Not to be outdone, the Indians lose a game on a strange 9th-inning managerial gaffe. They lead the Reds, 4 – 0, coming into the top of the 9th, after a brilliant start by Trevor Bauer, but closer Cody Allen gives up 4 runs and loads the bases with two outs, prompting manager Terry Francona to call in lefty Oliver Perez to face Joey Votto. Trouble is, its not Perez who’s been warming up, but righty Dan Otero, the result of a miscommunication with pitching coach Carl Willis: Francona asked to get “OP” warmed up, whereas Willis understood “OT” (Otero’s nickname). Given a favorable match-up, Votto lines a 3-2 pitch into right-center field to clear the bases and send Cincinnati on its way to a 7 – 4 win.

ByBaseball

Not to be outdone, the Indians lose a game on a strange 9th-inning managerial gaffe. They lead the Reds, 4 – 0, coming into the top of the 9th, after a brilliant start by Trevor Bauer, but closer Cody Allen gives up 4 runs and loads the bases with two outs, prompting manager Terry Francona to call in lefty Oliver Perez to face Joey Votto. Trouble is, its not Perez who’s been warming up, but righty Dan Otero, the result of a miscommunication with pitching coach Carl Willis: Francona asked to get “OP” warmed up, whereas Willis understood “OT” (Otero’s nickname). Given a favorable match-up, Votto lines a 3-2 pitch into right-center field to clear the bases and send Cincinnati on its way to a 7 – 4 win.

Starters and reserves for the 2018 All-Star Game that will be played at Nationals Park in Washington, DC on July 17th are announced. Beyond the expected participants like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, the game will feature more unexpected actors, such as 2B Gleyber Torres, who began the year in the minors, voted as the starter for the AL at his position; Matt Kemp back for the first time since 2012 as a starter in the NL outfield; Nick Markakis, who is voted to star in the outfield for the NL and in the process establishes a new record with 1,928 games played before a first selection; and former journeyman pitcher Miles Mikolas, who has been outstanding after being signed out of Japan, on the NL roster.

ByBaseball

Starters and reserves for the 2018 All-Star Game that will be played at Nationals Park in Washington, DC on July 17th are announced. Beyond the expected participants like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, the game will feature more unexpected actors, such as 2B Gleyber Torres, who began the year in the minors, voted as the starter for the AL at his position; Matt Kemp back for the first time since 2012 as a starter in the NL outfield; Nick Markakis, who is voted to star in the outfield for the NL and in the process establishes a new record with 1,928 games played before a first selection; and former journeyman pitcher Miles Mikolas, who has been outstanding after being signed out of Japan, on the NL roster.

It’s a high-scoring day in the majors as a number of marks are set or matched: Mark Reynolds ties the Nationals club record with 10 RBIs in an 18 – 4 win over the Marlins; the Diamondbacks set a franchise record by scoring 20 run in beating the Padres, 20 – 5; and the Red Sox score the most runs they have all season as they dispose of the Royals, 15 – 4. Wil Myers has a three-homer game for the Padres, but, obviously, it has little bearing on the final score.

ByBaseball

It’s a high-scoring day in the majors as a number of marks are set or matched: Mark Reynolds ties the Nationals club record with 10 RBIs in an 18 – 4 win over the Marlins; the Diamondbacks set a franchise record by scoring 20 run in beating the Padres, 20 – 5; and the Red Sox score the most runs they have all season as they dispose of the Royals, 15 – 4. Wil Myers has a three-homer game for the Padres, but, obviously, it has little bearing on the final score.

Almost three years after first being issued a lifetime ban for repeated violations of Baseball’s Drug Program, P Jenrry Mejia is granted reinstatement by the Commissioner, after petitioning for it as allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He will be allowed to resume all baseball activities next spring training, but it is made clear that this is a final chance for him and that no further missteps will be tolerated.

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Almost three years after first being issued a lifetime ban for repeated violations of Baseball’s Drug Program, P Jenrry Mejia is granted reinstatement by the Commissioner, after petitioning for it as allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He will be allowed to resume all baseball activities next spring training, but it is made clear that this is a final chance for him and that no further missteps will be tolerated.

Trailing 9 – 0 to the Marlins in the 4th, the Nationals stage a great comeback, eventually winning, 14 – 12 to get back to .500. Trea Turner hits a pair of homers, including his first career grand slam, and drives in 8 runs while Matt Adams adds 4 hits in his first game since coming off the disabled list.

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Trailing 9 – 0 to the Marlins in the 4th, the Nationals stage a great comeback, eventually winning, 14 – 12 to get back to .500. Trea Turner hits a pair of homers, including his first career grand slam, and drives in 8 runs while Matt Adams adds 4 hits in his first game since coming off the disabled list.

The Rays win a wild game over the Marlins, 9 – 6. The score is tied at 4 through 15 innings when the Rays break through for 5 runs in the top of the 16th. Pitcher Vidal Nuno contributes to the rally with an RBI single, but injures his leg while running to first and has to be replaced by a pinch-runner, starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, who scores the final run. However, the Rays try to avoid using another pitcher for the bottom of the frame by calling back-up catcher Jesús Sucre to the mound. The Marlins manage to load the bases on three singles, none of them hit particularly hard, before Bryan Holaday hits a sacrifice fly. At that point Rays manager Kevin Cash has no choice but to bring in a real pitcher, Jose Alvarado, who allows another run to score on a ground out, then walks P Dan Straily, who is pinch-hitting for P Brett Graves. Cameron Maybin comes up to bat representing the tying run, but he grounds out to second to end the game, as Alvarado picks up an unusual save. At 5 hours and 31 minutes, it is the longest road game in Rays history.

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On July 3, 2018 The Rays win a wild game over the Marlins, 9 – 6. The score is tied at 4 through 15 innings when the Rays break through for 5 runs in the top of the 16th. Pitcher Vidal Nuno contributes to the rally with an RBI single, but injures his leg while running to first and has…

In an interleague meeting between top postseason contenders and former Cy Young Award winners, Rick Porcello of the Red Sox gets the better of former teammate Max Scherzer of the Nationals when he surprizes him with a bases-clearing double in the 2nd, the first extra-base hit of his career. Those 3 runs are the only ones Scherzer allows in 6 innings, but they are enough to saddle with a 4 – 3 loss.

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On July 2, 2018 In an interleague meeting between top postseason contenders and former Cy Young Award winners, Rick Porcello of the Red Sox gets the better of former teammate Max Scherzer of the Nationals when he surprizes him with a bases-clearing double in the 2nd, the first extra-base hit of his career. Those 3 runs are the only ones Scherzer allows in 6 innings, but they are enough…

The Yankees beat down the Red Sox, 11 – 1, with a six-homer barrage, including three by Aaron Hicks, and one by back-up catcher Kyle Higashioka that is also his first major league hit. Luis Severino becomes the first 13-game winner in the majors, while David Price, who gives up five of the long balls, is the loser. The Yanks have now hit 137 homers, setting a new club record for most before the All-Star break.

ByTom

The Yankees beat down the Red Sox, 11 – 1, with a six-homer barrage, including three by Aaron Hicks, and one by back-up catcher Kyle Higashioka that is also his first major league hit. Luis Severino becomes the first 13-game winner in the majors, while David Price, who gives up five of the long balls, is the loser. The Yanks have now hit 137 homers, setting a new club record for most before the All-Star break.

Michael Lorenzen homers in a third consecutive at-bat, having done so on June 24h as a pinch-hitter and again on June 29th, this time in his normal role as a relief pitcher. The third one is the most spectacular, however, as it comes against Jacob Barnes of the Brewers with the bases loaded in the 7th inning, again as a pinch-hitter. His grand slam is key to the Reds’ 12 – 3 win.

ByTom

Michael Lorenzen homers in a third consecutive at-bat, having done so on June 24h as a pinch-hitter and again on June 29th, this time in his normal role as a relief pitcher. The third one is the most spectacular, however, as it comes against Jacob Barnes of the Brewers with the bases loaded in the 7th inning, again as a pinch-hitter. His grand slam is key to the Reds’ 12 – 3 win.

The Nationals put on a power display, homering seven times in a 17 – 7 victory over the Phillies. Both Bryce Harper and 19-year-old rookie Juan Soto homer twice, the latter adding two other hits. Erick Fedde gets credit for his first career win.

ByTom

The Nationals put on a power display, homering seven times in a 17 – 7 victory over the Phillies. Both Bryce Harper and 19-year-old rookie Juan Soto homer twice, the latter adding two other hits. Erick Fedde gets credit for his first career win.