Angels Walk-Off on Dodgers' Miscues
The Los Angeles Dodgers had unfortunate deja vu to last season on Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels, which once again ended with a walk-off loss. The Angels capitalized on two ninth-inning errors from the Dodgers to walk-off for a 3-2 win at Angel Stadium. Yasiel Puig bobbled the ball in right field on an Ian Kinsler single, which allowed David Fletcher to get to third base. Fletcher would then come home as Puig's throw to the plate would get away from the catcher, and closer Kenley Jansen's inability to back up that throw allowed Fletcher to score the winning run. Fletcher also had the tying RBI single, as Jansen suffered his second loss and the Dodgers' four-game win streak came to an end. Matt Kemp had a pair of RBI singles in the loss, while Kenta Maeda struck out nine over 5.2 innings in a no-decision effort. The game did set an Angel Stadium record with their 108-degree temperature at first pitch, which beat the 106 degrees that took place in 1988 and 2007. The Angels converted Felix Pena from the bullpen to a starting role on Friday, and he impressed by giving up just two runs on three hits in 5.1 innings. Blake Parker threw a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second win. These two teams have two more national t.v. games this weekend, including Baseball Night in America on Saturday night.
Nationals, Mets Walk-Off on Long Ball
The Washington Nationals earned their second straight thrilling victory on Friday night, as Mark Reynolds continued to shine with his latest team. Reynolds stepped up as a pinch-hitter and hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning, giving the Nats a 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins. Kyle Barraclough allowed the game-winner after falling behind the slugger 3-0, as Reynolds stayed hot with his eighth home run. After a struggling June, the veteran is now 7 for his last 18 at-bats. Sean Doolittle got the win after pitching the ninth, as the Nationals have now won 13 in a row over the Marlins, dating back to last season. Meanwhile, the New York Mets had similar results on Friday, as Jose Bautista smacked a walk-off grand slam for a 5-1 Mets' win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Bautista's game-winner came with two outs in the ninth, as that was his first walk-off home run in his 15-year career. Chaz Roe surrendered the game-winner to Bautista, who now has 32 home runs in 157 career games against the Rays. The slugger now has six home runs this season, as he sent the Mets to just their third win in the past 19 games at Citi Field. The former Blue Jay and Brave has gotten hot as of late, hitting .330 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in his past 17 games.
Sale, McCullers Deals on the Mound
Two pitchers took over for the American League's top teams on Friday night, as both teams continued to lead the way in their division. First, Chris Sale struck out 12 over six innings, as the Boston Red Sox doubled-up the Kansas City Royals, 10-5. The win was Sale's ninth, as he got plenty of support, including a lead-off home run from Mookie Betts. That made Betts the fourth quickest Red Sox player to reach 100 career home runs. J. D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts also went deep, supporting the left-handed starter in his 100th career win. Sale's 16-inning scoreless streak came to an end in the second inning on Alcides Escobar's RBI single, but the Red Sox gave him an early lead by scoring four runs in each of the first two innings. Meanwhile, Lance McCullers Jr. also enjoyed some run support in the Houston Astros' 11-4 rout of the Chicago White Sox. McCullers struck out a career-high 12 hitter over seven innings without walking a batter, as he earned his 10th win of the season. Evan Gattis led the offensive charge with a three-run home run, while the rest of the team pulled away with a seven-run eighth inning. McCullers did not allow a hit until Adam Engel's single in the sixth inning, as he overcame his previous career high of 11 strikeouts. He has won four straight decisions, and joins Charlie Morton as the only Astros pitchers to reach 10 victories this season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had unfortunate deja vu to last season on Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels, which once again ended with a walk-off loss. The Angels capitalized on two ninth-inning errors from the Dodgers to walk-off for a 3-2 win at Angel Stadium. Yasiel Puig bobbled the ball in right field on an Ian Kinsler single, which allowed David Fletcher to get to third base. Fletcher would then come home as Puig's throw to the plate would get away from the catcher, and closer Kenley Jansen's inability to back up that throw allowed Fletcher to score the winning run. Fletcher also had the tying RBI single, as Jansen suffered his second loss and the Dodgers' four-game win streak came to an end. Matt Kemp had a pair of RBI singles in the loss, while Kenta Maeda struck out nine over 5.2 innings in a no-decision effort. The game did set an Angel Stadium record with their 108-degree temperature at first pitch, which beat the 106 degrees that took place in 1988 and 2007. The Angels converted Felix Pena from the bullpen to a starting role on Friday, and he impressed by giving up just two runs on three hits in 5.1 innings. Blake Parker threw a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second win. These two teams have two more national t.v. games this weekend, including Baseball Night in America on Saturday night.
Nationals, Mets Walk-Off on Long Ball
The Washington Nationals earned their second straight thrilling victory on Friday night, as Mark Reynolds continued to shine with his latest team. Reynolds stepped up as a pinch-hitter and hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning, giving the Nats a 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins. Kyle Barraclough allowed the game-winner after falling behind the slugger 3-0, as Reynolds stayed hot with his eighth home run. After a struggling June, the veteran is now 7 for his last 18 at-bats. Sean Doolittle got the win after pitching the ninth, as the Nationals have now won 13 in a row over the Marlins, dating back to last season. Meanwhile, the New York Mets had similar results on Friday, as Jose Bautista smacked a walk-off grand slam for a 5-1 Mets' win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Bautista's game-winner came with two outs in the ninth, as that was his first walk-off home run in his 15-year career. Chaz Roe surrendered the game-winner to Bautista, who now has 32 home runs in 157 career games against the Rays. The slugger now has six home runs this season, as he sent the Mets to just their third win in the past 19 games at Citi Field. The former Blue Jay and Brave has gotten hot as of late, hitting .330 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in his past 17 games.
Sale, McCullers Deals on the Mound
Two pitchers took over for the American League's top teams on Friday night, as both teams continued to lead the way in their division. First, Chris Sale struck out 12 over six innings, as the Boston Red Sox doubled-up the Kansas City Royals, 10-5. The win was Sale's ninth, as he got plenty of support, including a lead-off home run from Mookie Betts. That made Betts the fourth quickest Red Sox player to reach 100 career home runs. J. D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts also went deep, supporting the left-handed starter in his 100th career win. Sale's 16-inning scoreless streak came to an end in the second inning on Alcides Escobar's RBI single, but the Red Sox gave him an early lead by scoring four runs in each of the first two innings. Meanwhile, Lance McCullers Jr. also enjoyed some run support in the Houston Astros' 11-4 rout of the Chicago White Sox. McCullers struck out a career-high 12 hitter over seven innings without walking a batter, as he earned his 10th win of the season. Evan Gattis led the offensive charge with a three-run home run, while the rest of the team pulled away with a seven-run eighth inning. McCullers did not allow a hit until Adam Engel's single in the sixth inning, as he overcame his previous career high of 11 strikeouts. He has won four straight decisions, and joins Charlie Morton as the only Astros pitchers to reach 10 victories this season.
