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

The Game of the Day

RANGERS STEAL IT AT THE DEATH, SIX TO FIVE, AS NIMMO'S NINTH-INNING STROKE UNHORSES THE DREAD HADER

In Which the Arlington Men, Left for Dead After Surrendering the Lead in the Eighth, Summon a Final Rally to Fell the Peerless Josh Hader — the Stingiest Reliever in All the Land — and Keep Their Grip Upon the Western Throne

There is no crueler office in all of baseball than to be the closer who does not close, and on this Sunday that grim mantle fell upon the dread Josh Hader — a man who had entered the season's proceedings with an earned-run mark of but one-and-seventeen-hundredths, near enough to spotless as the trade allows. Summoned to the ninth with the score knotted at five apiece, he retired not a soul; instead the host Rangers loosed a rally, and Brandon Nimmo — already the author of a triple and three hits on the day — laced a single up the middle that caromed off Hader's own glove and skittered away, plating Wyatt Langford with the deciding run for a six to five Texas triumph.

It had been a see-saw affair worthy of the telegraph's fullest attention. The Arlington men struck first and hardest, staking themselves to a three-run second on Joc Pederson's two-run double and a Nicky Lopez single, and stretched the lead to four-to-one by the fifth on Nimmo's booming triple. But the Texans — pardon, the visitors from Houston — are not so easily buried. A three-run seventh, capped by Isaac Paredes's two-run single, drew the Colt .45s level at four, and in the eighth Cam Smith's twelfth home run of the campaign put the lead in Houston hands. There it might have stayed, but for Kyle Higashioka, whose seventh round-tripper — a line drive that would not stay in the yard — retied the count at five in the home half and set the stage for the ninth-inning larceny.

Robert Latz (two-and-one) inherited the verdict for his single scoreless frame, while Hader (three-and-one) wore the loss like a borrowed coat that did not fit. The Rangers, at nine-and-forty against seven-and-forty, cling to their perch atop the American League West by a game and a half over Seattle; the Astros, fallen to seven-and-forty against one-and-fifty, slip three lengths back and must count the cost of a lead let slip through the fingers — quite literally — of the finest arm in their bullpen.

News Around the League

Dealings at the Wire

The clubs were busy at the telegraph key. Houston, ever tinkering, shipped shortstop Braden Shewmake northward to Milwaukee — where he promptly found himself in the thick of a fourteen-to-five drubbing at Pittsburgh's hands, on the very day of his arrival. The Athletics, meanwhile, claimed third baseman Donovan Walton off the waiver waters from the Los Angeles Angels. And in a sterner note, right-hander Miles Mikolas was handed a suspension by the powers that govern the game.

The Infirmary Ledger

The surgeon's tent did brisk custom. Arizona placed right-hander Zac Gallen upon the fifteen-day list with an inflamed elbow, dated back to the ninth; Texas lost right-hander Chris Martin to a shoulder impingement; Cincinnati set down left-hander Nick Lodolo with a blistered finger; and Miami shelved right-hander William Kempner with a sprained elbow. Grimmest of all, Milwaukee transferred the long-suffering Brandon Woodruff to the sixty-day list, his shoulder still uncooperative, while Detroit granted left-hander Framber Valdez the bereavement leave. Happier tidings for Washington, which activated right-hander Cade Cavalli — who repaid the faith with six innings of two-run work — and for San Francisco, restoring right-hander Jason Foley from the sixty-day exile.

The Pennant Races, As They Now Stand

The mighty roll on. Los Angeles's Dodgers, though beaten a third straight evening, still sit atop all creation at one-and-sixty against six-and-thirty, their run-differential a staggering plus-one-hundred-forty-nine; Milwaukee, likewise stumbling of late, holds the senior circuit's Central by five over the Cubs on the strength of a plus-one-hundred-twenty-six. Atlanta commands the National League East by two over Philadelphia and four over Miami. In the junior loop, Tampa Bay leads the East by three over the surging Yankees; the West belongs, for now, to Texas by a game and a half; and the Central is a genuine deadlock, the White Sox and Guardians knotted at fifty-and-odd, neither able to gain a step. Mark well, too, the Boston nine — who by beating the Mets in ten frames ran their winning skein to a full nine and now scratch at the very door of the Wild Card.

The Leaders' Ledger

In the American League, Houston's Yordan Alvarez holds a firm double crown, pacing the circuit in home runs at one-and-thirty and runs batted in at three-score-and-ten; Tampa Bay's Yandy Díaz keeps the batting scepter at .322, Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. leads the base-thieves with thirty, Boston's Sonny Gray tops all winners at eleven, New York's Schlittler owns the stingiest earned-run mark at two-and-five-hundredths, Toronto's Cease commands the strikeout column with eight-and-forty-and-a-hundred, and Cleveland's Smith leads the firemen with eight-and-twenty saves. In the senior circuit, Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber wears the long-ball crown with two-and-thirty, St. Louis's Jordan Walker leads in runs batted in at four-and-seventy, Miami's Otto Lopez holds the loftiest average at a dazzling .334, Washington's Nuñez the stolen-base lead with four-and-thirty, Milwaukee's Ashby the winner's lead at a round dozen, and his teammate Misiorowski the twin crowns of earned-run average (1.62) and strikeouts (seven-and-sixty-and-a-hundred).

The Rest of the Card

Buccaneers Sack the Suds Men, Fourteen to Five, on a Ten-Run Fourth

Pittsburgh loosed one of the great cannonades of the season upon Milwaukee, burying the Brewers fourteen to five by way of a ten-run fourth inning that beggared belief. Henry Davis drove in three and Ryan O'Hearn two, while Marcell Ozuna and Davis each cleared the wall; every man in the Corsair order seemed to find a hole. Paul Skenes (eight-and-eight) went five-and-a-third for the verdict. Brice Turang's fourteenth home run offered the Suds men a flicker of dignity, but on this afternoon the Smoky City nine wanted for nothing.

Orioles Down the Royal Blues, Eight to Two

Baltimore turned back Kansas City eight to two, the decisive stroke a five-run sixth that broke a two-all deadlock. Leody Taveras drove in three and Samuel Basallo launched his sixteenth home run; Taveras added a solo blow of his own besides. Adrian Wolfram (two-and-two) claimed the win in relief. Lane Thomas's run-scoring single accounted for half of the Missourians' meager reply, as the Royal blues slid to a fifth straight defeat.

Americans Rally Late to Nip the Senators, Five to Three

New York's Yankees overturned a late Washington lead to prevail five to three and run their winning streak to four. The blow of blows was Ben Rice's two-run triple in the eighth, which plated Trent Grisham and Max Schuemann and put the Bombers ahead for good; a José Caballero sacrifice fly added insurance. James Wood (his eight-and-twentieth) and Curtis Mead had homered for the Capital nine, but Tim Yarbrough (two-and-nought) took the win and George Blackburn nailed his first save.

Hub Nine Take Their Ninth Straight, Three to Two, in Ten Innings

Boston would not be denied its ninth consecutive triumph, wringing a three to two decision from the Mets across ten hard innings at Flushing. Trailing two-to-nought entering the ninth, the Fenway men knotted it on an Andruw Monasterio walk and a Jarren Duran single, then won it in the tenth on Anthony Seigler's sacrifice fly, scoring Masataka Yoshida. Francisco Lindor's fifth home run had staked the Amazins to their lead. Aroldis Chapman (one-and-three) earned the verdict and Garrett Whitlock his second save.

Cubbies Handle the Queen City Nine, Eight to Four, on Bregman's Big Day

Chicago's North-Side club bested Cincinnati eight to four behind Alex Bregman, who drove in four and capped a four-run seventh with his ninth home run. Michael Busch chipped in a pair of doubles. The Reds had briefly seized the lead on Eugenio Suárez's two-run blast (his eleventh) in a four-run third, but four would not answer eight. Chris Boyd (five-and-one) took the win and Daniel Webb his fifth save as the Bruins kept pace in the Central.

Guardians Turn Back the Gulf Stream Nine, Five to Two

Cleveland downed Miami five to two, the long ball leading the way: Brayan Rocchio (his eighth) and Chase DeLauter (his eleventh) each cleared the fence, and Rocchio drove in a pair. Joey Cantillo (eight-and-four) was masterful, whiffing nine across five frames. Griffin Conine's fifth home run was the whole of the Marlins' answer of note, as the Forest City nine held firm in the deadlocked Central.

Wheeler Whitewashes the Motor City Nine, Five to Nothing

Zack Wheeler was simply untouchable, holding Detroit to two hits over six innings and fanning ten as Philadelphia posted a five to nothing shutout. The victory lifted his gaudy mark to ten-and-one. J.T. Realmuto drove in three, three of them coming on a fourth-inning double that broke the game open. Tarik Skubal (five-and-five) wore the loss for the Tigers, undone by a four-run sixth. The Phils drew within two of Atlanta atop the East.

Puget Sound Men Sink the Rays, Eight to Two

Seattle handled Tampa Bay eight to two, chasing the Gulf Coast club early with a three-run second and a four-run fourth. J.P. Crawford drove in three by way of a pair of doubles, and Randy Arozarena's eleventh home run — a three-run drive — put the affair beyond doubt. Weston Wilson homered besides. Jonathan Aranda's fourteenth, a two-run shot, was the whole of the Tampa reply. Adam Ferrer (two-and-one) took the win in relief.

Pale Hose Rout the White Elephants, Nine to One, on a Six-Run First

Chicago's South-Side men wasted not a moment, plating six in the opening frame and cruising past the Athletics nine to one. Braden Montgomery drove in four, capped by a three-run home run, and Kyle Teel added a pair of runs batted in. Sam Antonacci homered as well. Shea Langeliers's twenty-first — the lone Elephant tally — could not stem the tide. Jonathan Schultz (three-and-six) took the win as the A's, now one-and-nine over their last ten, dropped a ninth straight.

Twins Best the Halos, Four to Two

Minnesota turned back the Angels four to two, a three-run third the difference — Trevor Larnach's run-scoring single and Ryan Jeffers's two-run double the meat of it. Larnach later added his seventh home run for good measure. Taj Bradley (nine-and-three) toiled seven strong innings and Cody Morris recorded his third save. Josh Lowe and Denzer Guzman homered for the Anaheim nine, but two would not answer four.

Braves Steal One from the Gas House Nine, Four to Three

Atlanta wrested a four to three decision from St. Louis in walk-off fashion, the winning run crossing in the ninth when Mauricio Dubón reached on a throwing error by shortstop Masyn Winn, plating Ozzie Albies. Newcomer Brewer Hicklen enjoyed a dazzling day, two hits and a run-scoring double among them. Raisel Iglesias (nineteenth save) slammed the door. José Fermín's two-run single had briefly knotted the affair for the Cards, but the Dixie nine would not be denied atop the East.

Frisco Nine Blank the Rox Late, Three to One

San Francisco turned back Colorado three to one, a two-run eighth breaking a one-all tie and Willy Adames — three hits on the day — driving home the go-ahead tally. Trevor McDonald spun seven innings of one-run ball. The Rockies' lone marker came by a curiosity: Jake McCarthy's tenth home run was of the inside-the-park variety, a mad dash round the bases. Erik Miller (two-and-nought) took the win; Antonio Senzatela (nine-and-two) the hard-luck loss.

Diamondbacks Fell the Angelenos Again, Five to Three

Arizona made it a fourth straight victory and dealt Los Angeles a third consecutive humbling, downing the Dodgers five to three at Chavez Ravine. Shohei Ohtani's twenty-second home run and Tommy Edman's two-run single had staked the hosts to a three-run lead, but the Desert nine answered with a pair in the fifth and another pair in the sixth, and Tim Tawa's third home run in the ninth sealed it. Keegan Thompson (four-and-two) took the win and Paul Sewald his two-and-twentieth save.

Padres Outlast the Maple Leaf Nine, Five to Four

San Diego rallied past Toronto five to four, scoring twice in the eighth to overturn a one-run deficit. Manny Machado, three hits on the day, singled home the tying run, and Ty France's sacrifice fly plated the winner. The Blue Jays had drawn even in the eighth on Ernie Clement's two-run home run (his eighth); Nathan Lukes had homered earlier besides. Adrián Morejón (seven-and-two) took the win in relief and Mason Miller his five-and-twentieth save.

And so the ledger for the Twelfth of July is set down entire — fifteen contests faithfully rendered, chief among them the ninth-inning thievery hard by the Trinity, where the Rangers plucked victory from the very glove of the game's most dreaded closer. We tip our derby to Brandon Nimmo, whose three hits and walk-off stroke kept Texas upon its western throne, and we note besides that the Boston nine ran their streak to a full nine, that Pittsburgh visited a ten-run inning upon the Brewers, and that the Diamondbacks made it four in a row at the expense of the mightiest club in the land. Until the morrow's dispatch, keep your scorecards near and your enthusiasms nearer.

~ THE HERALD ~