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Mark Appel’s call-up to the Phillies was later overshadowed by a brutal blow to the club’s reigning MVP Bryce Harper, who may have seen his season end last night after breaking his thumb on a pitch from Blake Snell. In the Bronx, Cristian Javier and the Astros made history by no-hitting the Yankees.
Today’s Headlines
A three-pitcher no-no for the Astros.
Gerrit Cole pitched well, but he allowed a solo home run to rookie J.J. Matijevic, and that would turn out to be all the Astros needed. Cristian Javier was nearly flawless as he allowed just one walk across seven innings while piling up 13 strikeouts on a career-high 115 pitches. Hector Neris pitched the eighth, and Ryan Pressly closed it out in the ninth. With Nestor Cortes on the mound today, the Yankees will try and salvage a series split. The Astros will counter with Jose Urquidy.
Cristian Javier, Héctor Neris and Ryan Pressly have combined to no-hit the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in a 3-0 win. It is the first no-hitter in the history of the new ballpark and the first against the Yankees since six Astros pitchers combined for one on June 11, 2013.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 25, 2022
Only two pitchers have faced the Yankees and allowed 0 H with 10+ Ks
Cristian Javier: 0 H and 13 Ks today
And …
Bob Feller: 0 H and 11 Ks in a no-hitter on 4/30/1946
— Jason Catania (@JayCat11) June 25, 2022
Shohei Ohtani.
Logan Gilbert has been phenomenal for the Mariners this year, but Shohei Ohtani got the best of him last night for his 16th of the year. It was the hardest-hit home run of his career at 118 MPH. And it was also the hardest-hit home run by an Angel since the Statcast era began in 2015.
Shohei Ohtani’s swing is on the very, very nice list 🎁#GoHalos pic.twitter.com/Kw6yURVwhg
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) June 26, 2022
And we’re waiting here in Allentown.
An odyssey nine years in the making. Mark Appel was drafted by the Astros first overall in 2013. Four years later, he was designated for assignment. In 2018, he quit baseball. He was considered one of the biggest busts in baseball history. But he returned last year. And on Friday while in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he learned of his promotion to the big leagues.
Completely overwhelmed. I have so many thoughts I want to share but can’t find the words, so I’ll just say this:
I’m thankful.
Today, I get to play a game I love as a Major League Baseball player.
LET’S GOOOOO @PHILLIES!!!!
— Mark Appel (@markappel26) June 25, 2022
Mark Appel is here. He’ll wear no. 22 pic.twitter.com/zqeBiF89nG
— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) June 26, 2022
Bryce Harper’s Injury.
If you’re a Phillies fan, you may want to avert your eyes. Bryce Harper got plunked on a wild pitch from Snell and went down immediately in pain. He left the game after the play, but on his way to the dugout, he turned to Snell to acknowledge that he knew it wasn’t intentional.
Scary sight in San Diego. Bryce Harper had to leave the game after taking a pitch off his hand. pic.twitter.com/uDeTOiOqjT
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 26, 2022
Best Moments From Yesterday
An assist from the mask.
O’s catcher Robinson Chirinos needed a little help from his mask to corral an errant pitch from Spenser Watkins, and he did so just in time to throw out Gavin Sheets trying to steal second base.
.@robinson28ch caught this ball in his mask … and he still threw the runner out! pic.twitter.com/UsUi4CK9ys
— MLB (@MLB) June 25, 2022
Greener pastures.
Future star Riley Greene made an unbelievable grab on a line drive from Buddy Kennedy.
Superman catch.@Greene21Riley is different. pic.twitter.com/DNGe4mhBno
— MLB (@MLB) June 26, 2022
A bat flip in the Bronx.
Rookie J.J. Matijevic crushed the second home run of his career against Gerrit Cole and followed it with an emphatic bat-flip.
Beautiful bat flip in The Bronx by J.J. Matijevic 💯
(via @astros)pic.twitter.com/yJ8qhXgYYB
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 25, 2022
Beau Dowling, we’re rooting for you.
A beautiful moment at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. Beau Dowling, a seven-year-old who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and recently underwent treatment, got to run the bases before the Orioles and White Sox game with all the players there on the field cheering him on. Trey Mancini, a cancer survivor, spoke to him too.
Beau Dowling is our real life superhero. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3VoEML5835
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 26, 2022
Content you love to see…
7-year-old Beau Dowling, rounding the bases, getting high fives and nailing his first pitch throw! 🖤 pic.twitter.com/a2aUpZml3V
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) June 25, 2022
Trey Mancini on meeting 7-year-old cancer fighter Beau Dowling before the game: “I wanted to go over there after he ran the bases and just tell him he was awesome. I told him I had cancer two years ago and I’m doing well, and I know the same thing is going to happen for him.” pic.twitter.com/GBtmwjXzmg
— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) June 25, 2022
Injuries
Awful news for the Phillies as Bryce Harper broke his left thumb on an errant 97 MPH fastball from Blake Snell. He left the game immediately, and the fracture was confirmed by initial tests. Phillies’ President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski, told reporters it was too early to tell if surgery will be required. Jean Segura broke his finger in late May and was given a timetable of 10-12 weeks after surgery. So this could certainly end his season.
Ronald Acuña Jr. left last night’s game early after fouling a ball off his foot. The club called it precautionary, but he’ll get checked out this morning.
Scans confirmed a torn ACL for Dodger reliever Daniel Hudson. He’s done for the year.
Jonathan India was plunked on the hand, but x-rays revealed no fracture.
Jacob deGrom threw 20 pitches of live batting practice to minor leaguers at Port St. Lucie, and it went well.
Max Scherzer will not make his return to the Met rotation just quite yet. He’ll make another minor league rehab start, most likely on Tuesday.
Jeremy Pena should be returning to the Houston lineup today. He had been dealing with a left thumb injury.
Articles You Should Read
Armed with hope, Appel finds new path to MLB debut in pen – Kelsie Heneghan, MLB.com.
Yankees star Aaron Judge avoided arbitration. His next set of jurors? The 30 MLB owners. – Andy McCullough, The Athletic.
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)