Live blog: Following best of Thursday's action
Thursday means getaway day in Major League Baseball, so we’ve got some nice day action on tap. It starts just after noon Eastern and then it looks like we won’t have more than a few minutes without baseball until the night is concluded.
The Nationals are looking for their sixth straight win while the Marlins are hoping to avoid their seventh consecutive loss. The entire AL East could use a bounce-back while the Reds look to avoid a sixth straight loss. The Astros are looking for their AL-best 28th win, too.
The best story, though, appears to be the NL West rivalry, with Madison Bumgarner‘s Giants facing off against Clayton Kershaw‘s Dodgers. We know the story with those two, as Bumgarner was the World Series MVP last season and boasts three rings. Kershaw has three Cy Youngs and the Dodgers have won the NL West each of the past two seasons. They are in first place again, but the Giants have won five straight and a win Thursday would move them to within 1.5 games of the Dodgers.
As always, it should be a fun one and it’s an afternoon matinee. Time to come up with a last-minute “appointment” and skip out of work early!
It’s Madison Bumgarner vs. Clayton Kershaw Thursday afternoon. (USATSI)
As is custom in these parts, The Eye will be your guide throughout the day of MLB action. Check back on occasion for updates or just come back Friday morning for a massive recap of the action. Whatever works. We’ve got you covered.
Thursday’s MLB action (all times ET) (Full scoreboard)
Diamondbacks 7, Marlins 6 (Box score): Maybe the Marlins need to fire another manager? Since putting GM Dan Jennings in the dugout, they’ve lost four straight games and have been swept by the 19-21 Diamondbacks. This time around, they blew an early 3-1 lead, scored two in the sixth to tie it and then saw Arizona plate one in the eighth to take the lead for good. Ender Inciarte went 3-for-5 with two RBI and A.J. Pollock had two hits including a double and the game-winning RBI. Mat Latos was knocked around again and has a 6.12 ERA.
Mets 5, Cardinals 0 (Box score): It was the Lucas Duda and Jacob deGrom show in Citi Field Thursday afternoon. Duda homered twice, scoring three of the Mets’ five runs and driving home the other two (four total RBI — the point is that he accounted for all five runs). De Grom was dominant, allowing just one hit (a single) in eight shutout innings while striking out 11 without a walk. Jaime Garcia was mostly good for the Cardinals, but the five walks compared to three strikeouts in seven innings is a bit troubling in his return.
Milestone Watch
Longest active hit streak: It’s now Jose Abreu, sitting at 15 games.
Possibly more to come later.
Daily Awards
Grand slam of the day
That didn’t take long. Steve Pearce clubbed one in the first inning of American League play this afternoon.
Wikipedia update of the day
Jacob deGrom did pretty well own the Cardinals on Thursday, so it works.
On wikipedia today. pic.twitter.com/BYeJaUEvzZ
— Kristie Ackert (@Ackert_NYDN) May 21, 2015
Fun fact of the day
DeGrom and Corey Kluber, pride of Stetson!
The 90+ Game Scores this season have two things in common: They came against the Cardinals and were pitched by Stetson University alumni.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 21, 2015
The other current MLB player from Stetson is Chris Johnson.
More to come
Injuries, News & Rumors
A’s: Ron Washington has been hired as a major-league coach, the club officially announced.
Cardinals: Jaime Garcia was activated from the DL to make Thursday’s start.
Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu had shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the season, the team told reporters.
Red Sox: The Rusney Castillo promotion could be coming soon.
Rockies: Nolan Arenado isn’t starting Thursday, but don’t worry, it’s just a day off (Patrick Saunders) … Justin Morneau isn’t ready to come off the DL yet, as he still has concussion-like symptoms (Saunders).
Twins: Tim Stauffer has been activated from the DL.
Yankees: They have said they’ll pay A-Rod the bonus he’s due for the 660th career home run, so long as they lose arbitration. How noble.
Looking Ahead to Friday’s MLB action (all times ET)
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