By Ron Kaplan, contributor
For the second time in less than a week, an MOT was involved in a no-hitter.
First it was Joc Pederson, in a May 4 game in which four LA Dodger pitchers combined to stymie the San Diego Padres, 4-0. This time on the wrong end was Kevin Pillar, who went 0-for-3 but nearly broke up a no-hitter Tuesday as the Toronto Blue Jays (19-17) met their fate at the hands of Seattle Mariners’ James Paxton (coincidentally, born in Canada). In the 7th inning, Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager — a former Gold Glove winner and the brother of Pederson roommate Corey Seager — robbed Pillar of at least a double with a stellar play. Final score: 5-0.
Alex Bregman hit his third home run as the Houston Astros (23-15) beat the host Oakland A’s, 4-2. The opposite-field blast was his only hit in four at-bats and tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning.
Danny Valencia was the star of the game for the woeful Baltimore Orioles (8-27), who lost to the visiting KC Royals, 15-7. Valencia — playing third and batting seventh — was 3-for-4 with his fourth home run. He also had a sac fly. Richard Bleier tossed another inning of scoreless relief (two hits), lowering his ERA to an American League-best 0.44.
Ryan Braun — playing first base in this one — went 1-for-4 with his eighth double as the Milwaukee Brewers (21-15) held off the visiting Cleveland Indians, 3-2.
Joc Pederson was 0-for-5 with a walk as the Dodgers (15-20) lost to the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, 8-5, in 14 innings
Ian Kinsler, mired in a slump, was 0-for-4 in the LA Angels’ (21-14) 4-2 loss to the host Colorado Rockies.
The St. Louis Cardinals optioned reliever Ryan Sherriff to the minors.
Gabe Kapler’s Philadelphia Phillies (20-15) beat the visiting San Francisco Giants, 4-2.
Scott Feldman remains a free agent. One writer suggests the NY Yankees sign him. How cool would that be?
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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