By Ron Kaplan, contributor
Call-up Rowdy Tellez cracked a pinch-hit double on the first Major League pitch he saw, driving in a run as the Toronto Blue Jays (63-76) crushed the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, 10-3.
Tellez got some nice write-ups because of the recent tragic loss of his mother, Lori.
Alex Bregman just keeps chugging along: he hit his 47th double and 29th home run and walked twice, driving in five runs as the Houston Astros (87-53) beat up on the visiting Minnesota Twins, 9-1. The home run came with a runner on and two out in the first, and the double cleared the bases for the capper in the eight. Bregman has reached base safely in 33 straight games, the longest streak for an Astro since 2004. It was the fifth straight win for the Astros.
Ian Kinsler lined a game-tying pinch-hit single, part of a six-run eighth inning, as the Boston Red Sox (97-44) roared back to beat the host Atlanta Braves, 9-8. He remained in the game and struck out in a subsequent at-bat in the ninth.
Ryan Braun had a single and a walk in four plate appearances as the Milwaukee Brewers (79-62) lost to the Chicago Cubs, 6-4.
Joc Pederson was 0-for-3 with a walk as the LA Dodgers (76-64) — who managed just three hits — lost, 7-3, to the visiting NY Mets. There was some controversy as to whether Mets’ third baseman Todd Frazier did or didn’t make a catch on this play. It was a topic of discussion on today’s Pardon the Interruption, with the argument that it wasn’t fair to the Dodgers if Frazier cheated on the play since they are still in the hunt for a post-season berth. What if they miss it by one game?
Ryan Lavarnway did not appear for the Pittsburgh Pirates (69-71) in their 3-2 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds.
Robert Stock and the San Diego Padres were off.
Gabe Kapler’s Philadelphia Phillies lost to the host Miami Marlins, 2-1.
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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