Yankees Blow Lead in Tough Loss to Red Sox
The New York Yankees' second half of the season did not get off to the ideal start on Friday night, as they lost even more ground in the AL East. The Yankees blew a ninth-inning lead, as Aroldis Chapman walked Andrew Benintendi with the bases loaded to end the game in what was a 5-4 loss to the first place Boston Red Sox. The Yankees lead the league with 18 blown saves this season, as Chapman suffered his first loss of the year. Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia singled to begin the final inning, with Betts scoring the tying run on an error from Ronald Torreyes. Pedroia then scored the winning run, handing the Yankees their fourth walk-off loss of the season. Chapman has struggled as of late in the back end of their bullpen, posting a 6.75 ERA over his last five appearances. Drew Pomeranz struck out seven in a start for the Red Sox, but was touched up by Gary Sanchez, who had a two-run home run and RBI single on the night. Robby Scott got the win in relief for Boston, who now holds a 4.5-game lead over the Yankees in the division, and can add to that lead on Saturday afternoon.
Puig's Power Gives Dodgers Late Win Over Marlins
The Los Angeles Dodgers have spent all week in Miami after the All-Star Game, and they played as if the Home Run Derby was still taking place on Friday night. At least Yasiel Puig did, as the outfielder followed a 449-foot home run with a go-ahead three-run blast with two outs and two strikes in the ninth for a 6-4 win over the Miami Marlins. The first long ball was a three-run bomb, as he now has 18 big flies on the season, pulling him within one of his career high from 2013. Corey Seager also went deep for the Dodgers, who earned their 62nd win of the season. Josh Fields improved to 5-0 out of the bullpen for Los Angeles, as Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 22nd save. The Marlins used a three-run fifth inning to take the lead, getting an RBI double from Giancarlo Stanton and a two-run double from Justin Bour. AJ Ramos suffered the loss and the blown save after surrendering Puig's home run, as the Marlins fell to six games under .500 for the season. With the Arizona Diamondbacks' loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Dodgers now hold a comfortable 8.5-game lead in the NL West.
Cubs Power Past Orioles in Wild Game
The Chicago Cubs know they have to pick things up big time in the second half of the season if they want any shot of playing in October. They wasted little time doing so on Friday night, as they were involved in a slug-fest in Baltimore, but came out on top in Camden Yards. Addison Russell's ninth-inning home run lifted the Cubs to a 9-8 win over the Orioles. The go-ahead home run was the fifth of the game for Chicago, who blew an eight-run lead to make things interesting late. Mark Trumbo completed an impressive comeback for the O's with a two-run home run in the eighth inning off of Koji Uehara, who ended up earning the win. Brad Brach allowed the leadoff home run in the ninth for the Orioles, who are now tied for last place in the AL East. The Cubs have struggled in interleague play this season, improving to 3-6 on the year after being ten games over against the American League last season. Wilson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist, and Jason Heyward all went deep for Chicago, who pulled within a game of .500. Trumbo drove in three for Baltimore, who also got a home run from Wellington Castillo in the loss. Despite the comeback, they did strand 10 runners on base, which prevented them from jumping ahead of the Cubs. Chicago stayed 5.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, as the Brew-Crew took care of the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.
The New York Yankees' second half of the season did not get off to the ideal start on Friday night, as they lost even more ground in the AL East. The Yankees blew a ninth-inning lead, as Aroldis Chapman walked Andrew Benintendi with the bases loaded to end the game in what was a 5-4 loss to the first place Boston Red Sox. The Yankees lead the league with 18 blown saves this season, as Chapman suffered his first loss of the year. Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia singled to begin the final inning, with Betts scoring the tying run on an error from Ronald Torreyes. Pedroia then scored the winning run, handing the Yankees their fourth walk-off loss of the season. Chapman has struggled as of late in the back end of their bullpen, posting a 6.75 ERA over his last five appearances. Drew Pomeranz struck out seven in a start for the Red Sox, but was touched up by Gary Sanchez, who had a two-run home run and RBI single on the night. Robby Scott got the win in relief for Boston, who now holds a 4.5-game lead over the Yankees in the division, and can add to that lead on Saturday afternoon.
Puig's Power Gives Dodgers Late Win Over Marlins
The Los Angeles Dodgers have spent all week in Miami after the All-Star Game, and they played as if the Home Run Derby was still taking place on Friday night. At least Yasiel Puig did, as the outfielder followed a 449-foot home run with a go-ahead three-run blast with two outs and two strikes in the ninth for a 6-4 win over the Miami Marlins. The first long ball was a three-run bomb, as he now has 18 big flies on the season, pulling him within one of his career high from 2013. Corey Seager also went deep for the Dodgers, who earned their 62nd win of the season. Josh Fields improved to 5-0 out of the bullpen for Los Angeles, as Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 22nd save. The Marlins used a three-run fifth inning to take the lead, getting an RBI double from Giancarlo Stanton and a two-run double from Justin Bour. AJ Ramos suffered the loss and the blown save after surrendering Puig's home run, as the Marlins fell to six games under .500 for the season. With the Arizona Diamondbacks' loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Dodgers now hold a comfortable 8.5-game lead in the NL West.
Cubs Power Past Orioles in Wild Game
The Chicago Cubs know they have to pick things up big time in the second half of the season if they want any shot of playing in October. They wasted little time doing so on Friday night, as they were involved in a slug-fest in Baltimore, but came out on top in Camden Yards. Addison Russell's ninth-inning home run lifted the Cubs to a 9-8 win over the Orioles. The go-ahead home run was the fifth of the game for Chicago, who blew an eight-run lead to make things interesting late. Mark Trumbo completed an impressive comeback for the O's with a two-run home run in the eighth inning off of Koji Uehara, who ended up earning the win. Brad Brach allowed the leadoff home run in the ninth for the Orioles, who are now tied for last place in the AL East. The Cubs have struggled in interleague play this season, improving to 3-6 on the year after being ten games over against the American League last season. Wilson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist, and Jason Heyward all went deep for Chicago, who pulled within a game of .500. Trumbo drove in three for Baltimore, who also got a home run from Wellington Castillo in the loss. Despite the comeback, they did strand 10 runners on base, which prevented them from jumping ahead of the Cubs. Chicago stayed 5.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, as the Brew-Crew took care of the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.
