The Yankees took care of business in the opener of their homestand against the Chicago White Sox, getting six solid innings from Gerrit Cole and amassing 12 runs thanks to homers from Spencer Jones, Ben Rice, Paul Goldschmidt, and José Caballero. The win gave them the opportunity to push their lead even further in the AL East, if they were fortunate enough to get another Rays loss. Given that their rivals are up against the Dodgers, they stood a good chance of capitalizing.
Tampa Bay Rays (41-29) 0, Los Angeles Dodgers (47-27) 1
Tampa lost a one-run game
to open this series, and probably didn’t expect that fate to repeat itself when they allowed just a single run to the Dodgers. Drew Rassmussen was on his A-game, pitching seven innings and scattering six hits against seven strikeouts without a walk, allowing just one mark against his line when Shohei Ohtani launched his 15th home run of the season in the sixth inning.
However, that one blemish was all that Los Angeles needed to escape with a win. Justin Wrobleski went six strong on the other side, striking out only five but allowing just three hits on the night. He even worked seamlessly around an error from his defense in the second inning, immediately erasing him on a 6-4-3 double play. Will Klein, Kyle Hurt, and Tanner Scott took the baton from there and ran with it, allowing just a single walk between them to shut the door on any chance of a Rays comeback.
Other Games
Toronto Blue Jays (35-38) 6, Boston Red Sox (29-41) 1: Dylan Cease had some trouble with baserunners, putting eight men on base in his five innings of work, but he managed to keep all of them from crossing home plate. Boston’s best chance against him came in the very first frame when he put two on with one out for Jarren Duran, who got a soft single out of a pop up in the infield that got deflected off of Cease’s glove. That loaded the bases, but Caleb Durbin flew out to end the rally.
Toronto had no problems getting their offense going though, starting in the third inning when Andrés Giménez doubled to lead off and got moved around on fly balls. The fifth inning brought more loud offense, as David Schneider and Giménez hit back-to-back home runs to make it 3-0. Schneider doubled home another run in the sixth, and in the eighth Boston finally got on the board when Jarren Duran hit a solo shot to center. Toronto didn’t let them get the last word, as George Springer launched a two-run shot in the top of the ninth (which was his 300th career blast) for some unneeded insurance. The Sox would get two on in the ninth but strand both of them as Louis Varland recovered nicely in his first appearance since blowing Saturday’s game against the Yankees.
Cleveland Guardians (39-34) 1, Milwaukee Brewers (44-26) 2: Pitcher wins are a relic of a bygone era at this point, but I feel like I must point out the absurdity that is Aaron Ashby’s season: the Brewers reliever earned his 10th (!) win of the season on Tuesday after entering in the seventh inning of a 1-0 game and working one inning, allowing Cleveland’s lone run in the process on a walk, wild pitch, and single. Garrett Mitchell picked him back up by hitting a solo shot in the bottom half, ensuring that the wacky win stat would find its way over to Ashby who now leads Major League Baseball in wins. As a reliever! The next closest reliever doesn’t come in until Colorado’s Antonio Senzatela who’s caught up in a big tie for 21st with six wins. Remember when that stat determined Cy Young winners?
Seattle Mariners (38-36) 3, Baltimore Orioles (34-40) 1: Logan Gilbert tossed a gem, delivering seven innings of one-run ball with just two hits and one walk, all of which came in the first inning resulting in said run. Gilbert then proceeded to get 16 straight Orioles in a row out, broken up only when he hit Pete Alonso to lead off the seventh. He stayed composed though, working a pop out and earning the last two of his 10 strikeouts to end his night. He almost didn’t get a win for his effort though, as the game was tied at one until the bottom of the seventh when Seattle loaded the bases for Cal Raleigh to single home a pair of runs.
