While it’s not your Game of the Night from yesterday, last night’s Pirates-Reds game was crazy. The game was suspended due to rain after just six innings, tied at seven. The teams combined for ten homers, and slugged an ungodly .943 – the record is .952. Perhaps the crazier thing is that five offensive starters somehow didn’t collect a hit on the evening. The Pirates also struck out 11 times without walking in the six innings during the game. That’s…something.
Game of the Night: Braves 9, Phillies 6. What a wild and crazy game. Nothing happened at all for seven innings, with Atlanta bringing a 2-1 lead into the eighth after a plodding, drawn out contest. Then, Evan Gattis, Dan Uggla, and Andrelton Simmons hit back to back to back home runs off of B.J. Rosenberg, extending the Braves lead to 5-1. With Atlanta’s strong bullpen, that lead seemed safe…but oh how wrong we’d be. Luis Avilan started the eighth by walking Tony Gwynn Jr. and allowing back to back singles to Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. Avilan struck out Ryan Howard for the first out, but proceeded to give up a two-run single to Marlon Byrd, making it a 5-3 game. Domonic Brown followed with a three-run homer, and all of a sudden, it was 6-5 in favor of the Phillies. But things turned around once again in the ninth. Jake Diekman did his best Avilan impression by walking B.J. Upton and Justin Upton, sandwiching the two walks around a fielder’s choice by Freddie Freeman that resulted in everyone being safe. After punching out Evan Gatis, Diekman gave up a grand slam to Dan Uggla, putting the Braves back in front for good after David Carpenter escaped the ninth with no damage.
Pitching Lines of the Night: Lance Lynn dominated the Brewers in a 4-0 Cardinals win, giving up three hits in seven shutout innings, punching out 11 and walking three. Jesse Chavez pitched the A’s to a 3-2 win over the Angels, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits in seven innings, punching out nine without a walk. He outdueled Hector Santiago, who allowed one run on five hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking one. Ervin Santana’s performance in Atlanta’s win in Philly shouldn’t be overlooked, as he gave up one run on four hits in six innings, walking a pair and striking out 11.
Hitting Lines of the Night: We’re staying in Philadelphia and Cincinnati tonight, folks. Dan Uggla and Evan Gattis each homered twice for the Braves, with Uggla also walking and driving in five, while Gattis just drove in three. Neil Walker went 3/3 with a pair of solo homers for the Pirates, while Gaby Sanchez also hit a pair of solo homers in three at bats.
Other Games: The Orioles pounded Chris Archer and beat the Rays 7-1. The Mariners ran over the Rangers 7-1. The Nationals slammed the Marlins 9-2. The Mets triumphed over the dreadful Diamondbacks 7-3. The Padres edged the Rockies 5-4.
What You Missed: Jedd Gyorko isn’t leaving San Diego for awhile. Brett Anderson is on the DL yet again. Red Sox manager John Farrell slammed instant replay after getting boned twice in the Bronx, both of which are featured in this week in replays.
Today’s Games: Cliff Lee and the Phillies host the Braves. Masahiro Tanaka and the Yankees host the Cubs in what may be a bloodbath. Anibal Sanchez and the Tigers host the Indians. Gerrit Cole gets the nod for the Pirates in Cincinnati – after the completion of yesterday’s game, that is. Stephen Strasburg starts for the Nationals in Miami. Jake Peavy starts for the Red Sox in Chicago. Brendan Morrow gets the nod for the Blue Jays in Minnesota. Yordano Ventura and the Royals take on the Astros.
National TV: Braves-Phillies (7 PM, MLB Network), Pirates-Reds (7 PM, MLB Network)
MLB.tv Free Game: Mariners-Rangers (8 PM)
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.
