Gregory Polanco, Pedro Alvarez and Travis Snider homered for the Pirates. They entered 2015 coming off a disappointing season that saw their manager resign somewhat abruptly amid rumors of scandal, a borderline existential run of injuries, and a last-place finish marked by the club’s worst record since 1985. He also committed a balk that led to a Houston run in the game. The real pitching problem, though, has been in the bullpen.
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Pirates outfielder Starling Marte fielded a single in the left-field corner and fired a one-hopper to second, throwing out the Cubs’ Tommy La Stella in the 11th inning. Achter and deposited it into the right-center field stands for a go-ahead grand slam. If the Angels hope to sneak into the playoffs this year, the club will have to rely heavily on Mike Trout to perform like the true MVP he is.
Last night sucked. It really sucked.
Doing so would have gone quite a ways in making people forget their recent slide, and it would have halted the panic setting in about this team devolving from a surprise member of the elite into one of the league’s biggest disappointments.
As for the Rangers: Their run differential has become a bit of a talking point, with some insisting – accurately – that negative differentials typically forebode negative things for a team, and pointing to the Rangers’ season scoring margin as evidence they’ve played above their heads.
WHITE SOX 9, ATHLETICS 4: Mike Olt hit a two-run homer and Melky Cabrera had a two-run double in a six-run fourth inning to help Chicago beat Oakland.
AL Central leaders the Kansas City Royals slipped to a 5-1 defeat to the Cleveland Indians as Francisco Lindor drove in four runs in his first three visits to the plate – including a home run in the first inning. The Astros went into Arlington leading by 1 1/2 games and left town in second place.
Not to be left out of the home run derby, Prince Fielder offered two almost identical home runs to the porch in right field which turned this game into a joke. Moreland hit a crucial two-run shot in Monday’s series opener and drove in the game-winning run with a walk-off sacrifice fly in the second game. However, they have not won two games in a row since August 23. Now, we all know what Adrian Beltre means to the Rangers. “We talked about the big man in the middle (Fielder) and how he was close”. Nelson crumpled on the mound and remained prone for about a minute. An MRI revealed a torn MCL and fractured tibia in Kang’s left knee, and will require Pittsburgh’s breakout rookie to go under the knife tonight, causing him to miss the the rest of the season.
For most, those batting averages indicate solid production.
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Gattis’ season totals now reads.240 (124×516) with 17 doubles, nine triples, 24 home runs, 79 RBIs, .448 slugging, and.726 OPS. It was Martinez’s first three-hit night since he had four against the Seattle Mariners on July 6. The Rangers beat the Astros again on Thursday, September 17, completing a four-game series sweep of the division rival.
