of two starting pitchers. Ricky Nolasco lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing eight earned runs, while Cole Hamels, who has had an injury ridden season, threw 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball for the Rangers. Texas’s 3-6 hitters drove in all of their runs.
Cincinnati Reds (37-49) 3
Arizona Diamondbacks (53-34) 6
PHOENIX- What’s more impressive than the fact that the D-Backs are 19 games over .500? The fact that after winning 33 home games last year, they’re 33-13 at home so far this season! Zack Greinke (11-4) tossed seven scoreless and is 9-0 at home to finish his first half. It finally seems as if he’s worth the record setting contract Arizona gave him before last season.
Oakland Athletics (38-49) 2
Seattle Mariners (42-46) 7
SEATTLE- Both starting pitchers produced quality starts through their seven innings pitched, but it was the A’s bullpen that imploded in the eighth. A Nelson Cruz three-run shot turned a 3-2 game into 6-2 and the Mariners ran away with it.
Miami Marlins (39-46) 6
San Francisco Giants (34-54) 1
SAN FRANCISCO- The team that has won three World Series rings since 2010, is all of a sudden on pace to go from an NLDS appearance to 99 losses. Dan Straily (7-4) allowed one earned in 8 1/3 innings, and Giancarlo Stanton gave fans a preview of what to expect in Monday’s Home Run Derby in Miami with a first-inning home run his 24th of the season.
Kansas City Royals (44-41) 1
Los Angeles Dodgers (59-29) 4
LOS ANGELES- The two hottest teams in baseball since June 1 faced off and before the game, Mike Moustakas (KC) and Justin Turner (LAD) received their trophies for winning the final all-star vote in each’s respective league. LA walked away with the win as Yasiel Puig hit his 16th home run of the year a 430 foot shot.
This article saved me. I was planning on watching some games last night but one of the kids got sick and we ended up making a run to the doctors. Unfortunately my precious “unwind and watch some baseball” time was wiped away and I was left without any clue as to how the night went. Thanks for the update, it was much needed.