Numerous playoff-contending teams earned big victories on Sunday afternoon, thanks to the help of the long ball from their big-time hitters. It began in New York, where the Atlanta Braves earned an extra-inning win over the New York Mets, 5-4, at Citi Field. Nick Markakis went deep in the 10th inning off of Tyler Bashlor, giving the Braves their 60th win of the season.
Markakis finished with four hits on the day, while Ender Inciarte also went deep in Atlanta's sixth victory in the past seven games. They took three of four from the Mets, earning their first road series victory in over a month. Atlanta was also sparked by starting pitcher Julio Teheran at the plate, as he went deep for the first time in his career. The Mets forced extras in the ninth inning on Devin Mesoraco's two-run home run to tie the game, although, they were unable to earn the series split.
Despite the Braves win, they did not gain a game on the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, as the first-place team beat the Miami Marlins, 8-5, at Citizens Bank Park. Recently-acquired Asdrubal Cabrera stayed hot with the game-winning, two-run home run in the eighth inning, as the Phillies stayed 1.5 games ahead of the Braves for the top spot in the division.
Cabrera was acquired from the Mets on July 27th and has gone deep in each of the past two days, three times since coming to Philly, and now has 20 long balls overall this year. Philadelphia improved to a National League leading 38-18 at home, as Pat Neshek earned his first win with a perfect eighth inning, and Tommy Hunter came on for his second save. Meanwhile, the Marlins have now dropped six in a row and 10 of 13 overall, falling back to last place in the NL East.
The Colorado Rockies nearly blew a big road victory in Milwaukee on Sunday, but Nolan Arenado came to the rescue in the 11th inning. The All-Star third baseman went deep for the game-winning solo shot off of Corey Knebel to give the Rockies a 5-4 win at Miller Park. Trevor Story also had a big three-run shot in the fifth inning, which was the difference, up until the ninth inning.
The Brewers rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the ninth, scoring three times to force extras. That was highlighted by Mike Moustaks's first home run with the Brewers. Adam Ottavino suffered the blown save when Erik Kratz scored from third on a wild pitch, sending the game in to the 10th. That also handed Rockies starter Jon Gray a no-decision after he threw eight innings of one-run baseball and struck out eight. The Brewers remain a game back in the NL Central behind the Chicago Cubs, who fell to the San Diego Padres, 10-6. Meanwhile, the Rockies sit 2.5 games out of first in the NL West, and three games out of the final National League Wild Card spot.
Elsewhere, J.D. Martinez recently took the major league home run lead with his 33rd long ball on Saturday, but Jose Ramirez did not allow that to last long on Sunday. Ramirez connected with a three-run shot for his 33rd blast in the Cleveland Indians' 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Ramirez's homer came in the first inning off of starter Deck McGuire, and supported rookie Shane Bieber, who pitched well for the first-place Tribe.
Bieber lasted 5.2 innings and struck out seven to improve to 6-2 at the big league level this season. Ramirez's homer ties him with Martinez for the league lead in home runs, as he also ranks third in the American League with 82 RBIs. He is batting .300 on the season and is looking to join Ty Cobb as the only players to lead the league in home runs and stolen bases in the same season.
While Ramirez and Martinez lead all of baseball with the long ball, Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals holds the National League lead in that category. He added to that on Sunday with a solo shot in the fifth inning in the Cardinals' 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was Carpenter's 29th homer of the year and supported Jack Flaherty in his fifth win of the year. Flaherty lasted six innings and struck out seven without allowing a run on the day. He walked just one while lasting six innings for the first time since July 3rd against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Carpenter's solo shot gives him a career-high in home runs this season, as he is now tied with Arenado of the Rockies for the NL lead. Jedd Gyorko also drove in a run with a single, while Bud Norris had a perfect ninth inning for his 21st save of the season. Both of these teams are well within striking distance in the NL Wild Card race, with the Cardinals just four games out, while the Pirates fall to five games back.
Markakis finished with four hits on the day, while Ender Inciarte also went deep in Atlanta's sixth victory in the past seven games. They took three of four from the Mets, earning their first road series victory in over a month. Atlanta was also sparked by starting pitcher Julio Teheran at the plate, as he went deep for the first time in his career. The Mets forced extras in the ninth inning on Devin Mesoraco's two-run home run to tie the game, although, they were unable to earn the series split.
Despite the Braves win, they did not gain a game on the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, as the first-place team beat the Miami Marlins, 8-5, at Citizens Bank Park. Recently-acquired Asdrubal Cabrera stayed hot with the game-winning, two-run home run in the eighth inning, as the Phillies stayed 1.5 games ahead of the Braves for the top spot in the division.
Cabrera was acquired from the Mets on July 27th and has gone deep in each of the past two days, three times since coming to Philly, and now has 20 long balls overall this year. Philadelphia improved to a National League leading 38-18 at home, as Pat Neshek earned his first win with a perfect eighth inning, and Tommy Hunter came on for his second save. Meanwhile, the Marlins have now dropped six in a row and 10 of 13 overall, falling back to last place in the NL East.
The Colorado Rockies nearly blew a big road victory in Milwaukee on Sunday, but Nolan Arenado came to the rescue in the 11th inning. The All-Star third baseman went deep for the game-winning solo shot off of Corey Knebel to give the Rockies a 5-4 win at Miller Park. Trevor Story also had a big three-run shot in the fifth inning, which was the difference, up until the ninth inning.
The Brewers rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the ninth, scoring three times to force extras. That was highlighted by Mike Moustaks's first home run with the Brewers. Adam Ottavino suffered the blown save when Erik Kratz scored from third on a wild pitch, sending the game in to the 10th. That also handed Rockies starter Jon Gray a no-decision after he threw eight innings of one-run baseball and struck out eight. The Brewers remain a game back in the NL Central behind the Chicago Cubs, who fell to the San Diego Padres, 10-6. Meanwhile, the Rockies sit 2.5 games out of first in the NL West, and three games out of the final National League Wild Card spot.
Elsewhere, J.D. Martinez recently took the major league home run lead with his 33rd long ball on Saturday, but Jose Ramirez did not allow that to last long on Sunday. Ramirez connected with a three-run shot for his 33rd blast in the Cleveland Indians' 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Ramirez's homer came in the first inning off of starter Deck McGuire, and supported rookie Shane Bieber, who pitched well for the first-place Tribe.
Bieber lasted 5.2 innings and struck out seven to improve to 6-2 at the big league level this season. Ramirez's homer ties him with Martinez for the league lead in home runs, as he also ranks third in the American League with 82 RBIs. He is batting .300 on the season and is looking to join Ty Cobb as the only players to lead the league in home runs and stolen bases in the same season.
While Ramirez and Martinez lead all of baseball with the long ball, Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals holds the National League lead in that category. He added to that on Sunday with a solo shot in the fifth inning in the Cardinals' 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was Carpenter's 29th homer of the year and supported Jack Flaherty in his fifth win of the year. Flaherty lasted six innings and struck out seven without allowing a run on the day. He walked just one while lasting six innings for the first time since July 3rd against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Carpenter's solo shot gives him a career-high in home runs this season, as he is now tied with Arenado of the Rockies for the NL lead. Jedd Gyorko also drove in a run with a single, while Bud Norris had a perfect ninth inning for his 21st save of the season. Both of these teams are well within striking distance in the NL Wild Card race, with the Cardinals just four games out, while the Pirates fall to five games back.
