Kershaw Reaches 2K Strikeouts, Dodgers Win in Extras
The Los Angeles Dodgers had themselves an eventful and long night in Milwaukee on Friday, but all in a good way. First, ace Clayton Kershaw struck out 14 over seven innings, and became the second-fastest pitcher to reach 2,000 strikeouts in his career. Kershaw struck out Jonathan Villar in the second inning to reach the milestone. At one point in the game, he retired 20 in a row, and he fell one strikeout short of his career high. Meanwhile, it took 12 innings, but the Dodgers came away with a 2-1 win over the Brewers, as Cody Bellinger hit the game-winning solo shot in the 12th. Kenley Jansen threw two scoreless innings to improve to 3-0, as he stranded the potential tying run at third base. Jansen recorded his 36th strikeout of the season without a walk, which sets a major league record. The Dodgers pitching staff had a combined franchise-record 26 strikeouts on the night, as the two teams combined for 42 strikeouts to set a National League record. With the win, Los Angeles moves a half game above Arizona and Colorado for first in the NL West. Milwaukee remains 1.5 games above St. Louis for first in the NL Central. This series continues on Saturday night.
Cabrera Reaches 1,000 Extra-Base Hits, Tigers Rout White Sox
The Detroit Tigers' offense failed them this past road trip, as they fell three games under .500 with their recent struggles. That offense exploded on Friday night, including Miguel Cabrera recording his 1,000th career extra-base hit in a 15-5 blowout of the Chicago White Sox. Cabrera recorded two RBI doubles, as well as a sacrifice fly, as his double in the second inning helped him reach the milestone. Meanwhile, J.D. Martinez fell a single shy of the cycle and recorded his ninth home run in just 20 games this season. He is hitting .297 with a .797 slugging percentage since making his season debut. Meanwhile, Michael Fulmer took advantage of the run support, as he allowed five runs over seven innings on seven hits, and improved to 6-3 on the season. The White Sox starter, Derek Holland, struggled by allowing a season-high eight earned runs in just 2.1 innings. Mikie Mahtook and John Hicks both went deep in the win for Detroit, who sit just three games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. They will host the White Sox for game two of the series on Saturday.
Cubs Snap Losing Streak With Win Over Cardinals
The Chicago Cubs have been one of the disappointments of the 2017 MLB season, as they came in to the month of June two games under .500 and on a six-game losing streak after last year's World Series title. They snapped their losing streak on Friday afternoon, as Jason Heyward hit the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning for a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. After getting engaged, Anthony Rizzo played a big role in the win, reaching base four times and scoring the winning run on Heyward's sac fly. The former Atlanta Braves outfielder also had an RBI double, while Kris Bryant hit his 12th home run in the win. Cardinals reliever Trevor Rosenthal surrendered the go-ahead run and suffered his second loss of the season. One bright side for one St. Louis Cardinals player was Dexter Fowler receiving his World Series ring for his time with the Cubs last season. He also went on to smack a lead-off home run for his eighth big fly of the year. Magneurias Sierra had an RBI single in the second inning, but that was the final hit against Cubs starter John Lackey. Pedro Strop escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth to earn his first win, while Wade Davis closed things out for his 11th save. These two teams will go at it again on Saturday afternoon.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had themselves an eventful and long night in Milwaukee on Friday, but all in a good way. First, ace Clayton Kershaw struck out 14 over seven innings, and became the second-fastest pitcher to reach 2,000 strikeouts in his career. Kershaw struck out Jonathan Villar in the second inning to reach the milestone. At one point in the game, he retired 20 in a row, and he fell one strikeout short of his career high. Meanwhile, it took 12 innings, but the Dodgers came away with a 2-1 win over the Brewers, as Cody Bellinger hit the game-winning solo shot in the 12th. Kenley Jansen threw two scoreless innings to improve to 3-0, as he stranded the potential tying run at third base. Jansen recorded his 36th strikeout of the season without a walk, which sets a major league record. The Dodgers pitching staff had a combined franchise-record 26 strikeouts on the night, as the two teams combined for 42 strikeouts to set a National League record. With the win, Los Angeles moves a half game above Arizona and Colorado for first in the NL West. Milwaukee remains 1.5 games above St. Louis for first in the NL Central. This series continues on Saturday night.
Cabrera Reaches 1,000 Extra-Base Hits, Tigers Rout White Sox
The Detroit Tigers' offense failed them this past road trip, as they fell three games under .500 with their recent struggles. That offense exploded on Friday night, including Miguel Cabrera recording his 1,000th career extra-base hit in a 15-5 blowout of the Chicago White Sox. Cabrera recorded two RBI doubles, as well as a sacrifice fly, as his double in the second inning helped him reach the milestone. Meanwhile, J.D. Martinez fell a single shy of the cycle and recorded his ninth home run in just 20 games this season. He is hitting .297 with a .797 slugging percentage since making his season debut. Meanwhile, Michael Fulmer took advantage of the run support, as he allowed five runs over seven innings on seven hits, and improved to 6-3 on the season. The White Sox starter, Derek Holland, struggled by allowing a season-high eight earned runs in just 2.1 innings. Mikie Mahtook and John Hicks both went deep in the win for Detroit, who sit just three games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. They will host the White Sox for game two of the series on Saturday.
Cubs Snap Losing Streak With Win Over Cardinals
The Chicago Cubs have been one of the disappointments of the 2017 MLB season, as they came in to the month of June two games under .500 and on a six-game losing streak after last year's World Series title. They snapped their losing streak on Friday afternoon, as Jason Heyward hit the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning for a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. After getting engaged, Anthony Rizzo played a big role in the win, reaching base four times and scoring the winning run on Heyward's sac fly. The former Atlanta Braves outfielder also had an RBI double, while Kris Bryant hit his 12th home run in the win. Cardinals reliever Trevor Rosenthal surrendered the go-ahead run and suffered his second loss of the season. One bright side for one St. Louis Cardinals player was Dexter Fowler receiving his World Series ring for his time with the Cubs last season. He also went on to smack a lead-off home run for his eighth big fly of the year. Magneurias Sierra had an RBI single in the second inning, but that was the final hit against Cubs starter John Lackey. Pedro Strop escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth to earn his first win, while Wade Davis closed things out for his 11th save. These two teams will go at it again on Saturday afternoon.
