By Ron Kaplan, contributor
It’s always a dilemma when a Member of the Tribe plays against my Mets. On the one hand, I want him to do well. On the other hand, I want the Mets to win. I got the best of both worlds on Friday when Ryan Braun hit one out (see video), but his Milwaukee Brewers (8-8, third in the NL Central) lost to the host New Yorkers, 6-5. It was Braun’s only hit in four at-bats, good for two runs in the sixth inning off Steve Matz. It was also the 305th tater for Braun, putting him just 26 away from tying Hank Greenberg’s record among Jewish Major Leaguers.
Braun was 1-for-3 with a stolen base on Saturday — part of a 5-1 Brewers win— but came out of the game with back stiffness. He did not play in Sunday’s 3-2 Mets win, which took place in raw, nasty weather.
Alex Bregman was 2-for-13 over the weekend as the Houston Astros (10-6, second in AL West) lost two of three to the host Texas Rangers. Both of his hits came in Saturday’s game.
Baltimore Orioles reliever Richard Bleier pitched 2.1 innings yesterday, allowing three hits and striking out a pair in a 3-1 loss to the host Boston Red Sox. It was his only appearance for the weekend — and lowered his season ERA to a svelte 0.75.
Danny Valencia started at third base in the Friday and Saturday games, going a collective 0-for-6 with a walk and two strikeouts. The Orioles (5-11, fourth in the AL East) all three games over the weekend.
Ian Kinsler played well Friday, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two stolen bases, and a sacrifice fly that drove in the deciding run in a 5-4 win over the host Kansas City Royals. He did not play on Saturday (and not because he’s shomer Shabbos); yesterday’s game was postponed. The LA Angels are 13-3, tops in the AL West.
Kevin Pillar had a single and a double (#3) in four at-bats and drove in a run Friday as the Toronto Blue Jays (9-5, second in the AL East) beat the host Cleveland Indians, 8-4. Both the Saturday and Sunday games were postponed.
Joc Pederson walked as a pinch-hitter for the LA Dodgers (5-9, fifth in NL West) on Friday in a 7-2 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. He started Saturday’s game, going 1-for-4 and driving in the only run for LA in a 9-1 loss. Pederson entered the game on Sunday as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and remained in the game, going 0-for-1 at the plate.
The Cincinnati Reds (2-13, fifth in NL Central) sent rookie pitcher Zack Weiss back to AAA Louisville.
Ryan Sherriff remains on the disabled list for the St. Louis Cardinals (9-7, second in NL Central).
And how do you like Gabe Kapler now? After a rocky start, the Philadelphia Phillies are 9-5, second in the NL East (see article).
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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