We got an action-packed Sunday, so let's get right to it. You know the drill.
Sunday's scores
- Yankees 7, Indians 4 (box score)
- Rockies 3, Mets 2 (box score)
- Blue Jays 2, Rays 1 (box score)
- Nationals 5, Phillies 4 (box score)
- Giants 4. Braves 3 (box score)
- Pirates 9, Brewers 0 (box score)
- Twins 5, White Sox 3 (box score)
- Royals 4, Tigers 2 (box score)
- Red Sox 6, Rangers 1 (box score)
- Athletics 2, Orioles 1 (box score)
- Diamondbacks 3, Astros 1 (box score)
- Marlins 8, Reds 5 (box score)
- Angels 8, Mariners 2 (box score)
- Padres 3, Dodgers 0 (box score)
- Cardinals 4, Cubs 3 (box score)
Torres, Yankees walk-off
The Yankees extended their majors' best winning streak to six games on Sunday, defeating Cleveland 7-4 on a Gleyber Torres walk-off home-run.
As mentioned below, the Yankees received a stellar pitching performance from Domingo German, who was making his first big-league start. Alas, the Yankees found it difficult to get much going against Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger. New York trailed 4-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth, and then 4-3 as the bottom of the ninth started.
Still, the Yankees tagged Cleveland closer Cody Allen and Dan Otero. The pair combined to record three outs, but allowed five hits, five runs, and two walks. They struck out no one. The one home run they gave up? Yup, the aforementioned game-winning blast to Torres.
German impresses in first big-league start
Domingo German's first big-league start featured the difficult assignment of matching up versus Mike Clevinger and the Indians. You wouldn't know it based on how well he pitched.
German had, in 12 career appearances, shown an ability to miss bats -- hence 11.3 strikeouts per nine. Unfortunately, German had been as prolific in missing the strike zone, issuing five free passes per nine. Both trends remained true on Sunday, as he struck out nine and walked three across six no-hit innings. You can read more about that here.
Scherzer makes history
The Nationals defeated the Phillies in thrilling fashion on Sunday, coming from behind and winning on a Wilmer Difo single in the bottom of the ninth. Max Scherzer didn't factor into the decision, but he was the most notable part of the game.
That's because Scherzer managed to strike out 15 Phillies in just 6 1/3 innings. Scherzer was yanked thereafter, as he'd ran up 111 pitches in the process, but fanning 15 when you record only 19 outs is an impressive bit of business. How impressive?
Consider that entering Sunday just one pitcher in history had struck out 15 or more in a game where they didn't pitch at least seven innings -- that was Randy Johnson, back in 2001. Otherwise, everyone else to ever notch 15-plus Ks had pitched at least seven innings.
For those wondering, Scherzer faced 26 batters on the day. Masahiro Tanaka (23) and Jake Peavy (25, twice) are the only pitchers to ever face fewer and strike out at least 15.
D-Backs hand Verlander first Astros' loss
Since joining the Astros late last season, Justin Verlander had previously made 12 regular-season starts. He was 9-0 heading into Sunday, so it's probably a bit jarring to see him in the "L" column. That's what happened Sunday at the hands of the D-Backs. He actually only gave up one run in six innings, but there was an unearned run thanks to a throwing error/interference call on the same play (view replay on MLB.com by clicking here).
The Astros have lost five of their last six games.
On the flip-side, the Diamondbacks take the series and continue to look impressive. At 23-11, they boast the best record in the National League.
Giants complete impressive sweep
The Braves were one of the hottest teams in baseball, coming home having won seven of their last eight games on a road trip. They were set for a three-game series with the injury-riddled Giants. Sure enough, as baseball often does, we got a very surprising series. The Giants took all three games.
Sunday, Andrew Suarez allowed just one unearned run in 5 1/3 innings while the offense spread around some timely hitting (eight different players had a hit while there were four different players with one RBI each).
The Giants are now 19-15 and they've done it without Madison Bumgarner and Mark Melancon while only getting limited action from Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, Joe Panik and Mac Williamson/Hunter Pence. Pretty darn impressive.
Dodgers drop series to Padres
Just when it looked like things might be turning around for the Dodgers with at three-game winning streak through Friday's committee no-hitter, they drop the latter two games of the series to the Padres. Sunday was particularly futile on the offensive end, as the Dodgers spread out eight hits (just one for extra bases -- a Matt Kemp double) and were shutout by Eric Lauer, Craig Stammen, Kirby Yates and Brad Hand.
The Big Blow for the Padres was a two-run Eric Hosmer home run. Hosmer is hitting .297/.403/.534 in his first season with the Padres.
Thor, Mets fail to end slump
After getting out to a brilliant start, the Mets have scuffled in recent times. Noah Syndergaard took the mound against the Rockies on Sunday with a five-game losing streak on the line. He was unable to snap it.
It wasn't really Syndergaard's fault. He limited the Rockies to two runs over six innings (albeit without great peripherals). Yet the Mets offense found Kyle Freeland tough to solve. Freeland ended the day having allowed two runs in seven innings while striking out eight and walking one.
The Rockies offense, meanwhile, was led by Ian Desmond. Yes, really. Desmond launched two solo home runs. He entered the day with four home runs and a 41 OPS+ on the season.
The Mets have now dropped six in a row.
Red Sox cruise behind Sale
Chris Sale was in prime form in Texas on Sunday, striking out 12 Rangers in seven innings while allowing just one run on four hits. He lowered his ERA to a tiny 2.02.
The Red Sox are hot again, having won six of their last eight. Though the rival Yankees are the hottest team in baseball, the Red Sox boast baseball's best record at 25-9.
Pirates crush Brewers
In a 9-0 rout, Chad Kuhl and Richard Rodriguez combined for a shutout while striking out 14 Brewers (Rodriguez struck out six in his two innings of work) while only allowing two singles and two walks. Meantime, the Bucs' offense banged out 13 hits including a double, triple and three home runs.
The Pirates take the series and the Brewers continue to have trouble with non-terrible teams. They are 14-1 against the Reds, Padres, Marlins and Royals but just 6-14 against everyone else.
Ohtani posts quality start
Shohei Ohtani worked six innings on Sunday and allowed two runs on six hits while striking out six. He actually allowed a single, homer and walk in the seventh inning. If he hadn't taken the mound in the seventh at all, his line would've been: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. Sure, he needs to be effective deeper into games to be considered an ace, but he had a good outing on Sunday and something off which he can build. His 4.10 ERA and 1.18 WHIP are perfectly fine for this stage in his rookie year.
Also, the big offensive blow was a three-run moonshot from Mike Trout, his 12th homer of the season.
The Angels, meantime, have won five of their last six.
Orioles lose again
They have now dropped 18 of their last 21 games. Pitiful.
Quick hits
- The snakebitten Dodgers have lost Clayton Kershaw to the disabled list. They do have some good news, as Yasiel Puig is set to start a rehab assignment and possibly come off the DL as soon as Wednesday (Ken Gurnick). Also, the Dodgers signed infielder Danny Espinosa to a minor-league deal.
- Cardinals C Yadier Molina will miss at least a month following groin surgery.
- Mets SP Jacob deGrom will miss his next start after being placed on the DL due to his hyperextended elbow.
- Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes left Sunday's game with a quad issue, but he could still play Monday (Tim Britton).
- Mookie Betts left the Red Sox game early on Sunday with a bruised shoulder, but it's not serious. He's considered day-to-day.