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Some stormy weather on Wednesday out east led to a pair of exciting doubleheaders yesterday in Philadelphia and Baltimore, while elsewhere Paul Skenes took the mound for the Pirates. Let’s get into it.
Today’s Headlines
Philadelphia Walks it Off, Twice!
The Philadelphia Phillies have had quite the roller coaster of emotions this week, with the firing of manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday followed by a win in interim manager Don Mattingly’s debut the following evening that finally broke a ten game losing streak.
A doubleheader on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants saw those emotions come to a peak, with thrilling walk-off wins in both games. Game one saw aces Christopher Sanchez (6.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 K, 4 H, 3 BB) and Logan Webb (7 IP, 1 ER, 6 K, 7 H, 2 BB) go head to head, with both pitching into the seventh inning and neither coming away with a decision. Webb left the game after seven strong innings with his team up 2-1, but the Phillies were able to rally in the ninth after Adolis Garcia led off with a single. Bryson Stott tripled him home before rookie Justin Crawford hit his second walk-off of the young season with an infield single that he was able to beat out.
Game two saw the Phillies down 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth before Kyle Schwarber delivered a game-tying double and then Alec Bohm proceeded to knock in a game-winning sac fly in the bottom on the tenth, ending a wild day in Philadelphia and completing a series sweep over San Francisco. The Phillies now head to Miami for a three game set with the Marlins, while the Giants will try and rebound in Tampa against the Rays.
Houston and Baltimore Split a High-Scoring Pair
If you managed to attend both games of the doubleheader played between Houston and Baltimore yesterday, you would have been privy to watching 29 runs be scored in a pair of wild affairs. Game one saw the Orioles take home the victory by a score of 10-3, with Chris Bassitt (6.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 K, 7 H, 1 BB) securing the win on the mound and the Orioles’ bats exploding for a pair of grand slams: one by catcher Adley Rutschman and the other by infielder Jeremiah Jackson.
Game two was a rout in the opposite direction with Houston mashing their way to an 11-5 win, including yet another home run by the red-hot Yordan Alvarez. Lance McCullers Jr. (6 IP, 3 ER, 9 K, 2 H, 4 BB) earned his second win of the year.
Houston will now travel to Boston to take on the Red Sox, while Baltimore heads to Yankee Stadium.
Skenes Scuffles Against St. Louis
Paul Skenes took the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday looking to end the team’s four game losing streak, but things did not go as planned from the jump, with St. Louis rookie shortstop JJ Wetherholt leading off the game with an impressive blast to deep right field. Jordan Walker would add a two-run homer of his own in the third inning, and Skenes would end up surrendering two more runs before exiting the game after only five innings. He did strike out nine and walk none, so it wasn’t a completely off day for the reigning NL Cy Young award winner, but it still was unusual to see Skenes give up eight hits, including some very loud home runs. The Cardinals ended up winning this one 10-5, and welcome the Dodgers to town this weekend, while the Pirates will look to end their skid at home against Cincinnati.
By The Numbers
1910 Thursday’s doubleheader was the first time since 1910 that the Philadelphia Phillies had game-tying hits in the ninth inning of both games.
2013 Philadelphia reliever Chase Shugart earned the win in both ends of the doubleheader, marking the first time since Aug. 9, 2013 where a pitcher earned two wins in one day, with Brian Duensing last accomplishing the feat for Minnesota.
8 Thursday’s two grand slam game for the Orioles marked only the eighth time in franchise history that the team has accomplished the feat.
.440 Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman is hitting .440 since coming off the IL on April 21 after a bout of shoulder inflammation.
19 Athletics‘ 1B Nick Kurtz drew a walk yesterday for the nineteenth game in a row, tying Ted Williams for third all-time. If Kurtz can extend the streak to 20 games, he will join Barry Bonds in second, with Roy Cullenbine (1947) owning the record at 22 games.
12 Houston’s Yordan Alvarez hit his 12th home run of the season in game 2 of Thursday’s doubleheader, tying him with Aaron Judge and Munetaka Murakami for the league lead.
1,071 Kyle Schwarber’s 1,071 career hits are the fewest in history for any player reaching the 350 home run mark, surpassing Mark McGwire for the fewest hits taken to get to 350 home runs.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Ronald Acuña Jr. Creates a Memory
Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. made a somewhat routine catch near the foul line in right field during yesterday’s 5-2 loss against Detroit, but it’s what he did afterwards that created an undoubtedly lifelong memory for a young fan.
First Pitch Phil
First pitches have become a source of endless entertainment over the years, as we watch celebrities and the like take the mound prior to the game and try to throw a strike over the plate, more often times than not hilariously failing.
Yesterday saw a pair of first pitches that were each entertaining for thier own, quite unique, reasons…
Citi Field Chaos
While Punxsutawney Phil was busy doing his thing in Pittsburgh, the Mets hosted Team USA’s Olympic figure skaters at Citi Field for a group first pitch that was somehow even more chaotic than it sounds…
Highway Robbery
Then before the Mets fans could even finish deciphering what they had just seen, James Wood went and made this catch in the bottom of the first inning to absolutely rob Juan Soto of a home run. The Nationals would go on to win this one 5-4.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Cincinnati Reds placed LHP Brandon Williamson on the 15-day IL (left shoulder fatigue).
⚾ Houston Astros placed RHP Ryan Weiss on the paternity list and activated RHP Cody Bolton from the 15-day IL
⚾ New York Mets placed CF Luis Robert Jr.. on the 10-day IL (lumbar spine disc herniation) retroactive to April 27.
⚾ New York Mets designated RHP Carl Edwards Jr. for assignment
⚾ Philadelphia Phillies placed LHP Kyle Backhaus on the 15-day IL (left elbow inflammation) retroactive to April 27.
Articles You Should Read
“Landen Roupp is Taking Aim” — Anthony Licciardi, PitcherList
“The Two Faces of Connelly Early” — Jack Foley, PitcherList
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