The Marlins won the first two games of their series this past weekend against the Washington Nationals, but blew a chance to sweep the Nats yesterday, falling in ten innings, 5-2. Denard Span’s two-out RBI double in the 10th inning was the key hit for Washington. Steve Chisek took the loss for the Fish, giving up three runs in 1 1/3 innings, after not giving up a run in his past 18 appearances. Derek Dietrich connected long distance with a man on. After the all-star break, the Marlins will be on the road, first in Milwaukee to take on the Brewers in a three-game series next weekend, and then off to Colorado to face the Rockies in a four game set. The Fish return home on Friday the 26th for a ten-game homestand: three-games against the Pirates, four against the Mets, and an interleague three-game series against the Cleveland Indians. The Marlins will have Jacob Turner, Nathan Eovaldi, and Henderson Alvarez as the starters in the series against the Brewers next weekend. The Marlins have played very well recently, as evidenced by their 22-17 record since May 31. Here’s hoping that they can keep it up the remainder of the season.
The Fish are still at the bottom of the list in runs scored in MLB, with 306 runs in their 93 games. Here are the rest of the bottom-dwellers:
TEAM W-L Runs
Marlins 35-58 306
White Sox 37-55 345
Astros 33-61 351
Pirates 56-37 357
Nationals 48-47 357
The Boston Red Sox lead the majors with 498 runs scored in their 97 games.
In the major leagues yesterday, in the American League,
Orioles 7 Blue Jays 4
Chris Davis blasted his MLB-leading 37th home run and had four RBI. Davis tied Reggie Jackson for the most home runs in the AL before the All-Star break. Blue Jays starter Josh Johnson gave up all seven runs and seven hits in six innings.
Tigers 5 Rangers 0
Justin Verlander threw seven innings of one-hit ball. Johnny Peralta, Torii Hunter, and Victor Martinez all connected long distance.
Indians 6 Royals 4
Asdrubal Cabrera had the go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning.
Twins 10 Yankees 4
Aaron Hicks hit a three-run homer for the Twins, who took two out of three against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. CC Sabathia gave up eight hits and eight runs in four innings, although only three of the runs were earned.
Rays 5 Astros 0
Chris Archer threw his first shutout of his career, allowing just five hits and no walks. Desmond Jennings homered with a man on for the Rays, who enter the break with ten wins in their last eleven games.
Mariners 5 Angels 3
Michael Saunders hit a two-run homer as the Mariners swept the Angels for the first time since 2006.
A’s 3 Red Sox 2 (11 innings)
Josh Donaldson tied the game with a two-run homer, then drove in the game winner with a single in the bottom of the 11th inning.
Over in the National League,
Reds 8 Braves 4
Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer as part of a four-run third inning. Shin-Soo Choo also connected long distance. The Braves announced that BJ Upton went on the disabled list and that Freddie Freeman would not be able to play in the all star game due to a hand injury. He was replaced on the NL roster by Braves catcher Brian McCann.
Mets 4 Pirates 2
John Buck had two RBI and the Mets avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Pirates.
Phillies 4 White Sox 3 (10 innings)
John Mayberry ended the game with a two-out bases-loaded single. The White Sox had tied the game in the ninth against ineffective Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Brewers 5 D-Backs 1
Wily Peralta allowed only one run in his seven innings of work. Logan Schafer homered and finished with two RBI.
Rockies 3 Dodgers 1
Michael Cuddyer drove in all three runs for the Rockies. Ricky Nolasco took the loss, giving up the three runs in five innings he pitched.
Padres 10 Giants 1
Nick Hundley, Carlos Quentin, Will Venable, and Chris Denorfia all homered for the Padres, only their second win in their past 16 games.
Cardinals 10 Cubs 6
Yadier Molina capped a 4-6 night with a three-run homer in the ninth inning.
Tonight, we kick off the All Star break with the Home Run Derby. You can watch the contest starting at 8:00 pm on ESPN. The contestants:
American League National League
Robinson Cano Yankees David Wright Mets
Yoenis Cespedes A’s Pedro Alvarez Pirates
Chris Davis Orioles Michael Cuddyer Rockies
Prince Fielder Tigers Bryce Harper Nats
My pick? Robinson Cano to win it again.
Tomorrow night, the AL All Stars take on the NL All Stars at Citi Field in New York. Up for grabs again is the home-field advantage in the world series. I will watch, like always, but this year it will be with a little bit of sadness, as Mariano Rivera will be participating in his last all-star game. The best closer in the history of the game will be missed. AL manager Jim Leyland is really hoping that he can just put in Mo in the ninth with a lead and not have the possibility of saving him for a save situation that doesn’t come and having him not pitch at all.
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Who holds the record for most saves in all star games? Tell you later, alligator.
I have my first-half season awards:
MVP
American League Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
.365, 30 homers, 95 RBI are surreal numbers again. Another triple crown for Miggy this season?
National League Paul Goldschmidt, D-Backs
.313, 21 homers, 77 RBI on a team that nobody expected to be in first place in their division.
CY YOUNG
American League Mariano Rivera, Yankees
With my apologies to all the purists, there isn’t a more dominating pitcher than Rivera. 30 saves in 32 opportunities, with an ERA of 1.83, and 32 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings This is a lifetime achievement selection. Going back to reality, if not for the suspicion of PED’s, I cannot ignore Bartolo Colon of the A’s. The 40-year-old is 12-3 with a 2.70 ERA with the first-place A’s.
National League Patrick Corbin, D-Backs
A record of 11-1 and an ERA of 2.35 at the break is good enough for me.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
American League Jose Iglesias, Red Sox
Huh? This guy has been forced to change positions twice, and is still hitting .367.
National League Jose Fernandez, Marlins
Although he only has a 5-5 record while pitching for the sad-sack Marlins, his 2.75 ERA is impressive as all get-out. 103 strikeouts in 104 innings, while opponents hit a meager .196 against him.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
American League Joe Madden, Rays
The best manager in baseball has the Rays fighting it out in the toughest division in baseball once again. Honorable mention to Terry Francona of the Cleveland Indians.
National League Clint Hurdle, Pirates
This is the year that the Pirates play .500 baseball for the first time since the Civil War. (OK, I’m exaggerating.) Making the playoffs, however, may be another story.
Remember: My award selections above are for the first half of the season only. Govern yourselves accordingly.
In other baseball news, we had a no-hitter this past weekend. Tim Lincecum tossed the no-no against the Padres in San Diego on Saturday, striking out 13 and throwing 148 pitchers, 96 of them for strikes. A great defensive play by Hunter Pence was the key play, a diving catch by the right fielder in the eighth inning. Here’s the game story from Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle:
The MLB Futures game was played yesterday, where the top minor league prospects square off in a USA vs the World format. Here’s the game story from Fox Sports:
Keith Law of ESPN has some of his thoughts on yesterday’s game, including some very positive feedback on Marlins prospect Christian Yelich:
Alex Rodriguez continues his rehab work in Trenton with the Yankees AA minor league team, but the possible suspensions loom like a black storm cloud The New York Post has more:
According to Bill Madden and Teri Thompson of the New York Daily News, A-Rod may be looking at a deal with MLB to reduce any possible suspension:
Buster Olney of ESPN ranks the contenders’ strength of schedule for the remaining of the year:
ESPN’s Rumor Central:
Here are the up-to-the-minute standings in MLB:
Here are the individual league leaders in MLB:
This could quite possibly be the worst first pitch ever by a celebrity in a MLB game:
In college football, I said this after last year’s college season and Heisman award: Johnny Manziel will NOT be a finalist for this year’s Heisman, and he will NOT play QB in the NFL. The guy is nothing but trouble and has definite behavioral issues to deal with. Peter King of Sports Illustrated seems to be coming around to my thinking:
In NFL news, Aaron Hernandez remains in jail, where he belongs. There was a large photograph of Hernandez scoring a touchdown on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and they brought it down this weekend after numerous visitors to the Hall complained.
The Dolphins training camp opens July 21st. New Dolphins Wide Receiver Mike Wallace talks to Chris Perkins of the Sun Sentinel about his role this season:
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I’m selling three lots totaling a little over five acres in the beautiful North Carolina mountains, overlooking the New River, a quick 35-minute drive from Boone and Blowing Rock. Click here to see some photos and feel free to contact me if you have any questions:
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THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Who holds the record for most saves in all star games?
Too easy, right? Of course, it is Mariano Rivera, with 4.
Don’t miss my two “Descarga Deportiva” radio segments (for the Spanish-challenged, “Sports Jam Session”) every day, Monday through Friday, at 9:25 am and 12:15 pm on Radio Esperanza, 1550 AM or on the internet on www.miradioesperanza.com.
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Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
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