Thursday is a transition day, with some series concluding and others beginning. Only two-thirds of the league is in action, too, so it's an abbreviated schedule. Let's get right to it.
Thursday's scores
- Rays 3, Yankees 1 (box score)
- Mets 24, Phillies 4, Game 1 (box score)
- Cubs 1, Pirates 0 (box score)
- Nationals 5, Cardinals, 4 (box score)
- Phillies 9, Mets 6 Game 2 (box score)
- Rockies 5, Braves 3 (box score)
- Rangers 8, Angels 6 (box score)
- Twins 15, Tigers 8 (box score)
- Royals 6, Blue Jays 2 (box score)
- Diamondbacks 5, Padres 1 (box score)
Mets set franchise record with 24 runs
Yes, the Mets really defeated the Phillies by a 24-4 score in the first game of a day-night doubleheader on Thursday. What's more is that the Mets entered the fifth inning ahead 5-4. They then scored 10 runs in the fifth, two in the seventh, five in the eighth, then another two in the ninth.
Jose Bautista drove in seven runs, including four on a grand slam in that fifth inning. Amed Rosario and Kevin Plawecki each recorded three RBI, and Wilmer Flores added two of his own. Other Mets to tally an RBI include Michael Conforto, Todd Frazier, Jose Reyes, and, uh, Jerry Blevins.
The Mets hit three home runs, a triple, and seven doubles on the afternoon.
Position players hitting>>> pic.twitter.com/tSXyQuBRJN
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 16, 2018
The 24 runs set a new franchise record. Previously, the Mets had scored 23 back in 1987. Believe it or not, the seven doubles fell well short of the franchise's single-game best mark: the Mets hit 10 doubles in a game in 2001, and have hit nine as recently as last May.
It's worth noting that much of the Mets' damage in the late innings came against position players pitching. Roman Quinn allowed seven runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings of work, and Scott Kingery closed out the Phillies' ledger in 1 1/3 innings by allowing two runs on four hits.
Counts all the same for the Mets on the scoreboard and in the record book.
Rangers turn historic triple play
Thursday's Angels-Rangers game featured one of the coolest possible sequences in baseball: a triple play. Alas, so far as triple plays go, this one was sort of boring, albeit rare.
Take a look:
You don't see this every day. pic.twitter.com/6MPPS5u5Xo
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 17, 2018
There you see Jurickson Profar fielding the ball then stepping on the bag for a force out before tagging the baserunner. From there, he threw the ball to second, and Rougned Odor wrapped up the triple play with another force out.
As for the historic part -- it was the first time in more than 100 years the batter wasn't retired as part of a triple play:
According to STATS, Inc. the Rangers triple play marked the first time thst the batter was not retired on a triple play since June 3, 1912. Brooklyn vs. Cincinnati.
— John Blake (@RangerBlake) August 17, 2018
You see something new every night with this sport.
Rox knock off Braves
Entering Thursday's start against the Braves, Jon Gray had been on a tear. Since returning from a short trip to the minors, he'd started five times and had averaged seven innings while accumulating a 2.29 ERA and 21 more strikeouts than walks. Gray's run continued against the Braves, as he struck out nine and walked one while permitting five hits and three runs.
Gray didn't earn a win, but the Rockies moved to 6-0 in his starts since the demotion thanks to a late-inning rally. Ryan McMahon drove in the game-tying run and later scored an insurance run in the ninth inning, swinging a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead. Wade Davis then closed things down.
The win insures the Rockies will enter Friday in second place in the NL West.
Snell keeps dominating
In his third outing back from the disabled list, Rays ace Blake Snell was still on a pitch count, but he got all he could out of his 76 pitches. He worked five scoreless innings against the Yankees, allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out six.
Snell really started to hit his stride in mid-May and he's been ridiculous since. In his last 14 starts, Snell is 10-2 with a 1.43 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 81 innings. Not that he was ever bad. Overall, he's now 14-5 with a 2.10 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 149 strikeouts in 133 innings.
As for the Yankees, they drop the series after feasting last week on a pair of bottom-feeding teams They also lost a makeup game to the Mets on Monday. They are now 7-9 in August and 13-13 since the All-Star break. What's more, they got bad news on Aaron Judge Wednesday.
What's worse, they loaded the bases with no out in the bottom of the ninth Thursday, only to go foul out, strikeout and strikeout to end the game. Brutal.
Overall, they don't seem to be in great danger of missing the playoffs, but the Mariners are the first team out of playoff position and now sit 5 1/2 games back of the Yankees. They are getting into the territory where they can't start screwing around.
More to come from Thursday's baseball action throughout the day.
Quick hits
- MLB suspended Jose Urena six games for hitting Ronald Acuna Jr. with a pitch, and Yasiel Puig two games for his role in the Dodgers-Giants fracas.
- In what would be an upset, it's possible Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen (irregular heartbeat) is cleared to return Monday.
- Orioles outfielder Adam Jones has cleared revocable waivers, meaning he can be traded to any team, reports Jon Heyman of Fancred. Keep in mind, Jones vetoed a possible deal to the Phillies in July, has 10-and-five rights and has said he doesn't want to go anywhere.
- After scary HBPs, both Braves youngster Ronald Acuna and Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter are back in their respective lineups.
- The Rangers activated outfielder Nomar Mazara and optioned outfielder Willie Calhoun back to the minors.
- NL Cy Young Watch | AL Cy Young Watch
