Giants 3, Dodgers 2: “Not in our house. Not yet.” Or so the Giants seem to be telling the Dodgers, who could clinch in San Francisco if they, you know, figured out how to win a ballgame in San Francisco. They haven’t for a long time, and last night’s thriller was just their latest failure in AT&T Park. Alejandro De Aza hit a walkoff sac fly inthe 12th inning to set up Clayton Kershaw vs. Madison Bumgarner tonight. East coasters: take a nap and watch this one.
Cubs 1, Royals 0: Like the Cards-Pirates game, this was a long scoreless battle, broken up by a walkoff pinch-hit homer by Chris Donorfia in the 11th. That obscured a nice pitchers’ duel between Yordano Ventura (7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 6K) and Kyle Hendricks (6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 9K). It may ultimately not make a difference — The Cubs trail the Pirates by three and a half games in the race for home field in the wild card game — but it’s keepin’ the magic alive. (“Siri, remind me to look and see if “Keepin’ the Magic Alive” is the name of an album by a late-70s, early-80s arena rock band, because it HAS to be, right? Maybe REO Speedwagon?”)
Nationals 5, Reds 1: Max Scherzer took a no-hitter into the eighth before Tucker Barnhart broke it up with a clean single to left field. Matt Thornton pitched the ninth inning. He didn’t assault anyone.
Cardinals 3, Pirates 0: Six Cardinals pitchers combined on the shutout in a game that was scoreless until the ninth when Jon Jay singled in a run and then Mark Reynolds hit a two-run homer. The real story here, of course, was rookie Stephen Piscotty being carted off the field after a violent collision with Peter Bourjos in left-center field. Knee-to-the-head stuff, which could’ve been extremely dangerous. Thankfully his tests came back negative for concussions and other serious business and he’s merely being held in a Pittsburgh hospital overnight for observation. We should know more on his condition today.
Blue Jays 4, Orioles 3: They usually win with long bombs, but here the Jays’ winning run came via a single, a sacrifice and a dribbler combined with a throwing error in the top of the ninth. Doesn’t matter. The O’s are officially eliminated. Toronto’s fifth straight victory, combined with the Yankees’ loss puts the Blue Jays’ magic number at two.
Red Sox 5, Yankees 1: Travis Shaw and Jackie Bradley each hit two-run homers off Ivan Nova and Eduardo Rodriguez — who the AP is calling E-Rod, which I refuse to do and no one can make me, dammit — scatter seven hits over six innings and allowed only one run. The Yankees could’ve clinched a playoff spot here and could’ve gotten their 10,000th win as a franchise here but, um, didn’t.
Twins 4, Indians 2: Associated Press headline:
If Phil Hughes has a secret life in which he goes to underground clubs and competes in freestyle rapping competitions, it’s almost certain that he uses the name “Ill Hughes.” He as an alter ego in some of his songs who merely goes by “Ill Phil.” It’s a complicated subculture.
Tigers 7, Rangers 4: A third straight loss for the first place Rangers who now find themselves a mere one and a half games ahead of Houston. Justin Verlander allowed one run in six innings, and Tyler Collins hit a three-run home run in a five-run fifth. Prince Fielder singled, doubled, homered and drove in all four of Texas’ runs in a winning effort in a losing cause.
Angels 5, Athletics 4: The Angels win their 6th straight on a bases loaded pinch-hit RBI single from David Murphy in the bottom of the ninth. The Angels remain a half game back of the Astros for the cared (tied in the loss column). A huge four-game series against the Rangers this weekend. But first two more against the A’s. Who are trottin’ Barry Zito out against them on Wednesday, which has to totally pump up the Astros and Rangers. Indeed, they have to be STOKED about that.
Astros 3, Mariners 2: George Springer, Evan Gattis and Chris Carter all homered. Carter has homered in three straight games. The Astros are holding on for dear life, but they’re holding on.
