As for the Marlins, they’re 9-3 in their last 12 Sunday games, and 1-4 in their last five game threes of a series. He leads major league catchers in homers.
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Despite the loss to Miami, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he considered this “a win for us” because Kershaw was able to make his first appearance since he injured his back on June 26. Despite the long layoff, the three-time Cy Young Award victor has seemed nearly superhuman the past few seasons, and many fans probably expected to see a dominating pitching performance.
Yasmani Grandal hit his 25th homer in the ninth for the Dodgers, who tried to rally against Fernando Rodney before A.J. Ramos came in and closed it out for his 33rd save.
Fernandez was tested in the second when the first two Dodgers reached on a hit and a walk. Hill is making just his third start since the All-Star break due to previous blister problems and hadn’t topped 89 pitches in a start. Miami padded its lead in the fifth inning, after Christian Yelich scored Dee Gordon on a single, and after Ichiro was hit by a pitch, which scored Realmuto. If your concern is for the health of your pitcher, not only down the stretch but in the long-term, you play it safe with one of the 13 relievers at your disposal and hope that yours will be the first team to throw a combined flawless game.
The Dodgers’ offense backed Hill with four home runs – two by Joc Pederson and one each by Corey Seager and Turner. Kershaw gave up three hits in the second inning, including a comebacker up the middle from opposing pitcher Jose Fernandez that knocked him to the ground.
Kershaw wasn’t overjoyed with the outing, the three-time Cy Young Award victor and 2014 NL MVP shrugging off notions that it was essentially a rehab or spring start to get his arm ready for the stretch run.
In Friday’s game, the Marlins secured a 4-1 win. “It was a little unfortunate that I couldn’t get out there for a couple more innings”.
Hill, 35, struck out nine and threw 89 pitches before being taken out.
Mike Napoli launched a blast into the upper deck at Target Field for his 32nd home run of the season. Statcast estimated the blast at 463 feet.
Red Sox 13, Blue Jays 3 • Rick Porcello pitched seven innings to become the first 20-game victor in the majors, Hanley Ramirez hit a three-run homer and visiting Boston increased its AL East lead to two games by romping. It was the fifth time he’s struck out 14 in a game, and third this season. Absolutely. Does the decision give the team a better chance of staying healthy, thus improving their chances in the postseason?
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– Yankees sensation Gary Sanchez homered. “But for Clayton to be back on the mound, I think that’s a win for us”. In his past 15 starts, Koehler is 4-4 with a 3.54 ERA. But he didn’t get to finish what he started.
