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Well, this weekend was fun, wasn’t it? With MLB resuming following the All-Star break, teams are jockeying for playoff positions. That continues today as two series involving East Division teams — New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox at Philadelphia Phillies — begin, with a handful of others looking to create some momentum before the trade deadline.
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Today’s Headlines
Perfect 10: Brewers Sweep Dodgers, Tied For First Place
Even with a significant tweak to the top of their lineup, the Los Angeles Dodgers still couldn’t slow down the little team that could. Left fielder Isaac Collins, batting cleanup for the first time in his brief MLB career, snapped a tie with a two-run single in the sixth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers escaped a high-wire act in the ninth inning to fend off the Dodgers 6-5, extending their winning streak to 10 games. The victory had several impacts:
⚾ Combined with the Chicago Cubs‘ 6-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, the Brewers and the Cubs are now tied for first place in the NL Central at 59-40 and the best record in the NL, just a half-game behind the Detroit Tigers (60-40) for the best record in MLB. The Dodgers are 58-42.
⚾ Six of the 10 wins in this streak have come against the Dodgers. The Brewers swept a season series of at least six games for the first time since taking seven from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015. This is the fourth time the Brewers have swept a similar season series.
⚾ It is just the fourth time in MLB history that a defending World Series champion has been swept in a season series. It is the first time the Dodgers have been swept in a season series of at least six games since 2006.
The previous sweep by the Brewers over the Dodgers this season came as part of a seven-game losing streak by L.A. The Dodgers and their $329 million Opening Day payroll were determined not to let the Brewers — with a payroll of $108 million and featuring a lineup with Chicago White Sox castoff Andrew Vaughn batting third, Collins at cleanup, rookie Caleb Durbin batting fifth — sweep them again. That led manager Dave Roberts to put the struggling Mookie Betts into the leadoff role over Shohei Ohtani, who had been in that role since Betts was injured last season. The move paid early dividends as Betts singled in the third inning before Ohtani cranked his 34th homer of the season to put the Dodgers up 3-0. But the Brewers got all three back in the next half inning against Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw with the help of two errors. After the Dodgers took a 4-3 lead on a homer by former Brewers outfielder Esteury Ruiz in the fifth inning, the Brewers took the lead for good in the sixth. Eric Haase singled home the tying run before Collins’ big hit.
That set up a dramatic bottom of the ninth. With All-Star closer Trevor Megill having pitched the previous two days, Brewers manager Pat Murphy called upon right-hander Abner Uribe, the MLB leader in holds, to close things out. The back of the Brewers’ bullpen has been superb, with the team 53-2 when holding a lead after eight innings. Getting that 54th win wasn’t easy as Uribe surrendered five grounders, three of which went for hits and two for outs, as well as a walk. The Dodgers trimmed the Brewers’ advantage to 6-5 when the slick-fielding shortstop Joey Ortiz made a terrific play on Dalton Rushing’s two-out grounder with the bases loaded, but his throw wasn’t handled by Vaughn at first base, allowing pinch-hitter Will Smith to score. That brought up Betts, with the bases still loaded. Set up for all the drama, Betts lined the hardest-hit ball of the inning right into the glove of center fielder Blake Perkins, giving the Brewers their 10th win and season sweep of the Dodgers. Also, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman walked directly into the dugout after getting hit on the left wrist by a pitch from Brewers left-handed starter Jose Quintana in the sixth inning. The Dodgers said Freeman had a bruised left wrist and X-rays did not reveal any other damage, and he is considered day-to-day.
Which Means The Cubs Lost (Red Sox Win Edition)
Yes, it is just one game, which means the sky isn’t falling. But the seeds of doubt are firmly planted in the minds of Cubs fans everywhere. With their young rookie right-hander matching an opposing ace and on the precipice of sweeping a three-game series from a team that had just won 10 in a row, the Cubs had victory snatched from them. That was because Wilyer Abreu, after whiffing on a bunt attempt, hit the next pitch for a towering, go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning, then added another an inning later as the Red Sox pulled away for a 6-1 win. Just trying to manufacture something after back-to-back losses, Abreu’s failed bunt attempt turned fortuitous for the Red Sox. Abreu hit his 19th homer to erase a 1-0 Cubs lead, accentuated with an emotion-filled bat flip, then hit a solo homer as part of a four-run eighth inning against the vaunted Cubs bullpen. Abreu’s second blast came one batter after Alex Bregman came off the bench to hit a three-run shot.
Astros Salvage Finale vs. Mariners
The Seattle Mariners sent a message by winning the first two games of a showdown series against the Houston Astros. But the Astros made sure to let the Mariners know the rest of the way in the AL West chase won’t be easy. Taylor Trammell homered as part of a three-RBI game against his former team, and Victor Caratini also drove in three runs as the Astros pounded the Mariners 11-3 in the finale of the three-game series. In halting the Mariners’ five-game winning streak, the Astros put their lead over second-place Seattle back at four games. The two teams have just one series remaining against each other this season. Christian Walker hit a solo homer and the Astros’ bullpen worked five scoreless innings. The Astros did all their damage from the fifth through eighth innings, including Trammell doubling home a pair in a four-run seventh inning that made it 9-3. The Mariners open a three-game series against the Brewers today.
Skubal Fans 11, Tigers First To 60 Wins
Having a subpar outing in his final game before the break, then not being as sharp as he would have liked while starting for the AL in the All-Star Game, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal was back in his familiar form. And so are the Tigers. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner struck out 11 over 6⅔ innings as the Tigers turned back the Texas Rangers 2-1. In snapping a six-game losing streak, the Tigers are the first MLB team to 60 wins this year. The left-hander allowed four hits, a run, and didn’t walk anyone. The run scored with Skubal in the dugout after 105 pitches as left-handed reliever Tyler Holton uncorked a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score. But the Tigers quickly got back on track as Matt Vierling’s two-out single on a 3-2 pitch scored Wyatt Langford from second with the decisive run.
Guerrero’s Bomb Helps Complete Jays’ Sweep
When Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed his 14-year, $500 million contract extension in April, you figured that would unlock a monster season from the Toronto Blue Jays‘ slugging first baseman. But it hasn’t gone that way thus far. Still, the Jays are in first place in the AL East. But is Vladito now unlocking his offensive potential that has been hibernating? Guerrero hit a huge first-inning homer that sparked the Jays to an 8-6 victory over the San Francisco Giants and a three-game sweep. It was the 10th straight home win for Toronto, which will look to protect a three-game lead in the East when the second-place New York Yankees come to town for a three-game series. The Jays vaulted the Yankees and into first place by taking all four games in a series to begin July. Guerrero hadn’t homered since June 29 before rocketing a 420-foot blast, a solo shot on a 1-0 pitch for his 13th of the season. Guerrero, Bo Bichette and Addison Barger each drove in two runs for the Jays. Barger hit a two-run homer and George Springer also homered.
Back-to-Back: Suarez Goes Deep Twice Again
Either Eugenio Suárez really wants to leave, or he is sending a message to the Arizona Diamondbacks‘ front office that this team is still alive and kicking. For the second day in a row and third time in five games, Suarez unleashed a pair of homers, the last duo sending the D’backs to a 5-3 triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals. The third baseman, who this season tied an MLB record with a four-homer game, has been the subject of a plethora of trade speculation as the deadline approaches. It didn’t help that the D’backs were on the verge of falling out of the playoff race before winning their last four brought them to 50-50, still 4½ games out of the last NL wild-card spot and one behind the Cardinals. Suarez hit a three-run homer as part of a four-run first inning, then tacked on a solo shot in the third inning, giving him 35 homers this season. Meanwhile, right-handed starter Merrill Kelly and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani combined on the seven-hitter, with DeSclafani earning a three-inning save.
Williams K’s 11 As Guardians Stay Hot
The Cleveland Guardians are in no-man’s land right now, which makes the next 10 days pretty important. Are they buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? Their play in the last week and a half says they are in the race for an AL wild-card spot. With right-hander Gavin Williams striking out a career-high 11, the Guardians won for the eighth time in 10 games by beating the Athletics 8-2. The recent surge puts the Guardians at 48-50. While in second place in the AL Central, they are double digits behind the first-place Tigers, yet just 4½ out of the last AL wild-card spot. Williams matched his career best by going seven innings, where he surrendered one run on four hits and a walk. David Fry supplied the offense by driving in a career-high four runs, including a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the fourth to make it 5-0. Guardians center fielder Angel Martínez had three hits, scored twice, and drove in a pair out of the leadoff spot.
Phillies Add Robertson
This won’t go down as a trade, but it is a major deadline acquisition for the Philadelphia Phillies. Right-handed reliever David Robertson, who mysteriously hadn’t signed with a team this season, agreed to a one-year prorated deal that will net him $5 million from the Phillies. In desperate need of a bullpen upgrade, Robertson will slot into the late-inning equation for the Phillies, who have the eighth-worst bullpen ERA at 4.33. The 40-year-old worked out for scouts Saturday. The Phillies have converted only 27 of 44 save opportunities. While in pitching shape, Robertson will need time to get ready for MLB action before being activated.
By The Numbers
⚾ Yankees superstar right fielder Aaron Judge hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning of a 4-2 win over Atlanta, giving him 351 homers, tying him with Alex Rodriguez for sixth place in franchise history. It was Judge’s 36th homer of the season, two behind MLB leader Cal Raleigh of the Mariners.
⚾ In an 8-1 win over the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta notched his 12th quality start of the season. Pivetta went six innings, allowed three hits and one run while walking one and striking out five.
⚾ The Chicago White Sox beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2 to complete their first sweep of the season, taking all three games.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Cutest Future Ace
Guardians All-Star third baseman José Ramírez had his daughter, Isabella, throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Ninja Check Swing
Atlanta superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. broke his bat during a check swing foul ball — and he had a terrific response to his bat being half the previous size.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes did indeed land on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring.
⚾ New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso was not in the starting lineup for the first time this season. It was due to a bruised right hand in the thumb area. Alonso did enter the game in the seventh inning on defense with a bandaged hand.
⚾ The Brewers placed first baseman-outfielder Jake Bauers on the 10-day IL with a left shoulder impingement. Third baseman-first baseman Tyler Black was recalled from Triple-A.
Articles You Should Read
Pirates: Zero accountability from the bottom to the top — Dejan Kovacevic, DK Pittsburgh Sports
Pitching injuries continue to be an issue. How it is impacting pitchers at all levels. — Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times
Will surging Reds be buyers at the deadline? — Mark Sheldon, MLB.com
Manzardo feels grateful after mom undergoes heart transplant — Tim Stebbins, MLB.com
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