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The summer of 2008 was special for Milwaukee Brewers fans. It was a season in which the team entered the year with expectations of making the playoffs for the first time since their World Series year of 1982. But it took a bold move for the Crew to actually put an end to that drought. That was when then-general manager Doug Melvin went out an acquired ace left-hander CC Sabathia from Cleveland for three prospects. The anniversary of that trade was Monday and Tyler Kepner of The Athletic revisited everything about that move that changed the course of a franchise as Sabathia prepares to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in a few weeks. Sabathia’s incredible performance in those few months with the Brewers are the stuff of legends.
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Today’s Headlines
Machado Reaches 2,000 Hits
Manny Machado has said he doesn’t mind if people think of him as the villain. After all, they don’t consistently boo you if you suck. But it was all cheers for the superstar third baseman at Petco Park in front of his hometown fans as Machado notched his 2,000th career hit in the San Diego Padres‘ 6-3 loss vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks. Machado, who became the fifth active player with 2,000 hits, entered the series opener two hits shy of the milestone, then hit a line-drive single to left in the bottom of the first inning and hitting a hard grounder in the fourth inning off the glove of a diving D’backs shortstop Geraldo Perdomo in the hole between short and third to reach 2,000. It was Machado’s 950th hit in his seventh season with the Padres after having 977 in just over 6½ years with the Baltimore Orioles and 73 in less than a half of a season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Machado made it a three-hit night when he drove a solo homer to left in the eighth inning. Machado joins Freddie Freeman, Jose Altuve, Andrew McCutchen, and Paul Goldschmidt as current players with 2,000 hits. Josh Naylor hit a two-run homer for the D’backs, who spoiled the return of Padres right-handed starter Yu Darvish. Darvish allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five in 3.2 innings in his first start since being sidelined in spring training with inflammation in his right elbow.
Manny Machado joins elite company 😤
Jays Win 9th Straight
When a team is churning on all cylinders, you never know who is going to be a big contributor from one night to the next. Playing in just his second MLB game of the season, No. 9 hitter Joey Loperfido drove in three runs, including a homer, as the Toronto Blue Jays won their ninth in a row with an 8-4 triumph over the Chicago White Sox. Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger also homered for the Jays, who are on their longest winning streak since 2015. Loperfido hit a solo homer in the fifth inning to snap a 1-1 tie, then had a two-run single during a five-run sixth inning as the Jays surged ahead 8-1. Lukes went back-to-back with Loperfido in the fifth inning with his homer, and Barger added a two-run shot in the sixth. That was enough cushion for right-handed starter José Berríos, who allowed just two hits and a run over six innings, walking two and striking out four. The Jays, who were in second place in the AL East to begin last week, now lead the second-place New York Yankees by 3.5 games.
Vaughn’s Blast In Brewers Debut Sinks Dodgers
The All-Star break is probably coming at a good time for the Los Angeles Dodgers. But first, they have to get there. Andrew Vaughn homered in his first plate appearance for the Milwaukee Brewers, who handed the Dodgers a fourth straight lopsided loss, this one by a 9-1 count. The Dodgers are coming off being swept at home by the Houston Astros. Vaughn’s three-run shot punctuated a five-run first inning and chased one of the MLB-best five Dodgers All-Stars, right-handed starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, after just two outs. Vaughn came to the Brewers from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for right-handed starter Aaron Civale last month, but spent his first few weeks in the organization trying to straighten out his offense at Triple-A. Vaughn had a .189/.218/.314 slash line with the White Sox this season before they sent the former No. 3 overall draft pick to Triple-A, but got his chance when the Brewers put Rhys Hoskins on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left thumb. Christian Yelich added a two-run homer, and Brice Turang also drove in a pair for the Brewers. Right-handed starter Freddy Peralta, the Brewers’ lone All-Star, struck out seven in six shutout innings, allowing five hits and a walk.
Marlins Make It 10 Straight Road Wins
Who knows how long this stretch of good play will last, but the Miami Marlins are certainly enjoying the ride. Agustin Ramirez hit a homer and drove in three runs as the Marlins extended their franchise-record road winning streak to 10 games with a 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. The Marlins have won 17 of the last 25 games, with a bulk of that coming on the road, where they are now 21-21 this season. Right-handed starter Janson Junk surrendered just one hit over six innings, walking two and striking out three.
Guardians Snap 10-Game Skid
The Cleveland Guardians can finally exhale. Their unexpected, lengthy losing streak has come to an end. Thanks to Brayan Rocchio doubling home a pair of runs to snap a sixth-inning tie, the Guardians ended their 10-game losing streak with a 7-5 victory over the Astros. Five of those losses came with the Guardians being shut out. But a four-run fifth inning, including José Ramírez’s three-run homer, staked Cleveland to a 4-0 lead. The Astros came back with their own four-spot in the bottom of the fifth, with Taylor Trammell matching Ramirez’s three-run shot.
Stats That Matter
⚾ Boston Red Sox rookie Roman Anthony is slashing .386/.426/.569 over his last 10 games, including a three-hit night in a 9-3 win over the Colorado Rockies. Anthony, MLB’s top prospect at the time of his promotion, hit his first Fenway Park homer.
⚾ Vinnie Pasquantino, Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Nick Loftin hit homers in the Kansas City Royals‘ 9-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was the first game at Kauffman Stadium this year in which the Royals hit more than one homer, and the first in 56 home games.
Best Moments From Yesterday
A Fortune Teller?
Did a young Cal Raleigh predict the future? While he is a participant in the Home Run Derby, we won’t know for sure until next week whether this will come true.
Different Type Of Save
What looked like a drive that could have ended up with an ugly collision between teammates ended up being a sensational catch by D’backs center fielder Alek Thomas to preserve a three-run lead in the ninth inning.
Alek Thomas tracks it down to make an UNBELIEVABLE catch 🤯
A Kid At Heart
You never fall out of love with baseball, or wanting to be part of the action.
Stairway To Second
There are a lot of quirky features at Fenway Park. Every once in a while, a new one comes into play. Nate Eaton of the Boston Red Sox nearly had a home run over the Green Monster, but it was just a little shy, instead hitting off the top of a ladder that goes from the scoreboard to the top of the Monster, giving him a double.
"I did that on purpose." – Nate Eaton, probably 😂
He Caught It With What?
This Houston Astros fan probably hasn’t purchased a glove in quite a while. It still came in quite handy on this foul ball.
Best In Show
The dog days of the MLB season come in August, but this canine stole the show pregame at the Cincinnati Reds game.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Washington Nationals named Miguel Cairo as their interim manager, a day after firing manager Dave Martinez and Mike Rizzo, the longtime president of baseball operations and general manager. The Nats open a three-game series on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals today.
⚾ Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton will return to his home state as not only an All-Star but also as a participant in the Home Run Derby. A native of Baxley, Ga., Buxton has 20 homers in 73 games, including five out of the leadoff spot.
⚾ The Dodgers made a series of moves, putting infielder-outfielder Enrique Hernández on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation, sending left-hander Justin Wrobleski to Triple-A, while promoting outfielder James Outman and right-handed reliever Julian Fernández from Triple-A. Fernandez last appeared in an MLB game in 2021, making six appearances. The Dodgers also said that right-hander Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder inflammation, 60-day IL) will start Wednesday’s series finale against the Brewers.
⚾ The Houston Astros are coming to the aid of those affected by the flooding in central Texas that has killed more than 100 people, saying they will give $1 million toward relief efforts.
⚾ The Colorado Rockies sent top pitching prospect Chase Dollander back to Triple-A. The 23-year-old right-hander, the ninth overall pick in the 2023 draft, has a 6.68 ERA in 15 starts since making his MLB debut in April.
⚾ Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene’s rehab assignment following a strained right groin has been pushed back after the right-hander had soreness in the “same area” after a bullpen session Sunday.
⚾ Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed closer Shelby Miller was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right forearm.
⚾ The Astros called up outfielder Kenedy Corona to make his MLB debut as first baseman Christian Walker went on the paternity list.
Articles You Should Read
A day after shakeup, optimism emerges from Nationals’ front office — Andrew Goldman and Spencer Nussbaum, Washington Post
Five key stats that have kept Astros’ offense afloat in 2025 — Chandler Rome, The Athletic
The Satchel Project maps every known Paige outing — Anthony Castrovince, MLB.com
How Hope quickly became one of the Dodgers’ top prospects — Emily Waldon, Baseball America
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