Thursday's slate of MLB action includes 13 games, three of those taking place during the day. Keep it here and we'll keep you updated on all the scores, news, and highlights form around the league.
Thursday's games
Brewers 2, Cardinals 1 (box score)
Rockies 5, Mets 4 (box score)
Diamondbacks 10, Cubs 8 (box score)
Pirates 6, Reds 0 (box score)
Indians 5, Yankees 1 (box score)
Tigers 7, Orioles 5 (box score)
Red Sox 9, White Sox 5 (box score)
Dodgers 7, Braves 4 (box score)
Rangers 4, Twins 1 (box score)
Rays 5, Astros 3 (box score)
Royals 6, Mariners 4 (box score)
Angels 5, Phillies 4 (box score)
Giants 11, 2 Athletics (box score)
Goldschmidt blasts D-Backs past Cubs
If you missed the D-Backs-Cubs game from this afternoon -- a game that, by the way, didn't end until around 9 p.m. ET due to rain delays -- then you missed a slobberknocker. The two sides combined for 18 runs on 24 hits.
Two players in particular had big days: D-Backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who homered three times and matched a career-high with six runs batted in, and Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, who hit two home runs and drove in six runs himself.
Goldschmidt and Contreras: First duo to each have >6 RBI in a game for opposing teams since Huff/Rasmus in 2011. https://t.co/Qb5vPsLNu3
— Jon Weisman (@jonweisman) August 4, 2017
Goldschmidt's final home run was a clutch one. He broke an 8-8 tie in the ninth inning by lifting a Wade Davis fastball that was in on his hands. Recent addition J.D. Martinez then followed that up with a home run of his own, giving the Diamondbacks a two-run lead that Fernando Rodney was able to maintain in the bottom of the ninth. It was the 10th time in franchise history a player hit three home runs in a single game, and the first time since Jason Kubel in 2012.
The Cubs Twitter account had the tweet of the day:
We promise not to pitch to Paul Goldschmidt tomorrow.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 4, 2017
Of course they won't -- Goldschmidt and the D-Backs are on their way to San Francisco.
Mets lose in true Mets fashion
Perhaps more so than the average team, the Mets are known for losing games in inventive ways. Consider what happened on Thursday against the Rockies as evidence.
The Mets entered the bottom of the ninth tied 4-4 and hopeful of forcing extra innings. Yet things started ominously when Hansel Robles struck Jonathan Lucroy with a pitch, and got worse quickly. After Pat Valaika bunted Lucroy into scoring position, Terry Collins opted to intentionally walk Charlie Blackmon. That decision set up the double play, yet a subsequent walk to DJ LeMahieu loaded the bases with one out and brought Nolan Arenado at the dish.
You can guess what happened next. Go ahead. Yup, Arenado took a walk himself, despite having fallen behind 0-2 to begin the at-bat. As a result, the Mets lost in walkoff fashion -- and lost in walkoff fashion without allowing so much as a hit. Brutal.
Gray loses in Yankees debut
Sonny Gray was outdone in his Yankees debut by Indians ace Corey Kluber. You can read more about that game here.
Quick hits
- Here are 12 possible August trade pieces, via Mike Axisa.
- Someone not mentioned but who could also be an option is Jose Bautista, and the Blue Jays placed him on revocable waivers.
- The Mets could pick up Asdrubal Cabrera's $8.5 million option for next season to play third base, reports Marc Carig of Newsday. In related matters, David Wright is beginning baseball activity with eyes on 2018, reports New York Daily News.
- David Price will throw off flat ground on Friday, per manager John Farrell (Evan Drellich on Twitter).
- The Tigers have placed starting pitcher Michael Fulmer on the 10-day DL with right elbow ulnar neuritis. The Detroit Free Press has more.