Yasiel Puig sure is getting a lot of hype. But you know what? It's deserved. Through 20 games, Puig has collected 1.7 fWAR for the Dodgers to go along with his 1.229 OPS on the season. Yeah, the Dodgers are still a last place team and haven't exactly taken off like rocket since Puig's promotion, but the Los Angeles fanbase at least has something to look forward to now.
PIC OF THE DAY
Yasiel Puig celebrates the Dodgers win by throwing a flying knee at Skip Schumaker. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Game of the Night: Padres 4, Phillies 3 (ten innings). The Phillies took a 3-0 lead into the ninth against a Padres team that couldn't do anything against Cliff Lee all night. Lee started the inning looking for the shutout by promptly allowing a single to Carlos Quentin and a double to Chase Headley, bringing the tying run to the plate with no one out. Charlie Manuel subbed in closer Jonathan Papelbon for Lee, and things didn't get much better. Papelbon immediately allowed a two-run, game-tying single to Kyle Blanks, and then hit Jesus Guzman to put the winning run on base with none out. However, Papelbon then got Yasmani Grandal to ground into a double play, giving the Phillies a chance to get out of it…until Blanks scored on a wild pitch by Papelbon. Welp. The Phillies got Jimmy Rollins to third with one out in the tenth, but Luke Gregerson and Joe Thatcher got out of the inning with no harm. In the bottom of the inning, Justin De Fratus started the inning on the mound for the Phillies and made it easy for the Padres, getting a leadoff popout from Logan Forsythe before walking Chris Denorfia, hitting Quentin, walking Headley, and allowing a walkoff single to Blanks to end the game.
Pitching Lines of the Night: Jeremy Hellickson dominated the Blue Jays as the Rays won 4-1 to end Toronto's winning streak at 11, allowing just one hit in seven shutout innings, walking four and striking out four. Lee's final line for the Phillies in that loss to the Padres saw him allow two runs on eight hits in eight innings, punching out seven with just one walk. Madison Bumgarner had a decent start for the Giants in their 3-1 loss to the Dodgers, giving up three runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out five and walking one.
Hitting Lines of the Night: The Puigmania continued in LA, as the Dodgers' rookie outfielder went 3/4 with a homer and two RBI. Blanks finished his night in San Diego with four hits in five at bats, along with a run and three RBI. For the Phillies in that game, John Mayberry Jr went 3/4 with two runs, a double, and two steals. The Indians topped the Orioles 5-2 thanks to Michael Brantley going 2/4 with a double, a homer, and four RBI. In the losing effort, Nick Markakis went 2/4 with a solo homer.
Other Games: Got 'em all.
What You Missed: A-Rod has been cleared for rehab games on July 1st. The 2013 all-breakout team.
Today's Games: Gio Gonzalez and the Nationals host the Diamondbacks. Jose Fernandez starts for the Marlins, hosting the Twins. Justin Masterson starts for the Indians in Baltimore. Yu Darvish takes on Hiroki Kuroda in the Bronx. CJ Wilson starts for the Angels in Detroit. Ryan Dempster and the Red Sox host the Rockies. Matt Moore and the Rays host Mark Buehrle and the Blue Jays. Zack Wheeler starts for the Mets in Chicago against Chris Sale. Edwin Jackson starts for the Cubs in Milwaukee against Kyle Lohse. The stunningly good Jeff Locke gets the nod for the Pirates in Seattle.
National TV: Rangers-Yankees (7 PM, MLB Network), Indians-Orioles (7 PM, MLB Network), Pirates-Mariners (10 PM, MLB Network), Giants-Dodgers (10 PM, MLB Network)
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.
