This really bears repeating from earlier this week: the Texas Rangers are not playing good baseball right now. At all. The Rangers have lost six of seven games on their current 11 game homestand, with the only win coming last Monday against the Indians. Texas' typically high-powered offense has had issues putting runs on the board during this losing streak, totaling just eight runs in their last six losses. And guess what, Rangers fans? Things aren't going to get easier to close out the homestand, as the first place Oakland Athletics are coming to town before the Rangers close out the month with a road trip to the Bronx and St Louis before returning home to face the Reds. There's a very real possibility that Texas will be a .500 club at the end of the month, and Oakland will commence running away with the AL West.
PIC OF THE DAY
The Royals OF is either celebrating a win, or prepping for a hardcore game of ring around the rosie. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
Game of the Day: Mets 4, Cubs 3. Chicago led 3-0 heading into the ninth inning, a fine outing by Matt Garza helping to shut down the New York offense. Carlos Marmol came on to close out the game in the ninth, and well…Carlos Marmol happened. Marlon Byrd led the inning off with a massive homer to cut Chicago's lead to two runs. Marmol then walked Lucas Duda and allowed a single to John Buck, putting the tying run on base with none out. Omar Quintanilla bunted the runners over to bring up recently recalled center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and he proceeded to smash a ball off the facade in right field to give New York the walkoff winner.
Pitching Lines of the Day: Corey Kluber shut down the Nationals in a 2-0 Indians win, allowing seven hits over eight shutout frames, striking out eight without a walk. Matt Garza's full line in that Cubs loss in New York saw him pitch seven scoreless innings, allow three hits, walk two, and strike out five. Doug Fister pitched well for the Tigers in their 5-2 win over the Twins, allowing two runs on two hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out seven and walking two. Ricky Nolasco led the Marlins to a 7-2 win over the Cardinals, giving up one run on three hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out four.
Hitting Lines of the Day: Josh Reddick smashed the Mariners in Oakland's 10-2 win, going 4/5 with two runs, two RBI, a triple, and a homer, but the real story in Oakland was the feces-flooded clubhouses. Nick Markakis powered the Orioles to a 6-3 win over the Red Sox, going 4/5 with three runs and two doubles, while the still smoking Chris Davis went 2/4 with a double, a homer, and three RBI. Adam Lind's red hot bat led the Blue Jays to a 7-2 win in Texas, going 3/5 with a three-run homer. Alejandro de Aza played well for the White Sox in their 5-4 loss to the Astros, going 2/5 with two runs, two RBI, a triple, and a homer.
Other Games: The Reds beat the Brewers 5-1. The Royals beat the Rays 5-3, and Tampa Bay is calling up uber-prospect Wil Myers for their next game. The Pirates doubled up the Dodgers 6-3, and Gerrit Cole is 2-0. The Padres beat the Diamondbacks 4-1 to complete the sweep of Arizona. The Yankees survived a late Angels rally to win 6-5. The Rockies beat the Phillies 5-2, and Cole Hamels now has TEN losses.
Today's Games: James Shields starts for the Royals in Cleveland. Josh Johnson starts for the Blue Jays against Jorge de la Rosa and the Rockies. Travis Wood and Shelby Miller will duel in St Louis. Max Scherzer and the Tigers host the Oriolse. Francisco Liriano starts for the Pirates in Cincinnati. Jose Quintana looks to avoid a four game sweep for the White Sox against Bud Norris and the Astros. Jacob Turner and the Marlins travel to the desert to take on Pat Corbin and the Diamondbacks.
National TV: Cubs-Cardinals (7 PM, ESPN)
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.
