Relief Roundup: Aaron Nola does it all for the Philadelphia Phillies
Aaron Nola does it all on the mound and at bat for the Philadelphia Phillies, 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 have brought back our daily piece into our collection with all of the night’s scores in the major leagues, the top performers in the minors, the minor league schedules, and a bit of history/birthdays at the very end.
Without further adieu, let’s begin!
Yesterday’s MLB Scores
(Editor’s note: this is the post due to go up July 10th, but due to technical issues, it did not. There’s enough good baseball info here that a day late would be interesting!)
Baltimore Orioles 5, New York Yankees 4 in Baltimore, Game 1 – The Orioles were able to get to CC Sabathia on an uncharacteristically wild game for him, as he allowed 7 Orioles hits and walked 3 batters as well, allowing all 5 runs.
New York Yankees 10, Baltimore Orioles 2 in Baltimore, Game 2 – New York got a sterling start from Luis Cessa and the offense scored in the first inning and just kept at it throughout the game to get a split of the doubleheader with the O’s.
New York Mets 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3 in New York, Game 1 – The Mets got a walk-off home run from Wilmer Flores to defeat the Phillies at home in the opener of Monday’s doubleheader after scoring all of the runs for both teams in the first 4 innings.
Philadelphia Phillies 3, New York Mets 1 in New York, Game 2 – Aaron Nola did it all in the nightcap of the doubleheader, dominating the Mets on the mound and driving in all 3 Phillies runs at the plate.
Pittsburgh Pirates 6, Washington Nationals 3 in Pittsburgh – The Pirates jumped out with 3 runs in the first and second innings each to defeat the Nationals Monday evening, knocking the Nationals to .500.
Cincinnati Reds 7, Cleveland Indians 5 in Cleveland – In the battle of Ohio, the Reds got an excellent pitching performance from Anthony DeSclafani to take down the Indians, who scored 4 of their runs in the very final inning.
Tampa Bay Rays 10, Detroit Tigers 9 in Tampa Bay – Both veteran starting pitchers struggled in the game, but the Rays were able to tag Francisco Liriano for more runs and hand the game off to their bullpen after Chris Archer similarly imploded.
Miami Marlins 4, Milwaukee Brewers 3, 10 innings in Miami – The Marlins won in an improbable way on Monday, coming back with two home runs against Josh Hader and then walking off in the bottom of the 10th with a well-manufactured run.
Boston Red Sox 5, Texas Rangers 0 in Boston – The Red Sox hit a pair of home runs to support Eduardo Rodriguez and four relievers in a shutout of the Rangers Monday in Boston.
Minnesota Twins 3, Kansas City Royals 1 in Minnesota – After getting grief for his All-Star bid, Jose Berrios went out and pitched like an All-Star, striking out 8 in 7 innings, and the Twins scraped together just enough to get their 5th straight win.
Oakland Athletics 2, Houston Astros 0 in Houston – With two of the best pitching staffs in bsaeball, a 2-0 game was a very predictable outcome, but having the A’s be the ones to squeek the runs across late in the game was a pleasant surprise for many A’s fans.
Los Angeles Dodgers 8, San Diego Padres 2 in San Diego – The Dodgers scored five runs in the 4th inning and held off the Padres until the very final inning as vintage Clayton Kershaw showed up for the Dodgers.
San Francisco Giants 2, Chicago Cubs 1, 11 innings in San Francisco – Pablo Sandoval singled in the winning run after an excellent pitching matchup went into the 11th inning.
Top Pitcher
Establishing himself as an ace in 2018, Aaron Nola also decided to put together a solid game at the plate on Monday, driving in all 3 Phillies runs along with going 7 scoreless innings, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk, striking out 10 against the Mets.
Top Hitter
In the nightcap of the Yankees/Orioles doubleheader on Monday, Brett Gardner had a big game from the leadoff spot to spark the Bronx Bombers, going 4-6 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI, hitting a double and a home run.
Today’s Game to Watch
As the Giants struggle to hold onto their playoff chances, they will need their top pitchers to pitch like aces to even have a chance in the crowded National League. They will get a test Tuesday as Jose Quintana and the Cubs come to town. The Giants will counter with Johnny Cueto.
Next: AA/AAA
Birthdays today
There are two members of the Japanese Hall of Fame born today, one member of the Australian baseball Hall of Fame born today, and one member of Cooperstown born today, and that final one is the one we will highlight.
By the metrics, Andre Dawson may rank among the least deserving of the Hall of Fame players that adorn the walls of the plaque room. However, those who saw him play, especially in his Montreal days, would tell you that there were few more talented players in the game on raw talent.
If not for the horrid surface of Olympic Stadium, Dawson very well could have been a 30/30 guy year-in, year-out for a decade. As it was, he was still able to steal double-digit bases at 35 years old on absolutely shredded knees, a testament to his talent and athleticism.
Dawson rarely missed a game, but that was both a blessing and a curse for him, as his typically ailing knees were often in need of a day or two off the he rarely gave them, and who knows how much more revitalized he could have been had he been rested once every 10-15 games or so.
In the end, Dawson finished his career as one of just two players who had hit 400 home runs and stolen 300 bases. There have since been 3 players added to that group, but he retired as an exclusive member of that group with just Willie Mays and he in it. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2010 and turns 64 years old today.
Active MLB players born today: Scott Alexander, Jalen Beeks, David Hess, Greg Infante, John Lamb, Will Smith
More from Call to the Pen
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- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Notable events on this day
In 1934, in spite of Carl Hubbell striking out 5 future Hall of Fame hitters in a row, the American League comes back to defeat the National League 9-7 in the second All-Star game.
Seventy years ago on this day, Satchel Paige picked up his first major league win, aided by a home run from the first black player in the American League, Larry Doby.
John F. Kennedy becomes the first president to throw the ceremonial first pitch at an All-Star Game on this day in 1962.
In 1968, two events that will change baseball happen. First, the Orioles fire Hank Bauer. He will eventually be replaced by Earl Weaver. Second, and more seriously, the American League and National League agree on a playoff format to accomodate the expansion to take place in 1969 that includes divisional play for the first time in the game’s history.
Ichiro Suzuki hits the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star history and goes 3-3 to win the 2007 All-Star Game MVP award as the AL wins 5-4, their 10th consecutive win.
Next: Could Cubs pursue deGrom?
Check back each day for another rundown of your daily dose of scores, notes, and a touch of history from MLB!