MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 15: The Minnesota Twins celebrate as Brian Dozier #2 of the Minnesota Twins crosses home plate after a walk-off grand slam against the Tampa Bay Rays during the tenth inning of the game on July 15, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Rays 11-7 in ten innings. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 15: The Minnesota Twins celebrate as Brian Dozier #2 of the Minnesota Twins crosses home plate after a walk-off grand slam against the Tampa Bay Rays during the tenth inning of the game on July 15, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Rays 11-7 in ten innings. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
Minnesota Twins and Brian Dozier walk off in grand style, 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
Pittsburgh Pirates 7, Milwaukee Brewers 6, 10 innings in Pittsburgh – The Pirates scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the 9th to send the game to extra innings, where the Brewers scored a run in the top of the inning. The Pirates responded with 2 runs with 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to secure the series sweep.
Baltimore Orioles 6, Texas Rangers 5 in Baltimore – The Rangers came out with a grand slam in the first inning, but the Orioles put up a 5 spot in the 3rd inning and never looked back to get the win on Sunday.
Cleveland Indians 5, New York Yankees 2 in Cleveland – The Indians broke open a tie ballgame in the 8th inning with 3 runs. The win gives the Indians the split in what was a very exciting 4-game series.
Miami Marlins 10, Philadelphia Phillies 5 in Miami – After they put up 5 runs in the top of the 4th inning, the Phillies most likely thought they had the game in hand, but the Marlins came back with 8 runs in the bottom of the 5th and took Sunday’s game.
Boston Red Sox 5, Toronto Blue Jays 2 in Boston – Boston and Toronto exchanged 2-run innings early on, but the Red Sox kept after it, putting together two more scoring chances to earn a Sunday win.
Washington Nationals 6, New York Mets 1 in New York – The Nationals responded a day after going under .500 with a win to crawl back to that level for the All-Star break after scoring 5 in the top of the 7th inning.
Atlanta Braves 5, Arizona Diamondbacks 1 in Atlanta – The Braves used a 4-run 3rd inning to salvage one game out of the 4-game weekend set and keep pace with the Phillies at the top of the division going into the break.
Detroit Tigers 6, Houston Astros 3 in Houston – Detroit beat up on their old pal Justin Verlander on the road for a decisive victory to close out the first half, leaving Verlander still looking for his 10th win on the season.
Chicago White Sox 10, Kansas City Royals 1 in Chicago – The White Sox scored a pair of runs in the first and just kept piling on from there as the Royals could not figure out Lucas Giolito on the day.
Minnesota Twins 11, Tampa Bay Rays 7 in Minnesota – The Twins couldn’t lock down the 1-run victory in the top of the 9th, but they did come up with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th to win the game from Brian Dozier.
St. Louis Cardinals 6, Cincinnati Reds 4 in St. Louis – As is often the case, the Cardinals had a dead-cat bounce on Sunday after the big news of Mike Matheny‘s firing on Saturday night along with two members of his staff as the team rallied together, scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th and hanging on for the win.
Colorado Rockies 4, Seattle Mariners 3 in Colorado – The Rockies walked off in the bottom of the 9th Sunday on a Trevor Story home run after the teams had exchanged runs back and forth all game.
Chicago Cubs 7, San Diego Padres 4 in San Diego – The Cubs are definitely a team that do not want to see the break, as they have been playing very well to close out the first half and don’t want to waste that momentum! The team scored 5 in the first two innings Sunday to seal the deal against the Padres.
Los Angeles Dodgers 5, Los Angeles Angels 3 in Los Angeles – The Dodogers scored a pair of late runs to take Sunday’s game and head into the break on a winning note.
Oakland Athletics 6, San Francisco Giants 2 in San Francisco – The A’s used a 4-run fourth to propel them to a win on Sunday and a Bay Series victory over the weekend.
Top Pitcher
His ERA is still over 6 on the season, but on Sunday, Lucas Giolito had the Royals’ number, going 6 1/3 innings without allowing a run, giving up just 2 hits and 3 walks, striking out 6.
Top Hitter
The Marlins surprised the Phillies with an offensive explosion on Sunday, and young infielder/outfielder Brian Anderson keyed the rally, going 3-5 on the day with a double and a home run, driving in 3 runs and scoring twice.
Today’s Game to Watch
The Home Run Derby will be broadcast on ESPN at 8 PM.
Next: AA/AAA
AAA Featured Performer
He struggled in a 12-game big league audition earlier this season, but back in AAA, Dylan Cozens is working to get back on track as he struggles through a second season of poor contact at AAA after hitting .210/.301/.418 in 2017, he’s hitting .222/.322/.456 this season. On Sunday, Cozens had a big game for Lehigh Valley, going 3-4 with a pair of home runs and 3 RBI.
Today’s AAA Game to Watch
One of the most impressive things to watch in baseball is a well-thrown looping curveball. In baseball currently, few have a curveball as aesthetically pleasing as Touki Toussaint‘s, but until this season, he struggled with location of that pitch and the rest of his elite repertoire. With better control/command, Toussaint has worked up from AA to AAA in the Braves loaded system of pitchers with a season ERA of 2.82 between the levels and a 112/39 K/BB over 92 2/3 innings. He and his Stripers teammates host Indianapolis Monday night.
AAA International League
Durham Bulls @ Syracuse Chiefs Pawtucket PawSox @ Charlotte Knights Indianapolis Indians @ Gwinnett Stripers Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs @ Columbus Clippers Louisville Bats @ Rochester Red Wings Norfolk Tides @ Buffalo Bisons Toledo Mud Hens @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
AAA Pacific Coast League
Iowa Cubs @ Memphis Redbirds New Orleans Baby Cakes @ Oklahoma City Dodgers Omaha Storm Chasers @ Nashville Sounds El Paso Chihuahuas @ Albuquerque Isotopes Round Rock Express @ Colorado Springs Sky Sox Las Vegas 51s @ Salt Lake Bees Sacramento River Cats @ Fresno Grizzlies Tacoma Rainiers @ Reno Aces
AA Featured Performer
After he had a solid season for Akron in 2017, Bobby Bradley was likely surprised when he was assigned there again to open the 2018 season, and he’s struggled to perform to open the season, but he’s in the midst of a big hitting streak, having collected at least one hit in every game he’s played in during July. His one hit on Sunday was a bit one, a 2-run home run, and he also added a circus catch down the first base line to steal an out for his Akron team.
Today’s AA Game to Watch
Big Domingo Acevedo has struggled with injury this season, but when he’s healthy, there may not be a pitcher with better raw stuff in the entire Yankees system. He and his Trenton teammates travel to New Hampshire to take on Jordan Romano and the Fisher Cats
Birmingham Barons @ Tennessee Smokies Biloxi Shuckers @ Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Mobile BayBears @ Jackson Generals Montgomery Biscuits @ Chattanooga Lookouts Pensacola Blue Wahoos @ Mississippi Braves
AA Texas League
Midland RockHounds @ San Antonio Missions Northwest Arkansas Naturals @ Springfield Cardinals Arkansas Travelers @ Tulsa Drillers Frisco RoughRiders @ Corpus Christi Hooks
Next: high-A/low-A
high-A Featured Performer
The Indians drafted Jodd Carter out of high school in Hawaii in the 24th round in 2014. He’s worked his way up the system slowly, and he’s having a middling season in 2018, with a .253/.326/.414 line with 9 homers and 11 steals. However, his Sunday performance was excellent, going 2-5 with a home run and 3 RBI.
Today’s high-A Game to Watch
Kyle Johnston tossed six scoreless innings in his first high-A start for Potomac after seeing success once he was moved into the Hagerstown rotation. He makes his second start as the Nationals host Frederick and Zac Lowther.
California League
Lake Elsinore @ Lancaster JetHawks Stockton Ports @ Modesto Nuts Rancho Cucamonga Quakes @ Inland Empire 66ers Visalia Rawhide @ San Jose Giants
Carolina League
Buies Creek Astros @ Winston-Salem Dash Lynchburg Hillcats @ Carolina Mudcats Frederick Keys @ Potomac Nationals Myrtle Beach Pelicans @ Down East Wood Ducks Salem Red Sox @ Wilmington Blue Rocks
Florida State League
Florida Fire Frogs @ Dunedin Blue Jays Jupiter Hammerheads @ Bradenton Marauders Lakeland Flying Tigers @ Palm Beach Cardinals Tampa Tarpons @ Charlotte Stone Crabs Daytona Tortugas @ Clearwater Threshers St. Lucie Mets @ Fort Myers Miracle
low-A Featured Performer
Injuries have stunted the progress of MacKenzie Gore this season after he had an incredibly impressive debut in the Arizona Rookie League in 2017. He has been on a hot streak of late, with 4 earned runs over his past 4 starts. Sunday, Gore added the aspect of fanning hitters, striking out 10 over 5 innings.
Today’s low-A Game to Watch
Signed out of Cuba just before the 2017 season, Osvaldo Hernandez has flown under the radar in the Padres deep system of pitching (and especially Cuban pitching), but his performance in low-A Fort Wayne this year has been stellar, with a 2.25 ERA over 76 innings, with a 20/66 BB/K ratio. On Monday afternoon, he and the TinCaps travel to Peoria to take on the Chiefs.
Midwest League
Fort Wayne TinCaps @ Peoria Chiefs Lansing Lugnuts @ Clinton LumberKings Lake County Captains @ Cedar Rapids Kernels Quad Cities River Bandits @ Bowling Green Hot Rods Wisconsin Timber Rattlers @ South Bend Cubs Kane County Cougars @ Dayton Dragons Beloit Snappers @ West Michigan Whitecaps Great Lakes Loons @ Burlington Bees
South Atlantic League
Asheville Tourists @ Greensboro Grasshoppers Columbia Fireflies @ Lakewood BlueClaws Delmarva Shorebirds @ West Virginia Power Hagerstown Suns @ Kannapolis Intimidators Hickory Crawdads @ Charleston RiverDogs Lexington Legends @ Greenville Drive Rome Braves @ Augusta GreenJackets
Next: Short Season/Advanced Rookie
Short Season Featured Performer
The Astros drafted catcher Alex Holderbach out of Eastern Kentucky in the 16th round this June. Entering today’s game, he’d struggled out of the gate, hitting .175/.227/.175. He broke out on Sunday, going 3-3 with a home run and a triple, driving in 3 runs and drawing a walk.
Today’s Short-Season New York-Penn League schedule
West Virginia Black Bears @ Staten Island Yankees Auburn Doubledays @ Aberdeen IronBirds Williamsport Crosscutters @ Brooklyn Cyclones Tri-City ValleyCats @ State College Spikes Hudson Valley Renegades @ Mahoning Valley Scrappers Lowell Spinners @ Batavia Muckdogs Vermont Lake Monsters @ Connecticut Tigers
The Diamondbacks signed Deyni Olivero out of the Dominican Republic in July of 2015. He made his pro debut with the DSL in 2016 and jumped up stateside in 2017 after opening the season in the DSL again. This year with Missoula, he’s posted a 3.10 ERA over 29 innings. On Sunday, he went 6 innings, allowing a run on 4 hits and a walk, striking out 9.
Today’s Advanced Rookie Appalachian League schedule
Elizabethton Twins @ Kingsport Mets Princeton Rays @ Pulaski Yankees Bristol Pirates @ Greeneville Reds Danville Braves @ Bluefield Blue Jays Johnson City Cardinals @ Burlington Royals
Today’s Advanced Rookie Pioneer League schedule
Grand Junction Rockies @ Great Falls Voyagers Helena Brewers @ Ogden Raptors Orem Owls @ Billings Mustangs Missoula Osprey @ Idaho Falls Chukars
Next: Rookie Ball Schedules
Rookie Ball Featured Performer
The Royals signed Valdez last July out of the Dominican Republic. He is a wiry shortstop that has the potential to develop power down the road, but so far has hit .300/.349/.350 across two rookie levels for the Royals. He was the only player with multiple hits in Sunday’s Dominican Summer League All-Star game.
GCL Blue Jays @ GCL Yankees West GCL Marlins @ GCL Astros GCL Nationals @ GCL Cardinals GCL Orioles @ GCL Twins GCL Phillies West @ GCL Braves GCL Pirates @ GCL Tigers West GCL Red Sox @ GCL Rays GCL Tigers East @ GCL Phillies East
Next: Today's Birthdays/history
Aug 18, 2005; Chicago, IL, USA; (File Photo: Date Unknown) ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson and seven of his Chicago White Sox teammates were implicated in fixing the 1919 World Series and letting the Cincinnati Reds win. Jackson had a .375 in the series, 12 hits, no errors and hit the lone home run for the White Sox. The eight players were banned from baseball for life by Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis. ‘Shoeless Joe’ died on 12/5/1951 just 10 days before he was scheduled to appear on Ed Sullivan’s “Talk of the Town: in an effort to clear his name. (Photo by Sporting News/Sporting News via Getty Images) /
Birthdays today
While there are no Hall of Famers born today, one that absolutely should be in the Hall of Fame was born on this day in 1889.
While he broke into the major leagues at age 20 in 1908, Shoeless Joe Jackson was already on his second organization when he had his first full season in the major leagues in 1911 with the Cleveland Indians, collecting 233 hits and hitting .408 in his first full year, also stealing 41 bases.
The hits, steals, and batting average were all career highs, though none of them led the league. Jackson would go on to lead the league in hits twice, doubles once, triples three times, on base once, slugging once, and total bases twice.
Jackson became one of the best hitters in the entire league, but he struggled with some injuries along the way that were likely brought on in part due to his hard-nosed play offensively and defensively. In 1915, Jackson was traded from Cleveland to the White Sox, where he joined a team prepped to jump into the absolute elite teams in the league. He would go on with the team to win the World Series in 1917. After a 1918 season that was limited due to WWI, the White Sox steamrolled the league in 1919 en route to the World Series.
That’s where things get murky. Jackson was implicated in the Black Sox scandal that came out of the 1919 World Series, in spite of hitting .375/.394/.563 for the series. While the accusations were investigated, Jackson would have arguably his best season in 1920.
In the end, however, Jackson was one of 8 players who was banished for life due to the “Black Sox” scandal, in spite if minimal evidence against him.
Cap Anson becomes the game’s first 3,000 hit man at 45 years old in 1897.
A pitcher helps himself in a very unique way, as Jack Chesbro steals home plate in the bottom of the 10th for a walk-off victory.
In the first loss of his major league career, Babe Ruth loses to the Tigers in 1914.
Another Babe Ruth moment in 1920 as he becomes the first hitter in major league history to club 30 home runs.
Bowie Kuhn is re-elected to a 7-year term on this day in 1975.
In spite of Dave Righetti setting a Texas League record with 21 strikeouts in 1978, a reliever loses the game 4-2.
After a hustle play where he slid headfirst into first base to beat out a bunt in 1990, Steve Lyons makes the play much more memorable when he absent-mindedly drops his pants to dust the dirt off of them while standing on first base. Now working in broadcasting, Lyons continues to get fan mail from women due to that moment.
Minnie Minoso becomes the oldest player to play professional baseball when he suits up for Gary in the Northern League at 77 years old in 2003.
