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Today’s Headlines
Pitchers’ Duel in Anaheim
There was just one run scored during Monday night’s contest between the Red Sox and the Angels. Noah Syndergaard pitched six solid frames. The righty allowed one run on five hits and one walk. The pair of bullpen arms that followed Syndergaard then combined to allow only one hit. They did this against an offense that has been one of the best among all Major League teams over the last two weeks.
Despite that impressive feat, Michael Wacha was the most impressive performer in this two-and-a-half-hour game. For the first time since 2018, Wacha pitched eight innings. Then, with over 90 pitches on his belt, Alex Cora sent him out for his ninth. With a ground out by Shohei Ohtani, Wacha sealed the deal on his second career complete-game shutout. The righty totaled 105 pitches, allowing three hits and a walk.
This 1-0 loss extended the Angels’ losing streak to a dozen games. This losing streak comes amidst a rare 1 for 28 skid for Mike Trout.
For the Red Sox, however, it pushes them above the .500 mark for the first time since April and keeps them in sole possession of the third AL wild card spot.
Complete game shutout for Michael Wacha! pic.twitter.com/uo9wVmpPqQ
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 7, 2022
The Mariners Top Houston
Robbie Ray continued to disappoint on Monday evening, but that did not stop Seattle’s offense from bludgeoning its way to a victory. Assisted by a bullpen that did not allow a single hit over four innings, the Mariners beat their division rival Houston Astros 7-4.
The scoring began early when J.P. Crawford hit an RBI double in the top of the first, to which Jose Altuve responded with a signature leadoff home run.
Astros’ starter Cristian Javier then allowed a go-ahead three-run home run to Cal Raleigh in the next inning. Houston again responded by tying it up on a couple of solo home runs and an RBI single.
The Mariners were up by a run going into the ninth innings when Ty France was hit by a pitch causing the benches to clear.
Benches clear in the Mariners-Astros game after Ty France was hit by a pitch pic.twitter.com/8IlcNrQCh6
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 7, 2022
When play resumed, Julio Rodríguez tacked on some insurance leading Seattle to a hard-fought victory.
Juliooooo! pic.twitter.com/vRU1gsUIqh
— MLB (@MLB) June 7, 2022
Escobar Completes the Cycle
Eduardo Escobar hit for the first Mets cycle in a decade. In the top of the ninth inning, with the Mets up by two runs, Escobar tacked on a couple more runs with an RBI triple completing the cycle. This was just the 11th time a Mets player hit for the cycle in franchise history.
Aside from Escobar’s four hits, every player in New York’s lineup recorded a hit on Monday. They combined for 16 hits and 11 runs.
Carlos Carrasco impressed and showed how the Mets still have some solid pitching even without Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. Carrasco pitched seven frames, allowing a pair of runs on five hits and no walks. He also struck out 10 batters while throwing 105 pitches, 70 of which for strikes.
The Mets have now won eight of their last ten, while the Padres have dropped six of their last 10 and find themselves 2.5 games behind the Dodgers.
Eduardo Escobar's cycle is the 11th in Mets history, and the first since Scott Hairston on April 27, 2012.
Here's the triple that finished it: pic.twitter.com/3vbLajW7uB
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 7, 2022
Greene Shines in Rain Shortened Game
Until rain caused Monday’s game in Cincinnati to be cut short, it was all Reds. The Reds scored seven runs on 12 hits through seven innings. More notably however, Hunter Greene put up one of his best performances of his young career.
Greene pitched all seven innings. He allowed no runs, just one hit, and no walks. The righty also struck out eight batters. Greene was nothing but dominant; there was no luck involved. He brought his best stuff to the ballpark and did not allow a single hard-hit batted-ball.
Greene has had some trouble recently with allowing runs, but Monday’s outing was a serious step in the right direction. The California native is shaping out to be one of the few bright spots of the Reds’ season.
Hunter Greene tonight: 7 IP, 0 hard-hit batted balls
Presuming he's done:
it's just the 7th time under Statcast tracking (since 2015, in start with all batted balls tracked), that a pitcher had an outing 7+ IP without allowing a hard-hit batted ball (95+ mph exit velocity) pic.twitter.com/HKB59ZFMw4
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 7, 2022
The Diamonbacks Sign Keuchel
After being released by the White Sox at the end of May, Dallas Keuchel signed a minor-league deal with the Diamondbacks on Monday. He had compiled a 7.88 ERA this season before being released. Keuchel will try to find his stuff again with Arizona’s pitching coach, Brent Strom, who once coached Keuchel in Houston.
Diamondbacks signing free-agent left-hander Dallas Keuchel to minor-league deal, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 6, 2022
Best Moments From Yesterday
Trouble with the Tarp
While the Reds were in the midst of extending their lead over the Diamondback, the sky had something else in mind. Torrential rain began coming down in the seventh inning in Cincinnati, so much so that the grounds crew had serious trouble positioning the tarp over the infield.
The head groundskeeper for the Reds might fight the umpire crew chief tn over this pic.twitter.com/ofHYQiF12Y
— Emily Nyman (@EmSheDoesIt) June 7, 2022
Sloppy Slide
During the Mets’ 11 run campaign, Pete Alonso dove into home, flipped onto his back, then walked it off like nothing happened. The Polar Bear definitely had some people worried, but all seems to be okay with the back-to-back Home Run Derby champion.
In the words of Keith: "Be careful, be careful" pic.twitter.com/rBm3CoFpan
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 7, 2022
‘Shut-Up and Run’
As a player on East Carolina University’s baseball team was watching his the ball he just hit as he got ready to make his way around the bases, the home-plate umpire had something else in mind. The umpire gave the a little shove signaling that there would be no self-admiration on his watch.
Apparently some people don't love fun.
MEAT WAY GONE.
PIRATE 8 SPOT IN THE 7TH.@bigdonkey47 @Jared_Carrabis pic.twitter.com/V5ErPPAlRc
— ECU Baseball (@ECUBaseball) June 6, 2022
Injuries
Andrew Benintendi (calf) did not play Monday and is considered day-to-day.
Jonathan Villar (Mouth) is expected to be activated off the IL any day.
Jonathan India (Hamstring) is not expected to return until at least June 17.
Articles You Should Read
Injury Guide to Tommy John – Jake Robinson
Digging Into Charlie Morton’s Uncle Charlie – John Foley
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)