Live Blog: The best of Tuesday's MLB action
Tuesday in Major League Baseball brought us a full docket of games with a few delays and several wacky ones. How about the Pirates trailing 4-0 and getting no-hit through 3.5, only to score seven in the bottom of the fourth and then have to sweat it out for a 7-6 win? The Yankees-Phillies game was nuts, too, going back and forth with homers until the late innings being quiet — until the Phillies broke a 6-6 tie with a five-run ninth! Madison Bumgarner was perfect with nine strikeouts through four. The Cubs and Dodgers went through nine innings without scoring and on and on we went.
Speaking of that last one, Zack Greinke now has a 1.79 ERA in his last nine starts. He’s given up one run in five of those starts and Tuesday’s outing in Wrigley was the second time he didn’t even allow a run. Another game he worked eight innings while allowing two runs. There was one stinker in there, but that’s an extraordinary stretch to come away with an 0-2 record. That’s right, he’s winless in his last nine starts despite having a 1.79 ERA and playing for a team that is six games over .500. Talk about tough luck.
The Dodgers have now lost seven of their last nine games.
Over in the NL East, Stephen Strasburg was having a nightmare season (3-5, 6.55) when he was forced to go on the DL a few weeks ago. He came off Tuesday — sending rookie Joe Ross back to the minors despite a great showing in the bigs — and looked like the old Strasburg. Granted, he was facing a Braves team that was missing Freddie Freeman from the middle of the order, but in five scoreless innings of work, Strasburg gave up only four hits while walking one and striking out six. It had to be encouraging for Washington to see him go out and shut down the opposition for five innings.
Even better, he was pumping it up there 97-98 miles per hour and getting guys on elevated fastballs. He mostly worked fastball/curve, but that’s really all he needed, which is a great sign of the upside moving forward.
There’s still plenty of time for the Nationals to come with a trio of aces in Max Scherzer, Jordan Zimmermann and Strasburg in front of two more strong starters in Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister with Tanner Roark and Joe Ross waiting in the wings. Meanwhile, they have a 2.5-game lead in the NL East.
In related news, the Mets have fallen down to .500 at 36-36, despite having an 11-game winning streak earlier this season.
It’s been a rough stretch for Terry Collins and the Mets. (USATSI)
Now feel free to get lost in the steely gaze of the Eye …
Today’s MLB action (all times ET) (Full scoreboard)
Rays 4, Blue Jays 3 – Recap | Box score
Cardinals 4, Marlins 3 – Recap | Box score
Orioles 6, Red Sox 4 – Recap | Box score
Tigers 7, Indians 3 – Recap | Box score
Pirates 7, Reds 6 – Recap | Box score
Brewers 3, Mets 2 – Recap | Box score
White Sox 6, Twins 2 – Recap | Box score
Cubs 1, Dodgers 0 in 10 innings – Recap | Box score
Athletics 8, Rangers 6 – Recap | Box score
Phillies 11, Yankees 6 – Recap | Box score
Nationals 3, Braves 1 – Recap | Box score
Rockies 10, Diamondbacks 5 – Recap | Box score
Mariners 7, Royals 0 – Recap | Box score
Astros 13, Angels 3 – Recap | Box score
Padres 3, Giants 2 in 11 innings – Recap | Box score
Milestone Watch
Longest current hit streak: Jason Kipnis of the Indians enters Tuesday having hit safely in his last 17 games. He extended it to 18 games in the first inning. Elsewhere …
– A-Rod needed three hits to get to 3,007 and tie Al Kaline for 27th place on the all-time list. He actually got two — including a home run — so he’s one away.
– Albert Pujols needs two RBI to get to 1,652 and tie Tony Perez for 28th place on the all-time list. He garnered one single in two at-bats. There’s also this regarding El Hombre …
The Machine’s next extra-base hit will match Hall of Famer Tris Speaker for 13th on the all-time list. pic.twitter.com/Z92abKvpvY
— MLB Milestones (@MLBMilestones) June 23, 2015
– Bryce Harper has set the record for most All-Star votes in a single year by an NL player.
Daily Awards
Emojis of the day: The White Sox are here to help …
Because you can never have enough emojis, we created some Sox-mojis for you to save & share! http://t.co/hjDh2wdF0H pic.twitter.com/GHwerE79EC
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 23, 2015
Emoji-related news of the day: The Rockies‘ Twitter should be pretty interesting this evening …
@ROCKIES ALERT After today’s lineup is posted, we’ll tweet ONLY using emojis & images, including game action! No text.
— #VoteRox (@Rockies) June 23, 2015
Color us intrigued. For your leisured convenience, we’ll embed the Rockies’ Twitter feed below …
Civic sports unity teaser promo of the day: It’s not until Aug. 11, but here’s a teaser. Oh, one of these teams is pretty good, and the other is pretty not good …
Lakers Night at Chavez Ravine is coming up August 11th! Visit http://t.co/yBDV5Dj80w to get your tickets (& shirt) pic.twitter.com/5v4cqSXENg
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 23, 2015
Questionable baseball conditions of the day: From PNC Park via the Cincinnati Enquirer‘s Reds Instagram …
Good job, Twitter
Just because it’s obvious doesn’t mean the joke can’t be used.
Weird inning of the night
Joe Kelly was having a rough night, so the scoreless third was a welcome sight. Get this: He allowed a double, ground out and two walks and that was it — thanks to Chris Parmelee getting caught stealing and Travis Snider being picked off.
Most costly “LOL” job of the night
Indians starter Danny Salazar got a comebacker with the bases loaded, one out in a 1-1 game in the fifth inning. This happened:
#Whiff. pic.twitter.com/oR1JHAVybN
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) June 24, 2015
Salazar would end up allowing six runs that inning. Oops.
Uniform of the night
Ervin Santana, sporting the Darth Vader uni!
Ervin Santana #Twins Bad News: Suspended for PEDs Good News: Get to wear a Darth Vader uniform in rehab start pic.twitter.com/NDeKeFpWWN
— MLB Memes (@MLBMeme) June 24, 2015
Vintage MACHINE alert
How hot is Albert Pujols? The Astros intentionally walked him to load the bases with one out in the first inning. It worked, too, as David Freese hit into a double play to end the inning.
Oops of the night, outfield version
Torii Hunter spun around wildly on a ball to his left and threw it into … center field? MLB.com has the video proof. I’m gonna guess that was a first for the veteran.
Opportunistic workout of the day
Get it, Cutch!
No days off. #Gains pic.twitter.com/tRdsWIHC0t
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) June 24, 2015
Injuries, News & Rumors
Report: Phillies in talks to trade SP Cole Hamels to Rangers
Phillies place Chase Utley on DL; recall Darin Ruf
Tigers scratch Justin Verlander (back) from Wednesday’s start
Jake Odorizzi won’t be back with Rays until after All-Star Game
Rays to decide next step for Matt Moore after he throws Tuesday
Mariners OF Nelson Cruz seems fine after pelvic bone scare
Indians catcher Yan Gomes still out due to neck injury
Padres P Cory Luebke gives up homer in rehab start
Braves place 1B Freddie Freeman on disabled list
Mets pitcher Dillon Gee clears waivers, outrighted to Triple-A
Struggling Red Sox RF Rusney Castillo optioned to minors
Mets C Travis d’Arnaud (elbow) placed on 15-day disabled list
Josh Hamilton’s return may send Rangers’ Joey Gallo back to minors
Padres SP Brandon Morrow plays catch Tuesday
Giants to have Peavy, Cain do another rehab start before return
Diamondbacks SP Patrick Corbin to make two more rehab starts
Rangers activate Adrian Beltre, option Jon Edwards
Click here for more MLB player news.
Looking Ahead to Wednesday’s MLB action (all times ET)
As is usually the case on Wednesday, there’s some day baseball on the slate. Notably, Ivan Nova (Tommy John surgery) makes his 2015 debut for the Yanks, and he’ll oppose trade bait/Phils ace Cole Hamels …
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