Turner Drives in Eight, Nationals Stun Marlins
The Washington Nationals held a players-only meeting after falling below .500 following a sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. That clearly paid off for them in Thursday's game, as they stunned the Miami Marlins by rallying from nine runs down for a 14-12 victory at home. Trea Turner led the charge with two home runs and eight RBIs, including his first-career grand slam in the comeback. Turner had a solo shot in the fourth and then the grand slam in the sixth inning, helping the Nats snap a five-game losing streak and get their record back to .500. It was the largest comeback victory since the franchise left Montreal in 2005, beating out their 13-12 win over the Atlanta Braves on April 28th, 2015 after trailing by eight in that game. They had dropped 17 of their past 22 games, but have now won 12 in a row against Miami, dating back to last season, which is their longest win streak against one team since moving to Washington D.C. The Marlins used a six-run second to pull away early on, including home runs from Martin Prado and Justin Bour, but had their largest blown lead in franchise history. Adam Conley got the loss by allowing four of the first five batters to reach in the sixth, before the decisive home run from Turner, who recorded his third-career multi-home run game. These two teams have three more games to be played this weekend.
Weaver Pitches Cardinals to Rout of Giants
The St. Louis Cardinals were going up against a San Francisco Giants team that has dominated at AT&T Park, but it was the Cardinals doing the dominating on Thursday night. Luke Weaver went eight innings and allowed just two runs while striking out seven as the Cardinals blew out the Giants, 11-2. Weaver was supported by the long ball, as Jedd Gyorko, Matt Carpenter, and Harrison Bader all went deep, supporting their starter, who earned his fifth win. The 24-year-old had a perfect game through five innings, before Gorkys Hernandez led off the sixth with an infield single. That was followed by a two-run home run off the bat of Alen Hanson, but the hurler faced just two batters over the minimum in his outing. Gyorko finished with three hits and five RBIs for the Cards, helping hand Johnny Cueto the loss in his return. Cueto lasted just five innings and gave up four runs in the first inning, this after coming off the 60-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation. His four runs allowed in the inning is the most allowed in his 32 innings pitched before the injury. The Cardinals finished with a season-high 18 hits, which is their most since getting 19 in a win over the New York Mets on August 24th, 2016. They will continue their road trip with three more games against the Giants this weekend.
Astros Earn Another Walk-Off Win Over White Sox
The Houston Astros are a team that gets more dangerous as the game gets later, especially at Minute Maid Park, and the Chicago White Sox got a first-hand look at that on Thursday night. Yuli Gurriel brought home the winning run with a walk-off RBI single in the ninth for a 4-3 Astros' win over the White Sox. Jose Altuve had a two-run shot in the fifth, his eighth of the year, as the Astros rallied from a deficit with two runs in the final inning. George Springer also singled home a run late, as Joakim Soria took the blown save and fell to 0-3 on the season. Tony Kemp drew a lead off walk to get things started, which was followed by Marwin Gonzalez's single to move Kemp to third. Springer and Gurriel would take over from there, with Springer's hit snapping him out of an 0-for-8 slump, as he is just 6-for-70 since June 15th. Justin Verlander got the no-decision after allowing two runs on four hits and striking out 10 over seven innings, overcoming a tough outing against the Tampa Bay Rays that saw him give up a season-high five runs on nine hits. Joe Smith got his third win in his first appearance since June 6th, as he threw a scoreless inning. The Astros hold a 2.5-game lead on the Seattle Mariners in the AL West, as they will host the Chicago White Sox all weekend long.
The Washington Nationals held a players-only meeting after falling below .500 following a sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. That clearly paid off for them in Thursday's game, as they stunned the Miami Marlins by rallying from nine runs down for a 14-12 victory at home. Trea Turner led the charge with two home runs and eight RBIs, including his first-career grand slam in the comeback. Turner had a solo shot in the fourth and then the grand slam in the sixth inning, helping the Nats snap a five-game losing streak and get their record back to .500. It was the largest comeback victory since the franchise left Montreal in 2005, beating out their 13-12 win over the Atlanta Braves on April 28th, 2015 after trailing by eight in that game. They had dropped 17 of their past 22 games, but have now won 12 in a row against Miami, dating back to last season, which is their longest win streak against one team since moving to Washington D.C. The Marlins used a six-run second to pull away early on, including home runs from Martin Prado and Justin Bour, but had their largest blown lead in franchise history. Adam Conley got the loss by allowing four of the first five batters to reach in the sixth, before the decisive home run from Turner, who recorded his third-career multi-home run game. These two teams have three more games to be played this weekend.
Weaver Pitches Cardinals to Rout of Giants
The St. Louis Cardinals were going up against a San Francisco Giants team that has dominated at AT&T Park, but it was the Cardinals doing the dominating on Thursday night. Luke Weaver went eight innings and allowed just two runs while striking out seven as the Cardinals blew out the Giants, 11-2. Weaver was supported by the long ball, as Jedd Gyorko, Matt Carpenter, and Harrison Bader all went deep, supporting their starter, who earned his fifth win. The 24-year-old had a perfect game through five innings, before Gorkys Hernandez led off the sixth with an infield single. That was followed by a two-run home run off the bat of Alen Hanson, but the hurler faced just two batters over the minimum in his outing. Gyorko finished with three hits and five RBIs for the Cards, helping hand Johnny Cueto the loss in his return. Cueto lasted just five innings and gave up four runs in the first inning, this after coming off the 60-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation. His four runs allowed in the inning is the most allowed in his 32 innings pitched before the injury. The Cardinals finished with a season-high 18 hits, which is their most since getting 19 in a win over the New York Mets on August 24th, 2016. They will continue their road trip with three more games against the Giants this weekend.
Astros Earn Another Walk-Off Win Over White Sox
The Houston Astros are a team that gets more dangerous as the game gets later, especially at Minute Maid Park, and the Chicago White Sox got a first-hand look at that on Thursday night. Yuli Gurriel brought home the winning run with a walk-off RBI single in the ninth for a 4-3 Astros' win over the White Sox. Jose Altuve had a two-run shot in the fifth, his eighth of the year, as the Astros rallied from a deficit with two runs in the final inning. George Springer also singled home a run late, as Joakim Soria took the blown save and fell to 0-3 on the season. Tony Kemp drew a lead off walk to get things started, which was followed by Marwin Gonzalez's single to move Kemp to third. Springer and Gurriel would take over from there, with Springer's hit snapping him out of an 0-for-8 slump, as he is just 6-for-70 since June 15th. Justin Verlander got the no-decision after allowing two runs on four hits and striking out 10 over seven innings, overcoming a tough outing against the Tampa Bay Rays that saw him give up a season-high five runs on nine hits. Joe Smith got his third win in his first appearance since June 6th, as he threw a scoreless inning. The Astros hold a 2.5-game lead on the Seattle Mariners in the AL West, as they will host the Chicago White Sox all weekend long.
