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Memorial Day is usually a pretty decent marker in an MLB season. Teams have started to sort themselves out as to who will contend and who won’t. There is clearly a league full of contenders (NL) and a league full of pretenders (AL). The NL Central still has all five of its teams with winning records, while the AL West is being led by the upstart A’s at 27-26. In fact, only four AL teams have winning records (a fifth is at .500). How will this shape the summer and the big trades that are coming?
Today’s Headlines
Judge Drought Ends At 11 With Walk-Off Blast
If you are going to snap out of a long (for you) homerless streak, you might as well make it count for something. Superstar slugger Aaron Judge, who hadn’t hit a homer much less driven in a run over his last 11 games, launched a two-run walk-off blast to give the New York Yankees a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. It was the fourth walk-off homer and eighth walk-off overall in Judge’s career. Judge’s homer came after excellent performances by the two starting pitchers, right-handers Drew Rasmussen of the Rays and Ryan Weathers of the Yankees. Both went seven shutout innings, with Rasmussen allowing five hits and a walk with six strikeouts and Weathers four hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Trent Grisham led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and Judge smashed his 17th homer of the season off right-hander Kevin Kelly.
Another Mets Dagger: Marlins Hit Walk-Off Slam
Anytime you get swept, it stings. But when you get swept and the final nail in the coffin is what the New York Mets experienced in the series finale against the Miami Marlins, it is downright painful. Heriberto Hernández hit a walk-off grand slam off closer Devin Williams to give the Marlins a 4-0 victory over the Mets, completing Miami’s three-game sweep. Williams gave up a leadoff double to Christopher Morel, a sacrifice bunt, a walk to Liam Hicks and an intentional walk to Xavier Edwards to bring up Hernandez. The second-year outfielder jumped on an 0-1 changeup, Williams’ signature pitch, and launched it over the center-field wall for his second homer of the year and a walk-off slam. Hernandez also provided the first walk-off grand slam in a 0-0 game since Sept. 22, 2013, when Justin Maxwell did it for the Kansas City Royals.
Cowser’s Walk-Off Shot Turns Loss Into Win For Orioles
Are you tired of walk-off homers yet? Colton Cowser wasn’t. The Baltimore Orioles‘ outfielder added to the day’s festivities by hitting an even more dramatic blast (three is not a record, by the way), a three-run shot with the Orioles down to their final strike that turned an impending loss into a thrilling 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader. The Tigers bounced back in the nightcap for a 4-1 victory that halted an eight-game losing streak. Cowser’s homer came off Tigers closer Kenley Jansen, who had come on to escape an eighth-inning jam and was trying for a four-out save. The Orioles’ comeback dampened the start by Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez, who allowed just two hits over six innings. Orioles right-handed starter Brandon Young was pretty good himself, going 6⅔ innings and allowing two unearned runs.
Cubs’ Woes Continue With 8th Straight Loss
The Chicago Cubs remarkably had two 10-game winning streaks in their first 40 games of the season. They are close to reaching double digits again in their latest run, only this isn’t a good thing for the Cubs. Christian Walker hit a three-run homer as part of a five-run fifth inning that sent the Houston Astros to an 8-5 win over the Cubs, Chicago’s eighth loss in a row. With a record of 29-24, that means the Cubs are a miserable 9-24 outside of their two 10-game win streaks. Jake Meyers and Nick Allen also homered for the Astros. Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga, the only constant in an injury-plagued rotation, coughed up seven runs in six innings.
Detmers K’s 14, Allows 1 Hit In 8 Innings As Angels Sweep
It was risky to schedule the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels for the marquee TV spot, but boy, did it work out well. Left-handed starter Reid Detmers struck out a career-high 14 and allowed just one hit over eight innings, but it took an errant throw on a potential inning-ending double play to bring home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to hand the Angels a 2-1 triumph over the Rangers for Los Angeles’ first sweep of the season. Detmers’ previous career high for strikeouts was 12, done four times including twice vs. the Rangers. He also didn’t walk anyone in his second-best career performance next to the no-hitter he tossed as a rookie in 2022. Detmers retired 21 batters he faced, with the only hit being Jake Burger’s leadoff homer in the second inning. But it took a miracle for the Angels to pull this one out. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Jorge Soler singled and Jo Adell was hit by a pitch. Pinch-runner Donovan Walton replaced Soler at second. Oswald Peraza then hit a chopper up the middle that second baseman Justin Foscue fielded and stepped on second for the second out. But Foscue bobbled the ball slightly before regaining the grip and throwing low to first base, unable to be scooped as Walton raced around third and scored without a play.
Devers Keeps Giants’ Grand Feeling Going
Not much has gone right for the San Francisco Giants this season, but they seem to be having fun anyways. Along with a questionable postgame celebration, the Giants are in a grand slam groove. Rafael Devers hit the Giants’ third slam in the last week in an 8-5 win over the Chicago White Sox. It was the second day in a row that the Giants had a slam, with Harrison Bader doing the deed Saturday. Bader also hit a slam Monday vs. the A’s. This was Devers’ first slam with the Giants and seventh in his career.
Jays Breathe Deeply After Good News On Cease, Guerrero
A casual Sunday at the ballpark almost turned into a nightmare for the Toronto Blue Jays. Fortunately, the news concerning superstar first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. and star right-handed starter Dylan Cease turned out to be good — at least for now. After Cease left the 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates with mild discomfort in his left hamstring in the top of the fifth inning, Guerrero exited after being hit on the right elbow by a pitch in the bottom half. Guerrero only sustained an elbow contusion, but he said he lost feeling in two fingers and right hand upon impact.
By The Numbers
2021 Kyle Tucker is the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to have a triple in back-to-back games since Gavin Lux in 2021.
47 Nick Kurtz of the A’s extended his on-base streak to 47 games, the second-longest in franchise history. Mark McGwire had a 62-game run that went over the 1995-96 seasons. The A’s beat the San Diego Padres 5-2.
11 Right-hander Travis Adams became the 11th Minnesota Twins pitcher to record a save this season, extending the franchise record when he secured a 6-5 win over the Boston Red Sox. The previous mark was nine. Two of the three players tied for the team lead with two saves have been designated for assignment.
51 Corbin Carroll hit two triples in the Arizona Diamondbacks‘ 9-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies, giving him 51 for his career and leaving him one shy of Stephen Drew’s club record.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Silent Treatment For No. 1
It took until his third game for Esmerlyn Valdez of the Pirates to finally get his first MLB hit, which also was his first MLB home run. The smile on his face as he rounded the bases said everything. But when he got back to the Pirates’ dugout, he was given the silent treatment. And the kid who wound up with the ball phoned a friend to make sure he got a good deal when giving up the milestone ball.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Chicago Cubs lost the third member of their Opening Day rotation when right-hander Edward Cabrera was placed on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his right middle finger. Left-hander Jordan Wicks was promoted from Triple-A.
⚾ Washington Nationals right-handed starter Jake Irvin was put on the 15-day IL with a strained right shoulder. The Nationals are hoping for a minimal IL stint. Left-hander PJ Poulin was called up from Triple-A.
⚾ The Tigers made a handful of moves, including activating right-hander Troy Melton from the 60-day IL and placing left-hander Brant Hurter on the 15-day IL with a lumbar spine inflammation. Right-hander Connor Seabold was designated for assignment.
⚾ Colorado Rockies left-handed starter Jose Quintana left Sunday’s game in the second inning with left elbow discomfort.
⚾ Charlie Moore, a catcher-turned-outfielder who was a integral member of the Brewers’ 1982 World Series team, died Saturday. He was 72.
Articles You Should Read
Not quite an overnight sensation, Martin is opening eyes for the White Sox — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune
Time for “urgency” by Red Sox was the winter. The move now is to be a seller. — Peter Abraham, Boston Globe
Votto’s post-retirement life: sushi chef, yoga instructor, world traveler — Jayson Stark, The Athletic
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