Relief Roundup: Max Scherzer does it all for the Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are Max Scherzer-powered, Manny Machado has a big day, and more in today’s Relief Roundup!
At Call to the Pen, we want to ensure every MLB team is getting coverage, and that you’re well-informed as the reader! As part of that, we will be including a new daily piece into our collection each morning with all of the night’s scores at every level of the majors and minors, along with a bit of history/birthdays at the very end.
Without further adieu, let’s begin!
MLB Scores
Chicago Cubs 11, Chicago White Sox 2 in Chicago – The Cubs put up 5 runs in the first inning and coasted to a victory over their cross-town rival in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field as Willson Contreras had a big day at the plate with a pair of doubles and a pair of home runs.
New York Mets 3, Philadelphia Phillies 1 in Philadelphia – The Mets came back with 3 runs off Phillies closer Hector Neris in the 9th inning to steal a badly-needed victory on Friday.
Oakland Athletics 10, New York Yankees 5 in New York – Dustin Fowler finally got to make his debut in Yankee Stadium, though as a member of the Oakland A’s, and the guy he was traded for, Sonny Gray, allowed 4 home runs to the A’s to give them the lead in the Bronx.
Pittsburgh Pirates 11, San Francisco Giants 2 in Pittsburgh – A big tribute to Andrew McCutchen was about the only positive for the Giants on the night as the Pirates pitching dominated the Giants hitters and the Pirates hitters tagged rookie Giants hurler Andrew Suarez for 5 runs in 4 innings of work.
Baltimore Orioles 9, Tampa Bay Rays 4 in Tampa Bay – Kevin Gausman was dominant on the mound, and Manny Machado was dominant at the plate with a pair of home runs, leading the Orioles to a comfortable home win.
Toronto Blue Jays 5, Boston Red Sox 3, 12 innings in Toronto – Luke Maile hit a big home run in the 12th inning, allowing the Blue Jays to escape with a win after Chris Sale had a dominant start, striking out 15 over 9 innings of work.
Miami Marlins 6, Atlanta Braves 3 in Miami – Brandon McCarthy had a rough outing and Dan Straily had his first solid one of the season as the Marlins grabbed a home win over the streaking Braves.
Kansas City Royals 10, Cleveland Indians 9 in Cleveland – The Indians scored in bunches, putting up all of their runs in the first and fourth innings, but the Royals kept chipping away throughout the game, and came out with the road win.
Seattle Mariners @ Detroit Tigers in Detroit, PPD
Texas Rangers 1, Houston Astros 0 in Houston – Cole Hamels led a dominant Rangers pitching performance that combined to allow just 1 hit, allowing the Rangers to squeak by Justin Verlander.
Milwaukee Brewers 11, Colorado Rockies 10, 10 innings in Colorado – The Brewers and Rockies had a good old-fashioned Coors Field offensive showdown, with the Brewers scoring in the 10th inning to come away with a road win.
Washington Nationals 3, Arizona Diamondbacks 1 in Arizona – Max Scherzer was dominant on the mound and even drove in the winning run at the plate on Friday to send the Nationals to victory on the road. Matt Koch had a nice game, going 8 innings, but he was no match for Scherzer, who struck out 11 in 7 innings without a walk. He went 2-3 on the game at the plate with a double and drove in a run in the 4th inning that ended up being the deciding run on the game.
Minnesota Twins 5, Los Angeles Angels 4 in Los Angeles – The Twins rallied in the top of the 9th inning for 3 runs to steal away the victory after trailing most of the game. Eddie Rosario hit a pair of home runs in the Twins win.
Cincinnati Reds 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 2 in Los Angeles – Matt Harvey was strong in his first start with the Reds and the offense jumped on Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda to give Harvey a comfortable cushion to work with.
St. Louis Cardinals 9, San Diego Padres 5 in San Diego – Luke Weaver righted his ship from a rough start to the season, and the Cardinals offense jumped all over Padres starter Eric Lauer and held off a late Padres rally for the road win.
Standouts
The Cubs beat up on the White Sox on Friday, and Willson Contreras keyed much of the damage, going 4-5 with 2 doubles and 2 home runs, driving in 7 runs.
Though the Blue Jays ended up taking the game in extra innings, Chris Sale was excellent through 9 for the Red Sox on Friday, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and no walks, striking out 15 Jays hitters.
Other hitters
Juan Abreu, ChW, 2-3, R, RBI, BB
Yonder Alonso, Cle, 1-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, HR
Orlando Arcia, Mil, 2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SB
Tucker Barnhart, Cin, 2-4, RBI, BB, 2B
Charlie Blackmon, Col, 3-6, 2 R, RBI, 3B
Gregor Blanco, SF, 2-4, BB
Kris Bryant, ChC, 2-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, HR
Asdrubel Cabrera, NYM, 2-3, BB, 2B
Lorenzo Cain, Mil, 3-6, 3 R, RBI, 2B,
Mark Canha, Oak, 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 2B
Matt Chapman, Oak, 1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, HR
Michael Conforto, NYM, 2-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, HR
Derek Dietrich, Mia, 3-4, R
Brian Dozier, Min, 2-3, R, RBI, BB, HR
Lucas Duda, KC, 3-5, 2 R, RBI, 3 2B
Alcides Escobar, KC, 2-4, R, 4 RBI, BB
Brett Gardner, NYY, 1-2, R, 3 BB
Scooter Gennett, Cin, 4-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR
Carlos Gonzalez, Col, 2-5, R, RBI, BB, HR
Jedd Gyorko, StL, 3-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, HR
Odubel Herrera, Phi, 2-3, R, RBI, BB, HR
Travis Jankowski, SD, 3-5, 2 R, RBI, HR
Matt Joyce, Oak, 3-6, R, 2 RBI, HR
Francisco Lindor, Cle, 1-3, R, 2 BB
Jed Lowrie, Oak, 3-6, R, 2 RBI, HR
Manny Machado, Bal, 2-4, 2 R, 6 RBI, 2 HR
Luke Maile, Tor, 3-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, 2 HR
Martin Maldonado, LAA, 3-4, R
Starling Marte, Pit, 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
Jordy Mercer, Pit, 3-4, 2 R, RBI, 3B
Whit Merrifield, KC, 2-4, R, BB, 2B
Mike Moustakas, KC, 3-5, R, RBI, 2B
Marcell Ozuna, StL, 2-4, 3 R, RBI, BB, HR
Gerardo Parra, Col, 4-5, R, RBI, SB
Hernan Perez, Mil, 3-5, 2 R
Tommy Pham, StL, 3-5, R, 2 RBI, HR
Jose Pirela, SD, 3-5, 3 R, RBi,
JT Realmuto, Mia, 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR
Anthony Rizzo, ChC, 1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
Miguel Rojas, Mia, 3-4, R, RBI
Eddie Rosario, Min, 2-4, 2 HR
Travis Shaw, Mil, 3-6, R, 3 RBI, HR
Denard Span, TB, 2-4, R, BB
Joey Votto, Cin, 1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
Ben Zobrist, ChC, 3-6, 2 R, 2B
Other pitchers
Jake Arrieta, Phi, 7 1/3 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Kevin Gausman, Bal, 7 1/3 IP, 11 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Cole Hamels, Tex, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K
Matt Harvey, Cin, 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Max Scherzer, Was, 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 11 K
Justin Verlander, Hou, 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K
Luke Weaver, StL, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Saturday’s Game to Watch
Coming off arguably the best start of his major league career, Zach Eflin will take the mound for the Phillies against Noah Syndergaard and the New York Mets.
Next: AA/AAA