The higher you climb on the all-time home run list, the more impressive the names you see on the way up. Last night in the Boston Red Sox 12-2 thumping of the Baltimore Orioles David Ortiz hit home run number 536 for his career, and is now tied for number seventeen on the all-time home run parade with Mickey Mantle, a name you probably know even if you're not a baseball fan.
Big Papi's latest milestone hit came late in a game that sent former Sox pitcher Wade Miley to the showers early in the second inning with a five run outburst. It was a big night for virtually every Boston bat in the line-up. Chris Young homered, doubled twice, and added a single. Hanley Ramriez ripped his twenty-fourth dinger of the year, and Mookie Betts made the kind of hustling, heads-up, smartest guy on the field base-running play in the first inning that makes baseball purists grin ear to ear. Betts was on second when a single was hit to left and Orioles outfielder Steve Pearce collected the ball while Mookie rounded third and paused. Nine times out of ten that play ends right there, but Mookie saw that Pearce was being a little too casual getting the ball back to his infield. He walked with it, not really watching Mookie, and then lobbed a toss toward the short stop, so Mookie tok off for home and by the time the O's realized what was happening he had slid in safely with the Red Sox' fourth run of the night. Exhibit A why this Red Sox team is so much fun to watch this year.
More good news: David Price has now won seven straight starts, the longest winning streak of his career, and gave up just two runs on solo homers to Chris Davis and Manny Machado, two pretty good hitters. And guess who may be back in the fold soon? Rookie sensation Andrew Benintendi has been running the bases since tweaking his knee a couple of weeks ago and could be available for action later this week. With last night's win the Red Sox maintain their two game lead in the division over the Blue Jays, who beat Tampa Bay. The Orioles with the loss drop three games back, and the Yankees are now five off the pace after losing to the L.A. Dodgers 8-2 in the Bronx.
Rookie pitcher Jose De Leon stifled the Yankees bats in just his second major league start, giving up two runs on three hits in five innings of work. The Yanks didn't help themselves much, committing two errors over two innings that led to four un-earned runs. Aaron Judge dropped a fly ball in the second and rookie star catcher Gary Sanchez proved he was human, throwing wildly to third base in the third which led to another gift run for the Dodgers, who showed more fan passion in the Bronx than they do at home. A large Dodger contingent had invaded the Stadium, lots of Pantone Blue in the stands, and the Dodger faithful even serenaded their own fielders, chanting their names until being recognized with a tip of the cap, a tradition the Yankees fans invented and were none too pleased to see left coasters emulating last night. The Yankees are now two games off the pace for the wild card and fell a game behind Detroit as well in that chase. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have opened up a four game lead over the San Francisco Giants for the lead in the National League west.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mat Latos left the game against the NY Mets with soreness in his hamstring last night, but not before hitting a home run to help his own cause and giving up just three hits and one run over four and a third innings. The Nats' bullpen shut down the Mets the rest of the way in an 8-1 win.
In Monday Night Football the San Francisco 49ers ran roughshod over the Los Angeles Rams 28-0 in Santa Clara last night. Carlos Hyde had 88 yards on the ground and two touchdown for the Niners. So the first game for the Rams since moving back to Los Angeles (again) is a stinker, prompting fans in St. Louis to say "OK, L.A., the Rams are your problem now."
In college mens' soccer, a tight affair between the Norwich Cadets and Green Mountain Eagles turned into romp for Norwich. Leading 1-Nil at half time the Cadets scored five times in the second half for a 6-0 rout. Jacob Zimmerman continued his hot streak, scoring a goal in his fourth consecutive game and adding an assist in the win that improves the Cadets record to 2-2-1 on the season.
In pro soccer the New England Revolution take on FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup Final tonight in Texas. The winner will move on to a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League. It won't be an easy game for either team with temperatures in the Texas heat tonight expected to be around ninety degrees at kick off.
