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Tuesday’s holiday gave us a loaded slate of early games and many fireworks, both literally and on the field. Let’s get into it!
Today’s Headlines
Braves lose, finally
In what turned out to be the day’s most exciting game, the Guardians outlasted the Braves to snap their 9-game winning streak. Even as Atlanta appeared to have control of the contest following one of their patented multi-run innings, Cleveland chipped away and retook the lead in the seventh inning. A clutch homer by Ozzie Albies—his second of the game—tied the game against closer Emmanuel Clase, and the Braves would have a chance to win it in the tenth, but a potential sacrifice fly was thwarted by a standout outfield assist by rookie David Fry. A night to remember would be capped by Fry, who hit a two-out walk-off single to score Amed Rosario, who also had a monster game, driving in four runs. If anything, this game served as a reminder that beating the Braves has become a monumental task.
Toe-to-toe. Punch-for-punch. One man standing.#ForTheLand | #GuardiWins pic.twitter.com/w8veUxHcEW
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 5, 2023
Ohtani’s rough day
After his incandescent June, the start of July has been tough for Shohei Ohtani. Facing the disappointing Padres as a pitcher, San Diego provided a glimpse of how their lineup is supposed to operate, handing Shohei his worst day of the season. In only 5 innings of work, Ohtani allowed 7 hits, 4 walks, and 5 earned runs against only 5 strikeouts. This included the first time in his career in which he has allowed back-to-back homers, as Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth chased Ohtani out of the game, though this also could have been part of a blister problem, as was revealed after the game. The pitching letdown was matched by a lackluster offensive showing, finishing the day 0-for-3 with a K. Here’s hoping that the blister issue is minor and we can continue to enjoy a historic season.
Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth are the only players in MLB History to hit back to back home runs off Shohei Ohtani 👀 pic.twitter.com/zdfSItD3rh
— Average Takes (@AverageTakes_) July 5, 2023
Logan Gilbert channels inner Wolverine
Seattle’s Logan Gilbert delivered the best outing of his career, earning his first complete game shutout in only 105 pitches. Despite a low strikeout total (only 7 of them), Gilbert mowed down the Giants with ease, allowing 5 hits and no walks. The offense was boosted by Mike Ford’s 4-hit day, which included a homer, as the Mariners cruised to an early 3-0 lead that Gilbert would manage masterfully. The win got Seattle back at .500, while the Giants have now lost four straight.
Have a day, Logan Gilbert!
The first complete game of his career. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Y60bZwfSU1
— MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2023
Vintage Aaron Nola leads Phillies
Aaron Nola entered the game with a 4.51 ERA amid a disappointing season, following last year’s 4th place finish in NL Cy Young voting. The most concerning part of Nola’s regression has been his lack of strikeouts, as the current 8.7 K/9 would represent the lowest mark since his rookie year. Facing the league-leading Rays, Nola delivered his best outing of the season, with 7.1 innings of one-run ball (a Wander Franco solo homer), striking out 12 batters to earn his eighth win of the season. This marked Philadelphia’s 10th straight road win, and the Phillies are now in a virtual tie for the NL’s final wild-card spot.
Road Warriors. 😤
The @Phillies secure their 10th road victory in a row. pic.twitter.com/0CP8Gr9rh3
— MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2023
Marlins reach 50 wins
Fact: the Marlins, even with a massive 15-2 win over the Cardinals, have a negative run differential. Also fact: the Marlins now have 50 wins, earning this distinction in 2023 before such teams as the Dodgers, Padres, Yankees, Blue Jays, Astros, and anyone who plays in the Central divisions. Today’s offensive explosion produced 19 hits, even as Luis Arraez only got one of them, as six other batters had multi-hit efforts, highlighted by Jesús Sánchez’s homer and 4 RBIs. Miami continues to hold the NL’s top wild card position, and seems primed to confound MLB for the rest of the year.
The @Marlins put on quite a #FourthOfJuly show. pic.twitter.com/9IE1zydQN4
— MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2023
Best Moments From Yesterday
Kyle Hendricks, elite reflexes
In a play that reminds of us other elite fielding pitchers, especially Greg Maddux, Cubs finesse hurler Kyle Hendricks handled a screaming liner headed straight to his body as if it was a routine pop up. Hendrick’s pitch was thrown at 81 miles per hour and the ball left Owen Miller’s bat at almost 105, only to be speared nonchalantly by the wily veteran—the Cubs would end up winning in extras, just as a bonus.
Kyle Hendricks speared this 104.8 mph liner like it was nothing. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/iDNW2EK9fX
— MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2023
Aaron Hicks out for revenge
Even as the Orioles lost to the Yankees and saw them getting really close in the standings, we cannot deny that the biggest winner of the game was Aaron Hicks. After being ignominiously designated for assignment by New York earlier in the year, Hicks has had a quick renaissance with the Orioles, and today gave us the most satisfying revenge moment of the season. His bat flip was understated and there was not a huge celebration, but it was easy to see just how much this homer meant to Hicks.
Aaron Hicks goes yard against the Yankees and the boos rain down pic.twitter.com/8BIx9dT5l9
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 4, 2023
Ha-Seong Kim, the acrobat
Even in a lineup full of stars, San Diego’s most valuable position player by bWAR has been Ha-Seong Kim, gaining most of his value from his elite defense at second base. This play is clear evidence of the range, athleticism, and sheer inspiration that Kim continues to display. Even with the lethargic Mike Moustakas running (10th percentile in sprint speed), this play is still a sight to behold.
How did Ha-Seong Kim make this play? 🤯
(MLB X @Woodbridge_Wine) pic.twitter.com/5NQK7pm36Q
— MLB (@MLB) July 5, 2023
Injuries
The Angels, who have been in the middle of the AL wild-card race for most of the season, had probably the worst 48 hours any team could experience. Following Monday’s loss that saw them remove Mike Trout after an apparent wrist injury, today the team announced that the former MVP will miss between four and eight weeks with a fractured hamate bone. The tough blow was followed by a second straight loss in San Diego, which saw Anthony Rendon leave the game with a left shin contusion after fouling a ball off his leg, and then Shohei Ohtani struggling on the mound and being removed with a blister. It is not clear if Rendon will visit the IL yet again, while it is apparent that Ohtani could miss a turn in the rotation—though the blister does not appear serious enough to hamper his exploits as a hitter.
Over at the real Los Angeles, the Dodgers continue to struggle with their rotation, as it was announced that Dustin May will undergo season-ending surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his pitching elbow. The injury marks yet another frustrating setback for May, who missed most of 2021 and 2022 after Tommy John surgery. He returned earlier this year and was effective in his first eight starts (4-1, with a 2.63 ERA), but a velocity dropoff was evident enough to diagnose him with a strain in his elbow. Even as the Dodgers hoped to have May return sometime in 2023, the announcement marks a huge blow for the team, who also has Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw on the IL.
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