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Today’s Headlines
Mariners Snap Yankees Streak(s) in Dramatic Fashion
Clay Holmes had a perfect ERA entering the 9th and just one blown save on the year (all unearned runs vs Arizona). The Yankees were on a seven-game win streak. Marcus Stroman had just thrown a gem. The Mariners had just three hits to the Yankees eleven, at that point.
The M’s had other plans, they put together a streak of seven straight productive at-bats against Holmes. The epitome of small ball, doing it with walks and singles.
A play-by-play of the Mariners' entire comeback in the 9th inning tonight in New York… pic.twitter.com/btg9h1meCw
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) May 21, 2024
A shocking and highly improbable victory makes it all the more brutal, or sweet, depending which side you pull for.
Freeman Slam Powers Dodgers Big Inning
Usually when a team only scores in a single inning, and the other scores in multiple, you expect the latter to win. That is not as often the case with the offense that sits in the Dodgers dugout.
They hit three home runs before recording an out in the inning. That is not a typo.
The Dodgers' third inning so far:
Kiké Hernández home run
Miguel Rojas single
Mookie Betts single
Shohei Ohtani walk
Freddie Freeman grand slam
Will Smith home runDodgers 6-1 in the blink of an eye.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) May 21, 2024
As a person who does not root for the Dodgers, I am scared of this lineup.
FREDDIE SLAM. pic.twitter.com/ws1L6YIrZp
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 21, 2024
And then they followed that up sixteen straight outs! The Snakes couldn’t get enough on the board to counter the eruption. You have to think there’s some revenge on the minds of the Dodgers after these two met in last year’s playoffs…
Sale Stays Scoreless
The Atlanta veteran extended his scoreless streak to 20 innings yesterday, throwing seven innings of shut-out ball while striking out nine Padres in the process. 35% CSW and now sixth the the majors in the category. It has been awesome to see Chris Sale return to dominant form. He’s allowing just a .126 BAA on his slider.
Twenty consecutive scoreless innings and four straight starts of 9+ Ks for Chris Sale! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AFjNxavksz
— MLB (@MLB) May 21, 2024
Angels Flash Power Potential
There must have been something in the water in LA recently, the Angels also put up a massive inning yesterday. Nolan Schanuel homered with two men on, then Logan O’Hoppe and Jo Adell went back to back with two outs. O’Hoppe’s came with two on as well for a total of seven runs scored in the fifth inning, giving the angels a two run lead. Zach Neto tacked on a solo shot to open the sixth, which was enough to get the job done, and also maybe shows a bit of potential for the Halos. This win brought them out of last place in the AL West.
chop chop highlight boy 👏#RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/UF0mPbnO54
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 21, 2024
Oh and Jo Adell made this nice grab, too.
you're JOking 😱#RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/9zkpLmSku3
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 21, 2024
Twins Skid Reaches Seven
The ups and downs of this Minnesota team are some of the largest I’ve seen in quite some time. The Twins won twelve straight games this season, and now have lost seven straight just a few weeks later. They were 7-13 before their massive win streak, and now are 24-23 after dropping the opening game of the series to the Nationals.
Context does matter here, as they swept the White Sox twice and the Angels during their winning streak, while the losing streak has been against the Yankees and an away series versus the Guardians. Nonetheless, the Twins held a players only meeting in hopes of getting things back on track.
The Nats had some fun with it, though…
a three-shimmy four-run inning for all of us 🙌 pic.twitter.com/iaR58tE2sk
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 21, 2024
Best Moments From Yesterday
Devers Breaks Consecutive Home Run Record
Rafael Devers has done it again, and again, and… you get the picture.
Rafael Devers is the only player in Red Sox history to homer in 6 consecutive games. pic.twitter.com/TOssP5sAKy
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 20, 2024
Three players have hit home runs in eight straight games, most recently Ken Griffey Jr. in 1993. Mike Trout hit one out of the park in seven straight in 2022, so all eyes will be on Devers to see if he can keep the streak going today.
Sonny Gray’s Candid Response
Make no question of it, Sonny Gray was awesome yesterday. He pitched five innings of no-hit baseball and earned the win against a tough Orioles lineup.
His response about being lifted from the game was one that is worth hearing.
Gray says he was honest with Marmol when coming out of the game in the sixth: "I felt like it was just the right thing to have someone else come in and try to finish that inning. … I was kind of just saying, 'Hey, I've got nothing left.'" #STLCards pic.twitter.com/f18Cbdye51
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) May 21, 2024
Cardinals Debut City Connects
I think this is a moment, new uniforms deserve attention! These are some of better ones I’ve seen, I’m all for embracing the classic by keeping the birds and the bat. Also love the nod to Masyn Winn at the front here.
The Birds. The Bat. The Lou.
Our City Connect story: https://t.co/S2mo0pmQR5#ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/G5bPpEMMjr
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 20, 2024
Houck Lowers slides ERA down to 1.94
Pitching at the Trop was kind to Tanner Houck – the Red Sox righty was elite; scattering just two hits and walking a single batter over seven innings to notch the win. His sixty five innings pitched are second in the majors to go along with the third best ERA in the American League.
Warning: facing a Tanner Houck slider may cause motion sickness. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/ooCgsOqLWZ
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 20, 2024
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Xander Bogaerts (shoulder) injured on a diving catch Monday, listed day-to-day
⚾ Gerrit Cole (elbow) to face live hitters today.
⚾ Spencer Steer (heel) expected to be ready for series opener today.
⚾ Garrett Whitlock (elbow) seeking second opinion on UCL
⚾ Kodai Senga (shoulder) experiences triceps setback, doesn’t throw bullpen session.
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