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Today’s Headlines
Michael Kopech Leads White Sox to Series Win in Bronx
Michael Kopech threw a gem in game two of Sunday’s doubleheader in the Bronx. The righty was perfect until a two-out double from Rob Brantley in the sixth inning. He cruised through seven innings, allowing no runs on one hit and two walks, and tallied eight punchouts.
Kopech’s stuff was consistently electric throughout his outing. He threw his fastball almost 60% of the time and averaged 97.4 MPH with the pitch, even reaching 100.2 MPH. That pitch paired with his slider and seldom-used curveball handed Kopech the most dominant outing of his young career.
Luis Severino also got through seven scoreless frames. He allowed eight hits, struck out five, and worked out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the fifth inning.
Chicago’s offense woke up in the eighth inning piling on five runs. The rally was capped off by a three-run opposite-field shot by Tim Anderson off Miguel Castro.
The White Sox swept the double-header and won the series, pushing themselves over .500.
Don't sleep on Tim Anderson. pic.twitter.com/gaNGRaK1aZ
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 23, 2022
Machado’s Goes 4-for-4 in Blowout in San Fran
The Padres plated 10 runs on 17 hits on Sunday, completing the sweep against the Giants in San Francisco. Manny Machado went 4-for-4 with three doubles and a triple, knocking in two runs. Wil Myers also gathered three hits knocking in three runs, and Jake Cronenworth got a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs as well.
Manny Machado becomes the first player in MLB history with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 runs scored, and a walk in a single game.
h/t @MLBMetrics pic.twitter.com/xPAOP6Et7l
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 22, 2022
The top of the fourth inning was when the Padres blew the game open. It began with a Cronenworth RBI single and was followed by a Machado RBI double. Myers followed with a ground-rule double putting San Diego up 7-0. San Francisco’s only response was a sac-fly in the bottom of that frame.
MacKenzie Gore put up a stellar outing for the Padres. The southpaw gave up one run on three hits and two walks over six innings of work.
This weekend is the latest part of the Giants’ recent regression as they fall to just four games over .500 and sit in third place in the NL West.
You like Manny highlights. We like Manny highlights.#TimeToShine pic.twitter.com/Ca0fEyCV7S
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 22, 2022
Walk-Off Grand Slam
Nathan Eovaldi recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in the midst of his 6.2 innings of two-run ball on Sunday. He struck out a career-high eleven batters and allowed four hits and a walk. Logan Gilbert also had a quality outing, allowing three runs through seven innings, and punching out four.
Boston was ahead by a run heading into the ninth inning when Eugenio Suárez cleared the Green Monster to tie it up. The Red Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the ninth, and the teams headed to extras. The Mariners knocked in their ghost runner in the top of the 10th but failed to add on any insurance.
Kiké Hernández tied the game back up almost immediately on an infield single. After Christian Vázquez was thrown out at the plate and Trevor Story flew out with bases loaded, it was up to Franchy Cordero to end it for Boston. On his third straight slider from Andrés Muñoz, Cordero turned it around 419 feet for a walk-off grand slam into the bleachers.
This four-game sweep brought Boston’s winning streak to five games and the team has won eight of its last 10 games.
FRANCHY ENDS IT. pic.twitter.com/LQiQs9SoSm
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 22, 2022
Rutschman Scores First MLB Run as O’s Walk-Off Rays
After years of struggles, the Orioles finally look like they are building on something. They took two out of three against the Rays this weekend, both in walk-off fashion, and both clutch hits off the bat of Rougned Odor. With the game tied heading into the bottom of the eleventh on Sunday, Odor knocked in Adley Rutschman from third who scored his first Major League run.
Baltimore is now just above .500 at home with a 12-11 record. They may be last in the AL East, but they have an identical record to the Seattle Mariners that carry players like Suárez, Ty France, Adam Frazier, and Robbie Ray.
This series win comes a week and a half after the Orioles also won a series against the Cardinals. With Rutschman already with the club, and Grayson Rodriguez likely joining sometime in the summer, Baltimore will begin to show flashes of what they will be in the next few years.
ODOR CALLED GAME!! pic.twitter.com/Iprlznm2Li
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 22, 2022
Best Moments From Yesterday
Yadi the Pitcher
With the Cardinals up on the Pirates 18-0 heading into the ninth, Oliver Marmol decided to go with Yadier Molina to close out the contest. And who better to catch Molina’s warm-ups than Albert Pujols?
ANDDDD Albert warmed up Yadi behind the plate! pic.twitter.com/E6Xer8g4W6
— MLB (@MLB) May 22, 2022
Fake it ’til You Make it
On an infield single by Garrett Stubbs, Freddie Freeman attempted to throw out J.T. Realmuto at third. When Justin Turner got a high throw and realized Realmuto would be safe, he decided to act like the ball went past him. In a quick sequence of events, Realmuto began running home and Turner tagged him out before he could dive back into third base safely.
Justin Turner just faked out JT Realmuto in extras 😮 pic.twitter.com/9mD7sds0A2
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) May 22, 2022
…Except they Didn’t Make it
Following the fake-out, Max Muncy committed an error allowing runners to score from second and third.
The Phillies just walked it off when TWO runs scored on a grounder to second 😳 @Phillies pic.twitter.com/kKSFlfgnqM
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) May 22, 2022
Injuries
J.D. Martinez (back spasms) was scratched from Sunday’s lineup.
Chad Green will undergo season-ending Tommy John Surgery.
Joey Gallo was placed on the Covid-19 List.
Wander Franco (quad) was out of the lineup again Sunday but did pinch-hit.
Taylor Ward (arm) did not play Sunday and is considered day-to-day.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (hamstring) was out Sunday and is day-t0-day.
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Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)