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

Is it spring training yet? No — but the championship season is upon us, a finer thing still.

The Game of the Day

SEVEN UP, SEVEN DOWN, ALL ON STRIKES: MISIOROWSKI OPENS WITH SEVEN WHIFFS — A MILWAUKEE RECORD — FANS TWELVE OF HIS FIRST THIRTEEN, AND COLORADO IS BURIED, 11 TO 2

The lone hit he suffered left the grounds entire; one hundred eighty-five strikeouts now stand to his name, most in the National League, beside a league-best earned-run average of 1.58 — and the Brew Crew, six-and-sixty wins strong, draw within a single game of the Dodgers for the finest ledger in all of baseball

Seven batsmen of the Mile High nine strode to the plate to open Sunday's proceedings at Milwaukee, and seven marched back to the bench having swung, or watched, at nothing but air — no pitcher in the annals of the Milwaukee franchise had ever begun a game with seven strikeouts running. Jacob Misiorowski was not finished counting. Before the first turn through the order was fairly done he had struck out twelve of the thirteen men to face him, a figure the wire operators are said to have checked twice before sending. His afternoon closed after five innings of near-total famine: one hit allowed — a solo home run, and nothing else whatever — no walks, twelve strikeouts, and an eleventh victory set against four defeats.

The ledgers now read like a hymnal. One hundred eighty-five strikeouts, most in the National League; an earned-run average of 1.58, likewise the league's summit; and behind him an offense that required no heroics but supplied eleven runs regardless — Vaughn's fourth home run among the freight, with Lara and Pratt, the first-year men who carried Saturday's affair, driving home two apiece once more, and Chourio, Bauers, and Sánchez adding a run each to the bill. The luckless Freeland absorbed his tenth defeat against two wins; solo blows by Carrigg and Castro — one against Misiorowski, one against the relief corps — were the whole of Colorado's account.

Mark the standings, for they grow interesting: at six-and-sixty wins against nine-and-thirty defeats, Milwaukee sits seven full games clear of the Cubs in the National Central — and, the Dodgers having stumbled at Flushing (see the card below), now but a single game from the best record in the game. The Mile High men depart at three-and-forty games below evenness, doubtless grateful to see the road out of Wisconsin.

News Around the League

The Bazaar Din Rises: Peralta Bids Flushing a Heavy Farewell as the Mills Grind Toward the Third of August

Seven days now remain before the deadline bell tolls at six o'clock on the third of August, and the bazaar grows loud. In Flushing, Freddy Peralta took the mound Sunday believing it likely his final turn in Metropolitan colors — a free agent come winter, on a club whose October hopes have expired — and confessed to the wires afterward, with affecting candor: "I've let them down." His mates at least sent him off behind a victory (see the card below). Elsewhere the rumor columns bandy the name of Miami's Alcantara, describe the Blue Jays as sellers weighing their inventory, and report the Pirates — a game from the wild-card line and climbing — determined to remain buyers. The appraisers have meanwhile rendered their first grades upon the Mead-for-Early swap between Boston and Washington, and the running tally of deals is expected to lengthen daily henceforth.

The Infirmary Ward: Bellinger to the Invalid List, Langeliers' Season Imperiled, and Scherzer Discharged in Time for His Own Birthday

The ward gives and the ward takes. In the Bronx, Cody Bellinger's ailing hamstring has been ruled a strain, and he goes upon the invalid list — the young colossus Spencer Jones recalled to fill his place. In the Athletics' camp the news is graver still: the catcher Shea Langeliers bears a torn meniscus, and the wires allow that his season may be at its end. Atlanta's tidings run the other way — Ronald Acuña Jr.'s return is reported near. And one discharge merits a candle: Max Scherzer comes off the invalid list to take the ball for Toronto at Washington this very evening — upon his two-and-fortieth birthday, no less, the old lion celebrating in the only fashion he has ever known.

The Record Book Again: Abrams Owns the Capital's Shortstop Mark, and Trout Collects Four Hits for the First Time in Half a Decade

Two fresh entries in the ledger of deeds. At the Capital, CJ Abrams struck his six-and-twentieth home run to claim the Nationals' record for a shortstop in a single season — and then, evidently finding the ink insufficiently dry, hit another. He stands now at seven-and-twenty homers with two-and-eighty runs driven in, most in the National League, while his comrade James Wood — who also homered twice in the same affair — reaches thirty. And in San Francisco, Mike Trout went four-for-four with a double, his first four-hit game in more than five years, passing the immortal Angel Tim Salmon upon the club's career tables for both doubles and singles in a single afternoon. The years take much from every man; Sunday they gave a little back.

Bronze at Last on Otsego's Shore: Beltrán, Jones, and Kent Take Their Places Among the Immortals

The appointment the Herald urged upon its readers was kept in glorious weather: before a sun-splashed and spirited assembly at Cooperstown, Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones, and Jeff Kent were enshrined Sunday in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Three countries and a dozen clubs are represented in the trio — the switch-hitting October colossus, the finest center-field glove of his generation, and the mightiest power-hitting second baseman the game has recorded — and all of it is now fixed in bronze, which does not fade and does not argue.

An Almanac of Notes: Chan Ho Park Buys Into the Athletics, and the Cornfield Beckons in August

The former pitcher Chan Ho Park has purchased a stake in the Athletics, becoming the first Korean ever to hold ownership in a major-league club — the second notable addition to that franchise's ownership rolls within the week. And the almanac reminds us that the Field of Dreams game returns to Dyersville, Iowa, on the thirteenth of August, Twins against Phillies amid the corn, with both clubs to wear throwback livery for the occasion. The Herald approves of any contest that obliges an outfielder to emerge from the stalks.

The Rest of the Card

RASMUSSEN GUARDS A SINGLE RUN LIKE A CROWN JEWEL: ONE HIT ACROSS SEVEN INNINGS, AND CLEVELAND'S STAGGER REACHES FIVE

Drew Rasmussen permitted one hit and one walk across seven innings, striking out nine, and Cedric Mullins's fifth-inning run batted in was the entire commerce of the afternoon — 1 to 0 the verdict, Baker sealing his eight-and-twentieth save. Sympathy is owed Cleveland's Parker Messick, who held the home nine to a single run across seven and two-thirds innings and left with his sixth defeat regardless. The Sunshine nine, winners of three running at two-and-sixty wins, own the American's best record; the Forest City men have now lost five straight, and their hold upon the league's final wild-card chair has thinned to percentage points over Minnesota.

FOUR HOME RUNS FROM TWO YOUNG MEN: WOOD AND ABRAMS EACH STRIKE A PAIR, AND THE WASHINGTONS OUTSLUG ARIZONA, 10 TO 7

James Wood homered twice to reach thirty and CJ Abrams homered twice into the record book (see the news above), each driving home three, as the Capital men banked a second straight slugging bee. Ketel Marte's nineteenth and Geraldo Perdomo's eighth answered for the Desert nine, with Gabriel Moreno driving in two, but Cornelio took the decision and the rookie Beeter his tenth save. Washington stands a single game from the wild-card line; Arizona, beaten twice running, holds the league's final chair by that same lone game.

ELEVEN INNINGS AND A DELIBERATE DARE: WEISS PASSES A MAN TO LOAD THE SACKS, AND THE TOMAHAWK NINE ESCAPE BALTIMORE, 3 TO 2

With men at first and second in the last of the eleventh, the Atlanta manager Walt Weiss ordered a most unorthodox intentional pass to load the bases — and the dare held, the O's stranding the lot, one night after their walk-off theatrics on this same ground. Smith drove home two and Riley the third for Atlanta, while Pete Alonso's two-and-twentieth homer and Jackson Holliday's single accounted for Baltimore. Kinley took the win, Kittredge the loss, and the East-leading Atlantas depart with the series and a lead of five games and a half.

O'HEARN DRIVES FOUR AND ROSS STRIKES HIS FIRST: THE CORSAIRS OUTLAST THE NORTH SIDERS, 8 TO 7

Ryan O'Hearn supplied four runs with his seventeenth home run among the cargo, Valdez added his fourteenth with two driven in, and the rookie Ross struck his first circuit blow with a pair besides, as Pittsburgh survived a Chicago rally built upon Seiya Suzuki's eighteenth homer and Pete Crow-Armstrong's triple. Ashcraft ran his ledger to ten and four and Montgomery nailed down his second save. The Corsairs sit a game from the wild-card line — buyers, the wires insist — while the Cubs fall seven behind Milwaukee in the Central.

SUÁREZ RETURNS SPOTLESS, AND THE CRIMSON HOSE MAKE IT EIGHT OF TEN: TORONTO SUBDUED AT FENWAY, 6 TO 1

Ranger Suárez, restored at last to the Boston slab, gave four scoreless innings with six strikeouts in his return — All-Star form, the wires pronounced it — and Weissert collected the decision in relief. Jarren Duran and Jones drove home two apiece, with Rafaela and Abreu adding one each, while Kevin Gausman absorbed his tenth defeat. The Hub nine have won eight of ten and hold the second wild-card chair by a game and a half; the Canadians remain sole tenants of the East's cellar.

THOMAS AND MASSEY GO DEEP, AND THE MISSOURIANS PICK DETROIT'S POCKET AGAIN, 5 TO 4

A day after stealing one at Comerica in the ninth, Kansas City made it two straight: Thomas struck his tenth home run, Michael Massey his eighth with two driven in, and Maile doubled home another. Dingler answered with two runs batted in for Detroit — eight-and-sixty on the season, among the American's leaders — but Pearson took the win and Cruz his second save. The Motor City men have surrendered all the ground their recent surge had gained.

SEMIEN AND TAYLOR STRIKE THREE-RUN BLOWS, AND THE METROPOLITANS ROUT THE BOYS IN BLUE, 8 TO 3

On the evening of Freddy Peralta's heavy-hearted probable farewell (see the news above), Semien and Tyrone Taylor each homered and drove home three, Lindor adding another, as Flushing handed the National's finest club a beating. Pérez took the decision and Phillips the defeat. The consequence travels west: the Dodgers' margin over Milwaukee for the game's best record is down to a single game, and their division cushion over Arizona stands at twelve.

TWELVE STRAIGHT DEFEATS, A FRANCHISE MARK OF SORROW: MACHADO'S THREE SEAL THE SWEEP OF THE FLORIDIANS, 5 TO 3

Manny Machado drove home three with his three-and-twentieth home run, Jackson Merrill added his fifteenth, and Mason Miller — whose name adorns every rumor column in the land — recorded his seven-and-twentieth save, completing San Diego's sweep at Miami. Kyle Stowers's thirteenth homer was the consolation. The Floridians' losing streak now stands at twelve, the longest in the franchise's history; the Mission nine, winners of three running, have climbed back to evenness at three-and-fifty apiece.

FOUR ERRORS, TWO TRIPLES FROM CLEMENS, AND ELEVEN RUNS: THE NORTH STARS OUTPOUND THE MACKMEN, 11 TO 8

Minnesota piled up eleven runs upon a foundation of Kody Clemens's two triples, Jeffers's three runs driven in, and no fewer than four Athletic errors, weathering Nick Kurtz's one-and-twentieth home run and three runs batted in — nine-and-sixty on the year — to take the finale. Prielipp earned the win; Springs fell to three and ten. The Twins have won two straight and sit a single game from the wild-card line; the Athletics limp home to receive Boston tonight.

ON HIS OWN BOBBLEHEAD DAY, MURAKAMI SUPPLIES SIX: THE PALE HOSE POUND HOUSTON, 12 TO 3

The figurine was handed through the turnstiles in Murakami's likeness, and the man himself outdid the effigy: two home runs — his one-and-twentieth and two-and-twentieth — with six runs driven home, while Vargas added his two-and-twentieth, Meidroth his eighth, and Perez his third in a twelve-run cannonade. Jeremy Peña homered twice in the losing cause. The South Siders lead the Central by two games and a half and tonight receive the Yankees (see the desk below); the 'Stros fall two back in the West.

DE LA CRUZ AND HAYES CARRY THE REDLEGS OUT OF THE MOUND CITY, 5 TO 3

Elly De La Cruz struck his eighteenth home run, Hayes his third, and Lowe drove home two, with Stewart — six-and-seventy runs batted in, among the National's leaders — adding another, as Cincinnati took the rubber of it at St. Louis. Iván Herrera's twelfth homer and Burleson's single answered insufficiently; Burke won, Garcia sealed his first save, and Svanson lost. The Cardinals slip a game and a half from the wild-card line; the Queen City men return home to host Cleveland in the Ohio Cup this evening.

CANZONE'S FOUR CHECK THE SKID: THE PUGET SOUND MEN TAKE THE OPENER AT ARLINGTON, 6 TO 4

Dominic Canzone supplied the late spark the wires had despaired of — four runs driven in, his sixteenth home run among them — with Randy Arozarena's twelfth and a run batted in from Julio Rodríguez besides, as Seattle's four-game slide met its end. Ezequiel Duran's eleventh homer answered for Texas; Speier won, Winn lost, and Muñoz banked his eighteenth save. The Lone Star nine's hold on the West is down to a game and a half over these same Mariners — who return to the same grounds this very afternoon for the second of the set.

FOUR HITS FOR TROUT, FOUR RUNS FOR THE SERAPHS: SAN FRANCISCO'S NINTH-INNING CHARGE FALLS A RUN SHORT, 4 TO 3

While Mike Trout was busy rewriting the club's ancient tables (see the news above), Jorge Soler and Jo Adell did the scoring — the twelfth and sixteenth home runs respectively, two runs driven in apiece. The Orange and Black made it fearful in the ninth, Luis Arraez doubling home two, but Soriano had banked enough for his ninth win, and Farris survived for a first save. The Anaheim men thus halt a three-game slide; the Jints' brief revival is checked at two.

STOTT DRIVES FIVE, BOHM FOUR, AND SÁNCHEZ COLLECTS A LEAGUE-LEADING THIRTEENTH: QUAKERS 11, PINSTRIPES 4

Bryson Stott drove home five runs with his eighth homer in the freight, Alec Bohm added four more, and Trea Turner legged out his first triple of the year, as Philadelphia buried New York beneath eleven runs — a needed draught of confidence, the wires called it, and the end of a four-game slide. Cristopher Sánchez worked six innings for his thirteenth victory, most in either league; Warren was reached for six runs in three. Ben Rice's one-and-thirtieth homer, second-most in the American, was the visitors' chief salvage. The Quakers hold the National's first wild-card chair by two games; the New Yorkers stay three behind Tampa Bay.

A twelve-game bill tonight, and the appointments are choice: Scherzer, fresh from the infirmary, takes the ball for Toronto at Washington upon his two-and-fortieth birthday at a quarter to seven; the Ohio Cup renews at Cincinnati, where the astonishing Burns — twelve wins against a single defeat — receives Cleveland; the Yankees call upon the first-place White Sox on the South Side, Fried against Schultz; and Seattle and Texas raise the curtain early at Arlington, five-and-thirty minutes past two. Until the next dispatch, keep your scorecards near and your enthusiasms nearer.

~ THE HERALD ~