The Morning Horsehide Herald — the Twelfth of July, Two Thousand and Twenty-Six

The Game of the Day

CORSAIRS SACK THE BREW CREW IN A DOUBLED BILL, SEVEN TO SIX AND THREE TO TWO, AS VALDEZ THUNDERS THRICE

In Which a Debt Owed to the Rain-Gods Is Repaid With Interest at the Point of One Esmerlyn Valdez's Bludgeon, His Seventh-Inning Grand Slam Toppling the Winningest Arm in All the Senior Circuit

Two evenings past, the heavens had denied Milwaukee and Pittsburgh their appointed meeting at the river's edge, and the Herald recorded the postponement and no score, there being none to record. On this day the debt was called in — a doubled bill — and the host Corsairs paid it back twice over, seizing both halves by seven to six and three to two and sending the loftiest run-differential in all the land home with empty pockets. The instrument of the plunder was a young right fielder little sung in the great ledgers, one Esmerlyn Valdez, who across the twin meetings launched three round-trippers and drove in eight.

The opener was the theft of the season. The Brew Crew, comfortable at six-and-three entering the last of the seventh, handed the ball to Aaron Ashby — the winningest arm in the senior circuit at a round dozen victories — to nail the lid upon the coffin. Instead Valdez, who had already deposited a solo blow over the wall in the third, met a Ashby offering and dispatched it to right field for a grand slam, his ninth of the year, plating Henry Davis and Jake Mangum and Brandon Lowe and turning ruin into a seven-to-six triumph. Ashby departed with the blown save and the loss both hung about his neck, his mark now twelve-and-two; Anthony Mlodzinski (six-and-three) claimed the verdict and Robert Soto the twelfth save.

The nightcap wanted no such heroics, yet the same bludgeon spoke again. Valdez, insatiable, clubbed his tenth home run — a two-run stroke in the fourth that plated Bryan Reynolds — and though Brice Turang's two-run double knotted the affair at a deuce apiece in the fifth, Reynolds himself settled matters in the sixth, singling home Lowe for the decisive tally. Zach Ramírez (six-and-two) earned the win and Jared Montgomery recorded his first save of the campaign. The Cream City nine keep their commanding perch atop the National League Central at nine-and-fifty against six-and-thirty, the best differential in the game entire, yet on this Saturday the Bucs climbed to seven-and-forty against nine-and-forty and departed the field with their black flags flying high.

News Around the League

A Swap Hard by the Lakefront

The clubs were busy at the wire, and the loudest of the day's dealings sent traffic down the Ohio: Chicago's White Sox shipped left-hander Brandon Eisert and first baseman Jacob Gonzalez to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for southpaw Jaden Woods and the ever-mysterious future considerations. Elsewhere the roster wheels turned in their dozens — the Cubs welcomed back reliever Phil Maton from the injured list, the Padres restored right-hander Matt Waldron (who promptly logged three scoreless in relief), and the Dodgers cast left-hander Charlie Barnes upon the waiver waters.

The Infirmary Ledger

The surgeon's tent took on grim custom. The Athletics, sinking fast, placed slugging first baseman Nick Kurtz — second in all the junior circuit with six-and-sixty runs batted in — upon the ten-day list with a sprained thumb, a cruel blow to a club now fallen one-and-nine over its last ten. Pittsburgh, amid its day of triumph, transferred shortstop Konnor Griffin to the sixty-day list with a finger malady, and Atlanta lost outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to elbow inflammation. The Braves' hurt runs deeper than one man, the Tomahawk nine having now dropped two straight to cede ground in a tightening National League East.

The Pennant Races, As They Now Stand

Atop the whole of creation sit the Dodgers, one-and-sixty against five-and-thirty despite this evening's humbling, their run-differential a preposterous plus-one-hundred-fifty-one. The Brewers command the senior circuit's Central by six full games over the Cubs. In the East, Atlanta clings to the summit by a slender two over Philadelphia and three over the surging Miami. In the junior loop, Tampa Bay reigns over the East at six-and-fifty against seven-and-thirty; the Central remains a deadlock, the White Sox and Guardians knotted at the top; and the West is a scrum entire, Texas holding on by a game and a half over Seattle and two over Houston. Mark well the Boston nine, winners now of eight in a row and stealing up like a thief upon the Wild Card.

The Leaders' Ledger

In the American League, Houston's Yordan Alvarez this very night pushed his home-run total to one-and-thirty, tops in his circuit, and holds the runs-batted-in lead besides at three-score-and-ten; Tampa Bay's Díaz keeps the batting crown at a gaudy .320, Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. paces the base-thieves with thirty, Boston's Sonny Gray leads all winners at eleven, New York's Schlittler owns the stingiest earned-run mark at two-and-five-hundredths (2.05), and Toronto's Cease commands the strikeout column with eight-and-forty-and-a-hundred. In the senior circuit, Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber holds the long-ball scepter with two-and-thirty, St. Louis's Jordan Walker the runs-batted-in lead with four-and-seventy, Miami's Otto Lopez the loftiest average at a dazzling .339, Washington's Nuñez the stolen-base lead with three-and-thirty, and Milwaukee's Misiorowski the twin crowns of earned-run average (1.62) and strikeouts (seven-and-sixty-and-a-hundred).

The Rest of the Card

South Siders Blank the A's, One to Nothing, on a Solitary Run

Chicago's White Sox needed but a single tally to turn back the visiting Athletics one to nothing, Chase Meidroth's sixth-inning double plating Colson Montgomery for the whole of the day's scoring. Aaron Fedde (five-and-six) earned the win across four spotless frames of relief and Ben Taylor nailed down his fourth save. The A's, held to four scattered hits, slid to a woeful one-and-nine over their last ten and an eighth straight defeat.

Twins Turn Back the Halos, Five to Three

Minnesota bested Los Angeles's Seraphs five to three, Royce Lewis's two-run home run (his tenth) in the second setting the tone and Victor Caratini and Alan Roden adding late run-scoring knocks. Tommy Nance (two-and-two) claimed the win in his very first act off the injured list, and Jhoan Gómez recorded his eleventh save. Jorge Soler's two-run double had briefly knotted the affair for the Anaheim nine, but the Twin Cities club would not be denied.

Giants Down the Mountain Men, Four to Two

San Francisco's Orange and Black defeated Colorado four to two, Casey Schmitt's three-run home run (his nineteenth) in the sixth the decisive blow. Tyler Mahle (two-and-eight) tamed the visitors over seven strong, and Kyle Freeland (two-and-eight) wore the loss. Kyle Karros supplied a solo shot for the Rockies, who fall ever deeper into the cellar of the National League West.

Bronx Bombers Erupt Late to Fell the Nats, Four to Two

For seven innings New York's Bombers lay silent, trailing on first-inning blasts by Washington's James Wood (his seven-and-twentieth) and Curtis Mead. Then came the deluge: in the eighth the Yankees launched three home runs — a solo from Ryan McMahon, a two-run stroke from Trent Grisham, and another solo from Paul Goldschmidt — to seize a four to two verdict. Jayvien Headrick (five-and-one) earned the win and David Bednar his eighteenth save.

Crimson Hose Whitewash the Metropolitans, Four to Nothing, for an Eighth Straight

Boston, hotter than any nine in the land, blanked the Mets four to nothing to run its winning skein to eight. Andruw Monasterio and Masataka Yoshida each supplied a two-run home run, and a quintet of Red Sox arms — Eduardo Rivera first among them with three-and-two-thirds hitless — combined to hold Flushing to three meager singles. Jesús Morán (two-and-two) took the decision; Freddy Peralta (five-and-eight) suffered the defeat.

Guardians Handle the Fish, Four to One

Cleveland's Lake Erie men downed Miami four to one behind a pair of two-run doubles, the first off the bat of Steven Kwan in the fourth and the second from Patrick Bailey in the eighth. Tanner Bibee (three-and-nine) claimed the win at last after a season of hard luck, and Colin Holderman notched his first save. Liam Hicks's run-scoring single was the whole of the Marlins' answer.

Rays Best the Mariners, Six to One, on a Pinch-Struck Salvo

Tampa Bay's Sunshine nine turned back Seattle six to one, the deciding thunderclap a pinch-hit three-run home run off the bat of Ryan Vilade (his seventh) in the seventh. Ben Williamson enjoyed a perfect afternoon, four hits in four tries. Griffin Jax (five-and-six) earned the verdict; Logan Gilbert (seven-and-six) took the loss as the M's slid to a fifth straight defeat.

Phillies Snap the Bengals' Streak, Four to Two

Philadelphia halted Detroit's six-game winning run with a four to two decision, J.T. Realmuto's two-run double in the fourth furnishing the biggest blow of a three-run rally. Cristopher Sánchez (eleven-and-four) toiled seven fine innings and Jhoan Duran shut the door for his four-and-twentieth save. Eduardo Valencia's solo home run offered the Bengals a flicker of resistance, but their skein ended at half a dozen.

'Stros Rout the Lone Star Nine, Nine to Three, as Alvarez Reaches One-and-Thirty

Houston battered Texas nine to three, the fireworks opening with Yordan Alvarez's first-inning two-run blast — his one-and-thirtieth, extending his hold on the junior-circuit long-ball lead — and cresting with a third-inning grand slam off the bat of LaMonte Wade Jr. (four driven in). Christian Vázquez added a home run besides. Peter Lambert (eight-and-five) cruised to the win. Ezequiel Duran's pair of home runs (three runs batted in) was the lone Ranger consolation.

Birds Batter the Royals, Six to One, on a Four-Homer Barrage

Baltimore pummeled Kansas City six to one with four home runs — a two-run stroke from Pete Alonso (his one-and-twentieth, lifting him to four-and-sixty driven in) plus solo blows by Coby Mayo, Taylor Ward, and Gunnar Henderson. Kyle Bradish (six-and-nine) scattered two hits over six-and-two-thirds for the verdict. Salvador Perez's sacrifice fly spared the Royals, sunk to a fourth straight loss, the shame of a shutout.

Cubs Edge the Redlegs, Five to Three, on Bregman's Blow

Chicago's North Siders overcame an early deficit to best Cincinnati five to three, Alex Bregman's two-run home run in the seventh proving the difference. Carson Kelly added a solo shot of his own. The Redlegs had struck first on fourth-inning blasts by Nathaniel Lowe and Eugenio Suárez and later a JJ Bleday drive, but three would not answer five. Drew Pomeranz (two-and-three) took the win and Michael Thornton his third save.

Redbirds Clip the Tomahawk Nine, Four to One

St. Louis turned back Atlanta four to one, Lars Nootbaar's first-inning three-run home run supplying all the offense the Cardinals would require. Matthew Liberatore (five-and-six) spun six scoreless innings and Riley O'Brien recorded his four-and-twentieth save. Mauricio Dubón's solo blast was the whole of the Braves' reply, as the Atlantas dropped a second straight and watched their division lead grow slender.

Padres Outslug the Jays, Eight to Seven, in a Wild Affair

San Diego's Friars traded haymakers with Toronto before prevailing eight to seven. The Jays had climbed all the way back to a seven-all deadlock on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s three-run home run in the sixth — but no sooner had they knotted it than Ty France answered with a solo shot of his own (his eleventh) in the bottom of the frame to reclaim the lead for good. Manny Machado drove in a pair besides. Robert Rodriguez (two-and-two) took the win in relief and Mason Miller his four-and-twentieth save.

Snakes Sink the Dodgers Again, Nine to Two, Behind McCann's Two Blows

Arizona made it two nights running over the mightiest club in the land, felling Los Angeles nine to two at Chavez Ravine. The unlikely hero was catcher James McCann, who launched a pair of home runs — the first two of his season — and drove in four, with Nolan Arenado adding a solo shot in a five-run eighth that put the game beyond recall. Brandon Pfaadt (three-and-one) earned the verdict; Yoshinobu Yamamoto (nine-and-six) took the loss. Andy Pages and Mookie Betts managed run-scoring singles, but the Boys in Blue had no answer for the Sonoran nine, now winners of three straight.

And so the ledger for the Eleventh of July is set down entire — six-and-ten contests faithfully rendered, chief among them the doubled bill hard by the Ohio, where the rain-debt of two evenings past was repaid to the Brewers with compound interest. We tip our derby to Esmerlyn Valdez of the Corsairs, whose three home runs and eight runs batted in across a single afternoon laid low the finest differential in the land, and we note that Houston's Yordan Alvarez climbed to one-and-thirty round-trippers while the Boston nine ran their streak to a full eight. Until the morrow's dispatch, keep your scorecards near and your enthusiasms nearer.

~ THE HERALD ~