In case you didn’t know, there were three other games played yesterday besides the one in which the Red Sox offense laid an egg against Cam Schlittler while the team wasted its most electric pitcher. I’m of course talking about the start of the NHL season!
I kid, I kid, but in all seriousness, there were plenty of big moments to choose from in Tuesday’s action around the league. Let’s take a look.
Braves 5, Phillies 3 (BOX SCORE)
Even with the results of Tuesday’s game, I am very glad the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry has the prestige to
garner an 8:00 first pitch so I can be safely out of work when the game’s on. I definitely did not have the radio on listening to Phillies-Braves at 2:00 on a Tuesday afternoon. Anyone else who definitely didn’t may have missed Austin Riley’s three-run home run turn a 3-2 game on its absolute head. The Phillies pitching staff, led by starter Jesus Luzardo, cruised through seven innings and Jhoan Duran was easily navigating through the Braves lineup – until he wasn’t and ran into Michael Harris II who started the rally. Chris Sale had the no decision in this one but he looked great in 6 1/3 innings, striking out nine even with the three runs allowed.
White Sox 6, Astros 3 (BOX SCORE)
Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin, partners in the “get Jordan Hicks off my baseball team” trade, both provided valuable outings in relief as the White Sox pulled ahead against the Astros. Hicks got the decision win! Even another ex-Red Sox, Sean Newcomb, got in on the action (though he allowed two runs.) The two-run home run Newcomb allowed, though, was the only extra-base hit the White Sox would allow on the night. It’s so funny looking at the White Sox lineup and recognizing so many former Red Sox, but it’s good to see some experiencing playoff action, as well.
Padres 8, Cubs 0 (BOX SCORE)
Pete Crow-Armstrong is the surefire NL MVP. The Cubs lineup on Tuesday, though, was punchless, and the wind was taken from them very early this game. How early? How about the first two batters both taking Matthew Boyd deep? After Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado each put a ball in the seats, Michael King, working with a lead, was electric. He took a no-hitter into the seventh. He benefitted from another former Red Sox player in Xander Boegarts hitting a home run. The Padres’ bullpen would complete the shutout with Joe Musgrove, once one of the best emerging pitchers in the game, returning from a lengthy Tommy John recovery, which was a super cool moment for anyone still awake at 1 in the morning. This was a shellacking, but unlike the game at Yankee Stadium, it was never remotely close, not even for a minute.
