Settling the Score: Friday's results - HardballTalk

The cream is rising to the top in the National League East.

While the Nationals had their five-game winning streak snapped yesterday against the Cubs, the Braves topped the Diamondbacks by the score of 8-2 last night. It was Atlanta’s eighth straight victory and their 10th win in their last 11 games.

Ervin Santana allowed two runs over 7 1/3 innings in the victory while the Braves’ offense pounded out 12 hits. Freddie Freeman had a pair of RBI singles to lead the charge.

The Braves are back to 10 games over .500 for the first time since late April and currently sit at 48-38 on the year, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Nationals for the division lead. With the Marlins, Mets, and Phillies all fading, it should be a two-team battle for most of the summer.

Your Friday box scores:

Diamondbacks 2, Braves 5

Cubs 7, Nationals 2

Yankees 6, Twins 5

Phillies 2, Pirates 8

Blue Jays 0, Athletics 1 (12 innings)

Marlins 2, Cardinals 3

Mariners 1, White Sox 7

Rangers 5, Mets 6

Astros 6, Angels 7

Dodgers 9, Rockies 0

Orioles/Red Sox – PPD

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The Blue Jays announced on Monday the signing of lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. “Scrabble,” as he’s affectionately known, spent the first two and a half years of his career with the Blue Jays in 2009-11.

Rzepczynski, 34, hasn’t appeared in the majors since July 2018. He struggled across 44 2/3 innings with the Reno Aces, the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate, last year. He posted a 5.04 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 28 walks.

While lefty relievers are always high in demand, it seems likely that Rzepczynski will begin the regular season in the minors and serve as organizational depth for the Blue Jays.

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Settling the Score: Friday’s results

Blue Jays sign Marc Rzepczynski to minor league deal