Red Sox 7 Yankees 6

Boston managed 12 hits and Brandon Morrow held a lead when no other reliever could giving Boston a their 4th straight win and NY their fifth straight loss by a score of 7-6.

NY starter JA Happ proved hapless in the 2nd as JD Martinez singled to right and went to 3rd on Aaron Judge’s error. Alex Bregman followed with a single to center sending Martinez to 3rd. He came home on Kris Bryant’s single to left. After Ronald Acuna Jr. walked to load them up JT. Realmuto drove in both Bregman and Bryant on a single to left and Sending Acuna to 3rd where he would score on a Nick Ahmed double play making it 4-0.

After pitching around another error in the 3rd Happ was tagged again. Acuna singled and Realmuto walked. Another fortunate double play left Acuna on 3rd with two outs but Jose Altuve double to left making it 5-0.

Meanwhile Jameson Taillon pitched 5 strong innings before getting into trouble in the 6th. Aaron Hicks singled and Gleyber Torres followed suit but Hicks went for 3rd and Acuna gunned him down leaving Torres on 2nd with one out. That would be critical as Aaron Judge would take the next pitch over the left field wall making it 5-2 instead of 5-3. Taillon would load the bases with a pair of walks surrounding a hit batsman and a K before getting Austin Romine to fly out keeping the defect at 3.

In the 7th Greg Bird would chase Taillon with a leadoff blast to right making it 5-3. Corey Knebel (W 1-0) could come in and walk Hicks and Torres before surrendering a one out Blast deep into the seats beyond the bullpens in right making it 6-5. The Yanks had a chance to do more damage as Giancarlo Stanton followed with a walk and Brett Gardner did the same with two outs but Romine struck out swinging keeping the lead at 1.

They would again miss that run as Jonathan Holder (L 0-1) wasn’t up to the task of holding a lead either. he gave up a lead off double to Altuve and then with one out a Double to Christian Yelich to tie the game. while he managed to get the dangerous JD Martinez Bregman would follow with a two out single driving in Yelich and Boston was back up 7-6.

That when Brandon Morrow (S1) came in and did what no other reliever to that point had done, hold a lead he would retire the side in order in the 8th and while he allowed a one out walk to Gregorius fanned Stanton and coaxed a game ending grounder from Neil Walker to earn the Save for himself and the win for the Sox.

Notes: 3 of the Yankees seven hits and all of their runs came on home runs. None of the Redsox 12 hits left the yard but six of them came with runners in scoring position out of an incredible 17 chances. Only Ben Zobrist went without a hit or a walk for Boston (0-5). Despite Boston and NY combining for 3 errors in the game all of the runs were Earned. NY finally heads home to open against the Texas Thunder while Boston’s long homestand continues as they welcome the Juneau Muffin men.

Juneau 10 Texas 1

Bryce Harper had his 3rd homer in 2 two games and David Price gave up only run run in 6 2/3 as Juneau won it’s 2nd straight over Texas 10-1.

Juneau started right were they left off the previous day against Zach Greinke (L 1-1) with two outs Mookie Betts doubled and Shohei Ohtani drove him home with a single, not that it would matter as Bryce Harper would take a Greinke curve 418 feet to right for a 3-0 lead.

Yuli Gurriel would answer with a solo shot with one out in the bottom of the inning but it would be the only answer they would have all day as David Price (W 1-0) kept the Texas off balance most innings while taking advantage of fine defense like plays like Harrison Bader’s rocket throw that nailed Mike Trout at 3rd in the 4th when he tried to tag up on a fly to the warning track.

Meanwhile Juneau in general and Harper in particular continued to feast off Texas pitching in the 6th with Simmons on 3rd (HBP) and Ohtani on 1st (Single) Harper drove in his 3rd run of the game. Matt Chapman followed with a triple driving in Ohtani and Harper and scored off of Kolton Wong’s two run shot off of Jonny Venters making it 8-1 Ohtani’s one out double scoring Benintendi (single) and Betts (HBP) in the 9th gave Juneau it’s 2nd straight 10 run game and made Ryan Braiser’s 2 1/3 perfect innings a mere formality.

Notes: Ohtani and Harper both scored two runs while driving in 3. Ohtani on a 3-5 day Harper on 2-4 Despite sweeping Texas Juneau gave up 4 home runs in 2 games and have given up a home run in each of their last 5. Texas was 0-5 with runners in scoring position while Juneau was 5-10. Texas travels to NY for a rematch of their opening series while Juneau heads for Boston.
Meanwhile the

Rivertown 3 Washington 2 10 innings

Washington’s Bullpen wasted an excellent start by Carlos Martinez to blow a 9th inning lead and a single swing by Paul Goldschmidt finished the job as Rivertown swept Washington with a 3-2 win.

It was a game of pitching and close calls as Patrick Corbin for Rivertown and Carlos Martinez dueled. Corbin relying on the K striking out 10 Senators and Martinez aided by great defense

In the 1st DJ Le Mahieu turned a Jose Ramirez Liner that would have put him on 1st and Lorenzo Cain (HBP) on 3rd into an inning ending double play.

In the 4th with men on 1st (David Peralta walk) and 2nd (Jose Ramirez single and stolen base) with nobody out Ramirez struck out Goldschmidt and Before another LeMahieu turned a 2nd double play perserving a 1-0 lead.

That lead came in the top of the inning when Josh Reddick after a two out single beat a wild throw to the plate From Peralta on Anthony Rendon’s double off of Corbin. But over 6 2/3 innings that would be all he would yield.

Meanwhile the defense kept making the big play for Washington. In the sixth with one out Peralta singled and Goldschmidt doubled. Peralta held out of respect for the arms in the DC outfield. With one out and nobody on 1st the infield came in on Matt Carpenter who hit a shot toward first but despite being drawn in Jesus Agular dove to glove the ball in the air and managed to get the ball to LeMahieu before Goldschmidt could get back.

In the 7th the defense would do it again. After a Nelson Cruz single and one out Jeurys Familia came in relieving Martinez. He struck out Paul DeJong but Diego Castillo drove a changeup to left. Cruz didn’t hesitate for moment but neither did Corey Dickerson who fielded it and threw in a single motion nailing him at the plate.

In the ninth the Senators would add some offense Diego Castilo in his 3rd inning of work put a fat pitch over for Josh Reddick that the crosswind just blew into play for the 1st out. Rendon followed with a double and moved to 3rd on Billy Hamilton’s grounder and scored on Agular’s single. The lead was 2-0 Reliever Brad Hand had shut down a Rivertown rally in the 8th with a pair of K’s and Seranthony Dominguez (BS 1 L 0-1) was warned and ready to come if needed. It looked like it was all over.

It wasn’t. Nelson Cruz singled off Hand and was pulled for pinch runnier Ender Incirte. After Yadier Molina was retired on a foul ball Trey Turner walked and when Jose Martinez was announced as a pinch hitter Mgr Ingemi went to the mound. Dominguez was ready but Ingemi decided to stick with Hand. Martinez singled loading the bases and Dominguez came in to face Lorenzo Cain. Cain worked the count to 3-2 and Dominguez threw a ball that most batters in the league would chase, Cruz didn’t and it was 2-1.

With a stikeout pitcher on the mound and fearing a game ending two run single the infield remained back but Washington which had turned so many key double plays that night could only manage one on Ramierz grounder. Turner scored and the game was tied.

Jose Alvarado (W 1-0) came in unwarmed from the pen with a new defense behind him but it didn’t matter, Dominguez, LeMahieu and Dickerson all went down on strikes in the 10th clearing the way for Paul Goldschmidt to win the game with a single swing.

Notes: Rivertown only managed to go 1-11 with runners in scoring position but the senators only had four chances (1-4) None of Washington’s pitchers were pinch hit for in this game while Rivertown sent 3 pinch hitters to the plate (1-3).  Washington travels to LA for a pair while Rivertown will host King Ragnar’s Vikings

Dodgers 6 Vikings 4

Kike Hernandez and Chris Taylor went back to back and the four LA pitchers were able to hold onto the lead they gave them to earn a split of their series with King Ragnar’s Vikings 6-4.

The Long ball came early for the Dodgers as Manny Machado took Ryan Stanek (L 0-1) yard with two outs in the top of the 1st. Jean Segura came right back with a one out blast against Rich Hill (W 1-0) to tie the game before Hernandez and Taylor’s back to back blasts to start the 2nd making it 3-1 The Vikings got on back in the bottom of the 2nd on a Juan Soto single followed by a Eduardo Escobar double with nobody out. When Hill retired Rosario and Culberson the Vikings took a chance and pulled Stanek for pinch hitter Mallex smith Hill coaxed a grounder to keep the game 3-2.

Hill helped his own cause in the 4th off Craig Stammen in the 4th by drilling a two out double to the gap in left center driving in Taylor who walked with one out making it 4-2 and after after a pair of singles by Soto and Escobar put two in in the bottom of the inning again struck out a pinch hitter batting for the pitcher stopping the rally which was key because in the fifth Whit Merrifield’s took him over the left field wall to make it 4-3.

That wasn’t much breathing space for Hill but with one out Justin Turmer pinch hit for him driving a single to left. Cody Bellinger followed with a double and Matt Kemp Crushed a fly ball to center that stayed in the part but was deep enough to score Turner to get the lead back to 5-3.

It looked like LA would break the game open in the 8th off Arodys Vizcaino when after a Yasiel Puig double and a Yasmani Grandal single, Hernandez drove a sinking liner to left but Merrifield made a diving stab that while allowing Puig to tag up for a 6-3 lead kept Grandal on 1st and Hernandez off back allowing Vizcaino to get out without further damage.

That would matter when Jean Segura doubled to start the bottom of the inning and was driven in by a one out double by Wilson Ramos getting the lead back to two and putting the tying run at the plate without on and a man on 2nd off Josh Fields. Pat Venditte came in and walked Soto before Escobar hit into a fielders choice for the 2nd out putting men on 1st and 3rd. Kenley Jansen (s4) came in and retired Matt Kemp to preserve the lead. While he would give up a Whit Merrifield two out double in the 9th he followed it by striking out Segura to perserve the win and the save for LA.

Notes: the Dodger victory evened their record at 6-6. Viking pinch hitters went 0-5 in the game. Machado’s RBI puts him one behind Paul Goldschmdit of Rivertown with 15 while Jansen save ties him with Rivertown’s Edwin Diaz in that category. The Dodgers head home to play the Senators while King Ragnar Vikings head to Pittsburgh to raid Rivertown.

Boston 7 NYY 5

Alex Bregman hit two homers and Blake Snell and Collin McHugh held on long enough for Kimbrel to shut the door in the 9th as Boston bested the Yankees 7-5.

It didn’t look promising for Boston and Blake Snell (W 1-1) early. In the 2nd Gleyber Torres singled to start the inning and Gary Sanchez drove a double off the wall in left center to drive him in making it 1-0. Two outs later Greg Bird singled to center scoring Sanchez and the score was 2-0

Boston came right back against Luis Severino (L 1-1) Alex Bregman started with a leadoff shot over the Monster seats and after walks to Rhys Hoskins and J. T. Realmuto Nick Ahmed hit a one out double to center scoring both giving Boston the lead. The Sox managed a two out single to right by Ben Zobrist but Ahmed was held at 3rd and Severino was able to end the inning down only 3-2.

That was a lead Snell couldn’t hold with to outs he walked Giancarlo Stanton and Torres put his own drive over the Green Monster and the Yanks had the lead back 4-3 and when Snell walked Miguel Andujar, Aaron Hicks and Greg Bird to load the bases with nobody out in the 4th it looked like the Bombers would break the game wide open. But Snell bore down striking out Austin Romine, Aaron Judge and Adeiny Hechavarria in succession to end the inning and keep the deficit at 1.

That would prove to be the critical moment of the game. In the bottom of the inning Realmuto singled to the mound and Ronald Acuna JR. followed with another putting runners at the corners. with one out Jose Altuve singled in Realmuto and sent Acuna to 3rd tying the game and when the yanks failed to turn the double play on Zobrist’s grounder to 1st Acuna scored and the Bo Sox were up 5-4. When Chad Green in relief of Severino in the 5th walked J. D. Martinez and gave up Bregman’s 2nd ball into the monster seats and it was 7-4.

That would be a sufficient cushion for Snell who inspired by his hold in the 4th would retire the Yankees easily in the 5th & 6th coming out for Colin McHugh after a leadoff single in the 7th and while that runner would be erased by a Stanton double play Torres would reach on a Rhys Hoskins error move to 3rd on a Gregorius single and score on a Andjuar single to right putting the tying runs on base with Aaron Hicks at the plate in a 7-5 game.  McHugh would however not only retire Hicks but the next three men he faced until Craig Kinbrel (S2) came in and after hitting Luke volt to start and walking Gregorius with two out struck out Andujar to preserve the win.

Notes: Boston Pitchers only allowed the Yankees 5 hits but walked seven and hit one over the course of the game. This was Boston’s 3rd straight win and the Yanks 4th straight loss. Luke Volt was pulled for a pinch runner after being hit by a fastball in the 9th but should be available tomorrow. Hoskins error was his 2nd in three games and led to an unearned run. Jameson Tallon (1-0) will start for Boston tomorrow against JA Happ (0-1) tomorrow.

Rivertown 8 Washinton 3

Nelson Cruz hit a massive bomb off the light tower and Rivertown’s bullpen held while the Senators didn’t as Rivertown took the 1st game of a two game series 8-3.

The Senators struck 1st with some small ball in the 2nd off of Aaron Nola (W 2-0) Trevor Story singled and stole 2nd to lead off the inning, after Nola retired the next two DJ LeMahieu stroked a single to right for a 1-0 lead.

In the 3rd Rivertown struck back Lorenzo Cain singled with one out and moved to 2nd on a grounder. Paul Goldschmidt took the next ball to the wall in right off Marco Gonzalez (L 1-2) scoring Cain and tying the game setting up Cruz’s massive homer that traveled 460 feet and Rivertown was up 3-1.

Washington came right back with more small ball and the same case. Story singled & stole 2nd again this time with one out and Billy Hamilton drove him home quickly with a single to right making it 3-2. However Nola managed to hold Hamilton long enough to erase him on a force play then struck out LeMahieu to keep it 3-2.

In the 5th the Raiders added some distance with a solo shot by Goldschmidt making it 4-2 and Rivertown tried to answer. Jesus Aguilar led off with a double and the speedy Dee Gordon ran for him. Nola k’d Story and Hamilton but a throwing error put Gordon on 3rd and pinch hitter Marwin Gonzalez on 1st for LeMahieu who once again punched a single through to left scoring Gordon and it was a one run game again.

It stayed that way till the 7th when the Raiders Trea Turner lead off with a double. Jeurys Familia came in and struck out pinch hitter Matt Carpenter but Cain singled to center scoring Turner Cain going to 3rd on a throwing error by Hamilton and it was 5-3.

In the 8th Cruz led off with another single but due to a mix up Ender Inciarie was anounced as a pinch hitter rather than a pinch runner and after after a short conference was make to go to the plate for Marcell Ozuma rather than running for Cruz. He promptly doubled to center scoring Cruz all the way from 1st and scored along with Joey Wendle who was hit by a pitch with two when Turner doubled and it was 8-3.

That led to a little bit of defensive gymnastics bit ti didn’t matter Edwin Diaz who got the 3rd out of the 8th retired 3 of 4 in the ninth and when the dust had settled Rivertown had sole possession of 1st place.

Notes: The Mixup in the 8th which ended happily for Rivertown was the subject of a lot of post game questions but due to the result nobody in the dugout seemed to mind taking the blame. Familia’s 3 earned run in 1 2/3 innings was the 1st poor outing we’ve seen from him this season. In addition to his error Hamilton got an assist in the 1st when Jose Ramirez took too wide a turn as Cruz hit third and Hamilton nailed him 8-3-4. 4 different relievers pitched two innings for Rivertown giving up no runs.  Carlos Martinez (1-0) will take the mound for the Senators tomorrow against Rivertown’s Patrick Corbin (2-0)

Juneau 10 Texas 4

Juneau stroked 16 hits and 3 home runs while Mike Foltynewicz pitched pitched just well enough to get by as Juneau broke it’s losing streak with a 10-4 thumping of Texas.

It looked at first like the long ball was going to sink the Muffen men again as Foltynewicz (W 2-1) started the game with a fat pitch that Michael Brantley took over the fence in right to make it 1-0 but the Muffen men came right back again Corey Kluber (L 0-2) with a Matt Chapman lead off with a double, went to 2nd on a Kolton Wong Grounder and socred on a 2nd grounder form Harrison Bader to tie things up.

In the 3rd they struck again. Andrelton Simmons and Mookie Betts singled with one out and after a K Bryce Harper took Kluber over 465 feet to dead center and the Muffen men were up 4-1. The Muffen Men had men in scoring position every inning off Kluber until the 5th when he was finally chased by a Betts homer followed after one out by Harper’s 2nd shot of the day making it 6-1. Carlos Carrasco replaced him and it the 6th got more of the same as Juneau socred four runs on a Benintendi walk and stolen base, a Simmons double driving him in, And Othani sngle that drove in Simmons a Harper single that sent Ohtani home and a Matt Chapman double. And while the 10-1 lead was shrunk by two massive shots a two run job in the 6th inning by Javier Baez and another by Nolan Arenado in the 7th the outcome was never in doubt.

Notes: Yoshihisa Hirano pitched 3 1/3 inning for his 1st save. Juneau continues to be plagued by the long ball as Texas hit three homers, the final two going 489 and 475 feet respectively Betts continued his torrid hitting going 4-5 raising his avg to .395 but was thrown out at 3rd by Jackie Bradley Jr. David Price goes for his 1st decision in game two against Zach Greinke (1-0)

King Ragnar’s Vikings 1 LA Dodgers 0

Eddie Rosario’s 6th inning RBI single was all the Vikings would need as Max Scherzer spun a 3 hit 18 strikeout masterpiece leading the Vikings to a 1-0 win vs the Dodgers

Scherzer (W 2-1) was dominant from 1st to last. When Jean Segura Muffed Cody Bellinger’s grounder to start the game Scherzer responded by striking out the side. He would do so again in the 5th and 6th and most importantly in the 9th when the Dodgers Joc Peterson doubled with two outs to get the tying run in scoring position.

Scherzer would need that performance because his counterpart Walker Buehler (L 0-1) while not as dominant was just as effective pitching out of a two on one out jam in the 2nd and bearing down in the fifth after committing an error on a Rene Rivera grounder following a Segura single put runners on 1st & 2nd with nobody out.

It would not be till the sixth that Rosario would stroke the two out single scoring Juan Soto who had doubled that the Vikings would break through and even then when Kike Hernandez misplayed Charlie Culbertson’s grounder to put two men on he retired Segura to stop the threat.

But good as his performance was it couldn’t compare to Scherzer who when the Dodgers tried to answer in the 7th with a Yasiel Puig single and a Peterson walk to put two men on with none out retired Yasmani Grandal on a fly out, struck out pinch hitter Justin Turner swinging and coaxed a grounder from David Freese to end the Dodgers best threat as easily as he struck out Grandal to end their final one.

Note: Both pitchers pitched around potentially critical errors without incident. Rosario’s single was the only hit by either team with men in scoring position (Vikings 1-7 LA 0-4) Bueller while giving up 7 hits and striking out only 6 did not walk a batter while Scherzer gave up three 3 passes. Dodger reliever Josh Fields struck out all three men he faced in the 8th.