Joe Maddon called chasing Alex Wood after 5 innings on Friday night "somewhat of a victory" but the Cubs couldn't breakthrough against the Dodgers bullpen in their 4-0 loss. Maddon also admitted it's possible starter Jake Arrieta's velocity dip could be leading to a higher home run total. He averaged 92.4 mph on Friday and gave up two long balls in the loss: "Maybe the velocity not at 95 might bleed into that (home runs) a little bit," Maddon said.
Watch Jake Arrieta discuss his performance on Friday including a diving tag of first base on a Chase Utley ground ball. The Cubs lost 4-0 while Arrieta gave up 2 home runs.
Watch Jake Arrieta discuss the two home runs he gave up in the Cubs 4-0 loss to the Dodgers on Friday.
The Cubs lost to the Dodgers 4-0 behind another strong performance by Dodgers lefty Alex Wood. Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta continued a disturbing trend by giving up two more home runs. He's allowed ten this season, the same amount he gave up in all of 2015 and only 6 off his 2016 total. The Cubs had just two hits on the night, singles by Jason Heyward and Javier Baez.
The Cubs hosted Hollywood celeb fans in a suite on Friday at Dodgers stadium including comedian Larry David, who said in a very Larry David - esque tone that he had "no rooting interest tonight." Bob Newhart was still glowing over the Cubs World Series victory telling people to break up the Cubs, "they're too good."
Masahiro Tanaka (5-4) allowed one run on five hits while striking out a career-high 13 in 7.1 innings during the Yankees' 4-1 loss to the A's on Friday.
Mike Trout didn't get a hit Friday, but he did walk twice and score a run in the Angels loss to the Marlins. It's his ninth game this season with multiple walks, most in the AL.
Before tonight's game agent Scott Boras downplayed a velocity drop in client Jake Arrieta's fastball dismissing it as too early to judge a "1 mph" drop: "I can't grade velocity in a month. I grade it over a two season period." Arrieta is avg 92.1 mph on his fastball this season as opposed to a 94.6 mph avg. in 2015. (ESPN Stats and Info).
Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper homered yet again Friday and continues to look like the 2015 MVP version. As for last year he must have been hurt. A healthy Harper should contend in the triple crown categories again and after Mike Trout, he looks like the next best option. One thing to watch: Harper stole 21 bases last year. We still await his first in 2017. Nobody's complaining and we'll take the 100 batting average points, but it's interesting. Perhaps not stealing keeps him healthy.
The moonshot hit by Nats RF Bryce Harper on Friday night soared a whopping 25 feet higher than his previous highest home run this season. It landed in the first row of the upper deck at Nationals Park.
Red Sox 3, Mariners 0: Make it five wins in a row, the longest streak of the season for Boston. Eduardo Rodriguez tossed six scoreless innings to set the tone, while lights-out closer Craig Kimbrel put an exclamation point on a victory with another spotless ninth inning. Hanley Ramirez and Christian Vázquez had two hits apiece for the Red Sox.
Terrific outing by Nationals RHP Max Scherzer against the Padres, as he allowed only a Ryan Schimpf home run and struck 13. He was one out shy of a complete game before closer Koda Glover retired the final hitter. Scherzer's doing what he did last year, piling on the strikeouts and winning games. Don't worry about the home runs. Scherzer's ERA won't look like Kershaw's. But Kershaw and maybe Sale are the only pitchers more valuable.
Yoenis Cespedes, who has been out since April 28 due to a hamstring strain, began his minor league rehab assignment. es.pn/2s5EI6C
Watch Joe Maddon discuss what he's thinking regarding Kyle Schwarber who is hitting .190. He'll only play against righties for now.
Just like that, Masahiro Tanaka looks like he's fixed whatever was ailing him. Tonight, he threw 38 two-strike pitches, 20 of them splitters outside of the strike zone, and he got 12 swings resulting in five of his 13 total strikeouts on them. Every single one of those numbers represented a season high for him. It's like a totally different version of Tanaka showed up tonight, so hey, get him back in there and hope it lasts.
Major boos rained down at Nats Park when interim skipper Chris Speier yanked ace Max Scherzer with two outs in the ninth. Scherzer (13 K's) was one out away from Washington's first complete game of the season, but loaded the bases by allowing a hit, a walk, and an HBP. Newly minted closer Koda Glover finished the job to preserve the 5-1 win over San Diego.
Mets 2B Neil Walker hit 42 home runs at PNC Park when he was with the Pirates (2009-15). His first two there since being traded to the Mets before last season came on Friday night off the Bucs' Chad Kuhl.
Masahiro Tanaka walks off the mound with 7 1/3 scoreless innings. And it's probably a lock Austin Romine will catch him, moving forward.
Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton knows how to end a home run drought with style. This first-inning shot was his first since May 8, his 12th of the season and his longest of the year.
Last time that Eduardo Rodriguez allowed more than three earned runs: April 8. Candidate for AL All-Star team. espn.com/mlb/player/_/i…
Goodness gracious. Bryce Harper just incinerated the baseball, sending it into the third deck at Nats Park for a two-run jack to give Washington a 5-1 lead over San Diego. Harper's 15 homers are most in the NL.
Billy Hamilton with another run and two steals tonight. On pace for 121 runs, 86 steals. espn.com/mlb/player/_/i…
Joe Maddon indicated he will continue to platoon Kyle Schwarber until he gets going against right handed... espn.com/espn/now?nowId…
