Mookie Betts Cranked 3 Homers Against The Yankees

The Sporting News reports:

It's one of the oldest clichés in baseball lore - a superstar meets an ailing young fan before a game, and the fan implores his hero to hit a home run.

That scenario unfolded at Fenway Park on Friday night, albeit with a unique twist, as Boston Red Sox slugger Mookie Betts met 10-year-old Nico Sapienza through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Mookie hit not just hit 1 homer, he cranked 3 homers in the game, making it a really special night for the youngster. 

A three-homer night might be enough to finally silence talk concerning whether Betts will come back around. He has found that swing again, as Betts' three shots off of New York Yankees left-hander James Paxton showed Friday, finishing the evening 4-for-5 with four runs, a double, 5 RBIs and a career-high 14 total bases in a 10-5 victory. It's only the eighth time a Red Sox hitter has recorded 14 total bases or more in a game. Betts extended the longest on-base streak in the American League to 23 games, during which he's hitting .383/.464/.670 with five homers and 10 doubles, raising his overall line to .289/.399/.507. On the season, Betts has struggled against lefties, hitting .236/.352/.330 after hitting .368/.471/.736 against southpaws last season, so breaking out in a Paxton start was a nice additional development.

Nelson Cruz Hits 3 Homers Against The White Sox

Star Tribune reports:

Nelson Cruz blasted a home run to right-center field in the fifth inning Thursday night that traveled 430 feet. That’s quite a poke, but it wasn’t as far as his other ones.

Yes, other ones. Plural.

Cruz also cannoned a 473-foot shot in the first inning and a 433-foot rainmaker in the third, making it the 11th time in Twins history a player has hit three homers in a game and the seventh since 2016. All three home runs came off All-Star righthander Lucas Giolito as the Twins rolled to a 10-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Nelson Cruz blasted a home run to right-center field in the fifth inning Thursday night that traveled 430 feet. That’s quite a poke, but it wasn’t as far as his other ones.

Yes, other ones. Plural.

Cruz also cannoned a 473-foot shot in the first inning and a 433-foot rainmaker in the third, making it the 11th time in Twins history a player has hit three homers in a game and the seventh since 2016. All three home runs came off All-Star righthander Lucas Giolito as the Twins rolled to a 10-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Cruz’s 385 home runs rank fourth among active major leaguers. And he has hit the most home runs over the past five seasons. He’s hit six home runs over his past four games — enabling him to pass Barry Bonds as the oldest player with that many homers in a four-game stretch.

The 39-year-old remains a force, hitting three homers in a game for the first time in his 15-year career.

“I think it is a lot of work and make sure I do my weights,” Cruz said. “Make sure I sleep well, rest. Do my tea, stuff like that. I think for anybody if you can have experience in your job, you can do a lot of things when your body feels good and the experience helps.”

The Twins maintained their two-game lead in the American League Central as Cleveland defeated Kansas City 5-4 in 14 innings.

Troy Tulowitzki Announces His Retirement From MLB

USA Today reports:

Wearing a pinstriped New York Yankees jersey, Troy Tulowitzki savored every step of his spring training home run trot five months ago, his first at-bat in a big-league uniform since July 2017.

It was a personal triumph over a string of devastating injuries and a jab at anyone who doubted his comeback attempt.

Tulowitzki made it to the Bronx and homered again in a regular season Yankees game, but the injuries and the setbacks piled up quickly and the five-time All-Star shortstop eventually went home to Nevada.

“I knew it was probably going that way,’’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Thursday, after Tulowitzki announced his retirement from baseball at age 34. “Even though injuries cut him short a bit, it was a great career.’’

As a kid, Tulowitzki idolized Derek Jeter and wore his No. 2 professionally.

He’d finally made it to the Yankees this winter, but the plan to be a placeholder for Didi Gregorius (recovering from Tommy John surgery) began to unravel when Tulowitzki landed back on the injured list with a strained left calf.

In his farewell announcement released through the Yankees, Tulowitzki thanked the organization and general manager Brian Cashman for the opportunity to “live out another childhood dream.

“I wish that my health had allowed for a different ending to that chapter.’’

A 'little extra fire'

A multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award winner, Tulowitzki batted .304 with a .912 OPS during his seven-year prime with the Colorado Rockies, though he averaged 115 games per year due to various injuries.

Paul DeJong Cranks 3 Homers In A Game Against The Pirates

UPI Sports reports:

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong hit three home runs in a 14-8 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday night.

The Cardinals slugger went deep in the second, fourth and eighth innings during the victory at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. DeJong is now hitting .258 with 18 home runs and 49 RBIs this season. He went 4-for-4 with five RBIs and four runs scored in the win. 

"I don't know how to describe that besides a rock star appearance by our position players," Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright told reporters.

Pittsburgh jumped in front of St. Louis on an RBI single by Starling Marte in the bottom of the first frame. Colin Moran drove in the Pirates' second run with a sacrifice fly in the same inning. The Cardinals responded with nine runs in the top of the second inning.

Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt reached base on a fielding error in the first at-bat of the frame. DeJong then walked to the plate to face Pirates starter Jordan Lyles. The Cardinals infielder ripped a 2-1 slider to left center field for a 409-foot homer. The two-run shot had an exit velocity of 99 mph and left the field in 5.3 seconds, according to Statcast.

Yairo Martinez gave the Cardinals a 3-2 lead with an RBI double in the same inning. Andrew Knizner then hit his first homer of the season for a 5-2 advantage. Dexter Fowler brought home St. Louis' sixth run with an RBI double and Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer to give the Cardinals an 8-2 lead.

Stephen Strasburg Hit A 3-Run Homer To Beat The Braves

UPI.com reports:

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg recorded two hits in the same inning -- including a three-run homer -- during a rout of the Atlanta Braves Thursday.

The bomb came in the third inning of the 13-4 victory at SunTrust Park in Atlanta. Washington put up eight runs in the third frame, after trailing 1-0 to begin the inning. 

Check out the video HERE.

"That's just how crazy this game is," Strasburg told reporters. "Obviously my focus is going out there and trying to keep the other team at bay, but sometimes you just run into the ball.

"I've always been told that a swinging bat's a dangerous one. So I was just able to connect on one."

Pitcher Homer Bailey Traded To The Athletics

MLB.com reports:

Mid-July is often the point in the season when players are looking for a signal from the front office that will indicate what direction the club is going in with the impending July 31 Trade Deadline. The A’s sent a clear message about where they stand on Sunday.

Kicking off the second half with back-to-back wins to move into the lead for the second American League Wild Card spot, the A’s filled a need in the starting rotation with the addition of right-hander Homer Bailey in a deal with the Royals. Bailey is expected to make his debut on Wednesday against the Mariners at the Coliseum.

• 5 things to know about the A's-Royals Bailey deal

“The players feel these things. They want to feel like the front office is going out to make us better, and typically they do that,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “It doesn’t mean we’re done, but it’s nice to get someone in the rotation we feel makes us better.”

According to NBC sports:

The 33-year-old Bailey inked a minors deal with the Royals in advance of spring training. Since then, he’s put up a 7-6 record in 18 starts with a 4.80 ERA, 3.8 BB/9, and 8.1 SO/9 through 90 innings. While he isn’t the 3.00-ERA, 3.0+ fWAR, no-hitter hurler he was for the Reds in years past, he may yet improve his performance with the A’s as they vie for a wild card spot this summer. He was originally slated to start Sunday’s game against the Tigers, but was replaced by southpaw Brian Flynn prior to news of the trade.

Merrell, 23, was selected by the A’s in the first round of the 2017 amateur draft. The shortstop/second baseman made the jump to Double-A Midland in 2019 and slashed .246/.292/.339 with 19 extra bases, 13 stolen bases (in 17 chances), and a .631 OPS through 318 plate appearances. Per MLB Pipeline, he ranked 17th-best among the club’s prospects in 2019.

Mike Trout Exits Game Early Due To Right Calf Injury

MLB.com reports:

Angels superstar Mike Trout left Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Mariners in the top of the third with right calf tightness, but he said after the game that he’s confident that it’s just a minor injury. He’ll undergo an MRI exam as a precaution Monday and is considered day to day.

Trout said he felt tightness in his calf while tracking down balls hit to the outfield by Domingo Santana and Tim Beckham in the first inning. He told the trainers and manager Brad Ausmus about his calf, then he was removed after having gone 0-for-1 with a soft lineout in the first. Kole Calhoun replaced him in center field in the top of the third.

"It was kind of after those balls in center in the first inning," Trout said. "Felt a little something. Kind of went away. It was just smart to come out."

Trout added that he didn’t feel anything in his calf prior to the game and he doesn’t believe this will be a lingering issue. He said he could feel it while running, but not while hitting.

“I don't think it's that serious,” Trout said. “I think they're just being cautious. Calves are tough. You want it to be one or two days and not six weeks."

Ausmus is also hopeful that it’s not a serious injury, but he said he’ll wait to speculate on how long he’ll be out until Trout gets back the results from his MRI exam.

“We don't think it's a long-term thing, but we'll know more tomorrow,” Ausmus said. “He was lobbying to stay in the game."

Pete Alonso Wins Epic Battle To Be Crowned MLB Home Run Derby Champion

It was a battle for the ages. One that all fans of baseball's longball will not soon forget.

MLB.com reports:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s prodigious power kept Progressive Field buzzing during Monday night’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby. Yet when all was said and done, it was Pete Alonso raising the trophy.

Alonso outslugged Guerrero in a memorable final round, hitting 23 home runs to edge his fellow rookie by one homer. Alonso became the second rookie ever to win the event, joining Aaron Judge of the Yankees, who won in 2017.

Alonso’s total of 57 homers was the third most ever hit in a Derby, and although that was 34 fewer than Guerrero, he beat him when it counted.

“It's survive and advance,” Alonso said. “You've got to go in with kind of a killer instinct. It doesn't matter how many you hit; you just need to have one more than the guy you're facing.”

“I got tired, but that’s not why I lost,” Guerrero said. “There are no excuses. He hit more home runs than me and he won.”

Alonso became the first Mets player to win the Home Run Derby outright; Darryl Strawberry shared the title with Wally Joyner in 1986.

• Here's what happened in every HR Derby round

Alonso took home $1 million for winning the Derby, and he had pledged that he would donate 5% of his winnings to the Wounded Warrior Project and another 5% to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation if he emerged victorious.

“I respect anyone who puts their life on the line every single day, going to work knowing that they may have to make the ultimate sacrifices,” Alonso said. “There are people that are making sacrifices every single day abroad keeping us free and then there are people at home keeping us safe.”

Cody Bellinger Hits 30th Homer Before All Star Break, Breaks Dodgers Record

MLB.com reports:

On Wednesday night, he passed Duke Snider and Gil Hodges for most Dodgers home runs before the All-Star break. On Thursday night, he closed the gap on Reggie Jackson (37), Mark McGwire (33) and Willie Mays (31) for most pre-break homers under the age of 24.

This is the kind of company Cody Bellinger is keeping in what has the makings of the greatest offensive season in Dodgers history, the All-Star outfielder tacking on home run No. 30 in a 5-1 win over the Padres on the Fourth of July at Dodger Stadium. Wonder what he’ll do on Friday.

• Box score

“I apologize for the lack of drama at the end,” joked manager Dave Roberts, whose team had won its previous five home games in walk-offs.

No need for theatrics this time, as Bellinger and Max Muncy homered and Hyun-Jin Ryu (10-3) pitched six scoreless innings in a final tune-up for his All-Star Game start.

If the magnitude of what he’s doing at the plate is having any impact on Bellinger, it didn't show when he talked about it after another night of heroism in support of Ryu.

“Just trying to keep going,” said Bellinger. “Just try to stay in the present the best I can. Not get too big-headed or too down on myself. I don’t try to listen to all those numbers.”

Then, cover your ears. Bellinger, who homered twice on Wednesday night, crushed a hanging breaking ball as a greeting to lefty reliever Logan Allen. Allen had replaced starter Dinelson Lamet, who was making his first MLB start since Tommy John surgery 15 months earlier.

Eleven of Bellinger’s 30 homers have come off left-handers, the most dramatic improvement in his game from last year, when only six of his 25 home runs were off lefties.