Haniger, Mariners Rally to Sweep Angels
The Seattle Mariners have reached a new high in their remarkable first half of the season following a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Mitch Haniger kept his career year alive with a walk-off, two run home run in the ninth inning for an 8-6 victory over the Angels, putting the Mariners 20 games over .500 on the season. It also completes a three-game sweep of their division rivals, as Haniger recorded his major league-leading 11th game-winning hit of the season. He has already set career highs with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs on the season. Jean Segura scored the official winning run after leading off with a single off of Oliver Drake, who suffered his first loss for the Angels. Haniger also got it done on the other side of the field with a big-time defensive play from right field in the top half of the ninth to keep the game tied at the time. Nelson Cruz and Ryon Healy both went deep on the night for the M's, with Healy's shot tying the game in the eighth inning. Cruz stayed hot with his fourth long ball in the past five games and 16th of the year. Seattle has now won six of seven and 11 of 13 overall, as their reliever, Roenis Elias improved to 2-0 with the win on Wednesday. Marco Gonzales lasted seven innings and allowed three runs on seven hits in the start. The M's will now face a big challenge as the AL East leading Boston Red Sox come to town for a four-game weekend series beginning on Thursday night. The Angels continue their road trip with a three-game set against the Oakland Athletics.
Soto Powers Nationals to Yankee Stadium Win
The Washington Nationals were forced to call up Juan Soto sooner than expected due to injuries earlier this season, but that move has paid off so far. The rookie went deep twice on Wednesday night in a huge 5-4 win over the New York Yankees. Both of Soto's home runs gave the Nats the lead at the time, including a 435-foot blast in the seventh inning, which hung on to be the game-winner. His other blast was a two-run shot in the fourth inning, which gave the Nats a 4-3 lead at the time. The 19-year-old outfielder became the youngest Nationals player with a multi-home run game, while also snapping the Yankees' relievers' 23-inning scoreless streak with the game-winner. Since getting called up on May 20th, Soto is hitting .344 with five home runs and 12 RBI. The Yankees also got a long ball from a youngster, as 21-year-old Gleyber Torres tied things up with a fifth-inning homer. Greg Bird also went deep, while Giancarlo Stanton had three hits and an RBI in the loss. Adam Eaton and Matt Adams stepped up with three hits apiece for the Nationals, who earned a split of the two-game series. These two teams will play a doubleheader next Monday to make up for consecutive rainouts at Nationals Park. Until then, the Nats will continue their interleague road trip with a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend. The Yankees will stay home to host the Tampa Bay Rays.
Brewers Earn Second Straight Shutout of Cubs
After the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen got lit up in extras on Tuesday night, consecutive shutouts was exactly what the team needed to end the series. They pulled it off to stay in first place in the NL Central, blanking the Cubs' for the final 18 innings of the series following a 1-0 win on Wednesday. Jhoulys Chacin went six innings and struck out seven, while three relievers came on to shut things down for the Brew-Crew, who hold a 1.5-game lead in the Central. Lorenzo Cain went deep with a solo shot for the only run of the game, as Milwaukee was out-hit, 6-4, despite getting the win. The shutout victory improves them to 3-8 against the Cubs this season, with two of those wins coming this week. Seven of the 11 games this season between the two teams have been shutouts, with five of those in favor of the Cubs. Chacin improved to 6-1 by winning his sixth straight decision, despite walking four and giving up four hits. Jeremy Jeffress and Josh Hader came on after, before Cory Knebel earned his sixth save of the year. For the Cubs, Mike Montgomery suffered his second loss despite allowing just two hits, both of which came off the bat of Cain. He struck out four in what was his fourth start since replacing the injured Yu Darvish in the starting rotation. The Cubs will stay on the road for a division battle over the weekend with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers remain at home with the Philadelphia Phillies coming to town.
The Seattle Mariners have reached a new high in their remarkable first half of the season following a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Mitch Haniger kept his career year alive with a walk-off, two run home run in the ninth inning for an 8-6 victory over the Angels, putting the Mariners 20 games over .500 on the season. It also completes a three-game sweep of their division rivals, as Haniger recorded his major league-leading 11th game-winning hit of the season. He has already set career highs with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs on the season. Jean Segura scored the official winning run after leading off with a single off of Oliver Drake, who suffered his first loss for the Angels. Haniger also got it done on the other side of the field with a big-time defensive play from right field in the top half of the ninth to keep the game tied at the time. Nelson Cruz and Ryon Healy both went deep on the night for the M's, with Healy's shot tying the game in the eighth inning. Cruz stayed hot with his fourth long ball in the past five games and 16th of the year. Seattle has now won six of seven and 11 of 13 overall, as their reliever, Roenis Elias improved to 2-0 with the win on Wednesday. Marco Gonzales lasted seven innings and allowed three runs on seven hits in the start. The M's will now face a big challenge as the AL East leading Boston Red Sox come to town for a four-game weekend series beginning on Thursday night. The Angels continue their road trip with a three-game set against the Oakland Athletics.
Soto Powers Nationals to Yankee Stadium Win
The Washington Nationals were forced to call up Juan Soto sooner than expected due to injuries earlier this season, but that move has paid off so far. The rookie went deep twice on Wednesday night in a huge 5-4 win over the New York Yankees. Both of Soto's home runs gave the Nats the lead at the time, including a 435-foot blast in the seventh inning, which hung on to be the game-winner. His other blast was a two-run shot in the fourth inning, which gave the Nats a 4-3 lead at the time. The 19-year-old outfielder became the youngest Nationals player with a multi-home run game, while also snapping the Yankees' relievers' 23-inning scoreless streak with the game-winner. Since getting called up on May 20th, Soto is hitting .344 with five home runs and 12 RBI. The Yankees also got a long ball from a youngster, as 21-year-old Gleyber Torres tied things up with a fifth-inning homer. Greg Bird also went deep, while Giancarlo Stanton had three hits and an RBI in the loss. Adam Eaton and Matt Adams stepped up with three hits apiece for the Nationals, who earned a split of the two-game series. These two teams will play a doubleheader next Monday to make up for consecutive rainouts at Nationals Park. Until then, the Nats will continue their interleague road trip with a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend. The Yankees will stay home to host the Tampa Bay Rays.
Brewers Earn Second Straight Shutout of Cubs
After the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen got lit up in extras on Tuesday night, consecutive shutouts was exactly what the team needed to end the series. They pulled it off to stay in first place in the NL Central, blanking the Cubs' for the final 18 innings of the series following a 1-0 win on Wednesday. Jhoulys Chacin went six innings and struck out seven, while three relievers came on to shut things down for the Brew-Crew, who hold a 1.5-game lead in the Central. Lorenzo Cain went deep with a solo shot for the only run of the game, as Milwaukee was out-hit, 6-4, despite getting the win. The shutout victory improves them to 3-8 against the Cubs this season, with two of those wins coming this week. Seven of the 11 games this season between the two teams have been shutouts, with five of those in favor of the Cubs. Chacin improved to 6-1 by winning his sixth straight decision, despite walking four and giving up four hits. Jeremy Jeffress and Josh Hader came on after, before Cory Knebel earned his sixth save of the year. For the Cubs, Mike Montgomery suffered his second loss despite allowing just two hits, both of which came off the bat of Cain. He struck out four in what was his fourth start since replacing the injured Yu Darvish in the starting rotation. The Cubs will stay on the road for a division battle over the weekend with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers remain at home with the Philadelphia Phillies coming to town.
