May Day! May Day! It's May 1. The first "month" (yes, MLB counts the last few days of March as part of April for stats purposes) of the season is now in the books and it seems that May 1 is a good time to say we're officially in the "grind" portion of the 2018 MLB schedule. Here is everything you need to know about the day in baseball:
Tuesday's scores
- Rangers 8, Indians 6 in 12 innings (box score)
- Nationals 12, Pirates 4 (box score)
- Brewers 7, Reds 6 (box score)
- Braves 3, Mets 2 (box score)
- Royals 7, Red Sox 6 in 13 innings (box score)
- Marlins 2, Phillies 1 in 10 innings (box score)
- Tigers 2, Rays 1 (box score)
- Rockies 3, Cubs 1 (box score)
- Blue Jays 7, Twins 4 in 10 innings (box score)
- Yankees 4, Astros 0 (box score)
- Cardinals 3, White Sox 2 (box score)
- Diamondbacks 4, Dodgers 3 (box score)
- Angels 3, Orioles 2 (box score)
- Mariners 6, Athletics 3 (box score)
- Padres 3, Giants 2 (box score)
Sanchez's homer lifts Yankees over Astros
This week's ALCS rematch series continued in Houston on Tuesday night. The Astros picked up a 2-1 victory Monday night, largely because Charlie Morton was out-of-this-world good. On Tuesday, it was Justin Verlander's turn. He struck out a career-high-tying 14 in eight shutout innings.
Justin Verlander is only pitcher in MLB history with 14+ K, 0 BB, 0 ER in a game vs Yankees
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) May 2, 2018
The Yankees lost starter Jordan Montgomery one inning into the game -- he was removed with elbow tightness -- which meant they would need at least seven innings out of their bullpen. Four relievers (Domingo German, Chad Green, Dellin Betances, David Robertson) matched zeroes with Verlander through eight innings. What a pitching duel.
In the ninth inning, against closer Ken Giles, the Yankees final broke through. Gary Sanchez smacked a go-ahead three-run home run deep to center field. It was Sanchez's third winning home run in the past six days.
Giles literally punched himself in the face as he walked off the field. The Yankees added an insurance run and went on to win the game 4-0.
A very good case can be made the Astros and Yankees are the two best teams in the AL, and these past two nights, they've played a pair of tight high-level games that had a postseason feel. The 2017 ALCS was tight and hard fought. These two regular-season games have been the same way. What a fun series for baseball fans. This is as good as May baseball gets.
D-Backs off to best start in franchise history
It's only May 1, but this week's series between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers feels rather important. Moreso for the Dodgers than the D-Backs, mostly because they don't want to get buried in the NL West. Well, after losses Monday and Tuesday, Los Angeles is nine games -- nine games! -- back of the D-Backs for the division lead.
On Tuesday, Daniel Descalso's go-ahead two-run triple was the big blow. It turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead for the D-Backs.
And just like that the @Dbacks lead. Descalso follows singles from Marrero and Murphy with a 2-run triple to start the 7th. pic.twitter.com/XsAXQaJZjl
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) May 2, 2018
At 21-8, the Diamondbacks are off to the best 29-game start in franchise history, and they're tied with the Red Sox for the best record in baseball. They've clinched at least a tie of the four-game series, meaning Arizona will begin the season without a loss in their first 10 series. Impressive.
As for the Dodgers (12-17), they have now lost four straight and seven of their past eight games. Like I said, they are nine games back of the D-Backs. Corey Seager is done for the season, the bullpen is a mess, and unless they scrap their plan to get under the $197 million luxury tax threshold, there is no significant help on the way. There's still a lot of baseball to be played this season. Lots. Right now, though, the Dodgers are in crisis mode.
Brantley swats tying grand slam
Michael Brantley had the biggest of big hits Tuesday night. Bases loaded, down four runs, two outs in the bottom of the ninth, 0-2 count ... grand slam. The only way it could be bigger is if it came in October rather than May. To the very necessary video:
Down to our last strike, Michael Brantley picked the perfect time to hit his first career grand slam.
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) May 2, 2018
Take it away, Hammy. pic.twitter.com/nD7twHtubb
Brantley's blast was the first tying grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning (or later) since Kyle Seager did the deed against Addison Reed and the White Sox back in 2013.
Alas, Brantley's heroics went for naught. The Rangers came back and won the game in 12 innings thanks to home runs by Joey Gallo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Rizzo, Harper homer from leadoff spot
Tuesday night, in an effort to get their offenses going, the Cubs and Nationals employed unconventional leadoff hitters: Anthony Rizzo and Bryce Harper. Rizzo, who has been dealing with back problems these past few weeks, came into Tuesday hitting .149/.259/.189 on the season with only one (1) extra-base hit (a home run). Geez.
Naturally, Rizzo started Tuesday's game with a leadoff homer. Of course he did.
As for the Nationals, Harper has been getting pitched around all season -- he's on pace for over 200 walks -- partly because Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon are injured. So, manager Dave Martinez figured he might as well bat Harper in the leadoff spot if teams are going to walk him so much.
Harper also went deep Tuesday night, though it was not a leadoff shot like Rizzo's. It was a three-run bomb later in the game.
Washington's offense broke out in their 12-4 victory against the Pirates. The Cubs? Rizzo's home run was the only run they scored in a loss to the Rockies.
Braves continue youth movement with Soroka
The Braves have called up yet another one of their highly touted prospects. Tuesday night at Citi Field, 20-year-old right-hander Mike Soroka made his MLB debut against the Mets. MLB.com ranks him as the 30th best prospect in baseball.
Soroka quickly showed off a nice little slider Tuesday, fanning Adrian Gonzalez for his first career strikeout.
Mike Soroka's first career strikeout.
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) May 1, 2018
Perfect location with plenty of movement on the slider.
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/WAG2L08iNe
Soroka, who had a 1.99 ERA in four Triple-A starts before being called up, held the Mets to that one run in six innings in his MLB debut. A fine first game as a big-leaguer, it was.
Thanks to Soroka's callup, the Braves now have the three youngest players in the big leagues on their active roster. Here's the list:
- Ronald Acuna, Braves: 20 years, 134 days
- Mike Soroka, Braves: 20 years, 270 days
- Ozzie Albies, Braves: 21 years, 114 days
- Gleyber Torres, Yankees: 21 years, 139 days
- Rafael Devers, Red Sox: 21 years, 189 days
The youth movement is alive and well in Atlanta, folks. And gosh, are these kids good or what?
Marlins win fourth straight
Break up the Marlins! The rebuilding Miami squad won their fourth consecutive game Tuesday, besting the Phillies in 10 innings thanks to Yadiel Rivera's walk-off single. The Marlins have won six of their past seven.
Here is Rivera's walk-off base knock:
Make it four straight W's!!! Yadiel Rivera rips one into right-center and the @Marlins walk it off on the Phillies in 10!! #JuntosMiami#MLBpic.twitter.com/R1WU13k04l
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) May 2, 2018
Of course, this recent hot streak improves the Marlins' record to only 11-18, which ain't good. Management might not be trying to win, but the players on the field sure are. Good for them.
Quick hits
- Our R.J. Anderson takes an extended look back at the 119-loss 2003 Tigers.
- The 2019 MLB season will begin with a two-game series between the Athletics and Mariners in Japan on March 20-21, MLB announced. Here is our full story
- The Orioles say they are still evaluating their team, so don't expect a trade involving SS Manny Machado within the next few days. Here is our full story
- The Braves have called up their top pitching prospect RHP Mike Soroka to start on Tuesday. Here is our full story. The move gives LHP Sean Newcomb and RHP Julio Teheran an extra day to rest.
- The Mets got good news on Yoenis Cespedes' injured thumb and, sure enough, he was back in the lineup Tuesday. Cespedes missed a few games after jamming the thumb on a slide.
- The Twins have placed third baseman Miguel Sano on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain, the team announced. Infielder Gregorio Petit has been recalled as a corresponding move.
- The Angels placed closer RHP Keynan Middleton on the 10-day disabled list with an elbow issue, the club announced. RHP Eduardo Paredes has been called up in a corresponding move.
- The Diamondbacks traded minor leaguers RHP Sam McWilliams and LHP Colin Poche to the Rays as the players to be named later in the Steven Souza deal, the team announced.
- Trevor Bauer thinks the Astros' pitchers are increasing spin rates in fishy ways.
- The Cardinals have recalled first baseman Luke Voit from Triple-A and optioned pitcher Mike Mayers back to Triple-A.
- The Yankees have signed right-handed pitcher David Hale to a minor-league deal.
- The Rockies optioned first baseman Ryan McMahon to Triple-A while bringing up outfielder Daniel Castro.
