Cleanup hitters put on a show at Wrigley Field
Cleanup hitters Paul Goldschmidt and Willson Contreras each drove in six runs in the Diamondbacks’ 10-8 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday afternoon. It’s the first time since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920 that each team’s cleanup hitter drove in six or more runs in the same game. There have been 10 other instances of opposing players – regardless of position in the batting order – each producing six or more RBIs in the same game. The last of those happened on June 2, 2011 when San Francisco’s Aubrey Huff and St. Louis’s Colby Rasmus each drove in six runs.
Goldschmidt hit three home runs, including a blast that put Arizona ahead in the ninth inning. He is the 17th different visiting player to go deep three times in a game at Wrigley Field and the first to do so since Cincinnati’s Drew Stubbs on July 4, 2010. Goldschmidt entered the contest with only one home run in 64 career at bats at Wrigley Field, his worst home-run ratio in any ballpark in which he had 40 or more at bats.
Gray let down by his teammates in his Yankees debut
Sonny Gray’s debut with the Yankees got off to a rough start when Chase Headley, Tyler Wade and Clint Frazier all made errors in the first inning leading to two Indians’ runs in New York’s 5-1 loss on Thursday. That marked the first time a team committed at least three errors in the first inning behind a pitcher who was making his first start with the team in nearly 33 years. On August 18, 1984, the Reds made four errors – two by Tom Foley and one each by Dave Concepcion and Dave Parker – leading to seven Cubs runs in the opening frame of Ron Robinson’s first career start.
It’s also the first time the Yankees made three errors in the first inning of a game since July 28, 1985, when Ken Griffey Sr., Willie Randolph and Scott Bradley committed miscues against the Rangers in the bottom of the first.
Arenado’s bases-loaded walk wins it for the Rockies
After starting with an 0-2 count, Nolan Arenado walked with the bases loaded in the ninth inning driving in the winning run in the Rockies’ 5-4 win over the Mets on Thursday. Arenado had walked only once in 83 plate appearances in which he started with an 0-2 count this season prior to Thursday’s action.
It marked the first time in over 11 years the Rockies won a game with a game-ending walk, since Jamey Carroll was issued a free pass with the bags full in the ninth inning against the Astros giving Colorado a 5-4 victory on May 5, 2006.
Broxton helps Brewers win series against Cardinals
Keon Broxton’s single with two outs in the bottom of the fifth scored Travis Shaw with what proved to be the winning run in Milwaukee’s 2-1 victory over the Cardinals on Thursday. Broxton entered the contest hitting just .173 with runners in scoring position this season which was the fourth-lowest average among the 129 major-league players with at least 75 at bats in that situation ahead of Hunter Renfroe (.151), Logan Morrison (.161) and Hanley Ramirez (.168).
The Brewers took two of the three games played in their series with the Cardinals. Milwaukee had lost each of its last 13 home series against St. Louis dating back to the 2013 season.
Kuhl shuts down Reds at PNC Park
Chad Kuhl pitched seven shutout innings leading the Pirates to a 6-0 win over the Reds on Thursday. Kuhl entered the contest with a 6.39 ERA in 16 home starts in his two year career. That was the highest home ERA among the 130 pitchers that made at least 15 starts over the last two seasons entering Thursday’s action.
Nunez is off to a productive start with the Sox
Eduardo Nunez had two hits and drove in a run – his 10th RBI in six games played since joining the Red Sox – in Boston’s 9-5 win over the White Sox on Thursday. The only players in Red Sox history to reach 10 RBIs in fewer games with the club than Nunez are Carl Reynolds (1934) and Jake Jones (1947), who both reached that mark in five games.
Six straight dominant starts on the road for Wood
Alex Wood allowed one run in six innings of work and earned his 13th win of the season in the Dodgers’ 7-4 win over the Braves on Thursday. Wood has allowed one or fewer runs while pitching at least six innings in each of his last six road starts, the longest such streak in a single season in Dodgers history. Only two other major-league pitchers over the last 20 seasons have pitched six or more innings while allowing one or fewer runs in at least six consecutive road starts in one season: Johan Santana (seven straight in 2004) and Ubaldo Jimenez (seven straight in 2010).
Another comeback win for the Royals
The Royals overcame a 2-0 deficit and defeated the Mariners by a score of 6-4 on Thursday. Kansas City has won 17 games after trailing by two or more runs this season, tied with Houston for the most such wins in the major leagues. The Royals won only 15 games in that fashion in 2016 and had 16 such wins in their World Series winning season in 2015.
Giants’ rookie pitcher drive in three
Ty Blach homered, drove in three runs and pitched eight strong innings in the Giants’ 11-2 win over the A’s on Thursday. Blach is only the third Giants rookie pitcher to drive in at least three runs in a game since the team began playing in San Francisco in 1958, joining Jim Duffalo (four in 1961) and Brad Hennessey (three in 2005).
The only other rookie hurlers with three RBIs in a game this season are Pittsburgh’s Tyler Glasnow (May 2) and Colorado’s Antonio Senzatela (June 6).
Gallo slugs Rangers to victory
Joey Gallo’s two-out three-run home run in the fourth inning was the big blow in the Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Twins on Thursday. Gallo has produced only 17 hits in 91 at bats with two outs this season (.187), but 13 of those hits have gone for extra bases (nine homers, three doubles and one triple) giving him a .538 slugging percentage.
Souza’s three ribbies helps Jays beat Astros
Steven Souza Jr. homered and drove in three runs leading the Rays to a 5-3 win over the Astros on Thursday. It’s the 20th time Souza had multiple RBIs in a game this season, the fourth-highest total in the American League behind Nelson Cruz (23), Justin Smoak (22) and Logan Morrison (21). Souza had knocked in two or more runs in a game only 18 times in 251 career games prior to the 2017 season.
Tillman roughed up again
Chris Tillman allowed seven runs before departing after two innings in the Orioles’ loss to the Tigers on Thursday. It marked the second consecutive start Tillman allowed seven runs, the first time in his career he has done that in two straight starts. Tillman’s performance raised his ERA to 8.10 in 15 starts. He is the first pitcher with an ERA that high through his first 15 starts of a season since Pittsburgh’s Charlie Morton had an 8.11 mark at that point in 2010.