Here’s your
morning baseball briefing:
Game
of the Day for Thursday July 25:
Washington Nationals 9,
Pittsburgh Pirates 7
The
Nationals have underachieved all season, and in one swing they may have just
turned pumped some life into their team.
In what was supposed to be a pitcher’s duel between Gio Gonzalez (7-3)
and A.J. Burnett (4-7), the Nationals jumped to an early 4-0 lead thanks to
three Pirate errors, but Pittsburgh battled back and trailed 4-3 going into the
bottom of the eighth. Gonzalez struck
out 11 in just under six innings, and Burnett was now out after allowing just
one earned run. Pirate reliever Vin
Mazzaro gave up three more runs to push the deficit to 7-3. Washington closer Rafael Soriano (25 saves)
started the ninth with a four run lead, but he walked the first two batters,
and three more hits later the Pirates had tied the game at 7-7. But wait, with two outs and one on in the
bottom of the ninth, Bryce Harper ended the game with a walk-off line-drive
home run to center (his first since July 1) that sent the crowd into a frenzy. He was mobbed at home plate by his teammates,
and the excitement and energy from last year seemed to be alive and well. Maybe now they’ll stop underachieving and can
make a dent in their 8-game N.L. East deficit.
Rest of
the day’s scores:
Consecutive
days with a walk-off win (where the home team scores the winning run in the
ninth inning or later that immediately ends the game): 3. Just the Washington Nationals walked-off winners on Thursday.
A.L. MVP
Watch: Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays
Yesterday: 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 run scored and 1 walk
Season: .264, 26 HRS, 75 RBI
and 63 runs scored
On pace
for: .263, 41 HRs, 120 RBI and 101 runs scored
N.L. MVP
Watch: Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals
Yesterday: 3-5 with 3 runs scored and a walk-off two-run homer
Season: .271, 14 HRs, 31 RBI
On pace
for: .269, 22 HRs, 49 RBI
A.L. Cy
Young Watch: C.J. Wilson, Los Angeles Angels
Yesterday: 7 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, and 6 strikeouts
Season: 11-6, 124 K’s and a 3.18 ERA
On pace
for: 18-9, 202 K’s and a 3.16 ERA
N.L. Cy
Young Watch: Lance Lynn, St. Louis Cardinals
Yesterday: 7 IP, 1 earned run, 5 hits, 6 strikeouts vs. Philadelphia
Season: 12-5, 122 K’s and a 3.98 ERA
On pace
for: 19-8, 201 K’s and a 3.97 ERA
News &
Notes: The Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees agreed on a trade that
sends former Yankee outfielder Alfonso Soriano back to New York for couple of
prospects yet to be revealed.
Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez was fined an undisclosed
amount after he sought a second opinion outside of the Yankee doctors,
violating the players’ collective bargaining agreement. He has agreed to continue his rehab through August
1st despite feeling ready to play.
Hall of Famer George Brett, who accepted the role of Kansas
City Royals hitting coach earlier this year, has resigned to move back into a
consulting role. The Royals have lost
eight straight and Pedro Grifol, whom Brett was sharing duties with, assumes
the full role.
History –
1952 World Series
Winner: The New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn
Dodgers 4 games to 3.
The Yankees
and Dodgers met for the third time in six years to determine a champion, with
the Yankees winning in 1947 & 1949. They
were gunning for their fourth straight title while the Dodgers were still
looking for their first, having also lost in 1916 & 1920 as the Brooklyn
Robbins. The Dodgers were led by manager
Charlie Dressen, whose team led the N.L. in runs, home runs and stolen bases,
while the Yankees were still managed by Casey Stengel, who missed Joe DiMaggio’s
bat, but had Mickey Mantle’s. Mantle had
his breakout sophomore season in 1952 as he led the team with a .311 batting
average.
Brooklyn had
home field advantage, and they won the first game 4-2 behind home runs from Jackie
Robinson, Duke Snider & Pee Wee Reese.
The Yankees rebounded with a 7-1 win in Game 2 as Vic Raschi pitched a
three-hitter and Billy Martin hit the teams’ lone home run. Martin started his career with the Yankees in
1950, but played in only 34 games, and only 51 in 1951. By now he was their regular second baseman, having
been brought to New York by Casey Stengel who managed him in Oakland of the Pacific
Coast League. The teams split Games 3
& 4 at Yankee Stadium, and the Dodgers won Game 5 in the 11th inning on a
Duke Snider’s home run, lifting Brooklyn to within one win of their first World
Series title.
In Game 6,
Snider homered again to give Brooklyn a 1-0 sixth inning lead, but Yogi Berra
homered in the top of the seventh as the Yankees scored twice to take a 2-1
lead. Mantle led off the eighth with his
first of a record 18 World Series home runs, and Snider homered again in the bottom
of the eighth to make it 3-2 New York, but the Yankees held on in the ninth as
starter Allie Reynolds closed the game after coming on in the eighth.
Game 7 in
Brooklyn was a close one, and the Yankees were ahead 4-2 thanks to Mickey
Mantle’s sixth inning home run and seventh inning RBI single, when the Dodgers
loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh.
Jackie Robinson hit a pop-up to the right of the pitcher’s mound, and
out of his deep position at second base, Billy Martin raced to make a
run-saving shoestring catch that ended the inning and the Dodger rally. The Yankees would hold on to win their fourth
straight World Series and 15th overall.
For the series, the Yankees outscored the Dodgers 26-20 and
they tied with 50 hits apiece. Hall of
Famers in this series included for New York: manager Casey Stengel, first
baseman Johnny Mize, catcher Yogi Berra, outfielder Mickey Mantle, shortstop
Phil Rizzuto, and pitcher Whitey Ford; and for the Dodgers: shortstop Pee Wee
Reese, catcher Roy Campanella, outfielder Duke Snider, and second baseman
Jackie Robinson.
Tomorrow: 1953 World Series – New York Yankees vs. Brooklyn Dodgers -
Again
Trivia -
Today’s Question: What
two teams have played the most World Series against each other?
Yesterday’s
Question: Of all the players with the most
World Series rings as a player, who is the top player on that list that never
played with the Yankees?
Answer: Eddie Collins, second baseman for
the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox won 6 World Series titles as a player.
Vegas Bet: Lastly, here’s an
actual bet you can make at a Las Vegas Sports Book: Over/Under 13 runs scored by both teams in the
Mets-Nationals doubleheader today.
Yesterday’s
Bet: Over/Under
5 innings pitched by Mets rookie
Zach Wheeler vs. Atlanta.
Result: Over. Wheeler pitched 6 innings.
Standings
| American League East | National League East | |||||||||
| Team | W | L | GB | Strk | Team | W | L | GB | Strk | |
| Boston | 61 | 42 | - | L 1 | Atlanta | 57 | 45 | - | L 1 | |
| Tampa Bay | 60 | 42 | ½ | W 1 | Philadelphia | 49 | 53 | 8 | L 5 | |
| Baltimore | 57 | 46 | 4 | L 3 | Washington | 49 | 53 | 8 | W 1 | |
| N.Y. Yankees | 54 | 48 | 6½ | W 1 | N.Y. Mets | 45 | 53 | 10 | W 1 | |
| Toronto | 46 | 55 | 14 | W 1 | Miami | 38 | 62 | 18 | W 1 | |
| American League Central | National League Central | |||||||||
| Team | W | L | GB | Strk | Team | W | L | GB | Strk | |
| Detroit | 56 | 45 | - | L 1 | St. Louis | 62 | 37 | - | W 4 | |
| Cleveland | 53 | 48 | 3 | W 1 | Pittsburgh | 60 | 40 | 2½ | L 1 | |
| Kansas City | 48 | 51 | 7 | W 3 | Cincinnati | 59 | 44 | 5 | W 2 | |
| Minnesota | 43 | 56 | 12 | L 2 | Chi. Cubs | 45 | 55 | 17½ | L 1 | |
| Chi. White Sox | 40 | 59 | 15 | W 1 | Milwaukee | 42 | 59 | 21 | L 1 | |
| American League West | National League West | |||||||||
| Team | W | L | GB | Strk | Team | W | L | GB | Strk | |
| Oakland | 59 | 43 | - | L 1 | L.A. Dodgers | 53 | 48 | - | L 1 | |
| Texas | 56 | 46 | 3 | L 1 | Arizona | 53 | 49 | ½ | W 1 | |
| Seattle | 49 | 53 | 10 | W 1 | Colorado | 49 | 54 | 5 | L 1 | |
| L.A. Angels | 48 | 52 | 10 | W 2 | San Francisco | 46 | 55 | 7 | L 1 | |
| Houston | 34 | 67 | 24½ | L 2 | San Diego | 46 | 57 | 8 | W 1 | |
Weekend Schedule Friday 7/26 – Sunday 7/28 with probable pitchers in parentheses. My picks to win
are highlighted. Yesterday’s picks: 8-5 Overall:
550-412
Times EST
Friday July 26
| 1:35 PM | N.Y. Mets | Mejia (0-0) | @ | Washington | Zimmermann (12-4) |
| 7:05 PM | Boston | Dempster (5-8) | @ | Baltimore | Tillman (11-3) |
| 7:05 PM | Tampa Bay | Archer (4-3) | @ | N.Y. Yankees | Sabathia (9-8) |
| 7:05 PM | N.Y. Mets | Harvey (7-2) | @ | Washington | Ohlendorf (0-0) |
| 7:05 PM | Texas | Perez (3-2) | @ | Cleveland | Kluber (7-5) |
| 7:07 PM | Houston | Lyles (4-3) | @ | Toronto | Dickey (8-10) |
| 7:08 PM | Philadelphia | Hamels (4-12) | @ | Detroit | Fister (7-5) |
| 7:10 PM | Pittsburgh | Locke (8-2) | @ | Miami | Alvarez (0-1) |
| 7:30 PM | St. Louis | Wainwright (12-5) | @ | Atlanta | Minor (9-4) |
| 8:10 PM | Kansas City | Shields (4-6) | @ | Chi. White Sox | Quintana (4-2) |
| 8:40 PM | Milwaukee | Peralta (7-9) | @ | Colorado | Chatwood (5-3) |
| 9:40 PM | San Diego | Stults (8-7) | @ | Arizona | Delgado (1-3) |
| 10:05 PM | L.A. Angels | Williams (5-5) | @ | Oakland | Colon (12-3) |
| 10:10 PM | Cincinnati | Bailey (5-8) | @ | L.A. Dodgers | Kershaw (8-6) |
| 10:10 PM | Minnesota | Diamond (5-8) | @ | Seattle | Hernandez (10-4) |
| 10:15 PM | Chi. Cubs | Jackson (6-10) | @ | San Francisco | Cain (6-6) |
Saturday July 27
| 1:05 PM | Tampa Bay | Moore (13-3) | @ | N.Y. Yankees | Nova (4-2) |
| 1:07 PM | Houston | Keuchel (4-5) | @ | Toronto | Johnson (1-5) |
| 3:05 PM | St. Louis | Kelly (1-3) | @ | Atlanta | Teheran (7-5) |
| 3:05 PM | L.A. Angels | Blanton (2-12) | @ | Oakland | Milone (8-8) |
| 3:05 PM | N.Y. Mets | Gee (7-7) | @ | Washington | Haren (4-10) |
| 4:10 PM | Minnesota | Deduno (5-4) | @ | Seattle | Harang (4-8) |
| 7:05 PM | Texas | Darvish (8-4) | @ | Cleveland | Masterson (10-7) |
| 7:05 PM | Boston | Dempster (5-8) | @ | Baltimore | Feldman (8-7) |
| 7:08 PM | Philadelphia | Lee (10-3) | @ | Detroit | Scherzer (13-1) |
| 7:10 PM | Pittsburgh | Morton (1-2) | @ | Miami | Koehler (1-5) |
| 7:10 PM | Kansas City | Davis (4-8) | @ | Chi. White Sox | Sale (6-8) |
| 8:10 PM | Milwaukee | Gorzelanny (1-3) | @ | Colorado | Pomeranz (0-3) |
| 8:10 PM | San Diego | Cashner (5-5) | @ | Arizona | Skaggs (2-1) |
| 9:05 PM | Chi. Cubs | Rusin (1-0) | @ | San Francisco | Bumgarner (10-5) |
| 9:10 PM | Cincinnati | Arroyo (8-7) | @ | L.A. Dodgers | Ryu (7-3) |
Sunday July 28
| 1:05 PM | Texas | Ogando (4-2) | @ | Cleveland | Jimenez (7-4) |
| 1:05 PM | Tampa Bay | Hernandez (5-10) | @ | N.Y. Yankees | Hughes (4-9) |
| 1:07 PM | Houston | Cosart (1-0) | @ | Toronto | Redmond (1-1) |
| 1:08 PM | Philadelphia | Pettibone (5-3) | @ | Detroit | Porcello (6-6) |
| 1:10 PM | Pittsburgh | Cole (4-3) | @ | Miami | Fernandez (5-5) |
| 1:35 PM | N.Y. Mets | Torres (0-1) | @ | Washington | Jordan (0-3) |
| 1:35 PM | Boston | Lester (8-6) | @ | Baltimore | Hammel (7-6) |
| 2:10 PM | Kansas City | Chen (3-0) | @ | Chi. White Sox | Santiago (3-5) |
| 4:05 PM | L.A. Angels | Hanson (4-2) | @ | Oakland | Parker (6-6) |
| 4:05 PM | Chi. Cubs | Wood (6-6) | @ | San Francisco | Lincecum (5-9) |
| 4:10 PM | San Diego | Ross (1-4) | @ | Arizona | Corbin (11-1) |
| 4:10 PM | Cincinnati | Cingrani (3-1) | @ | L.A. Dodgers | Capuano (3-6) |
| 4:10 PM | Milwaukee | Hand (0-1) | @ | Colorado | Chacin (9-4) |
| 4:10 PM | Minnesota | Gibson (2-2) | @ | Seattle | Ramirez (0-0) |
| 8:05 PM | St. Louis | Miller (9-6) | @ | Atlanta | Medlen (6-9) |
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