We all expected the first ever matchup between Felix Hernandez and David Price to be an epic clash of two of the game’s best pitchers. It didn’t exactly go according to plans. Price kept his end of the bargain, allowing just one run in eight innings, but he walked three and struck out seven, numbers very unbecoming of himself. As for Hernandez, his night was done after just five innings, in which he allowed two runs and struck out only three. It would have been great if this game more closely resembled the Yovani Gallardo-Clayton Kershaw showdown in Los Angeles, but life isn’t perfect. Maybe we’ll see this again in October.
Game of the Night: Nationals 4, Pirates 3. Pittsburgh was coasting through the first seven innings of this game, and it really looked like a three-run third against Gio Gonzalez would hold up. Then…NL All-Star Tony Watson struggled in the bottom of the eighth. He walked pinch hitter Michael Taylor to lead off the inning, and back to back singles by Denard Span and Kevin Frandsen made it a 3-1 game. Watson got Anthony Rendon to ground into a double play to bring the end of the inning within sight, but Adam LaRoche followed up by creaming a pitch into the Nationals bullpen to tie the game at three. Matt Thornton set the Pirates down in order in the ninth, and Justin Wilson kept his ninth inning short. He walked Bryce Harper to lead the inning off, allowed him to move up to second on a wild pitch, and gave up a walk off, ground rule double to Wilson Ramos. This one is going to hurt for awhile for the Buccos.
Pitching Lines of the Night: The aforementioned David Price allowed one run on three hits in eight innings for the Tigers in their 4-2 win over Seattle, walking three and striking out seven. In Milwaukee’s 3-2 win over the Dodgers, Yovani Gallardo allowed one run on six hits in eight innings, walking one and striking out three. Clayton Kershaw was magnificent in the loss, throwing a complete game while allowing three runs on five hits, punching out 11 without a walk. Carlos Carrasco pitched the Indians to a 6-0 win over the Orioles, tossing seven three-hit innings, punching out five without a walk. Wade Miley and Henderson Alvarez both shined in Miami’s 2-1 win over Arizona, with Miley allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out nine, and Alvarez allowing one run on five hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out six.
Hitting Lines of the Night: David Ortiz killed the Astros in Boston’s 10-7 win, going 3/5 with a double, two homers, and six RBI. Chris Carter went 2/4 with a homer, two runs, and two RBI for Houston in the loss. The Padres beat the Cardinals 9-5 during a rain-drenched evening in St. Louis, thanks to Jedd Gyorko going 2/3 with a homer, two runs, five RBI, and two walks. Michael Morse punished the Phillies in the Giants’ 6-5 win, going 3/3 with two doubles, a triple, one run, one RBI, and one walk. Howie Kendrick went 3/4 with a homer and two runs scored for the Angels in their 5-4 win in Texas. Carlos Santana went 2/3 with a homer, three RBI, and a walk for Cleveland in their win over Baltimore. Carlos Gomez went 2/4 with a double, a homer, and two runs scored for the Brewers in their win over the Dodgers.
Other Games: The Yankees beat the Rays 3-2. The Braves held on to beat the A’s 4-3. The Blue Jays doubled up the White Sox 6-3. The Twins topped the Royals 4-1. The Mets prevailed over the Cubs 7-3. A water main break postponed the Reds and Rockies game and forced them into a doubleheader today.
Today’s Games: Kevin Gausman starts for the Orioles in Cleveland. Jake Arrieta gets the nod for the Cubs in Flushing. Hiroki Kuroda takes the hill for the Yankees against the Rays. Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals host the Padres. Wily Peralta looks for win #15 as the Brewers battle the Dodgers. Mat Latos starts game one of the Reds-Padres doubleheader. Doug Fister and the Nationals take on the Pirates. Jon Lester and the A’s look to salvage their series in Atlanta with the Braves.
National TV: Mariners-Tigers (1 PM, TBS), Athletics-Braves (8 PM, ESPN)
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.
