Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Well, That's Rich

Rich Hill did it mostly on his own Friday night, but he got by with a little help from his friends as well.

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The southpaw was practially perfect in a dominant 7-0 victory over the Orioles, firing a two-hit, complete-game shutout. The win was his second in three starts and it was the third straight game in which he’s struck out 10 batters.

“For a guy that has resurrected his career in the way that he has, it’s very, very impressive,” said Red Sox interim manager Torey Lovullo. “You’re starting to get the feel that this is a little bit of a habit.”

And while Hill was electric, a Chris Davis fly ball with two outs in the ninth inning threatened to smudge an otherwise spotless line. Davis crushed a breaking ball to right-center field, but Mookie Betts, doing his best Mary Poppins impression, flew through the air — nearly flying over the outfield wall — to rob the first baseman of a two-run homer. The catch ended the game and sealed Hill’s impressive performance.

Stellar outings have, as Lovullo said, become a theme in recent weeks for the 35-year-old. Since September 13, Hill is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 30/2 K/BB ratio over 23 innings.

It’s an incredible new chapter in a long, sordid story. Hill won 11 games for the Cubs in 2007 but injuries and ineffectiveness derailed his career. Before this year, he hadn’t started a major league game since 2009, and he threw just 5 1/3 innings in the majors last season.

Whether or not it’s legitimate or sustainable is a different discussion for a different day. (Hint: it’s almost certainly not.) In a sport that offers precious few stories of redemption, Friday was a day to simply appreciate Hill’s accomplishment.

As Mary Poppins said, anything can happen if you let it.

C-Mart Closed For Business

The Cardinals are hoping Carlos Martinez‘ start Friday will be the only thing cut short by shoulder issues.

The right-hander left just seven pitches into Friday’s game, and the team later attributed the early exit to shoulder tightness. Martinez will go for an MRI on the shoulder Saturday, after which his outlook will be clearer.

Martinez said he actually felt some tightness during his last start but that he thought he could “pitch through it.”

“I tried to throw today and knew it didn’t feel completely right, but I thought I could pitch through it,” Martinez said through teammate and translator Jon Jay. “After I threw the first pitch, I knew there was something wrong.”

The Cards eventually lost the game, but the greater concern would be losing Martinez for any period of time. The 24-year-old has been supercalifragilisticexpialidocious this season, posting a 3.01 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 184/63 K/BB ratio over 179 2/3 innings, and if healthy he will surely garner consideration for a postseason start should the Cardinals make it to the NLDS.

For now, they’ll hold their breath.

Tulo To Return?

Troy Tulowitzki could be back just in time for his first postseason since 2009.

Tulo, recovering from a cracked shoulder blade suffered on September 12 when he collided with teammate Kevin Pillar, could be back at some point next week ahead of the Blue Jays’ foray into October. Asked Friday, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said it’s “a possibility” that Tulowitzki makes it back before the end of the regular season.

“I don’t know if it’s overly optimistic but maybe (he could return) sometime in that Baltimore series, but I guess that’s possible,” Gibbons said. “I’m definitely hoping maybe by Tampa. That’s all we have left, really.

“But he’s moving in the right direction. We’ll see. It’s one of those things, he’s getting better but you can’t put a date on it. It’s one of those kinds of deals.”

When he initially sustained the injury on what appeared to be a mild play — Tulo was backing up to catch a fly ball and ran into Pillar, who was running in — it was a lot of brimstone and treacle, but the shortstop said the intensity has lessened as the days have gone on.

“When I first got this injury I was in a lot of pain, but as the days have gone on the pain’s died down. I feel better each and every day,” Tulowitzki said.

With Friday’s win the Jays are 7-5 without the 30-year-old, but they’ll certainly welcome him back with open arms. When that will be remains to be seen.

National League Quick Hits: Zack Greinke (calf) threw a bullpen session Friday. The timetable puts him on track for a start Monday against the Giants … Hunter Pence (oblique) isn’t expected to be back this season, Giants manager Bruce Bochy implied Friday. Pence has been out since mid-August with a strained oblique … Ryan Braun (back) sat out again Friday. He hasn’t played in a week due to a nagging back ailment that will require surgery after the season … Jonathan Papelbon was suspended three games by Major League Baseball for hitting Manny Machado during Wednesday’s game. The reliever has appealed the suspension and will be allowed to pitch until his appeal is heard … Gregory Polanco (knee) returned to the Pirates’ lineup Friday, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts … Charlie Blackmon (neck) hit his 17th home run in his return to action Friday … confirming what was long expected, Ryan Zimmerman (oblique) isn’t likely to return this year as he continues to deal with discomfort in his left side … Aaron Altherr had a night to remember, finishing 4-for-5 with a rare inside-the-park grand slam and a traditional homer to boot. Altherr finished the proverbial triple shy of the cycle … Lucas Duda, officially out of his midseason slump, homered twice and had six RBI in a lopsided win over the Reds.

American League Quick Hits: Jose Altuve left Friday’s game after colliding with teammate Carlos Correa in the seventh inning. The good news is that he passed concussion tests and said after the game that he hopes to play Saturday … Michael Brantley (shoulder) was and then wasn’t back in the Indians’ lineup Friday. The outfielder was thought to be well enough to go, but he aggravated the shoulder injury during batting practice. It’s unclear how long the setback will keep him sidelined … facing the Omaha Storm Chasers, Carlos Carrasco struck out 15 batters in a one-hit shutout. The 15 punchouts was a career-high for Carrasco … Taijuan Walker‘s season is “most likely done,” according to Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon. Walker has thrown 169 2/3 innings this season, and with the M’s going nowhere the team is being cognizant of his workload … the Twins activated Ricky Nolasco from the 60-day disabled list. Nolasco has been out since late May after ankle surgery … Adam Jones (back) was out again Friday. He’s missed the past four games due to the ailment … Josh Donaldson reached the 40-homer plateau Friday for the first time in his career. The third baseman should enjoy another first in a few weeks — an American League MVP trophy.

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