Fan Interference

Prof: Before I start with our usual business, I’d like to say thank you to Scout for the nice post on Friday. I’m honored. Those songs are among my all time favorites, (the Me First and the Gimme Gimme cover and the Yukon Blonde tune in particular!), and of course highlights of my dudes Greg, Moose, and Scooter put a huge smile on my face. Especially Maddux, I could watch that on a loop. Thank you, everyone, for being part of this site and continuing to be part of our fun little group.

We’re gearing up for All Star Season. The 2019 complete squad was announced on Sunday. Obviously, I’m proud of my guys Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuna Jr. making it in as starters, and I’m also pleased to see that Braves rookie sensation Mike Soroka is among the pitchers chosen. The surprise to me is that the only Oriole who hasn’t been trash all season long, Trey Mancini, did not get invited, nor did any of the G-Unit in Toronto. Super Rookie Pete Alonso for the Mets made the list, as did the suddenly stellar Lucas Giolito for the White Sox, and the Rangers’ Joey Gallo is guaranteed to make an appearance and will probably hit a moonshot. Zack Greinke made the team again, as did Max Scherzer and Josh Hader, who is still one of the best relievers in baseball. Did your team’s nominee make you proud? Do you think anyone was a legacy pick? Or was it just a “we gotta throw someone in there” situation? Let us know in the comments below. For now, let’s talk Sunday’s games.

---

 

Twins 3, White Sox 4 – Scouts: Lucas Giolito learned he was an All-Star for the first time before the game, so of course he had to go out and pitch 5 innings of 1 hit shut-out ball.  Minessota almost got to the bullpen in the 7th, but Chicago was able to put a stop to it before it got out of hand and preserve the win for Giolito.

Pirates 1, Brewers 2 – Prof: It’s the Brew Crew Revue, coming through to you. This time the fireworks were provided by Eric Thames, whose tie breaking solo dinger in the eighth inning electrified Miller Park and put Milwaukee in the win column.

Dodgers 10, Rockies 5 – Scouts: It’s been 18 days since the Dodgers have had a day off, and from the looks of it, they don’t really need one.  Joc Pederson racked up three RBI’s on three hits, including the go-ahead two-run single in the 6th that kicked off a 6 run inning.

 

Diamondbacks 4, Giants 10 – Prof: As much as I hate to admit it, Madison Bumgarner is still a highly effective pitcher who is just having a down year. However, MadBum had a good outing this time around; seven innings with nine Ks. Kevin Pillar drove in five runs – including a two run homer in the second inning – and Mike Yastrzemski continues to make his relative proud with his two RBI day.

Athletics 12, Angels 3 – Scouts: Matt Chapman also learned he was selected to his first career All-Star game before the game, and he responded by showing everyone in LA why.  Chapman went 3-5 with 6, count them 6 RBI’s, including a homer in the 5th.  Shohei Ohtani also his a pair of homers for the Angels.

Cardinals 5, Padres 3 F/11 – Scouts: Oh, Matt Wieters.  What ever did happen to you?  I remember back when you were the greatest thing since sliced bread, racking up offensive and defensive highlights galore.  Wieters making his first start in 11 days, hitless off lefties, finally broke both streaks, with a two-run game winning walk-off homer in extras.  Former teammate Manny Machado picked up his 20th homer of the season earlier in the game.

 

Yankees 12, Red Sox 8 – Prof: Yanks vs Sawx in the land of cricket, and I would consider it a successful trip. Definitely successful for New York, who swept Boston during the London series. It’s a shame that our UK brethren were unable to see effective pitching during this series, but we all know that chicks (and maybe Englishmen?) dig the long ball. Didi Gregorius went yard for New York, while Xander Bogaerts, JD Martinez, and Christian Vazquez did for Boston. Another high scoring affair, this time the ridiculousness was a nine run seventh inning, capped off by a run scored from a Bosox error.

 

Spiders 2, Orioles 0 – Prof: After allowing Baltimore to beat them 13-0 two days in a row, the Magical Land of Cleve finally remembered who they were playing and won a game, thanks in part of a solid performance from Shane Bieber. The Biebs went eight innings and struck out eleven.

Royals 7, Blue Jays 6 – Scouts: Aaron Sanchez picked up his 11th loss on the year, after giving up 6 runs in 3 innings.  Ouch.  And to really make the pain sink it, it was to the Royals.  Then to top it all off, Sanchez was given a 5-1 lead in the second.  Just a brutal day for Jay’s fans.

 

Rangers 2, Rays 6 – Scouts: Blake Snell hasn’t had the best season so far, entering the game with a 5.01 ERA and allowing 6 or more runs in 3 of his past 5 starts, but at least for one day, he looked like the man who was the 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner.  Snell allowed just 3 hits over 6 innings with 12 strikeouts.  He did allow a pair of runs, thanks to a homer to Joey Gallo.

Nationals 2, Tigers 1 – Prof: There’s a Kanye West called “Homecoming” that I’ve always enjoyed, and I can’t help but think of it while writing up this section.

Now everybody got the game figured out all wrong
I guess you never know what you got ’til it’s gone
I guess that’s why I’m here and I can’t come back home
And guess when I heard that? When I was back home

Max Scherzer wasn’t always a National; for the first few years of his career he was a Diamondback, but he didn’t become Max Scherzer™ until he went to Detroit. For a lot of people, Scherzer was a Tiger first. It has to be bittersweet when Max plays against Los Tigres, especially when he plays as brilliantly as he did yesterday – eight innings, fourteen Ks. The game was won on an Anthony Rendon homer; Sean Doolittle gets the save.

 

Cubs 6, Reds 8 – Scouts: The Reds, at 5 games under .500, have decided they feel like they are a playoff team midway through the season.  I’m not really sure about all that, but they did look like one on this day, with a win against the Cubbies.  Of course they nearly blew it, allowing 3 runs in the top of the 9th.  maybe you guys still have a little ways to go there.

Phillies 13, Marlins 6 – Prof: Here’s something that is hard to believe – with this win, Philadelphia FINALLY broke a five consecutive loss streak to Miami. MIAMI! Philly, with their murderer’s row of big boppers, high paid offensive giants, losing to the rag-tag Feesh over and over again. That’s unreal. I guess the humiliation finally got to them, because the Phillies game out strong. Bryce Haper had a two run homer, and four RBI in total. Outfielder Brad Miller homered for Philly as well. Jake Arrieta went six innings with six strikeouts.

Mariners 1, Astros 6 – Prof: Gerrit Cole had ten strikeouts, and Houston swept Seattle in their three game series.

Braves 5, Mets 8 – Scouts: This game was a pretty typical example of why the Braves have had such a rough time of it this year.  The bullpen absolutely imploded, allowing 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th to a Mets team that’s been laughable at best.