Casilla struck out J.T. Realmuto on three pitches to end the game as the bullpen combined for 3 1/3 innings of two-hit ball.
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But during Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over the Marlins, Samardzija and his faithful battery mate got crossed up, leading to a heater that almost took off Posey’s head.
Detroit missed a chance to make up ground on the Indians, losing 3-1 at Seattle as the Mariners completed the three-game sweep.
On Wednesday afternoon at Marlins Park, two former Notre Dame baseball players – Jeff Samardzija and David Phelps – battled on the mound.
Suzuki singled and doubled to increase his career hit total to 3,002.
Verlander’s replacement Justin Wilson gave up a homer to Nelson Cruz – his 28th of the season – in the eighth inning and Leonys Martin tagged on an insurance run.
The Rockies’ post-All-Star surge has lost all momentum after a sixth loss in seven games.
“It’s about winning the games”, Girardi said when asked if he liked the matchup.
The major league-leading Cubs matched their longest streak since this time past year and moved a season-best 30 games over a.500 winning percentage. The 14-year veteran struck out seven and walked three while raising his career record against the Pirates to 10-3. Freddy Galvis hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning, and Ryan Howard had a bases-cleaning pinch double in the ninth against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who was pitching to get in work even though the Dodgers trailed by one run. Mattingly pinch hitting Chris Johnson for Derek Dietrich was the move that sparked this, as Samardzija’s pitch count was only at 82, a mark he has eclipsed in all but one start this season (64 pitches on 6/22, 6 ER over 3 IP in PIT).
BLUE JAYS 7, RAYS 0 (at Toronto) – J.A. Happ and three relievers combined on a four-hitter as Happ (16-3) became the first 16-game victor in the majors and Troy Tulowitzki had a season-high five RBI for Toronto.
Elvis Araujo (2-1) pitched one inning for the victory. Garcia (9-8) needed only 85 pitches to get through eight-plus innings.
San Diego’s Edwin Jackson pitched seven scoreless innings to steer the Padres to a 4-0 win at Pittsburgh.
Diamondbacks 3, Mets 2, 12 Inn.: Oscar Hernandez hit his first major league homer in the 12th inning to lift Arizona past NY.
Milwaukee’s Chase Anderson won his third straight decision in the Brewers’ 4-3 victory over Atlanta.
Brandon Crawford provided the big blow by going deep in the fourth inning for his 11th homer of the season.
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The San Francisco Giants (65-49) return home to host a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles (63-49) from Friday to Sunday.
