Xander Bogaerts singles in the top of the sixth to extend his hit streak to 25 games. It’s impressive that two young players on the same team would post streaks that long in the same season. Mookie Betts grounded out earlier in the inning, so he is still one home run short to breaking the record for home runs in two consecutive games.
The Red Sox and Orioles are tied at eight, so if that score holds up for a while, Betts may get a few more chances.
Michael Fulmer just finished his sixth inning of the evening, and the Detroit starter has not allowed a hit against the Angels. He walked one and struck out six, throwing just 68 pitches so far. This is just his seventh MLB game and start.
Adam Conley of the Marlins almost matched that, but Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates singled with two out in the sixth to break up that no-hitter.
Mookie Betts homers in his first two at bats to tie the record for most home runs in two consecutive games. He hit three last night and two more in the first three innings. He now has 14 home runs on the season, after hitting 18 in the 2015 season. Betts walked in the third inning, but he has plenty of time left in this game to break the record.
The Red Sox are winning a slugfest 7-5.
The White Sox beat the Mets 2-1 in 13 innings Wednesday afternoon thanks to relief pitcher Matt Albers. Albers pitched two scoreless innings for the win, but it was his bat that won the game. With no one left to pinch hit, the heavy veteran, 2 for 34 with 21 strikeouts for his career, legged out a double, barely moved to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a sacrifice fly. He still had enough energy left to pitch the bottom of the inning for the win.
The Mets drew 13 walks while striking out 12 times, but could only push one run across the plate. The White Sox defense helped with five double plays, while the Mets went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
Felix Hernandez heads to the disabled list after straining his baby cow due to a teammate home run:
Mariners ace Felix Hernandez is heading to the 15-day disabled list after suffering a strained right calf Tuesday as he leapt from the bench to celebrate one of the club’s five home runs in a 16-4 victory over San Diego at Safeco Field.
The club responded by recalling lefty James Paxton from Triple-A Tacoma, after scratching him from a scheduled Tuesday start, in order to replace Hernandez in the rotation for Wednesday’s game against the Padres at Petco Park.
Hernandez’s injury is not believed to be serious, but he remained Tuesday night in Seattle — while the rest of the club flew to San Diego — in order to undergo an examination Wednesday by Dr. Edward Khalfayan, the club’s medical director.
It doesn’t sound as bad as Kendrys Morales walk-off home run injury, but maybe players should show a little bit of control in these celebrations.
The Padres owner took to the airwaves to criticize his team in the harshest terms:
Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler, in a radio interview with the Mighty 1090 AM on Wednesday, labeled the team “miserable failures” on the win-loss front, calling its performance “embarrassing.”
Fowler’s comments came less than 24 hours after the Padres absorbed a 16-4 beating from the Mariners, completing a 1-7 road trip.
The Padres, 20-33, are in last place in the National League West, 12½ games behind the Giants.
“It’s been embarrassing. I don’t know how else to put it,” Fowler said. “Our performance on the road trip, 1-7, was pathetic.
“I’m a very competitive individual. I think I’ve won a lot more than lost in my life. This baseball experience has been very frustrating, very embarrassing.”
Now I suspect this will be backed up with heads rolling, probably in the front office.
“It’s on the player, but the organization has to accept responsibility for probably having the wrong players,” Fowler said. “We don’t have a team out there right now that is competing effectively. We’re doing everything we can going into the draft and looking at international signings to get some guys who can get us there.”
Overall, this is a positive for the club. It’s classic George Steinbrenner, letting the fans know you’re as unhappy as they are, and your personnel are on notice. By itself, it won’t make a bad team better, but it will make everyone step up their game a bit.
MLB suspended Marlon Byrd 162 games for his second PED violation. Byrd is not appealing the suspension:
“Since that time, I have paid close attention to the substances that are banned by the Joint Drug Agreement, as I had no intention of taking any banned substances. I relied upon a medical professional for assistance and advice with respect to the supplements that I was taking. However, certain supplements I was taking were not on the NSF Certified for Sport list, and therefore, I assumed certain risks in taking them.
“When I learned that I had tested positive for Ipamorelin, I retained the services of private counsel and an independent chemist to determine the origin of the Ipamorelin test result because I never knowingly ingested Ipamorelin. After an extensive investigation by my lawyers and an independent chemist, it was concluded that the most likely source of Ipamorelin was a tainted supplement.
“I alone am responsible for what I put in my body, and therefore, I have decided for forgo my right to an appeal in this matter and accept the suspension. I apologize for any harm this has caused the Cleveland Indians, Indians’ fans, my teammates, and most importantly, my family.”
So there is certified list, but a player is going to risk his career going off certification? Sure. More likely because Byrd is 38, his career is close to over, so he probably figured the risk of getting caught was worth it.
