In his major league debut, Reds starter Riley O’Brien records his first ER (first HR given up), first BB, and first K—all in the first inning! He goes HR, BB, K, BB, in the 2nd, before manager David Bell sends him to the dugout. DEFENSE: Reynaldo López puts up a quality start, giving up just 1 R/ER on 2 H (0 BB, 4 SO) in 6.0 IP. José Ruiz goes 1B, GO, 1B, in the 7th, but gets out of the inning with a 6-4-3 DP. Aaron Bummer goes HBP, E5, FC, 4-6-3 DP, in the 8th. Matt Foster retires 3 in order, to end it. OFFENSE: Hard-hit home runs galore! Luis Robert solo HR (11), in the 1st. Yoán Moncada solo HR (13), in the 2nd. Gavin Sheets solo HR (10), in the 4th. Gavin Sheets 1B scores Eloy Jiménez (singled, advanced to 2B on Yoán Moncada BB, advanced to 3B on Leury García sac bunt) and César Hernández FC scores Yoán Moncada (walked, advanced to 2B on Leury García SB, advanced to 3B on Gavin Sheets 1B), in the 6th. Luis Robert 2-run HR (11) scores César Hernández (doubled, stole 3B on WP), in the 8th. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Cardinals to NL Wild Card Game
MLB Advanced Media, LP
With tonight’s 6-2 win over the Brewers—their 17th consecutive win—the red-hot Cardinals clinch the second spot in the National League Wild Card Game, on October 6.
➤ With the Astros 10-4 win today over the Athletics, they will host the White Sox in Game 1 of the ALDS, on October 7. If the Sox win and the Astros lose tomorrow, both teams will have the same season record, but the Astros won the season series 5-2, which would give them home-field advantage.
DEFENSE: Lucas Giolito labors, but ends up with a respectable 1 R/ER on 2 H (1 BB, 3 SO) in 5.0 IP. Ryan Burr allows a H and issues a BB with no outs, but gets out of it with a K and a Tim Anderson unassisted DP, in the 6th. Dallas Keuchel’s new role as a reliever is off to a poor start. He goes LO, 1B, K RBI 1B, RBI 2B, BB, RBI 1B, in the 7th, before Matt Foster steps in to make the final out (LO), making it 4-0 Tigers. Aaron Bummer pitches a clean 1-2-3 8th. Liam Hendricks does his usual bang-up job, retiring 2 in a row (2 SO), for the save. OFFENSE: Tigers starter Matt Manning struck out 7 White Sox, allowing just 2 H and no R (1 BB) in 5.0 IP. But their bullpen fell to the White Sox. Down 4-1 in mid 7th, the Sox bats came to life: Yoán Moncada RBI 2B scores Yasmani Grandal (doubled). Gavin Sheets RBI 1B scores Moncada. Tim Anderson RBI 1B brings in Sheets (advanced to 2B on Leury Garcia 1B). In the 8th, Yoán Mocada seals the deal with a 2-run HR that brings home Billy Hamilton (PR for Eloy Jiménez, who walked). Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
October 3—With today’s 11-4 win against the Padres, the Giants clinch the National League West title. With the best record in the NL (107-55), they will take on the winner of the Wild Card Game (October 6) in the NLDS.
Yankees to AL Wild Card Game
MLB Advanced Media, LP
October 3—With today’s 1-0 walk-off against the Rays, the Yankees clinch a spot in the American League Wild Card Game, on October 5. They will face the Red Sox in Boston, due to Boston’s 10-9 edge in the regular season series.
Red Sox to AL Wild Card Game
MLB Advanced Media, LP
October 3—With today’s 7-5 victory over the Nationals, the Red Sox clinch a spot in the American League Wild Card Game, on October 5. They will face the Yankees at home, due to their narrow 10-9 win of the regular season series.
Dylan Cease shines *again* in a beautiful, 6-inning shutout—11 SO, 3 BB, 1 H—and an astonishing 3 hits in his first 3 career at-bats, inspiring the new-coined moniker, “Cease Fire!” Career ERA: 4.51. Career batting average: 1.000. José Abreu lead-off, solo HR in the 2nd, sac fly in the 4th, 1B with 1 RBI in the 8th. Tim Anderson 1B with 2 RBIs in the 2nd, 1B with 1 RBI in the 4th. Andrew Vaughn sac fly in the 3rd. Yoán Moncada 1B with 1 RBI in the 4th. Nick Madrigal 1B with 1 RBI in the 5th.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Keuchel
Gray
1-1, 4.65, 16 | 0-2, 5.93, 23
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 11:35 am CDT Great American Ball Park Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs. Reds / Sonny Gray, RHP
Friday, May 7, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Kauffman Stadium Carlos Rodón, LHP vs. Royals / Brad Keller, RHP
W, 3-0, 17-13 (.567), W1 | WP: Carlos Rodón (5-0, 0.58) | S: Liam Hendriks (6) | Game 30
Carlos Rodón shuts out the Royals through 6.0 IP (8 SO, 0 BB, 5 H, 0 R). Liam Hendriks faces 6 batters in the 9th—2 SO, 2 H, 1 catcher’s interference, 1 FO—for the save. Zack Collins solo HR. Adam Eaton 1B with 1 RBI. José Abreu 2B with 1 RBI.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Lynn
Lynch
2-0, 1.82, 29 | 0-0
Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 6:10 pm CDT Kauffman Stadium Lance Lynn, RHP vs. Royals / Daniel Lynch, LHP
Lance Lynn wins on 6 SO, 4 BB, 1 H, 0 R in 5.0 IP. Michael Kopech gives up the only run—an RBI GO to Whit Merrifield (1 SO, 0 BB, 3 H, 1 ER in 2.0 IP). White Sox take an early lead, scoring 8 R on 9 H in the 1st.Yoán Moncada 2B with 2 RBIs, 1B with 1 RBI. Yasmani Grandal sac fly. Andrew Vaughn 2B with 1 RBI. Leury García 3B with 1 RBI. Danny Mendick 2-run HR—his first of the season. Yermín Mercedes bats in José Abreu on a 1B to score the last run, in the 9th.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Giolito
Minor
0-0 | 0-0
Sunday, May 9, 2021 at 1:10 pm CDT Kauffman Stadium Lucas Giolito, RHP vs. Royals / Mike Minor, LHP
W, 9-3, 19-13 (.594), W3 | WP: Lucas Giolito (2-3, 4.54) | Game 32
Lucas Giolito wins with 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 2 SO on 5.0 IP. Aaron Bummer retires 5 of 5 (3 SO) in 1⅔ IP. Yermín Mercedes 2B with 2 RBI, 3B with 1 RBI. José Abreu 2B with 1 RBI, 1B with 2 RBI. Leury García 1B with 1 RBI and a sac fly. Danny Mendick 1B with 1 RBI. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
