MLB
Blue Jays 5, Astros 4
This game was rambling towards an obvious outcome. Entering the sixth inning, the Astros led 3-0 on the back of a no-hitter by Hunter Brown. Alas, Toronto roared to a three-run frame, thanks in part to a Jesus Sanchez home run.
On a day in which both the Rangers and Mariners won, it was a painful defeat for Houston. The Astros still hold a 1.5 game lead in the paltry AL West, but the division is up for grabs with about seven and a half weeks remaining in the regular season. The longer the race lasts, the more I like Seattle’s chances to capture the title.
The Blue Jays, coming off a World Series appearance, are nowhere to be found in the AL East race. I was a bit bewildered by the club’s moves at the trade deadline, particularly the return for Kevin Gausman from the Cubs and the package sent out for Jose Soriano to the Angels. Clearly, Toronto is aiming to contend in 2027 — should there be a season. That, I can’t fault the Jays for.
Cubs 7, Dodgers 6
What. A. Game. The Cubs building a large lead and the Dodgers mounting a strong comeback was exciting in and of itself, but the story was the performances by Pete Crow-Armstrong and Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani started the show with a leadoff homer, finishing 3-for-5 with two longballs and three RBIs. Those exploits could’ve only been exceeded by Crow-Armstrong. Serving as a designated hitter for the first time this season, the Cubs MVP candidate went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs. Suffice to say, it was a magnificent showing by both stars.
The NL MVP race should be one for the ages down the stretch. As of this morning, Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani are basically neck and neck in odds to win the award. If the Dodgers slugger doesn’t return to the mound this year, the honor is probably Crow-Armstrong’s to lose, provided he doesn’t enter a slump. Regardless, we’re in for a show from two of the game’s best.
Rangers 6, Giants 0
The Giants are in a sad state. It’s been a lost year for San Francisco in Tony Vitello’s and that was all but confirmed at the trade deadline. The 48-67 Giants made a flurry of moves, sending out six big-league players.
San Francisco was lost, so I can’t fault the club for moving on from a stable of veterans. The returns will tell the tale of the future, but the present is likely to be ugly.
In this game, the Giants had Buddy Kennedy, Grant McCray, Eddys Leonard and Drew Cavanaugh in the lineup. Honestly, I’m not privy to any of those players or their profiles, but they’re probably not MLB-caliber talents at this juncture. It’s not a bad idea for the Giants to get a look at their younger players the rest of the way, however.
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