Dynasty
Nastiest GIFs
The List
Dynasty
Nastiest GIFs
The List
+

MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 06/09/2024

Phillies win London Series opener; Hernández heroics topple Yankees.

Scott Appleman
MLB Morning News 6/9/2024

Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.

The 2024 Philadelphia Phillies haven’t even lost 20 games yet. They’re ahead of the MVP triumvirate at the top of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup. They’re neck and neck with the New York Yankees, who boast a duo earning comparisons to pinstripe legends, for the best record in baseball. They’re nine games up on Atlanta, who finished 14 games ahead of Philadelphia in the previous two seasons. At this point last year, the eventual National League runners-up had a 31-33 record. And the 2022 NL champs after 64 games? 33-31. Going into today’s games, that’s the Pittsburgh Pirates (31-33), the Tampa Bay Rays (31-33), the Toronto Blue Jays (31-33), and the Minnesota Twins (33-31).

With 60% of the season still to go, favorites are creating separation in the playoff picture. But the Phillies of the past two seasons are the best reminder that a team from the pack of Wild Card hopefuls could surge ahead, sneak into the October field, and knock off a favorite or two on their way to the World Series.

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Big Inning in London Leads Phils to Win, Makes Suarez First to 10 Wins

In London, football fans would call Bryce Harper’s shot to even the score the equalizer.

After Harper celebrated his game-tying homer with a soccer-style knee slide, the Philadelphia Phillies kept the rally going against the New York Mets in the top of the fourth. Edmundo Sosa singled with two out and two on. Whit Merrifield followed with a three-run homer. Cristian Pache doubled, and Kyle Schwarber singled him home to put the Phillies up 6-1.

That cushion plus 3.1 shutout innings from Philadelphia relievers locked down a 7-2 victory and gave Ranger Suárez his league-leading 10th win. Suarez (10-1, 1.81 ERA) went 5.2 innings, giving up two runs, and striking out six.

 

Hernández the Hero Again for Los Angeles 

Teoscar Hernández followed his game-winning, 11th-inning double on Friday night with two home runs and six RBIs for the Dodgers against the Yankees on Saturday night. He opened the scoring in the top of the second, and his grand slam turned a 4-2 game into a rout in the eighth. Los Angeles won 11-3.

Aaron Judge also hit two home runs, extending his league-leading total to 23. His second solo homer happened after the Yankees waved the white flag and finished the top of the ninth with infielder Oswaldo Cabrera on the mound.

 

Gausman Earns CGSO No.1

In his 272nd start, Kevin Gausman threw his first shutout, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-0 win over the Oakland A’s. He struck out 10, gave up five hits, and walked one on 109 pitches. This was his second 10-strikeout game of the season (May 23 against the Detroit Tigers).

 

Orioles Hold Rays to Two Hits, Reach Triple Digit Home Runs

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz singled to lead off the game and singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. No other Ray reached base. No other Ray even registered a hard-hit ball. Baltimore Orioles pitchers Kyle Bradish (6.0 IP, 9 K), Danny Coulombe (2.0 IP, 3 K), and Cionel Pérez (1.0 IP, 2K) combined to sit down 26 in a row between Diaz’s singles in the 5-0 win.

Gunnar Henderson hit his 20th home run, and the Orioles became the first team to reach 100 homers in 2024.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

This Bat Went 3-4 with a Home Run

Bryce Harper showed up in London with another bespoke piece of Phanatic gear.

 

The Showman didn’t just take batting practice with this beauty. Go watch that home run video again. He’s swinging the Phanatic Guard when he hits the equalizer, and he’s already wondering if he’ll hear from the league about it.

 

Have Yourself a Week

Since Sunday, June 2, Heliot Ramos is 9-for-18 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. He’s only struck out six times in that span. He knocked in all the runs the San Francisco Giants would need to beat the Texas Rangers.

 

Blue York

Pantone 294, a Dodgers fan group, got a police escort to Yankee Stadium on Saturday. I’d love to know what that Yankee fan who stopped and looked at the blue wave walking down the street was thinking before and after this game.

 

Don’t. Stop. Me. Now.

Freddie Mercury gave King Henry VIII, Winston Churchill, and the royal guard a head start that only The Freeze would consider surmountable. The Queen frontman (frontmascot?) waved to the crowd, then ran down his competition, taunted his fellow English icons, and became the first mascot with two London Series race wins.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki sat out on Saturday after a throw hit him in the left side on a steal attempt on Friday. Cubs manager Craig Counsell described Suzuki as day-to-day. Suzuki missed four weeks with a left oblique strain. 

⚾ Counsell said images revealed Chicago second baseman Nico Hoerner suffered a fracture in his right hand when he was hit by a pitch on Thursday. The Cubs have not placed Hoerner on the IL yet because doctors indicated he could play through the injury after the pain and swelling subside.

⚾ New York Mets right-handed starter Kodai Senga will not return to the rotation until after the All-Star break.

⚾ Mets infielder Brett Baty rejoined the team as the 27th man for the London Series. The Philadelphia Phillies called up catcher Rafael Marchán to fill their additional roster spot.

⚾ The Miami Marlins placed Ryan Weathers on 15-day IL (left index finger strain) and called up Roddery Muñoz from Triple-A to start yesterday against Cleveland.

⚾ Atlanta called up right-handed starter Hurston Waldrep, the 24th pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, to make his MLB debut against Washington today. Waldrep has nine starts for Double-A Mississippi and one start for Triple-A Gwinnett this season.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Max Fried Talks Pitching (and Hitting) — David Laurila, FanGraphs

 

Fantasy Baseball Coverage

 

Starting Pitcher Roundup

Hitter Performances

Reliever Ranks

Starting Pitcher Streamers

 

Scott Appleman

Scott Appleman is a utility infielder with a master's degree in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure, a JV MVP award and two career home runs. He writes Thrill Shot, a Substack newsletter about champions and contenders.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Account / Login