LA Gets Close, Houston Takes Down the Giant
Friday featured some of the playoff contenders going head to head with the top of the card belonging to Houston and Boston. While the Red Sox got out to an early lead it was the Astros who came roaring back to score 3 in the 7th and 8th. Even with their 6th win in a row, the Astros really don’t have much of a chance to catch up to the Red Sox record but it is nice to see them notching another win against the East.
In another head to head battle, one possibly happening in the wildcard round on the playoffs, the Yankees beat Seattle 4–0 and it looks as though the Mariners’ hopes are starting to fade.
In the NL West we actually had a battle at the top of the division. Colorado against the Dodgers and Kershaw showed why he’s one of the best. With 7 strike outs over 6 innings, he didn’t have his best stuff but he held the potent Rockies offense in check so that the Dodgers could throw up enough runs to win. They’re now half a game back and looking to retake 1st on Saturday.
Wile Kershaw pitched well and there weren’t any standouts on the mound Friday, he did not pick up my pining award. Instead that goes to Patrick Corbin who held the Braves to 1 run over 6 innings. And the D-Backs needed the win to try to get back into the race. After gong 4–6 in the past 10 games Arizona stands a game in a half behind the Rockies and 2 being tCadias for the wildcard. It’s a close thing right now but the NL Central is looking to send 2 teams into the wildca with the Dodgers and D-Backs watching from home. I’m hoping to see that situation change in the next couple of weeks with 2 Western teams added to the playoffs but we’ll see.
Offensively, there were a bunch of similar performances but I have to give my player award to Eric Hosmer who hit a home run like the others but also knocked in 3. I would have given the award to Shohei Ohtani who hit another home run and showed that he can still hit even though he needs surgery on his pitching arm, but he only went 1 for 4.
Pitcher of the Day: Patrick Corbin, ARI – 6 INN, 9 K, 1 ER
Player of the Day: Eric Hosmer, SD – 2–4, HR, 3 RBI
Sports – West Coast Baseball – LA Gets Close, Houston Takes Down the Giant