Fan Interference

Scouts:  We are still only in July, but playoff talk has already started.  So far there in the AL, the Rangers, the Angels, and the Red Sox are within 5 games of the final spot. Things there a lot more packed in the NL where that list includes, the Brewers, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Giants, Pirates, Padres, Reds, and the Mets all within 5.5 games.  In fact the Marlins are the only team that at this point are completely out of contention.  It’s shaping up to be a very wild fall if things don’t drastically change.

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Rays 3, Yankees 8 – Prof: If it wasn’t for Yandy Diaz hitting a double in the sixth inning, this would have been a strange copy of the last game between these two teams, in which every run scored was via home run. It was pretty close for a while until the eighth inning, when Didi Gregorius mashed a grand slam. Surprise – Travis d’Arnaud did not even get a hit last night. Guess he exhausted his supply.

 

Dodgers 8, Phillies 9 – Prof: A good old fashioned slug fest went down in Philly last night. The first five innings were nothing but home runs back and forth. There was a slight delay of game, with the Phillies holding on the tightest of margins. After the game resumed, top of the ninth, a Dodger hit a three run homer to stab the Philly Phaithful in the heart. But wait! Like Rocky Balboa, don’t count them out! Suddenly Scott Kingery hits an RBI single to get them within one. Then to the plate steps Royce Harpler…er, Bryce Harper. The old nickname should be left in Washington, don’t you think? Anyway, Harper hits a double to deep center, sending two Phillies to the plate and the Phanatic’s boys to victory.

 

Nationals 8, Orioles 1 – Prof: Very simple – the Curly Dubs could connect, the Birds could not. Every other Nats hit was a homer. Baltimore is putting a guy who could barely squeak by in Triple A on the mound. It’s gonna be a long rest of the season in Charm City.

Tigers 0, Spiders 8 – Scouts: Four pitchers combined for a 1 hit shutout of the lowly Tigers.  Not a single pitcher pitched more than 3 innings, but it seemed to get the job done.  The win combined with a Twins loss brings the Spiders to within 5 games of the division.

Blue Jays 10, Red Sox 4 – Scouts: Teoscar Hernandez and Justin Smoak provided most of the offense in this one, and the Sox blew a few opportunities to get a much needed win.  Is it finally time to admit that the Red Sox just aren’t that good?

Padres 7, Marlins 12 – Prof: WHEW you guys, the Feesh are on one. Jordan Yamamoto continues to win and Brian Anderson hit a no doubt moon shot in the first inning to get the party started.

Reds 3, Cubs 4 F/10 – Prof: Kris Bryant tied it up in the sixth inning with a solo shot. It came down to a Baby Babe Ruth walk off bomb in extras to get this one done. Light tangent: looking at the Chicago bullpen is like looking at the ghosts of Christmas past, with relievers we all would have loved to have had at one time or another – Strop, Cishek, and Kimbrel.

 

D’backs 9, Rangers 2 – Scouts: Arizona is starting to make a push for that final wild-card spot, and they need every win they can get their hands on, and thus far have come out swinging.  Texas is in a similar position, and so far aren’t putting themselves into a good position for a final playoff push.

Braves 1, Brewers 13 – Scouts: The Brewers have had a rough last month or so, which is why it must have been so cathartic to break out against the Braves.  The game was still within reach before guess who, Christian Yelich hit the squad’s first Grand Slam on the season, turning the game into a blowout.

Mets 3, Twins 2 – Prof: Former Braves legend Luis Avilan gets the win and Michael Conforto gets props all around. Jeff McNeil continues to be the player who is getting things done but you still say “Who the heck is that?”

White Sox 0, Royals 11 – Prof: This is what you call demoralizing. The Royals are, I don’t know, like 28 games under .500 or something like that, and they dropped eleven on them. The worst part was that there were only two home runs and both of those were 2 RBI a piece. The rest were sac flies and errors and singles. Just sloppy, sloppy baseball.

 

Pirates 3, Cardinals 1 – Prof: Did y’all know the Cardinals are only two games over .500? I didn’t realize this. I’m so used to them hovering near the top of the division standings that it’s a legitimate shock to see them being average. They were relatively average last night as well, allowing Pittsburgh to get the best of them at home. There wasn’t any one particularly special play, only a solid team effort from the Bucs.

Giants 8, Rockies 4 – Scouts: The Giants somehow have managed to claw their way into the playoff race.  Maybe that’s because MLB has pushed to ensure that 90% of the league is within range these days, but still the Giants are sneaking out a few wins here and there and are now just 3 games back of the final Wild Card spot.

Astros 2, Angels 7 – Scouts: Houston is picking a pretty bad time not to look like their usual dominant selves.  First they drop two of four against Texas, and now they watch the Angels, without both Mike Trout and Tommy LaStella pick up their 5th win in a row.  The game was over almost before it even got going, with LA picking up 6 runs in the first inning.

 

Mariners 2, A’s 9 – Scouts: Oakland’s taking good advantage of Houston’s recent stumbles and have now on a 5 game win streak of their own.  This one came courtesy of Matt Chapman going 3-4 with 5 RBI’s including a two-run homer in the 5th.