Welcome to another Thursday in Major League Baseball, which brings us a few matinees on getaway day and three late games out West. The Cardinals have sneakily moved into a first-place tie by beating up on two division mates, a hopeful contender continues its second-half tailspin, aYankeespitcher makes the kind of history that isn't very good at all, while a Twins player flirted with history and much more is to come in the night action.
Stick right here throughout the night for updates and let's get to it!
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Baseball schedule/scores for Thursday, July 25
- FINAL -Mets4,Padres0 (box score)
- FINAL -Cardinals6,Pirates 3 (box score)
- FINAL -Rockies8,Nationals 7 (box score)
- FINAL -Red Sox 19, Yankees 3 (box score)
- FINAL -Twins10,White Sox 3 (box score)
- LIVE -IndiansatRoyals (GameTracker)
- LIVE -RangersatAthletics (GameTracker)
- LIVE -OriolesatAngels (GameTracker)
- LIVE -TigersatMariners (GameTracker)
Red-hot Cardinals sweep Pirates
The Cardinals finished up a four-game sweep in Pittsburgh with Thursday's win. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead and then got four runs on three homers the rest of the way to the Pirates down yet again. Most importantly,Paul Goldschmidthit one of them:
On Sunday, I noted that Goldschmidt hasn't been very good this season but he's capable of getting insanely hot on a dime. This series, he went 6 for 16 with hour homers and nine RBI. He's the type of player that can carry an offense.
The Cardinals are now 11-3 since the All-Star break and have had a big hand in effectively moving the Pirates andRedsout of contention in the NL Central, as they took three of four from the Reds before this series. The whole division was within 4 1/2 games at the All-Star break, but now the Reds are eight out and the Pirates are nine back.
Speaking of the division, theCubshave an off day Thursday, so the Cardinals' win moves the rivals into a tie at 55-47. Lots of eyes this weekend will be on Cubs atBrewers, but Tuesday through Thursday, the Cubs visit the Cardinals for a three-game series. The three-team race in the Central is getting all kinds of fun.
Tanaka makes dubious history
Here's the final line for Yankees starterMasahiro Tanakaon Thursday night in Fenway Park:
Understatement alert: That is pretty bad, no?
The Red Sox got him for seven in the first and five in the fourth, clubbing two homers and six doubles off the All-Star (whose ERA is now up to 4.79).
This is the first time a pitcher has allowed at least 12 earned runs since A.J. Burnett allowed 12 against the Cardinals on May 2, 2012. This is only the second time in recorded Yankees history that a pitcher has coughed up 12. The previous time was in 1923, when Carl Mays gave up 13, but he also worked eight innings. The last time this happened in Fenway Park was on Aug. 14, 1949 when Paul Calvert gave up 12 in 5 2/3 innings. As for a Yankees-Red Sox game? This is the first time ever.
Yankees' starters as a whole are struggling right now. Look at what they've been doing lately, working backward:
- Wednesday: J.A. Happ gave up six runs in 3 1/3 innings.
- Tuesday:Domingo Germangave up eight runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.
- Monday:CC Sabathiaallowed seven runs on six hits in four innings.
- Sunday:James Paxtongave up seven runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings.
- Saturday: Tanaka threw five scoreless innings, but gave up five runs in the sixth.
There's a trade deadline coming up next week and it would behoove the Yankees to add a starter or two.
On the Red Sox end, they had 23 hits. Eight players had a multi-hit game. There were 10 doubles with three players having two. There were four homers withXander Bogaertshaving two. After the four-hit game, Bogaerts is hitting .315/.400/.575.
Cruz homers three times in first five innings
The Twins crushed five more homers in yet another win Thursday. The seemingly agelessNelson Cruz(he's actually 39) clubbed one in each of his first three at-bats:
Cruz ended up getting two more at-bats with a chance to become the 17th player in modern history with four homers in a game. He would've been the oldest by eight years, too. Alas, he struck out and flew out. It wasn't meant to be, but it was a fun thought for a few innings.
Cruz now has 26 homers this season. He's averaged 41 home runs in the last five seasons and his career high is 44. He actually only had 22 home runs through his age-27 season, but has hit 363 since. Had he put things together in his early 20s he'd be making a run at 500 career homers.
The Twins move to 62-40.
Rockies rally to ruin Scherzer's return
The Nationals have been winning at a better clip than any other team since their dreadful 19-31 start, but the back-end of their bullpen was extremely overworked after Wednesday's doubleheader and it bit them Thursday.Fernando Rodneyworked both ends of the twin billing and was called upon to try and close this one down. It did not work.Ian Desmondhomered to tie it:
The Rockies rallied for another run to take the lead and steal the win.
The big news in this one for the Nats was they got back their ace,Max Scherzer, from the injured list. He was mostly good, but did get knocked around in the fourth inning. He struck out eight against two walked while allowing three runs on four hits. The damage all happened in that fourth inning. Otherwise he was what we've come to expect with Scherzer.
The Braves are off Thursday, so the Nats fall to 4 1/2 back in the NL East. They have the top NL wild card spot, but the division is the goal and it's now a realistic scenario, despite them at one point being 10 games out. So this one hurts.
On the Rockies' end, it's a nice win, but they haven't played well enough to be called contenders at this point. They are 7 1/2 games out of the second wild card with five teams in the way.
Padres fall again
At the All-Star break, the Padres were 45-45 and in the NL that was good enough to be within striking distance of a playoff spot (they were two out of the second wild card). They had just won three in a row, taking three of four from the mightyDodgers. It was a successful first half, especially given how young they are and how long they've not been a contender. Since the break, though, it's been a really rough go. With the loss Thursday toJacob deGromand the Mets, the Padres have now lost every series since the break.
- Swept in three games at home by theBraves.
- Lost two of three to the lowlyMarlinsin Miami.
- Lost two of three to the Cubs in Wrigley.
- Lost two of three to the Mets in New York.
At least the Padres get to head home to beautiful San Diego, but they are now seven games out of the second wild card and there are four teams between them and the spot. This is seller territory.
Quick hits
- TheGiantsmight holdMadison Bumgarnerandbecome buyers in front of the trade deadline.
- Speaking of which,here are all the latest trade rumors in one handy stop, including stuff onNoah Syndergaard,Whit MerrifieldandTrevor Bauer.
- RaysaceBlake Snellwill undergo elbow surgery and miss at least four weeks.Here's more on Snell's outlook.
- Troy Tulowitzkihasdecided to officially retire from baseball.
- Rangers sluggerJoey Gallowill miss four weeksafter breaking his hamate bone.Willie Calhouncomes up as a corresponding move.
- The Brewers are calling up infielderTravis Shaw, with the corresponding move beingJhoulys Chacinhitting the injured list,reports The Athletic.
- The Yankees have placedBrett Gardneron the injured list and left-handed relieverStephen Tarpleycomes up as the corresponding move.
- TheAstroswill activateCarlos Correafrom the injured list Friday and will designatedTony Kempfor assignment,reports The Athletic.
- The Twins have activatedByron Buxtonfrom the injured list and sent downJake Caveto the minors.
- The Dodgers traded for Astros first baseman Tyler White, who was designated him for assignment by Houston just a few days ago.
- LeftyAlex Woodwill start Sunday, the Reds have announced. He's been out all season with a back injury. What's an interesting thing to watch here is that if Wood pitches really well, it might end up being the only outing all season with the Reds. He's a free agent after the season and the Reds will likely sell at the deadline.
- The Cubs are calling up utility power hitterIan Happfor Friday's game,reports Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register. The corresponding move will be interesting.Kris Bryantleft Wednesday's game with a knee injury, though the team has indicated it's not serious. Maybe he's placed on the injured list, maybe not. If not,David BoteandAlbert Almorawould be candidates to be optioned to Triple-A whileDaniel Descalsocould be designated for assignment. He's in the first year of a two-year deal, but he's hitting .181/.283/.263 and his deal is only for $5 million.
- The Yankees have acquired minor-league catcherBrian Navarretofrom the Twins for cash considerations, the club has announced. Keep in mind,Gary Sanchezis on the injured list.
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