It's Friday, which means Dayn Perry has blessed us with another edition of his Star Power Rankings. And, as usual, Friday brought us a full 15-game slate of big league action, including several big matchups between contenders on the East Coast. We have everything you need to know about Friday's games below.
Select games can be streamed regionally via fuboTV (Try for free). For more on what channel each game is on, click here.
Baseball scores for Friday, May 17
- FINAL - Yankees 4, Rays 3 (box score)
- FINAL - Phillies 5, Rockies 4 (box score)
- FINAL - Cubs 14, Nationals 6 (box score)
- FINAL - Dodgers 6, Reds 0 (box score)
- FINAL - Athletics 7, Tigers 2 (box score)
- FINAL - Marlins 8, Mets 6 (box score)
- FINAL - Astros 3, Red Sox 1 (box score)
- FINAL - Orioles 5, Indians 1 (box score)
- FINAL - Braves 12, Brewers 8 (box score)
- FINAL - Rangers 7, Cardinals 3 (box score)
- FINAL - Blue Jays 10, White Sox 2 (box score)
- FINAL - Diamondbacks 7, Giants 0 (box score)
- FINAL - Angels 5, Royals 2 (box score)
- FINAL - Pirates 5, Padres 3 (box score)
- FINAL - Twins 7, Mariners 1 (box score)
Astros win their ninth straight game
In the rematch of the 2018 American League Championship Series, the Astros took the opener of the three-game series from the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Houston has extended their win streak to nine straight games, and have extended their AL West lead to eight and a half games for the largest division lead in baseball. The Astros longest win streak in franchise history is 12 games in a row, which they accomplished in 1999 and 2004.
George Springer continued his incredible streak at the plate with an AL-leading 17th home run.
Houston reliever Ryan Pressly pitched a perfect eighth inning, and set an MLB record with his 39th consecutive scoreless appearance. Current free agent and former Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel had 38 straight in 2011 while he was with the Atlanta Braves. Pressly's fantastic play got the final out of his 1-2-3 inning.
The Astros have gone 12-3 in May and matched the 2017 World Series championship team for the best start in franchise history at 30-15.
Yankees walk off Rays, take AL East lead
The Yankees scored three runs in the ninth inning to win the series opener over the Rays, 4-3, at Yankee Stadium. With the win, the Yankees are now a half-game ahead of the Rays for first place in the AL East. The Bronx Bombers entered the ninth inning down 3-1, and it was third baseman Gio Urshela who had the game-winning, walk-off RBI single with two outs.
In their last 10 games, the Yankees have gone 8-2 and have gone 10-4 in May. Even more impressive, the injury-riddled Yankees have gone 22-8 in their last 30 games.
Cubs win behind Bryant's three-homer game
Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant hit three home runs in a game for the second time in his career in the Cubs' 14-6 rout of the Nationals. Bryant's homers came in three consecutive innings; a two-run home run in the seventh, a solo blast in the eighth and another two-run shot in the ninth inning. Bryant also extended his on-base streak to 26 games.
The Cubs have shaken off a sluggish start to the season, and hold a game-and-a-half lead over the Brewers in the NL Central. Bryant has been a key part of the Cubs offensive explosion this past month, and our own Matt Snyder took a closer look at how Bryant's regain to form is good for Chicago. And to read more about how one change kickstarted Bryant's recent hot streak, check out this piece.
Braves lineup clicking vs. Brewers, win third straight
It was the reigning NL East champions vs. the reigning NL Central champions on Friday at SunTrust Park. The Braves tallied a season-high run total in the 12-8 win over the Brewers. Atlanta's bullpen proved once again to be a glaring issue as the Braves were up 12-0 after six innings, but Milwaukee scored eight unanswered runs before righty reliever Luke Jackson picked up the save and preserved a win in the ninth inning. It's a solid win for Atlanta, who had been through bouts of hot and cold streaks through the season's first quarter.
With Ronald Acuna Jr. back in the leadoff spot, the entire Braves' lineup looked unstoppable against Milwaukee. Dansby Swanson, Josh Donaldson and Tyler Flowers each homered off Milwaukee reliever Corbin Burnes during the team's seven run sixth inning. Ozzie Albies, Acuna and Flowers all finished with three hits, and the team reached a season-best hit total of 17 hits.
The Braves, chasing the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, have won three straight. Atlanta's a game and half back from the division lead.
Highlight of the day:
We're going to call this a 2-for-1 for our highlight of the day. First up, Reds rookie Nick Senzel. He ran in to rob Max Muncy of a single with a sliding catch. According to Statcast, the hit had a 45 percent catch probability. Take a look:
Then, Reds teammate and shortstop Jose Iglesias followed up Senzel's impressive grab with one of his own. This one came in the eighth inning when Corey Seager hit a pop-up to shallow center field. Iglesias made this one look easy (how?) with an over-the-shoulder catch, all while avoiding collision with Senzel in the outfield.
Quick hits
- The Astros and Marlins are going in very different directions. Dayn Perry breaks down just how disparate the two offenses have been this season. Miami has hit one -- one! -- home run May going into Friday's game.
- The Nationals activated SS Trea Turner off the injured list. Turner missed 39 games with a broken finger and Washington's shortstops hit .199/.273/.301 in his absence. IF Wilmer Difo was sent down in a corresponding move.
- The Twins placed DH Nelson Cruz on the 10-day injured with a wrist injury, the team announced. He's been out of the lineup the last few days and there's no firm timetable for his return. IF Luis Arraez was called up in a corresponding move.
- The Mets have placed OF Michael Conforto on the 7-day concussion injured list and called up OF Carlos Gomez, the team announced. Conforto suffered the concussion when he collided with 2B Robinson Cano chasing a pop-up Thursday.
- Red Sox RHP Nathan Eovaldi has resumed playing catch and will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, reports Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. Eovaldi had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow in late April.
- The Dodgers placed RHP Kenta Maeda on the 10-day injured list with a left adductor contusion, the club announced. RHP Ross Stripling is expected to replace him in the rotation. UTIL Matt Beaty was called up in a corresponding move.
- The Red Sox placed C Sandy Leon on the paternity list, the club announced. Leon is expected back Sunday. C Oscar Hernandez was called up and RHP Chandler Shepherd was designated for assignment in corresponding moves.