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Hall of Fame Sunday is a special day in the sport of baseball. Yet MLB treats the day as if it were a Colorado Rockies–Miami Marlins weekday getaway game in May. The Cooperstown ceremony started as a full day of games was getting under way, pulling attention of fans whose favorite players were going into the Hall at the same time their team was playing. That is right. The primary teams of the two players who were elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America, Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones, had games at the same time the two outfielders were giving their speeches. Beltran’s New York Mets were facing the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Jones’ Atlanta was in the midst of a game against the Baltimore Orioles. Jeff Kent, who went in via a special committee, had his San Francisco Giants playing later in the day against the Los Angeles Angels. When will MLB finally set this day aside so everyone can enjoy the pomp and circumstance of Cooperstown?
Today’s Headlines
Big HRs Put Padres In Position To Become Buyers
The San Diego Padres are quite the quandary. They entered the weekend road series against the Miami Marlins three games below .500 and their season hanging by a thread. But after homers by Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill in the eighth inning, the Padres are now sniffing a spot in the playoffs. Machado’s two-run shot tied it and Merrill went back-to-back to put the Padres up in a 5-3 victory over the Marlins, who have lost a franchise-record 12 games in a row. The Padres, who many thought last week would be sellers, are now likely to be buyers at the trade deadline after pulling within two games of the third NL wild-card spot, held by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Cooperstown Welcomes Beltran, Jones, Kent
It was the day Cooperstown was built for. Three more legends of the game were enshrined, two through the traditional method of voting by writers (Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones) and another through a special committee (Jeff Kent). With the three newcomers, a record 60 Hall of Famers were present, including 1972 inductee Sandy Koufax, the earliest of those enshrined who made the ceremony. If you haven’t yet, here are the speeches given by Beltran, Jones and Kent.
Misiorowski Dominates, Punches Out 12
The numbers associated with Jacob Misiorowski’s feats are as dazzling as his triple-digit four-seamer. Each time out, the Miz does something new that creates another level to appreciate the precocious Milwaukee Brewers ace. Misiorowski struck out the first seven batters he faced enroute to 12 over five innings in the Brewers’ 11-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Topping that off, he allowed just one hit, a two-out solo homer in the fifth inning. Before that, he was perfect, retiring the first 14 Rockies. The first seven of those went down via strikeouts, setting the Brewers record for most consecutive K’s to begin a game. It was the 11th double-digit strikeout game of Miz’s barely 1-year-old career, with nine of those coming this year. He leads MLB with 185 strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 1.58. Oh, yeah. The Brewers also put up double-digit runs, with three players driving in a pair, including Andrew Vaughn’s fourth homer of the year.
Jacob Misiorowski today:66 pitches at 100+ mph, most in a game under tracking (2008)63 of those 101+ mph, most54 of those 102+ mph, most33 of those 103+ mph, most7 of those 104+ mph, T-most9 Ks at 102+ mph, most8 of those 103+ mph, most3 of those 104+ mph, most
— Sarah Langs (@slangsonsports.bsky.social) 2026-07-26T21:16:37.414Z
Rasmussen’s Gem Keeps Rays Rolling
Everyone loves to jump on the New York Yankees‘ bandwagon for one reason or another. But more people should be talking about what the Tampa Bay Rays are doing. Quietly, because no one pays attention to the Rays, they are having a spectacular season. Right-handed starter Drew Rasmussen allowed just a game-opening double in seven shutout innings, striking out nine as the the Rays bounced the Cleveland Guardians 1-0, finishing off a three-game sweep. The win improved the Rays’ record to 62-43, the best in the AL and third-best in MLB. It also improved their record at Tropicana Field to an MLB-best 38-15. Speedster Chandler Simpson manufactured the only run of the game, slapping a single to left, then advancing to third on a wild pitch and a groundout. Cedric Mullins popped up a bunt, but it fell, with the first baseman only being able to make an awkward flip toward home that wasn’t close to getting Simpson.
Murakami Honors Bobblehead Code, Homers Twice
Of course Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami homered in the series finale against the Houston Astros. It was his bobblehead day, after all. Murakami actually went deep twice to make it extra nice, powering the White Sox to a 12-3 victory over the Astros. That gave the White Sox a 2½-game lead in the AL Central over the Guardians. Murakami now has 22 homers, as does Miguel Vargas, who also went deep for the White Sox as did Chase Meidroth and Junior Perez.
Atlanta Works Magic To Topple Orioles In 11
This is the way things go when you are having the seasons that the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta are. Austin Riley doubled home the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th and Atlanta survived an unusual intentional walk in the bottom half for a 3-2 victory over the Orioles. The Orioles erased a 2-0 deficit by scoring one in the eighth on a Pete Alonso homer and another in the ninth on a Jackson Holliday groundout following an error by second baseman Ozzie Albies. In the 10th, the Orioles loaded the bases with no one out and Atlanta went to a five-man infield. Gunnar Henderson then hit a liner right first baseman Matt Olson, who stepped on first base for a double play. A flyout ended the inning. After Riley’s leadoff go-ahead RBI double in the top of the 11th, Leody Taveras had a two-out walk to put two on, then the surprising intentional walk to Holliday put automatic runner 90 feet away from tying the game. Catcher Sam Huff, with no better options due to injuries to Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, then grounded out to third to end the game.
By The Numbers
27, 30 Washington Nationals sluggers CJ Abrams and James Wood each hit a pair of homers in a 10-7 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Abrams’ blasts gave him 27 and passed Ian Desmond’s Nationals record for shortstops (25), while Wood joined Adam Dunn (2009-10) as the only players since the Nationals moved to Washington in 2005 to have back-to-back 30-homer seasons.
4 Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout had his first four-hit game since April 26, 2021, in a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
5 New York Mets outfielder Tyrone Taylor hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning in an 8-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, preventing a three-game sweep. It was Taylor’s fifth homer in 33 at-bats since coming off the injured list.
33 Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Ryan O’Hearn celebrated his 33rd birthday by hitting a grand slam in an 8-7 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Best Moments From Yesterday
It Ties The Telecast Together
Some folks don’t get the pleasure of having John Kruk on their screens that often, so the “Sunday Night Baseball” telecast was certainly a showcase for the former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman and current Phillies TV analyst. The experience can manifest itself in many ways.
John Kruk has multiple clip-on ties to choose from
Kruk is struggling with his top button and selecting a clip-on tie
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ A big trade chip came off the table as A’s catcher Shea Langeliers went on the 10-day injured list with a torn meniscus in his right knee. Langeliers is expected to miss the rest of the season.
⚾ New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained left hamstring, putting him out until at least the trade deadline.
⚾ Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Lance McCullers Jr., recently acquired in a trade, was designated for assignment after just two relief appearances.
⚾ In a minor trade, the White Sox acquired right-hander José Urquidy from the Pirates, who had DFA’d the pitcher. The Pirates are receiving minor-league right-hander Felix Doroteo.
⚾ A’s left-handed starter Jeffrey Springs left Sunday’s game with discomfort in his right hip.
⚾ The A’s acquired right-hander Scott Blewett from the St. Louis Cardinals for cash considerations. Blewett had been DFA’d by the Cardinals.
Articles You Should Read
Here is how Beltran, Jones, Kent got to Cooperstown — Jayson Stark, The Athletic
5 things to know about new Red Sox infielder Mead — Conor Ryan, Boston Globe
How Mack has put together strong rookie season for Marlins — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald
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