Shohei Ohtani’s Heroics Lead Angels to 4-2 Win with Two Homers and 10 Strikeouts
Angels’ Shohei Ohtani dominated on Tuesday night in Anaheim, California, hitting two home runs and striking out 10 batters in 6 1/3 innings, helping his team secure a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Ohtani had a remarkable performance, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk in four plate appearances. He held the White Sox scoreless until the seventh inning, but had to exit the game due to a cracked fingernail. Despite that, Ohtani (7-3) only allowed one run on four hits and two walks.
Even after being replaced as a pitcher, Ohtani continued to make an impact as the designated hitter. In the bottom of the seventh, he smashed his second home run of the game, bringing his season total to a major-league-leading 28 long balls.
In the ninth inning, the White Sox managed to score a run and loaded the bases with no outs. However, Carlos Estevez stepped up for the Angels, striking out Seby Zavala and inducing a double play from Elvis Andrus to earn his 20th save. Eloy Jimenez had an impressive game for Chicago, collecting three hits. Michael Kopech (3-7) struggled, giving up two runs and walking seven in four-plus innings.
Rangers Secure 8-3 Victory with Late Offensive Surge
In Arlington, Texas, the Rangers utilized a five-run eighth inning, fueled by home runs from Ezequiel Duran and Adolis Garcia, to pull away from the Detroit Tigers and secure an 8-3 victory.
Rangers Rally in Eighth Inning for 8-3 Victory against Tigers
In a game tied 3-3 going into the eighth inning, the Texas Rangers surged ahead with a solo home run by Ezequiel Duran off Brendan White (1-2). Corey Seager then contributed an RBI double, followed by Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI single. Adolis Garcia capped off the impressive frame with a two-run blast to center field, giving the Rangers an 8-3 lead. Earlier in the eighth, Spencer Torkelson had hit a solo homer for the Detroit Tigers, leveling the score at 3-3.
Cardinals Overcome Astros with 4-2 Comeback Win
The St. Louis Cardinals staged a comeback at home against the Houston Astros, securing a 4-2 victory. Paul DeJong made his mark with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly, contributing to the Cardinals’ rally. Nolan Arenado had a solid performance, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a run, and an RBI. Pitcher Jordan Montgomery (5-7) held the Astros to two runs, one earned, on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. Framber Valdez (7-6) struggled for the Astros, allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings.
Dodgers Blank Rockies 5-0 Behind Kershaw’s Dominant Outing
Clayton Kershaw delivered an impressive performance on the mound, pitching six innings of one-hit ball as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies with a score of 5-0 in Denver. J.D. Martinez had a standout game, hitting two home runs, including the 300th of his career. Rockies starter Connor Seabold (1-4) surrendered four runs on five hits in five innings. In the ninth inning, Colorado loaded the bases but failed to capitalize as Evan Phillips got Elias Diaz to fly out, sealing the victory for the Dodgers.
Nationals Claim 7-4 Victory in 11 Innings against Mariners
In a tightly contested matchup, the Washington Nationals emerged victorious with a 7-4 win over the Seattle Mariners in 11 innings. The decisive moment came when Lane Thomas delivered a clutch two-out, two-run double down the right field line in the top of the 11th inning, breaking the tie and propelling the Nationals to victory. Jordan Weems (1-0) played a crucial role, pitching the final two innings and securing his first major league victory. Weems impressively escaped a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the 10th inning. On the other hand, Seattle’s Trevor Gott (0-3) was charged with the loss.
Keibert Ruiz provided a pivotal moment for the Nationals, hitting a solo home run off Paul Sewald in the eighth inning to even the score at 4-4. Teoscar Hernandez contributed a home run for the Mariners, who suffered their third loss in the last four games. With this win, Washington has now secured three victories in their last four games.
Braves Power Past Twins with 6-2 Win
In a game that saw fans receiving No. 13 faux gold chains in honor of Ronald Acuna Jr., the Atlanta Braves flexed their offensive prowess, hitting five home runs en route to a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Acuna himself had a remarkable performance, belting two home runs, joined by Austin Riley, Sean Murphy, and Michael Harris II, who also contributed to Atlanta’s power display. The Braves’ victory extends their winning streak to four games and solidifies their dominant form, as they have now won 12 of their past 13 games. With a total of 146 home runs this season, the Braves currently lead the major leagues in that category. Notably, their impressive tally of 54 homers in June falls just short of the franchise record of 56 set in June 2019. The Twins managed to score in the first inning, courtesy of a Carlos Correa run resulting from a fielding error committed by Braves’ shortstop Orlando Arcia. In fact, the Braves had a challenging defensive outing, committing a total of four errors during the game.
Giants Continue Road Dominance with 3-0 Victory over Blue Jays
Thairo Estrada’s two-run double and Alex Wood’s stellar relief performance propelled the San Francisco Giants to a 3-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, extending their road winning streak to an impressive 10 games. Patrick Bailey’s go-ahead double in the fifth inning proved crucial for the Giants, who secured their 13th win in 15 games. Former Giant Kevin Gausman (7-4) had a strong outing for the Blue Jays but ended up with a tough-luck loss after surrendering just one run, three hits, and one walk while striking out 12 batters. The Giants’ Ryan Walker started the game as the opener and pitched a scoreless inning before being relieved by the effective left-hander Wood (3-2), who allowed five hits, struck out seven, and didn’t issue any walks.
Pirates Capture 9-4 Victory against Padres
The Pittsburgh Pirates celebrated a 9-4 victory over the visiting San Diego Padres, securing only their second win in the past two weeks. Carlos Santana, Jack Suwinski, and Nick Gonzales powered the Pirates’ offense with home runs. Gonzales also added an RBI triple to his impressive performance. Additionally, Andrew McCutchen, Henry Davis, and Rodolfo Castro contributed with run-scoring hits for the Pirates, who had previously suffered 12 losses in their last 13 games. Pitcher Rich Hill (7-7) delivered a solid six-inning performance, allowing four runs and nine hits to earn the win for the Pirates. San Diego’s Reiss Knehr (0-1) struggled, giving up five runs and six hits in just two innings. Knehr stepped in for the scheduled starter Yu Darvish, who was unable to play due to illness. The Padres have now lost eight of their past 12 games.
Marlins Dominate Red Sox with 10-1 Victory
The Miami Marlins unleashed an offensive onslaught, matching their season-high with 19 hits in a commanding 10-1 win over the Boston Red Sox. Sandy Alcantara showcased his pitching prowess, tossing seven innings of one-run ball to lead the Marlins to their third consecutive victory. Bryan De La Cruz and Jazz Chisholm Jr. were instrumental in the Marlins’ offensive outburst, combining for five hits, five RBIs, and three runs. Luis Arraez continued his impressive form, going 2-for-5 and maintaining his batting average at an impressive .399. Alcantara (3-6) recorded five strikeouts while allowing six hits and two walks. On the other side, Red Sox starter Garrett Whitlock (4-3) had a tough outing, surrendering six runs on 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings.
