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Today’s Headlines
Marlins Halt Dodgers’ Streak At 11
The Miami Marlins picked the wrong time to visit Dodger Stadium. At least that was the prevailing theory entering the series opener. After all, the Los Angeles Dodgers had won 11 straight games, coming off a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. But thanks to five home runs, including two by Jorge Soler, the Marlins drubbed the Dodgers 11-3. The Marlins remained tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the final National League wild-card spot.
CAN CONFIRM: JORGE SOLER IS INDEED REAL. pic.twitter.com/zKlFtXrYqM
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) August 19, 2023
Angels Call Up Top 2023 Pick
The Los Angeles Angels have certainly been unconventional in recent years when it comes to their draft and quickly promoting picks. They shocked the baseball world again when they called up first baseman Nolan Schanuel, whom they drafted a little more than a month ago. It may go to how desperate the Angels’ front office is to get the team to the playoffs for the first time with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani on the roster. Shanuel was the 11th overall pick out of Florida Atlantic and spent just 21 games in the minors before getting the call for his MLB debut. And it was quite a debut.
Schanuel not only got his first MLB hit, but scored on Ohtani’s grand slam, turned an unassisted double play, then was part of a historic triple play in the ninth inning to preserve a tie game. The 6-4-3-2 triple play was the first of that kind since 1971. Ohtani’s grand slam was his 43rd homer of the season, tying Atlanta’s Matt Olson for the MLB lead. But the Angels lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 9-6 in 10 innings.
To make room for Schanuel and catcher Logan O’Hoppe (shoulder), who was activated off the 10-day injured list, catcher Chad Wallach was designated for assignment, first baseman C.J. Cron (lower-back inflammation) went on the 10-day IL and third baseman Anthony Rendon was transferred to the 60-day IL.
He's got the knock, @NSchanuel 👏@Angels | #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/B2vTC3hsQ3
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) August 19, 2023
Ohtani, Sho us something you can't do?! pic.twitter.com/BlkXFSdSPs
— MLB (@MLB) August 19, 2023
Angels in the INFIELD.
IT'S A TRIPLE PLAY!
(MLB X @CapitalOne) pic.twitter.com/VuVB9RujHo
— MLB (@MLB) August 19, 2023
Julio Continues Torrid Stretch
If Julio Rodríguez were a meme, the Seattle Mariners‘ center fielder would be the man walking totally engulfed in flames. That’s because Rodríguez had his third game in a row with at least four hits, setting a club record, to propel the Mariners to a 2-0 victory over the Houston Astros. Following a 5-for-5, five-RBI game that included a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning, J-Rod went 4-for-5 with another homer. Rodríguez tied a club record with a hit in nine consecutive at-bats. It was the Mariners’ fourth straight win and vaulted them past the Toronto Blue Jays for the third and final American League wild-card berth.
julio's absolutely locked in rn pic.twitter.com/aezRDwFX8m
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 19, 2023
Hurricane Affects SoCal Teams
Well, it certainly wasn’t surprising that the Lake Elsinore Storm rescheduled its Sunday game to a Saturday doubleheader due to Hurricane Hailey heading toward Southern California. After all, they are called the storm. But the California League was joined by its big brothers in MLB as the Dodgers, Angels and San Diego Padres all moved up their scheduled Sunday games to Saturday because of the rare SoCal hurricane that is expected to make landfall in California on Sunday. No word yet on what will happen to the Padres’ home series against the Marlins or the Angels’ home series vs. the Reds, both beginning Monday, as the storm is still expected to be making its way through SoCal to begin the week.
Setback For Stroman
The Chicago Cubs could be without right-hander Marcus Stroman for possibly the rest of the season after he said he will be totally inactive for the next few weeks. Stroman has been on the 15-day injured list due to right hip inflammation and was then diagnosed with a rib cartilage fracture. Rest is the only remedy, but it deals a big blow to the Cubs, who trail the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers by three games and are one game out of the final NL wild-card spot.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Well, It Is A Souvenir
Players are very cognizant of when a rookie gets his first MLB hit. The ball is generally tossed back to the infield and then to the dugout, where it is authenticated and then eventually gets to the rookie. But when St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn got an infield single snared by New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, Alonso did the unthinkable and threw it high into the stands. Alonso called it a “brain fart.” Good news, though. Cardinals security was able to able to negotiate the return of the ball.
The first hit of many to come for Masyn! #STLCards pic.twitter.com/e6Da3mGwde
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 19, 2023
Injuries and Other Moves
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler served a one-game suspension Friday. Kapler returned to the dugout after being ejected in the fourth inning Tuesday.
The Dodgers signed second baseman Kolten Wong, who had been released by the Seattle Mariners, to a minor-league contract.
Articles You Should Read
Stella and the fellas: Weaver to be 22nd girl at Little League World Series — Anna Laible, MLB.com
Three keys that make the Dodgers look unbeatable in October — Dayn Perry, CBS Sports
Giants’ waiver claim of injured pitcher upsets Dodgers — Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic
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