Just Baseball Highlight Reel: April 27th, 2022
All of the highlights you need to see from Wednesday's MLB action.
Extra inning thrillers, a grand slam, a benches-clearing brawl, and a 1-0 Oakland Athletics win. I’d say Wednesday’s slate had a little bit of something for any type of fan. All 30 teams were in action, so let’s get right to it.
Cardinals 10, Mets 5
The Cardinals end their three-game skid with an impressive win over the Mets. The game started in the Mets favor when Brandon Nimmo doubled scoring two giving the Mets an early 4-1 lead.
Nolan Arenado responded with two-run single, accounting for two or his three RBI on the day.
Dylan Carlson not only had a two-run triple to extend the Cardinals lead to 8-4, he also reminded us why the Cardinals are the best defensive team in baseball with this throw.
As if this game didn’t have enough flare, the Mets, down 10-5 in the eight, throw up and in on the first pitch to Nolan Arenado. Knowing what happened earlier in the series, extra eyes where on this at-bat. Arenado was upset, and rightfully so. Benches cleared, and the Cardinals won.
White Sox 7, Royals 3
The losing streak is finally over after eight games. Dylan Cease was cruising through five scoreless before giving up back-to-back RBI singles to Whitt Merrifield and Andrew Benintendi cutting the lead to 3-2.
In his final inning of work, Cease was able to strike out Hunter Dozier with the bases loaded to end the sixth. The Royals managed to load the bases in the seventh and only managed to get one run across.
Andrew Vaughn, who has really blossomed in his second season, put the White Sox ahead in the bottom of the seventh with a three-run home run, his fourth of the season.
The Royals move to 1-5 on the road this season and 6-10 overall. Even with a disappointing record they find themselves 2.5 games back of the first place Twins. Rubber match will be played Thursday, with the first pitch at 1:10 pm.
Diamondbacks 3, Dodgers 1
A classic pitchers duel between the Dodgers 20- game winner in Julio Urias and Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen led to each teams offense lacking through six. Urias surrendered one hit, a home run to Nick Ahmed, while Gallen stole the show allowing two hits and no runs.
The Dodgers managed to tie it up at one off a single from Trea Turner in the eighth but could not generate any runs after.
The Diamondbacks decided to play small ball with a bunt from Sergio Alcantara, forcing the Dodgers to make a play. The moment must of been to big for the Dodgers as an error led to the go ahead run eventually giving the Diamondbacks the win.
Rays 3, Mariners 2
Drew Rasmussen was absolutely magnificent for the Rays going six scoreless innings allowing two hits and striking out nine. The bullpen surrendered two home runs, both solo, and the Rays walk away with a close victory.
After hitting a walk-off home run earlier in the week, Kevin Kiermaier once again comes up big delivering a two-run home run to put the Rays up 3-0 in the fourth, which proved to be enough for a win.
The Mariners fought back behind home runs from J.P. Crawford and Abraham Toro, close but no cigar. Andrew Kitteridge was able to close it out for his third save on the season.
Brewers 3, Pirates 1
The Pirates elected to go with a bullpen game and nearly pulled it off. Dillion Peters started and continued his early season success with a two inning outing without allowing a hit.
The Pirates were leading 1-0 after six before the Brewers took the lead after a fielders choice led to a run and a Tyrone Taylor single took the lead. Kolton Wong drew a bases loaded walk to push the lead to the final score of 3-1. Riveting.
Twins 5, Tigers 0
We all need to be talking more about Joe Ryan. Seven innings of one-hit ball with nine strikeouts leading the first place Twins to victory. The kid’s looking like an ace in April. Minnesota is the only AL Central team with a winning record over their past ten games at 7-3.
Max Kepler took Tiger starter Michael Pineda deep twice giving the Twins a 2-0 lead. After a slow start, Kepler might be finding his rhythm collecting hits in seven of his last eight games including three home runs.
Detroit continues to struggle collecting only two hits today. Not a batting average guy, but the Tigers have four starters hitting under .200. Yikes.
Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 1
While the Boston offense put up seven runs and 13 hits, the pitching might have been more important facing a lineup like the Blue Jays. Michael Wacha pitched a gem and the bullpen allowed one hit in four innings.
Tied at 1-1 in the sixth, the Red Sox bats started to deliver. Boston scored one at a time and continued to pour it on. Everyone was contributing as seven different Red Sox knocked in a run including ROB REFSNYDER!
Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts put together an impressive performance going 4-for-4. Over his past seven games, Boaerts has collected three or more hits four times.
Yankees 5, Orioles 2
The Yankees jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Giancarlo Stanton set a ball 417 feet into the stands. The Orioles temporarily limited the Yankees offense and tied the game in the sixth when Anthony Santander hit a two-run shot of his own for his first home run since Opening Day.
New York wasted no time as they responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly before Joey Gallo extended the lead in the seventh.
Gallo now has home runs in back-to-back games, giving him two on the year. If the Yankees can get Gallo going and see a tick up in production from Donaldson, this first place team could be scary.
Phillies 7, Rockies 3
Colorado get 12 hits from seven different players and still only manufactured three runs. At least C.J. Cron is still mashing.
An Odubel Herrera home run started the scoring in the first and a Bryce Harper triple (one of three hits tonight) followed by a Nick Castellanos ground out gave the Phillies a 3-2 lead. The Rockies battled back but the Phillies offense came up big when it mattered the most as the Phillies push closer to .500.
The Phillies shortstop situation has not been ideal and rookie Bryson Stott was recently sent down. However, Didi Gregorius, with hits in seven of his last eight, is starting to turn it around. Gregorius finished the night with two hits, including a clutch double, and drove in two runs.
Astros 4, Rangers 3
The Astros take the game in Texas off two big hits from Chas Mormick and Kyle Tucker. McCormick opened the scoring in the first inning with a home run, his first of the season.
Texas got on the board in the second when Mitch Garver went deep for his first home run since Opening Day. The Rangers took their first lead moments later on a Brad Miller single.
Down 2-1 in the fifth, Kyle Tucker came up clutch. With two outs and the bases loaded Tucker drove the looping breaking ball into the gap clearing the bases. Tucker’s slump to start the season has been a huge reason for the Astros slow start as a team.
After going hitless in nine of ten games, Tucker has responded getting hits in four of the last five. Finding his stroke would do wonders for this Astros team.
Cubs 6, Braves 3
The World Series hangover must be real. Atlanta currently sits in 4th place in the NL East with a 8-11 record after losing in extra innings Wednesday night. Not yet time to worry, but Wednesday’s loss hurt.
Seiya Suzuki stays hot as his third inning double gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead.
Although Charlie Morton was chased after 2.1 innings, the bullpen pitched 6.2 scoreless innings until extra innings where a Wilson Contreras double gave the Cubs a lead and Patrick Wisdom added on with a two-run home run. Good night Atlanta.
Marlins 2, Nationals 1
Washington continues to lose, even with Erick Feede starting versus the Marlins. Pablo Lopez put on a show going six strong allowing only three hits and lowering his ERA to 0.39. Officially on Cy Young watch. The bullpen continued the pitching dominance allowing only two hits and one (unearned) run.
In a game without much offense, the Marlins did just enough to win. Jesus Aguilar’s first long ball of the year propelled the Marlins to a 1-0 lead and a Jorge Soler bases loaded walk ended up being the difference maker.
Don’t look now, but the Marlins have won four in a row and go for the series sweep at 1:05 pm.
Padres 8, Reds 5
Cincinnati continues a downward spiral with another ugly game. The Padres chased Vlad Gutierrez after four innings where he allowed six earned runs. Jurickson Profar and Eric Hosmer provided the pop for San Diego while Brandon Drury and Tommy Pham added dingers of their own.
After a rough 2021 in the minors, MacKenzie Gore has found his stuff. Five strong innings allowing one run and striking out ten. Gore’s ERA sits at 1.76, thanks to having two of three starts against the Reds.
Angels 9, Guardians 5
It’s Taylor Ward’s world and we’re all just living in it. Few hitters are hotter than Ward right now and his hitting masterclass continued on Wednesday. Ward had a double, triple, and grand slam in a game where he stole the spotlight from Ohtani and Mike Trout.
Jose Ramirez opened the game with his fifth home run of the season scoring two. The Angels responded with a Mike Trout double and Anthony Rendon single to tie it up. A slew of doubles, singles, and the Ward grand slam put the Angels up 9-2 in the sixth.
Ramirez put on his own hitting display homering for the second time. In the end, the Angels bat were too hot and they sealed the victory.
Athletics 1, Giants 0
Paul Blackburn and the Oakland Athletics went to San Francisco and shutout the Giants. This Oakland team is still a mystery. Blackburn took care of business going five innings, surrendering three hits and four strikeouts. Oakland’s defense had his back, too. The Athletics bullpen finished the game without surrounding a hit and only striking out three.
The lone run came off the bat of Chad Pinder on the seventh pitch of the game where he took Sammy Long deep. The Athletics somehow keep playing better than their roster should be capable of on paper.
Another great day of baseball. Games start at 12:35 pm so carve out some time during your lunch break.
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