The best rivalry in sports plays a potential Wild Card matchup. The Jays continue to fight their way back into the Wild Card spot. Let’s see what happened over the weekend and what’s to come in the last week of regular season baseball.
TAMPA BAY RAYS
David Robertson opened for the Rays against the Marlins. Randy Arozarena went 2-for-4 and Francisco Mejia went 2-for-3. The Rays won 8-0.
Shane McClanahan pitched five innings and gave up one run. Mike Zunino went 2-for-4 and hit his 32nd home run. Brandon Lowe went 4-for-5. The Rays won 7-3.
Shane Baz pitched 5.2 scoreless innings. Wander Franco went 2-for-4. The Rays won 3-2. Baz picked up his second win.
BOSTON RED SOX
Regardless of his recent start, Nathan Eovaldi deserves to be the starter for the Wild Card game. He pitched only 2.2 innings and gave up seven runs, although I felt like the 7th run should have been unearned due to the “hit” being playable with a more experienced first baseman. Rafael Devers hit his 35th home run that was the only offense by the Sox. Enrique Hernandez went 2-for-3 with two walks. The Sox lost 8-3.
Nick Pivetta pitched 5.1 innings and gave up one run. Kevin Plawercki hit his 3rd home run and went 2-for-2. Darwinzon Hernandez blew his 4th save. The Sox lost 5-3.
Eduardo Rodriguez pitched 5 innings and gave up two runs. The Sox scored their three runs on outs, two sac flys, and what should have been the third out on a pop-up that was dropped by Joey Gallo. Enrique Hernandez went 2-for-4. Rafael Devers and Alex Verdugo also went 2-for-4. The Sox lost 6-3.
The Red Sox will head to Baltimore to try to return to the top wild-card spot. Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi are scheduled to pitch.
NEW YORK YANKEES
Gerrit Cole took the mound in what can be considered as a potential Wild Card matchup in Fenway. He pitched six innings and gave up three runs. He wasn’t sharp but had just enough to get the outs. The offense jumped on Eovaldi early, quickly scoring three runs in the first inning. Giancarlo Stanton went 3-for-5 and hit his 32nd home run. Gleyber Torres also went 3-for-5 and hit his 8th home run. Brett Gardner went 2-for-4 and Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-5. The Yanks won 8-3.
Nestor Cortes Jr pitched 4.1 innings and gave up two runs. Stanton went 2-for-3 and hit a moonshot of a grand slam that gave the Yanks the lead and win in the 8th inning. It was his 33rd home run of the season. The Yanks won 5-3.
Let the boys be boys… SLAM. pic.twitter.com/rtdlOp23EU — New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 25, 2021
Jordan Montgomery pitched five innings and gave up one run. Two errors by DJ LeMahieu and Joey Gallo gave up the lead in the 7th. The offense responded with four runs in the 8th. Stanton hit his 34th home run. LeMahieu went 2-for-4. The Yanks complete the sweep and win 6-3.
Toronto is the next stop for the Yankees. Jameson Taillon, Gerrit Cole, and Corey Kluber are scheduled to pitch in a crucial series that will determine the postseason status for the team.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
The series against the Twins continued with Jose Berrios on the mound against his former team. He pitched six innings and gave up three runs. Marcus Semien went 2-for-4 and hit his 42nd home run. The Jays lost 3-1.
Robbie Rays pitched six innings and gave up one run. Teoscar Hernandez hit his 31st home run and went 2-for-4. Semien went 2-for-5 and hit his 43rd home run. George Springer hit his 18th home run. The Jays won 6-1.
Alek Manoah pitched 5.2 innings and gave up two runs. Danny Jansen hit his 9th home run. Springer went 3-for-4 and hit his 19th home run. Bo Bichette went 2-for-4. The Jays split the series with a 5-2 win.
NOW PLAYING: P 💣 P Life – Prince 🎶 #SpringerDinger pic.twitter.com/iYupcV7N15 — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 26, 2021
The Yankees come into town for three games after a day off on Monday. Hyun Jin Ryu, Jose Berrios, and Robbie Ray are scheduled to pitch.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Alexander Wells pitched five innings and gave up three runs against the Rangers on Friday. Cedric Mullins hit his 30th home run which made him the first 30/30 player in Orioles franchise history. Ryan Mountcastle went 2-for-5. The O’s lost 8-5.
30/30 for 31 Who knew this would be the Season of Cedric? pic.twitter.com/qtm7OOGwTj — Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 25, 2021
Chris Ellis pitched three scoreless innings. Kelvin Gutierrez went 2-for-3 and hit his 2nd home run. Ryan McKenna went 2-for-4. The O’s won 3-2.
John Means pitched five innings and gave up three runs. Anthony Santander hit his 18th home run. Pedro Severino hit his 11th home run. The O’s lost 7-4.
The Red Sox will come into town to play three in Baltimore. Bruce Zimmerman, Zac Lowther, and Alexander Wells are scheduled to pitch.
STANDINGS
The Rays have clinched the division for the second year in a row. The Jays are now one game behind the Red Sox for the second wild-card spot. The AL wild-card standings will be determined this week. The Yankees face the Jays and Rays, the Jays face the Yankees and Orioles, and the Red Sox face the Orioles and Nationals to finish the season. Should be a fun ride.
(Image Credit Getty)
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