Penguins Rout Predators for 3-2 Series Lead
The home team has had full advantage in the Stanley Cup Finals this season, and that remained true on Thursday night. Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel each recorded three points in a 6-0 shutout win for the Pittsburgh Penguins, giving them a 3-2 series lead on the Nashville Predators. They are now just one win away from becoming the first team with back-to-back Stanley Cup titles since the 1998 Detroit Red Wings. Pittsburgh successfully knocked Pekka Rinne out of the game in the first period after jumping to a 3-0 lead early on. Justin Schultz started the early barrage just 91 seconds in to the game, while Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust both scored, before the Predators pulled their net-minder. Kessel, Conor Sheary, and Ron Hainsey also scored in the win to support Matt Murray, who became the first rookie with a shutout in the Stanley Cup Finals since Cam Ward did it in 2006. This game was also highlighted by another confrontation between Sidney Crosby and P.K. Subban. After the two got tied up on the ice, Crosby continuously banged Subban's head to the ground. There was no penalty called against him for this incident. The Penguins hit the road to Nashville looking to end the series in Game 6 on Sunday night.
McCullers Loses No-Hit Bid, Astros Rally Late
Lance McCullers flirted with a no-hitter on Thursday night in Kansas City, but got no run support from the Houston Astros' offense. After McCullers lost a no-hitter with one out in the seventh inning on a Lorenzo Cain triple, the Astros rallied in the ninth inning for a 6-1 victory. Houston scored five runs in the final frame, lead by Jose Altuve's ninth big fly of the season, which gave them the lead. The home run came off of reliever Kelvin Herrera, who has surrendered seven long balls in 24.1 innings this season, after allowing just six in 72 innings last season. Jake Marisnick also knocked in two with a single off of Herrera, who retired just one of the five batters he faced in the inning. McCullers allowed one run on an RBI single from Mike Moustakas that scored Cain. He was involved in a pitchers duel with Jason Hammel, whose only run allowed came on a sixth-inning balk that scored Nori Aoki from third base. The win comes after the Astros dropped two in a row against the Royals after an 11-game win streak. They will now head back home to battle the Angels this weekend, while the Royals will head out west for an interleague matchup with the San Diego Padres.
Yankees Rock David Price in Series Finale
David Price has not had an easy road since his return from the disabled list, and it didn't get any easier on Thursday night. Price allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings in what was a 9-1 Boston Red Sox loss to the New York Yankees in the Bronx. Gary Sanchez went deep twice on the night, helping the Yankees outscore Boston 17-1 in the final two games of the series. They took two of three games to increase their lead in the AL East to three games on their rivals. Michael Pineda earned his seventh win of the season after throwing seven dominant innings. Price was pitching in his third game since his return and gave up four home runs on the night. This came after he reportedly got into a heated argument with a member of the media outside of the Red Sox locker room before the game. The argument started when the media wanted to interview Price, which the left-hander wanted nothing to do with. He fell to 14-11 in his career against the Yankees, which includes an ERA of 4.70. He is 1-6 with an 8.31 ERA on the road against New York in his career. The Red Sox move on to host the Detroit Tigers on Friday night, while the Yankees play host to the Baltimore Orioles.
The home team has had full advantage in the Stanley Cup Finals this season, and that remained true on Thursday night. Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel each recorded three points in a 6-0 shutout win for the Pittsburgh Penguins, giving them a 3-2 series lead on the Nashville Predators. They are now just one win away from becoming the first team with back-to-back Stanley Cup titles since the 1998 Detroit Red Wings. Pittsburgh successfully knocked Pekka Rinne out of the game in the first period after jumping to a 3-0 lead early on. Justin Schultz started the early barrage just 91 seconds in to the game, while Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust both scored, before the Predators pulled their net-minder. Kessel, Conor Sheary, and Ron Hainsey also scored in the win to support Matt Murray, who became the first rookie with a shutout in the Stanley Cup Finals since Cam Ward did it in 2006. This game was also highlighted by another confrontation between Sidney Crosby and P.K. Subban. After the two got tied up on the ice, Crosby continuously banged Subban's head to the ground. There was no penalty called against him for this incident. The Penguins hit the road to Nashville looking to end the series in Game 6 on Sunday night.
McCullers Loses No-Hit Bid, Astros Rally Late
Lance McCullers flirted with a no-hitter on Thursday night in Kansas City, but got no run support from the Houston Astros' offense. After McCullers lost a no-hitter with one out in the seventh inning on a Lorenzo Cain triple, the Astros rallied in the ninth inning for a 6-1 victory. Houston scored five runs in the final frame, lead by Jose Altuve's ninth big fly of the season, which gave them the lead. The home run came off of reliever Kelvin Herrera, who has surrendered seven long balls in 24.1 innings this season, after allowing just six in 72 innings last season. Jake Marisnick also knocked in two with a single off of Herrera, who retired just one of the five batters he faced in the inning. McCullers allowed one run on an RBI single from Mike Moustakas that scored Cain. He was involved in a pitchers duel with Jason Hammel, whose only run allowed came on a sixth-inning balk that scored Nori Aoki from third base. The win comes after the Astros dropped two in a row against the Royals after an 11-game win streak. They will now head back home to battle the Angels this weekend, while the Royals will head out west for an interleague matchup with the San Diego Padres.
Yankees Rock David Price in Series Finale
David Price has not had an easy road since his return from the disabled list, and it didn't get any easier on Thursday night. Price allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings in what was a 9-1 Boston Red Sox loss to the New York Yankees in the Bronx. Gary Sanchez went deep twice on the night, helping the Yankees outscore Boston 17-1 in the final two games of the series. They took two of three games to increase their lead in the AL East to three games on their rivals. Michael Pineda earned his seventh win of the season after throwing seven dominant innings. Price was pitching in his third game since his return and gave up four home runs on the night. This came after he reportedly got into a heated argument with a member of the media outside of the Red Sox locker room before the game. The argument started when the media wanted to interview Price, which the left-hander wanted nothing to do with. He fell to 14-11 in his career against the Yankees, which includes an ERA of 4.70. He is 1-6 with an 8.31 ERA on the road against New York in his career. The Red Sox move on to host the Detroit Tigers on Friday night, while the Yankees play host to the Baltimore Orioles.
