The Orioles dropped the first game of their series with the Red Sox 5-2 in a game that saw Mookie Betts continue to rake at Camden Yards.
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Bumgarner, after blasting through the Dodgers’ lineup for 7 innings in under 100 pitches, easily seemed physically able to go at least one more inning-and reducing the bullpen responsibility by at least 50% or more.
The Mets also must deal with longtime nemesis Freddie Freeman, who went 4 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs during Atlanta’s victory over Noah Syndergaard in the series opener Monday night.
The first of those events, and easily the most crucial, was the pulling of Bumgarner for pinch hitter Conor Gillaspie in the 8th inning, something that has yet to be explained by anyone in a Giants uniform. After winning game 1, the momentum is on the Dodgers’ side who can potentially cut the magic number down to three with a sweep.
“Mr. Bumgarner gets KKKike for the third time tonight”, the offending statement read. He retired Daniel Murphy on a long fly ball to end the game, which ended Murphy’s 14-game hit streak. San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner, second from left, and Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig, right, argue as first base coach Bill Hayes stands between them during a scuffle that emptied both benches afte.
Heyward’s seventh home run, his first since August 22, landed in the center field seats and brought home Addison Russell. For the Giants, they face a near must-win situation as they are tied with the Cardinals for the final Wild Card spot. Both M’s runs came in the bottom of the ninth off Toronto closer Roberto Osuna, who had to throw 26 pitches.
In September, the Giants have scored 63 runs (No. 25 in the majors), but after adjusting for league and park effects, they drop to dead last – scoring runs at a rate that is 32 percent below league average (68 wRC+).
RHP Hunter Strickland came in to replace LHP Javier Lopez with no outs in the ninth inning and promptly gave up an RBI single to 3B Justin Turner, tying the score at 1 in the ninth inning against the Dodgers. The relievers did what they have done so often in the second half of this season: Crumbled.
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Brandon Maurer picked up his 11th save in 13 chances. Only James Shields and Jerad Eickhoff have more (seven each) this season. Both teams are 63-87. But let’s start with the biggest group involved in the game: the hitters.
