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Yoan Moncada 3B | LAA
White Sox's Yoan Moncada: First appearance since activiation
Moncada went 0-for-1 in Thursday's loss to the Angels.
Moncada appeared in his first game since being activated from the injured list. He entered the contest as a pinch-runner in the 12th inning and struck out in his only plate appearance. Moncada does not appear to have a regular role in the White Sox's lineup to the close the season, as he has yet to start in three opportunities since his activation.
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Adolis Garcia RF | PHI
Rangers' Adolis Garcia: Responsible for win
Garcia went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Blue Jays.
Garcia's homer in the sixth inning produced the game's only runs. He's batting just .196 with a .656 OPS during September, but Garcia has been an effective run producer. The slugger has knocked in 16 runs over 15 games this month and is up to 80 RBI for the season.
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Kirby Yates RP | PIT
Rangers' Kirby Yates: Locks down 31st save
Yates picked up the save over Toronto on Wednesday, striking out two over a perfect ninth inning.
Yates took over for David Robertson to start the ninth with the Rangers up 2-0 and got Vladimir Guerrero to go down on strikes in the opening at-bat. The veteran reliever then needed nine pitches to get through the final two batters and log his 31st save of the campaign. Yates has converted all six of his save opportunities in September and hasn't allowed a run since Aug. 29 against the White Sox. He's also recorded multiple strikeouts in two of his last three appearances.
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Bowden Francis RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Logs seventh straight quality start
Francis (8-5) took the loss against the Rangers on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out six.
Francis allowed the leadoff man to reach in each of the first two innings but didn't surrender a run in the contest until the bottom of the sixth when Adolis Garcia took him deep for a two-run homer. Those would be the only runs allowed on the night for the right-hander, who's now given up at least one long ball in three consecutive outings. It marked Francis' seventh straight quality start, though he's now taken losses in two of his last three trips to the mound after previously winning four in a row. Despite the two losses, he still carries a strong 2.70 ERA through three September outings and has posted six strikeouts in two of his last three starts.
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Cody Bradford SP | TEX
Rangers' Cody Bradford: Hurls seven-inning gem
Bradford (6-3) picked up the win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing five hits and no walks over seven scoreless frames while striking out six.
Bradford had a no-hitter going through the first four innings before Alejandro Kirk tagged him for a single to lead off the fifth. The southpaw would get through the frame unscathed, however, and allowed just two batters to reach second base during his seven innings on the mound. It marked Bradford's second time this season in which he held the opposing team scoreless through six or more frames, and he's now posted quality starts in six of his last seven outings. He's 2-1 through three starts in September with a 4.86 ERA to go along with a 14:2 K:BB.
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Hunter Gaddis RP | CLE
Guardians' Hunter Gaddis: Snags extra-inning win
Gaddis (5-3) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out one over one inning to earn the extra-inning win over the Twins on Wednesday.
This marks the first time Gaddis has given up multiple runs since July 29, and it's just the fifth time it's happened all year. The right-hander was bailed out by the Guardians' rally in the bottom of the 10th inning this time around, earning his first win since July 24. Gaddis has a 1.55 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 64:14 K:BB with 34 holds and four blown saves over 69.2 innings in a setup role this year.
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Trevor Story SS | BOS
Red Sox's Trevor Story: Productive in low-scoring contest
Story went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 2-1 win against the Rays.
There wasn't much offense between the two teams, but Story stuffed the stat sheet anyway, belting a solo homer in the sixth inning and swiping a pair of bags. The long ball was the shortstop's second since he returned Sept. 7 from an absence of over five months due to a dislocated shoulder. Since being activated from the IL, Story has batted .286 (10-for-35) with four RBI and four steals over 10 games.
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Ryan Pepiot RP | TB
Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Fans 12 batters in no-decision
Pepiot allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out 12 batters over six innings in a no-decision against Boston on Wednesday.
Pepiot lasted just two frames in his previous start, but he had a longer leash -- and pitched much better -- Wednesday. The right-hander needed just 76 pitches to notch a quality start and record a career-high 12 punchouts, though he had to settle for a no-decision in a game during which the Rays' offense managed just one run. Pepiot may be held to less than a full workload moving forward, though he showed Wednesday that he can still be effective even when not accumulating a typical starter's pitch count.
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Tanner Houck SP | BOS
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Limited to four frames Wednesday
Houck allowed one run on four hits and no walks while striking out four batters over four innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
Houck was cleared to start for the first time in two weeks following a bout of right shoulder fatigue, but the Red Sox elected to treat him with caution and pull him after 60 pitches despite an effective performance. The right-hander had good control in throwing 70 percent of his pitches for strikes, and he yielded just a second-inning run. If he came out of the outing without any setbacks, Houck could have a longer leash in his next start, which lines up to come in Toronto next week.