By Ron Kaplan, contributor
Kevin Pillar had a single and double (#34) and scored a run in seven at-bats as the Toronto Blue Jays (64-75) lost to the host Boston Red Sox, 3-2, in 19 innings. The winning single was hit in Pillar’s direction, but there was no superhuman effort in this story, and his throw failed to nab the game-winner at the plate. I was actually watching the last several innings, the product of insomnia.
Alex Bregman got the Houston Astros (85-53) on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly in the third inning and was hitless in three official at-bats. The outfield fly didn’t miss being a grand slam by much in Justin Verlander’s debut for the Astros, who held off the host Seattle Mariners (69-70), 3-1. Danny Valencia did not appear for the Ms.
Ian Kinsler was 1-for-4 with a run scored as the Detroit Tigers (59-79) crossed the plate seven times in the second inning en route to a 13-2 drubbing of the visiting KC Royals. He came out for a pinch-hitter in the seventh. Kinsler’s future with the Tigers is up in their air. Reports are that he wants to be back in 2018, but the team seems to be willing to part with the 35-year-old second baseman as they rebuild. On the other hand, they could use his veteran leadership as they do. One also has to wonder about the future of manager Brad Ausmus, who has not had great success since he was hired.
Same box score line (1-for-4) for Ryan Braun with a different result: the Milwaukee Brewers (72-67) lost to the host Cincinnati Reds, 9-2. He also walked and stole his ninth base. Braun remains one home run shy of the 300 mark.
Richard Bleier gave up an unearned run due to an error by CF Adam Jones as the Baltimore Orioles (71-68) came back from a 6-1 deficit to beat the visiting NY Yankees, 7-6, on Manny Machado’s two-run, walk off homer. It was Machado’s second long-ball of the night in a game that was delayed by rain for more than two hours.
Craig Breslow did not appear for the Cleveland Indians (82-56), who beat the host Chicago White Sox, 9-4, for their 13th consecutive victory.
Ryan Sherriff did not appear for the St. Louis Cardinals (71-67) in their 8-4 win over the host San Diego Padres.
The meeting between the Texas Rangers and host Atlanta Braves was postponed by rain so nothing for Max Fried, who’s already being touted as the next Tom Glavine? Please.
The LA Dodgers (92-46) recalled outfielder Joc Pederson yesterday. They lost, 3-1, to the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, their fifth straight defeat and ninth in their last 10.
Ron Kaplan (@RonKaplanNJ) hosts Kaplan’s Korner, a blog about Jews and sports. He is the author of three books, including The Jewish Olympics: The History of the Maccabiah Games and Hank Greenberg in 1938: Hatred and Home Runs in the Shadow of War.
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