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If you think the All-Star Game is sneaking up on you, it is. A week from tonight, the AL and NL stars square off in Philadelphia. It will come a night after the latest revision to Home Run Derby, which will be televised by Netflix. Let’s hope that is a better production than whatever that was on Opening Night in San Francisco.
Today’s Headlines
Caballero’s HRs, Schlittler’s Arm Boost Yankees
José Caballero doesn’t feel like a vindictive guy. But that doesn’t mean the New York Yankees‘ shortstop doesn’t relish doing something big against his former team. Caballero belted a pair of homers and right-hander Cam Schlittler bounced back from a rough outing with eight strong innings as the Yankees bounced the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1. Caballero, who was traded from the Rays last year, drove in four homers with a three-run blast in the fifth inning and a solo shot in the eighth, giving him a career-best 10 for the year (he hit nine in 2024). Ben Rice’s solo shot was his 25th for the Yankees. Schlittler, meanwhile, struck out eight in going eight innings for the second time this year, allowing four hits and no walks. The Yankees trail the first-place Rays by three games in the AL East.
A First For Dodgers As They Reach 60
Dalton Rushing has certainly ruffled a few feathers in his most extensive playing time as an MLB player. But there is also a reason teams pursued the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ catcher when he was still a highly touted prospect. His bat plays. Rushing’s third hit of the night, a ground single to center in the 11th inning, scored Teoscar Hernández from third with the winning run in an 8-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies, their MLB-leading 60th win of the season. This was the Dodgers’ first extra-inning game of the season, coming in their 92nd game and falling five short of the MLB record. The Dodgers almost didn’t make it to extras as the Rockies scored three times and what looked to be a fourth time in the top of the ninth. But thanks to video replay, Rushing was ruled to have tagged out Rockies counterpart Hunter Goodman as the last of three runners trying to score on Cole Carrigg’s bases-loaded double. Instead of 7-6 Rockies, it was 6-6. That capped a remarkable comeback for the Rockies, who trailed 6-1 after four innings, which included Shohei Ohtani’s 19th homer of the season and the 299th of his career.
Soto Smash, Torrens Double Lift Mets
Just because the New York Mets are having a season to forget, you might think superstar Juan Soto is one of the root causes. Not exactly. The Mets’ lone All-Star (someone had to go, right?) crushed a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to put the Mets up, only to see Atlanta tie it in the bottom of the ninth. But Luis Torrens made the homer stand up with a two-run double in the top of the 10th as the Mets survived for a 7-6 victory. Soto’s homer was his 19th of the season and put the Mets ahead 5-3. But Ozzie Albies led off the bottom half with a double, took third on defensive indifference and walked home as Matt Olson blistered his 24th homer of the season to tie it 5-5. With automatic runner Bo Bichette now on third after the first two batters made outs, Jared Young was hit by a pitch, Torrens lined an 0-2 pitch to left that took a good hop off the wall, allowing both runners to score. Atlanta got one back on a Michael Harris II one-out double, then loaded the bases with two outs on a couple walks, but before the Mets secured the victory with a game-ending grounder.
Royals Pound Sanchez, Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez is the probable starter for the NL in next week’s All-Star Game. That is how good his first half has gone. It didn’t go very well in a Monday matinee that was needed due to the World Cup being in Kansas City over the weekend. The offensively challenged Royals lit up Sanchez to the tune of nine runs, including three homers, in 3⅓ innings en route to a 15-1 victory over the Phillies. Sanchez gave up 12 hits and struck out only three with a walk. The Royals scored more runs in this game than the previous five games of this homestand (12). Luke Maile, Salvador Perez and Lane Thomas went deep off Sanchez, while Tyler Tolbert also homered as part of a 5-for-5 day.
Three-HR Game* For Giants’ Ramos
Hitting two homers in a game is pretty rare for most players. But what if you have already hit a Little League homer and then hit two home runs? Extremely rare. That is exactly what Heliot Ramos did in the San Francisco Giants‘ 10-1 demolition of the Toronto Blue Jays. Ramos led off the bottom of the first with a liner to Triples Alley resulting in, of course, a triple, with the relay throw bouncing out of play for a Little League-style homer. Ramos then did the hard work of punching two more out of the park, the first one an opposite-field liner just over the high wall in right field in the sixth, then a towering two-run blast to left-center in the eighth for his five-RBI night. He now has eight homers (or is it nine*?). He is the first player since 2002 to have two out-of-the-park homers and a Little League homer in the same game.
By The Numbers
9 After scoring in all eight times they came to bat vs. the Phillies, the Royals have scored in nine consecutive innings, breaking the club record.
7 Washington Nationals right-handed starter Miles Mikolas gave up seven runs over six innings, yet still picked up the victory in the Nats’ 12-11 triumph over the Houston Astros. That is the most runs given up by a winning pitcher in franchise history.
6 Atlanta right-hander Carlos Carrasco has been designated for assignment yet again this year. This is the sixth time Carraso has been DFA’d this year by Atlanta, each time refusing an outright assignment and then signing a minor-league contract to circumvent the the process of being called back up.
.500 With their 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Milwaukee Brewers are back to .500 since joining the NL in 1998 at 2,261-2,261. They were 57-57 in 1998 and as many as 196 games below .500 in the Senior Circuit.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Grand Admirer
James Wood knew. He pretty much always knows. The Washington Nationals‘ slugger swung and watched for a second, turned to the dugout, dropped his bat and trotted around the bases for his second career grand slam and first that wasn’t an inside-the-parker like his May 19 slam. Did I mention it went 446 feet? Wood knew.
Early Exit
With the Phillies down 10-1 in the sixth vs. the Royals, Kyle Schwarber called it a day. Not by his choice, but by his gesture.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Evan Phillips was activated from the 60-day injured list following his recovery from Tommy John surgery early last season. Right-hander Paul Gervase was optioned to Triple-A, while catcher Chuckie Robinson and left-hander Jake Eder were designated for assignment.
⚾ Washington Nationals right-handed starter Cade Cavalli had his suspension reduced from seven games to five and began serving it Monday. As a starter who pitched Sunday, Cavalli will simply start a day later than normal.
⚾ Boston Red Sox left-handed starter Patrick Sandoval, who had Tommy John surgery in 2024 while with the Los Angeles Angels, was activated off the 60-day IL.
⚾ Atlanta placed left-hander Martín Pérez on the 15-day IL with a left forearm contusion.
Articles You Should Read
Did you know about MLB’s dinger mandate? — Bradford William Davis, Eyeblack
How a mental-skills coach helped Muncy emerge as an All-Star again — Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic
Angels interim GM Mozeliak gives fans hope for a winner — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times
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