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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 6/14/2024

Atlanta, KC avoid sweeps; Red Sox Chase Nola

Scott Appleman
MLB Morning News 6/14/2024

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

 

Today’s Headlines

 

López Deals and Atlanta Holds on to Avoid Baltimore Sweep

 

Reynaldo López struck out eight, gave up two hits, and walked one over six innings in a 6-3 Atlanta win over the Baltimore Orioles. He ended the day in the top spot on the ERA leaderboard (1.69).

2019 was the last full season López spent as a starter. He gave up the most earned runs in the league (110) in 33 starts for the Chicago White Sox. His ERA jumped from 5.38 to 6.49 in eight starts during the shortened 2020 season. López transformed into a reliever and posted a 136 ERA+ from 2021-2023 working mainly from the bullpen. Atlanta’s bet on Lopez providing valuable innings as a starter has paid off after he signed a 3-year, $30 million deal before this season. He’s no workhorse (69.1 IP, t-67th in the league as of today), but he’s only pitched fewer than five innings once in 12 starts.

Michael Harris II helped the bullpen hold on to López’s lead with a sliding catch in the bottom of the ninth. If this ball dropped in, the Orioles would’ve likely had the bases loaded with one out and the tying run at the plate.

Ozzie Albies went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI.

 

Garcia Rescues Royals After Yankees Spoil Marsh’s No-Hit Bid

 

The Kansas City Royals needed a two-out, ninth-inning rally against closer Clay Holmes to avoid a sweep by the New York Yankees. Third basemen Maikel Garcia snuck a ball down the third base line. Pinch hitter MJ Melendez scored from third and center fielder Kyle Isbel rounded the bases and belly flopped home.

Alec Marsh put the Royals in a position to win early. He allowed a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh, walked two, and struck out seven. The Yankees scored three in the eighth, two unearned, but the Royals comeback earned them their 40th win.

 

Houck Solid, Nola Chased in Duel of the Aces

 

The Boston Red Sox shelled starter Aaron Nola and took two of three from the Philadelpha Phillies with a 9-3 win. Nola gave up eight runs on 11 hits in 3.2 IP, walking two and striking out two.

Tyler O’Neill sent a Nola cutter to the ad board above the Green Monster in the fourth.

Tanner Houck pitched six innings and gave up three runs on eight hits. His ERA increased to 2.08, putting him fourth in the American League.

 

Martinez Delivers, Diaz Wins in Return

 

The New York Mets reinstated closer Edwin Diaz from the 15-day IL on Thursday and sent him out to the pitch the ninth inning down 2-1 to the Miami Marlins. Diaz got three outs on 15 pitches, including a strikeout, and made it possible for J.D. Martinez to hit the first walk-off homer of his career to win it 3-2.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

Welcome to the Bunt Show…

 

This one goes out to fans of old school, National League, station-to-station baseball.

The Chicago Cubs scored their only two runs of the day on bunts and lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2, mainly because Taj Bradley made it difficult to hit the ball while swinging.

 

…And (Unfortunately) the Ump Show

 

This is a Worst Moment, not a Best Moment. C’mon, Emil Hernandez.

 

If I Had a Nickel…

 

What’s more “that’s baseball” than somebody doing something nobody else has done, then doing it again the next night? Given that the Dodgers 1-3 hitters have only been together this season, Texas Rangers reliever David Robertson is the only pitcher to strike out Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman in the same inning ever. Robertson’s feat helped Texas hold off Los Angeles 3-1.

 

Cro-K

 

Garret Crochet faced 25 Mariners and struck out 13 of them. The Chicago White Sox gave up the lead, gave up a game-tying homer to Julio Rodriguez, and needed extras to beat Seattle 3-2, so no win for Crochet. But this montage of Ks is so satisfying. Enjoy.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager sat out Thursday’s game in Los Angeles after feeling left hamstring tightness while warming up.

⚾ The Washington Nationals claimed right-handed reliever Eduardo Salazar off waivers from the Seattle Mariners and optioned him to Triple-A.

⚾ The Baltimore Orioles claimed right-handed pitcher Levi Stoudt off waivers from the Mariners and optioned him to Triple-A. The team also moved left-handed starter John Means from the 15-day IL to the 60-day.

⚾ The Mariners made four moves yesterday. They reinstated infielder/outfielder Dylan Moore from the Paternity List, recalled right-handed starter Emerson Hancock from Triple-A, optioned infielder Leo Rivas to Triple-A, and optioned right-handed pitcher Brett de Geus to Triple-A.

⚾ The Minnesota Twins optioned first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff to Triple-A and recalled outfielder Austin Martin from Triple-A.

⚾ The Arizona Diamondbacks assigned left-hander reliever Logan Allen to Triple-A. Allen was unclaimed on outright waivers and can reject the assignment to become a free agent.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Vegas, Athletics ballpark may benefit if MLB alters playoff format — Mick Akers, Las Vegas Review-Journal

 

Fantasy Baseball Coverage

 

Starting Pitcher Roundup

Hitter Performances

Reliever Ranks

Starting Pitcher Streamers

 

Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)

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.

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