Braves Snap Dodgers' Win Streak
Of all teams to cool off the red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers, not many people would have guessed it would be the Atlanta Braves. The sub-.500 team did just that on Thursday night, as they doubled-up the Dodgers in L.A., 6-3, to snap their 11-game win streak. The team with the best record in baseball fell behind 6-1 in the loss, as they had won 31 of their previous 35 games. Mike Foltynewicz shut down the Dodger bats, allowing just three runs on six hits over six innings, while striking out five. Atlanta wasted no time jumping on Brandon McCarthy and the Dodgers, as Freddie Freeman and Matt Adams knocked in first-inning runs. McCarthy lasted just four innings, allowing six runs on nine hits in his fourth loss. It was the third time in four starts that he failed to pitch into the fifth inning. Kurt Suzuki added a home run against the right-hander, while Ender Inciarte had an RBI single. The Dodgers look to rebound quickly in Game 2 of the series on Friday night.
Pirates Sweep First-Place Brewers
Within a span of a week since the All-Star break, the Pittsburgh Pirates have found themselves right in contention in the NL Central. The Pirates completed a four-game sweep of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers with a 4-2 victory on Thursday afternoon. Gregory Polanco homered, while Chris Stewart had three hits of his own in the win. The Pirates have now won 11 of 13 dating back to before the All-Star break, as they now sit just three games back in the division. The Chicago Cubs are in between those teams after their six-game win streak. Chicago is just one game behind the Brewers, who have now lost five in a row, and six of seven in the second half. Andrew McCutchen added an RBI single on the day, as the Pirates pulled their record to an even .500 for the first time since April 16th.. Jameson Taillon lasted 5.1 innings in his sixth win, as he struck out a season-high eight. Felipe Rivero recorded his ninth save with a perfect ninth inning. They will now head to Colorado to battle the Rockies, while the Brewers go to Philly for a series with the lowly Philadelphia Phillies.
Ole Miss Head Football Coach Resigns
Amid rumors and speculation of calls tracked to female escorts from him, Ole Miss head football coach Hugh Freeze resigned on Thursday, effective immediately. The Rebels' athletic director revealed the news regarding the escort controversy earlier in the day, which no doubt led to this decision. Assistant head coach Matt Luke has been named the interim head coach in his sixth season with the school. Ole Miss chancellor Jeffrey Vitter and athletic director Ross Bjork met with Freeze on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, where the 47-year-old offered his resignation. He had $2 million left on his contract this year, $5 million next year, and $5.15 million in 2019. The AD told reporters that these phone calls stem back to 2012, as the school was able to find a pattern with this issue. There is no specifics on how many phone calls there were. There is also no official timetable on the hunt for a new head coach.
Of all teams to cool off the red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers, not many people would have guessed it would be the Atlanta Braves. The sub-.500 team did just that on Thursday night, as they doubled-up the Dodgers in L.A., 6-3, to snap their 11-game win streak. The team with the best record in baseball fell behind 6-1 in the loss, as they had won 31 of their previous 35 games. Mike Foltynewicz shut down the Dodger bats, allowing just three runs on six hits over six innings, while striking out five. Atlanta wasted no time jumping on Brandon McCarthy and the Dodgers, as Freddie Freeman and Matt Adams knocked in first-inning runs. McCarthy lasted just four innings, allowing six runs on nine hits in his fourth loss. It was the third time in four starts that he failed to pitch into the fifth inning. Kurt Suzuki added a home run against the right-hander, while Ender Inciarte had an RBI single. The Dodgers look to rebound quickly in Game 2 of the series on Friday night.
Pirates Sweep First-Place Brewers
Within a span of a week since the All-Star break, the Pittsburgh Pirates have found themselves right in contention in the NL Central. The Pirates completed a four-game sweep of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers with a 4-2 victory on Thursday afternoon. Gregory Polanco homered, while Chris Stewart had three hits of his own in the win. The Pirates have now won 11 of 13 dating back to before the All-Star break, as they now sit just three games back in the division. The Chicago Cubs are in between those teams after their six-game win streak. Chicago is just one game behind the Brewers, who have now lost five in a row, and six of seven in the second half. Andrew McCutchen added an RBI single on the day, as the Pirates pulled their record to an even .500 for the first time since April 16th.. Jameson Taillon lasted 5.1 innings in his sixth win, as he struck out a season-high eight. Felipe Rivero recorded his ninth save with a perfect ninth inning. They will now head to Colorado to battle the Rockies, while the Brewers go to Philly for a series with the lowly Philadelphia Phillies.
Ole Miss Head Football Coach Resigns
Amid rumors and speculation of calls tracked to female escorts from him, Ole Miss head football coach Hugh Freeze resigned on Thursday, effective immediately. The Rebels' athletic director revealed the news regarding the escort controversy earlier in the day, which no doubt led to this decision. Assistant head coach Matt Luke has been named the interim head coach in his sixth season with the school. Ole Miss chancellor Jeffrey Vitter and athletic director Ross Bjork met with Freeze on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, where the 47-year-old offered his resignation. He had $2 million left on his contract this year, $5 million next year, and $5.15 million in 2019. The AD told reporters that these phone calls stem back to 2012, as the school was able to find a pattern with this issue. There is no specifics on how many phone calls there were. There is also no official timetable on the hunt for a new head coach.
