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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 8/11/2024

Skenes subdues Ohtani, but not Lux as Dodgers top Pirates' star rookie.

Steve Drumwright
MLB Morning News 8/11/2024

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

This deserved to go somewhere, I just wasn’t sure where. Even a day later, the news didn’t get much coverage when it happened. But Saturday, more realized the uniqueness of a Frontier League game in which no runs were scored and a team won. Huh? That is because of a new rule. Since 2022, Frontier League games that are tied after 10 innings (eight in a seven-inning doubleheader) go to a sudden-death half-inning. One team decides whether it will hit or pitch. If the team that pitches doesn’t allow a run, it wins. The team that scores obviously wins. So in a game with ominous nicknames, the Lake Erie Crushers and the Schaumberg Boomers, the score was tied 0-0 after 10 innings. Thus, the sudden-death rule kicked in. The Crushers chose to pitch and held the Bombers scoreless, pulling off what goes down in the books as a 1-0 victory in which no runs were scored. How bizarre, indeed.

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Skenes vs. Ohtani II: Rookie Wins Duel, Not War

It was billed as the rematch of Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes vs. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. But it turns out the Dodgers have other players, too. While Skenes neutralized Ohtani, it was unlikely hero Gavin Lux who drove in three runs in his first two plate appearances as the Dodgers knocked off Skenes and the Pirates 4-1. Lux doubled home Teoscar Hernández in the first inning, then singled in Nick Ahmed and Hernandez in the third. Hernandez tacked on a solo homer in the fifth as Skenes gave up more than three runs for the first time in his 15 MLB starts. His ERA sits at a comfy 2.25 after being tagged with his second loss in eight decisions. Ohtani grounded out to first in the first inning, then struck out in the third and fifth innings against Skenes. Meanwhile, Dodgers right-handed starter River Ryan exited the game in the fifth inning with right forearm tightness. He will be further evaluated and is likely headed to the 15-day injured list. Ryan had allowed four hits in 4.2 shutout innings.

More Merrill Magic Pushes Padres

If you are a betting person, do you wager that the third game of the San Diego Padres–Miami Marlins series goes extra innings? The first two did. And that is in large part to Jackson Merrill. The rookie center fielder again came up clutch in the late innings, this time hitting a tying two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning. It paved the way for Luis Arraez to drive in the go-ahead run with a weak grounder to first base in the Padres’ 9-8 victory in 10 innings. It was the Padres’ seventh straight win. The Padres took the lead in the eighth following Merrill’s dramatic blast as Arraez beat out a grounder up the middle to second baseman Otto Lopez, but the Marlins tied it back up on Jake Burger’s solo shot in the bottom of the eighth. Just the day before, Merrill tied the game with a solo homer in the ninth in the Padres’ 6-2, 10-inning triumph. He has a penchant for going deep late.

Workhorse Webb Keys Surging Giants

The calendar just worked out so that Logan Webb was on the mound as the San Francisco Giants celebrated the 10th anniversary of their 2014 World Series championship. You know, the one where Madison Bumgarner turned in his epic postseason performance, capped by an incredible five-inning save in Game 7. All Webb did was strike out eight over seven innings as the Giants topped the Detroit Tigers 3-1. It was the Giants’ fourth win in a row and 13th in their last 17 as they continue to push for an NL Wild Card spot. It also helps when third baseman Matt Chapman is playing stellar defense.

Baker’s Dozen For Astros’ Arrighetti

Injuries create opportunities. Some players seize the chance, others don’t. Count Houston Astros rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti among those in the former category. Despite a horrendous MLB debut, Arrighetti has become key to a resurgent Astros team that is back in playoff position after a troublesome start. Arrighetti’s latest contribution was a season-high 13 strikeouts in a 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. This comes after he struck out 12 in his previous start. He is the first Astros rookie with back-to-back double-digit strikeout games since Tom Griffin reached 12 twice in June 1969. Oh, and Yordan Alvarez hit a pair of homers to power the Astros.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

It’s Been 10 Years Already?

The Giants got the gang back together from one of the most remarkable World Series runs in recent memory. It allowed some healing to be done after the Giants sent ace left-hander Madison Bumgarner packing after the 2019 season. He has yet to officially retire and said there is now talk of doing that as a Giant. But Saturday, he threw one more pitch from the Oracle Park mound to cap the celebration of the 2014 championship team.

Sound Of Silence

There is nothing like your first MLB home run. Just ask Astros rookie first baseman Zach Dezenzo, who crushed No. 1 not only over the Green Monster but completely out of Fenway Park, the solo shot traveling 439 feet. His reward? A quiet return to the dugout.

C.C. (Not That One) In Big Apple

WNBA rookie phenom Caitlin Clark was apparently in New York as the league’s Olympic break came to a close, so the Indiana Fever star took in the Texas Rangers–New York Yankees doubleheader. Why? We’re not really sure, but she did get to meet Yankees slugger Aaron Judge among other things.

Kiermaier, For The Defense

Kevin Kiermaier is only useful for one trait. But oh, boy, what a trait. Defense never gets old and he turned in another gem for the Dodgers.

Another One For The File

No one has ever said Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez is a disciplined hitter. The latest example?

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen and second baseman Ketel Marte each left the 11-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies early. The good news is neither should miss any noteworthy time. Gallen said he was dealing with cramps and Marte has a left ankle contusion.

⚾ Rangers right-handed starter Nathan Eovaldi was lifted from his start vs. the Yankees after three innings of the first game of a doubleheader due to tightness in his right side. The move was more precautionary and Eovaldi is likely to make his next start.

⚾ Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Hunter Harvey (midback tightness) went on the 15-day IL.

⚾ Right-handed reliever Troy Taylor was promoted from Triple-A by the Seattle Mariners to make his MLB debut.

⚾ Cincinnati Reds right-handed reliever Emilio Pagán (strained right lat) was activated from the 60-day IL.

⚾ Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Pérez (strained left oblique) was placed on the 10-day IL.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Hey, Dodgers: Stop messing with Mookie — Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times

Bumgarner recalls being in zone in epic World Series performance — Alex Pavlovic, NBC Sports Bay Area

Yankees’ struggles at home could determine AL East — Joel Sherman, New York Post

 

Fantasy Baseball Coverage

 

Starting Pitcher Roundup

Hitter Performances

Reliever Ranks

Starting Pitcher Streamers

 

Steve Drumwright

Steve Drumwright is a lifelong baseball fan who retired as a player before he had the chance to be cut from the freshman team in high school. He recovered to become a sportswriter and have a successful journalism career at newspapers in Wisconsin and California. Follow him on Bluesky and Threads @DrummerWrites.

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