The NY Yankees did themselves and every team in the American League East a favor, topping the division leading Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in the Bronx last night.
Alex Rodriguez led off the second inning with a solo home run, number 696 for his career. Ivan Nova got the win, going six innings while giving up just a solo homer to Jonathan Schoop. Aroldis Chapman picked up his nineteenth save and the Yankees picked up a game in the standings, now seven and a half back of the east-leading O's, and this homestand is huge for the Yankees as they try to get back within striking distance of a playoff spot before the August first trading deadline.
The Boston Red Sox were idle last night, and tonight welcome the team with the best record in all of baseball, the San Francisco Giants, to Fenway Park for a brief two-game series. Rick Porcello gets the start for Boston against Jake Peavy, who pitched for the Red Sox on their last World Series championship team of 2013.
The Chicago Cubs had lost their last eight contests against the NY Mets, but they ended that streak in the Windy City last night with a 5-1 win. Jon Lester went seven and two thirds to get the win, and Anthony Rizzo provided the offense with a three-run blast in the third inning against Steven Matz, who took the loss for New York.
In New York Penn League action, the Connecticut Tigers scored eight runs in the second inning and romped over the Vermont Lake Monsters 13-4 in the Nutmeg State last night. The only highlight for the Monsters was a double in the ninth by Nate Mondou to extend his hitting streak to nine games. The Tigers go for a sweep of the series at Dodd Stadium tonight.
Better news for the Vermont Mountaineers in NECBL play. With a 6-2 win over the Winnipesaukee Muskrats last night, the Mountaineers have now won four straight. Mike Osiniski delivered the go-ahead and eventual winning run, scoring on a single and an error in the sixth inning. Joe Tiejen homered for the Mountaineers, his fourth of the season, and the Mountaineers can even their record at .500 if they can get another win at Recreational Field in Montpelier tonight, hosting the North Adams Steeplecats.
Fans in Cleveland may have trouble adjusting to good fortune. After getting a championship parade for the first time in fifty two years following the Cavaliers NBA championship win this season, the man who led them to that title has informed the team that he will return to the fold. LeBron James had said he would test the free agent waters following the title but has apparently decided that any new contract he signs will keep him in Cleveland. King James says he hasn't put a timetable to signing a deal, but fans in Cleveland perhaps still pinching themselves to see if they dreamed the whole championship thing will no doubt tell James to go ahead and take his time.
There was an off-season hockey trade, as the New York Rangers sent center Derick Brassard to the Ottawa Senators for forward Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers also gets Ottawa's second round draft pick in 2018. Both players are coming off career-best years with Brassars recording 27 goals and 31 assists. Zibanejad had 21 goals and 30 assists for Ottawa so it's a curious swap of players with very similar stats. Zibanejad is pretty good in overtime shoot-outs, scoring on 13 of 28 attempts in his career, so maybe that's what prompted the Rangers to pull the trigger on the deal.
The Tour de France moves into the grueling Alps today, with Britain's Chris Froome still hanging on to the overall lead.
