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A friend of mine likes the darkness of winter a little too much. He lives in the Midwest, so that might explain things a bit. But Monday marked the first day of the year where the sun was around for a little bit less than the day before. So it makes sense that some strange things happened on the field Monday, including it being tied for the lowest-scoring day in the last 36 years.
Today’s Headlines
McCarthy’s Walk-Off Triple(!!!) Lifts Rockies
Have you ever heard of a walk-off triple? Now you have. And there were no shenanigans involved. The Colorado Rockies pulled off a terrific victory as Jake McCarthy tripled with the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox. How did it happen? TJ Rumfield and Hunter Goodman singled and Cole Carrigg put down a bunt single to load the bases with no one out against Red Sox left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman. McCarthy lined an 0-1 pitch the opposite way down the third-base line. It caromed off the side wall and left fielder Jarren Duran played it like a hand grenade as all three runners scored, with McCarthy ending up on third. It was the sixth walk-off triple since 1969 when a team was trailing by at least two runs.
Woodruff (10 K’s) In Vintage Form In Return
As any injured player would say, Brandon Woodruff just wanted to be out their battling with this teammates. For some reason, it just feels different when Woodruff says it. The right-handed starter returned to the Milwaukee Brewers after a six-week stay in the injured list and retired the first 16 batters of the game and struck out 10 in a 2-0 10-inning victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Joey Ortiz’s sacrifice fly drove in the first run of the game and a wild pitch brought in the other in the top of the 10th. But the story was Woodruff. He allowed just one hit, a sixth-inning single to center by Tyler Stephenson, over his six innings and didn’t issue a walk. In fact, that was the only runner the Brewers allowed until the 10th, when automatic runner Blake Dunn scored on two outs before Dane Myers singled for the Reds’ second hit of the game.
Antonacci Rescue’s White Sox With Walk-Off
These are not your twin brother’s Chicago White Sox. After blowing a one-run lead in the top of the ninth, the White Sox came back to score two in the bottom half on rookie Sam Antonacci’s two-out single off right-handed closer Cade Smith for a 6-5 triumph over the Cleveland Guardians. Smith, the MLB saves leader, got all three outs in the eighth, but ran into trouble in the ninth as Braden Montgomery drew a one-out walk and Tristan Peters doubled him to third. Smith struck out Jacob Gonzalez, but Antonacci lined a single to center, with Peters scoring the winning run just ahead of the throw. The win allowed the White Sox to move back into a first-place tie in the AL Central with the Guardians.
Valdez Helps Tigers Finally Beat Cole
Left-hander Framber Valdez has taken a bit to get adjusted to being with the Detroit Tigers. But if he continues to pitch like this, fans will forgive the slowish start. Valdez struck out eight over six innings, while Kevin McGonigle drove in a pair of runs in the Tigers’ 5-3 win over the New York Yankees. Riley Greene homered as the Tigers ended a 10-year losing streak to Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole, who last lost to Detroit on April 14, 2016. Cole gave up five runs in 4⅓ innings. While he wasn’t sharp, Valdez was. Valdez gave up just one run on four hits and two walks.
By The Numbers
50 The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first MLB team to reach 50 wins with a 2-1 triumph over the Minnesota Twins. Shohei Ohtani (17th) and Freddie Freeman (13th) homered for the two-time defending World Series champs.
24 of 25 Tampa Bay Rays pitchers, led by 10 straight from right-handed starter Drew Rasmussen, retired 24 of the final 25 batters in a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals. The only glitch in that run was a one-out single in the fifth inning.
56 Baltimore Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward led off the game with a homer in his return to Angel Stadium that fueled a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. It was Ward’s 56th homer at Angel Stadium.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Watch Out, South Beach
Scotland’s men’s soccer team has shifted World Cup venues, set to play its next game in Miami. You know what that means. The Tartan Army has followed. After attending a Boston Red Sox game, the Tartan Army took over the Miami Marlins‘ home stadium (not that hard to do). They saw the Marlins lose to the Texas Rangers 4-3.
It’s Just Dirt Cam, Jazz
Is Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. not familiar with dirt cam? Chisholm saw it between innings at Comerica Park and tried to cover it up, causing a brief delay.
Benetti is the best
Making It To 10
Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo was the latest player to hit 10 years of service time, which is a very big deal as they receive a number of career-related benefits.
Sending our congratulations to Seth Lugo as he reaches 10 years of Major League service time today!
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker left Monday’s game against the Twins in the second inning with low-back spasms.
⚾ Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz will be activated from the 10-day injured list today. He has been out since June 1 after straining his right hamstring.
⚾ MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred laid blame on poor communication from the San Francisco Giants on what players’ options were regarding wearing a Pride Night cap.
⚾ Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel (strained right hamstring) was activated from the 60-day injured list, with catcher Edgar Quero optioned to Triple-A.
⚾ Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler (strained left oblique) was activated off the 10-day IL with infielder Nick Madrigal being designated for assignment.
⚾ Cincinnati Reds right-hander Chris Paddack was DFA’d as right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson (right elbow inflammation) returned from the 15-day IL. Right-hander Julian Garcia was called up from Triple-A to make his MLB debut with right-hander Zack Maxwell going down to Triple-A.
Articles You Should Read
Why a salary cap wouldn’t stop the Dodgers from winning — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times
Biggest misses from the 2016 draft include Moniak, Senzel — Keith Law, The Athletic
Are Giants spiraling toward trade-deadline sell-off? These deals could reboot roster — Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle
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