One down, nine to go – the Los Angeles Angels became the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season on Monday night. At 94-56, the Angels’ magic number to clinch the AL West is down to three games, meaning that they can clinch as early as Wednesday. The Angels are also getting pretty damn close to clinching the top seed in the American League, leading the Orioles by four games for that position. This whole playoff thing is getting real, folks.
Game of the Night: Royals 4, White Sox 3. Kansas City sure wants to keep themselves relevant in the AL Central race. They trailed 3-0 through six innings, but the offense started to churn in the seventh. Eric Hosmer led off the inning with a double, and Omar Infante singled him in to make it 3-1. In the eighth, Norichika Aoki led off with an infield single, moved up to second on an error, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an Alex Gordon ground out to cut the deficit to 3-2. Then in the ninth, Mike Moustakas doubled with one out. Jarrod Dyson came in to pinch run, and ended up advancing two bases on a wild pitch – the box score says he stole third and scored on the wild pitch, but that’s just semantics. Aoki followed up with a double, and pinch runner Terrance Gore scored from second to win the game on an infield single by Lorenzo Cain. Are you kidding me, Royals?!
Pitching Lines of the Night: Andrew Cashner turned the Phillies into a steaming pile of rubble, tossing a complete game shutout for the Padres in their 1-0 win, allowing two hits, walking one, and striking out seven. Jerome Williams was actually nearly as good for Philadelphia, giving up one unearned run on three hits in 7 2/3 innings, walking a pair and striking out six. In Washington’s 4-2 win over Atlanta, Stephen Strasburg threw seven scoreless frames, allowing five hits and striking out seven without a walk. Matt Shoemaker pitched the Angels to an 8-1 win over the Mariners and a playoff berth, giving up one run on five hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out five without a walk. In Chicago’s loss to Kansas City, John Danks allowed two hits in six shutout innings, striking out six and walking four. Alfredo Simon gave up five hits overt seven scoreless frames in Cincinnati’s 1-0 loss to the Cubs, walking one and striking out three. In Houston’s 3-1 win over Cleveland, Collin McHugh gave up one unearned run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven without a walk.
Hitting Lines of the Night: Miguel Cabrera went 2/5 with a double, a solo homer, and three runs scored in the Tigers’ 8-6 win over the Twins. Mark Trumbo helped the Diamondbacks beat the Giants 6-2, going 2/4 with a homer and five RBI. Wilin Rosario went 3/4 with a solo homer in the Rockies’ 11-3 loss to the Dodgers, while Juan Uribe went 3/4 with a double, a run, an RBI, and a walk for Los Angeles. Jose Altuve stayed hot for the Astros in their victory against the Indians, going 3/4 with a triple, a run, and two RBI. Norichika Aoki went a perfect 4/4 with a run, a walk, and a double in the Royals’ win over the White Sox. Brennan Boesch (of course) went 2/4 with a solo homer and two runs scored for the Angels in their slaying of the Mariners.
Other Games: The Orioles moved their magic number to 1 by beating the Blue Jays 5-2. The Rays shut out the Yankees 1-0. The Marlins rallied to beat the Mets 6-5, regardless of how great Jacob deGrom pitched for New York.
Today’s Games: Ubaldo Jimenez looks to clinch the AL East for the Orioles against the Blue Jays. Michael Pineda and Jake Odorizzi will square off again in St. Pete. Charlie Morton returns to the hill for the Pirates against the Red Sox. Bartolo Colon and the Mets battle the Marlins. Tanner Roark aims to send the Nationals to the NL East crown in Atlanta. Wily Peralta and Lance Lynn will duel in St. Louis. Rick Porcello starts for the Tigers in Minnesota. Corey Kluber and the Indians battle the Astros. Johnny Cueto and Jake Arrieta face off in Chicago. Dan Haren starts for the Dodgers in DEnver. Jake Peavy and the Giants take on the Diamondbacks. Scott Kazmir and the A’s host the Rangers. Ian Kennedy and the Padres host A.J. Burnett and the Phillies.
National TV: Brewers-Cardinals (8 PM, ESPN), Mariners-Angels (10 PM, MLB Network), Rangers-Athletics (10 PM, MLB Network)
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.
