The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing some great baseball as of late. Since getting swept in heartbreaking fashion in St. Louis, the Pirates have gone 9-2, with their two losses coming by just a total of three runs. They still have three left with the Brewers and four left with the Braves in Atlanta, meaning that they truly do control their own fate – keep winning, and a playoff berth will be likely. Lose, and…well, maybe not. The Pirates are just 2.5 games behind the Giants for the top Wild Card spot in the NL, and trail the Cardinals by the same about for the NL Central lead. That places the team in the strange situation – they need to cheer for the Brewers (before playing them, of course), the Reds, and the Cubs over the next week and a half, as all three teams have games remaining with the Cardinals.
Game of the Night: Twins 4, Tigers 3. Tigers fans aren’t going to be able to take crap over the next week and a half, are they? The Twins led 2-0 in the ninth, and the typically great (but lately shaky) Glen Perkins came in to close it out. After getting Ian Kinsler to line out to start the inning, Torii Hunter doubled and Miguel Cabrera singled to put the tying runs on base. Victor Martinez popped out for the second out, but J.D. Martinez then launched a go-ahead, three-run homer to right, making it a 3-2 Tigers lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Joe Nathan laid an egg for Detroit. He walked Trevor Plouffe with one out, and then gave up a double to Kurt Suzuki, scoring pinch runner Doug Bernier to tie the game up at three. Pinch runner Chris Herrmann moved to third on a ground out, and scored on a walk off infield single by Aaron Hicks. The Tigers can’t get a break.
Pitching Lines of the Night: Jake Arrieta dominated the Reds in the Cubs’ 7-0 win, throwing a complete game, one-hit shutout, striking out 13 and walking one. In the Twins’ win over the Tigers, Ricky Nolasco tossed eight scoreless frames, giving up five hits, walking one, and striking out five. Corey Kluber steamrolled the Astros in Cleveland’s 4-2 win, allowing one run on seven hits in seven innings, striking out 14 and walking two. Tanner Roark pitched the Nationals to a 3-0 win in Atlanta and an NL East title, allowing five hits over seven shutout innings, striking out four without a walk. In the Giants’ 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks, Jake Peavy allowed one run on five hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking one. Lance Lynn pitched well for the Cardinals in their 3-2, 12 inning loss to the Brewers, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings, striking out five and walking one.
Hitting Lines of the Night: Wilmer Flores went off the for Mets in their 9-1 win over the Marlis, going 3/4 with a double, two runs, three runs, and six RBI. Corey Dickerson powered the Rockies to a 10-4 win over the Dodgers, going 2/4 with a triple, a homer, two runs, and four RBI. Kennys Vargas went 3/4 with a triple, a solo homer, and two runs scored in Minnesota’s win over Detroit. In the Padres’ 5-4 win over the Phillies, Alexi Amarista went 3/4 with a double and a two-run homer. Adam Eaton spurred the White Sox to a 7-5 win in Kansas City, going 4/5 with a double, a triple, and two runs scored. Cubs rookie phenom Jorge Soler went 2/3 with a double, a homer, two RBI, and a walk in their win over the Reds. Ian Desmond went 2/4 with a double, a homer, two runs, and two RBI in Washington’s win in Atlanta. J.D. Martinez went 2/3 with a walk and that big three-run homer for the Tigers in their loss to the Twins.
Other Games: The Orioles clinched their first AL East title since 1997, beating the Blue Jays 8-2. The Pirates shut out the Red ox 4-0. The Rays pummeled the Yankees 6-1. The Mariners slaughtered the Angels 13-2. The Rangers doubled up the A’s 6-3.
Today’s Games: Madison Bumgarner starts for the Giants in Arizona. Gio Gonzalez and Alex Wood will face off in Atlanta. Alex Cobb and the Rays host Brandon McCarthy and the Rays. Francisco Liriano and the Pirates host Clay Buchholz and the Red Sox. Henderson Alvarez and the Marlins battle the Mets. Chris Sale starts for the White Sox in Kansas City against Yordano Ventura and the Royals. David Price gets the nod for the Tigers in Minnesota. Carlos Carrasco starts for the Indians in Houston. Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals host the Brewers. James Paxton takes the hill for the Mariners in Anaheim. Jeff Samardzija and the A’s host the Rangers and Derek Holland. Cole Hamels and the Phillies battle the Padres.
National TV: Dodgers-Rockies (3 PM, MLB Network), Giants-Diamondbacks (3:30 PM, MLB Network), Nationals-Braves (7 PM, ESPN), Mariners-Angels (10 PM, ESPN)
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.
