What a finish to the Mexico City series. The Padres went into the seventh inning up 7-2 on Sunday. The Diamondbacks took the lead with a six-run rally, fueled by a Tim Tawa grand slam, then tacked on four more in the eighth inning. The Diamondbacks are off Monday as they head back to the U.S. but the Padres host the Cubs in San Diego tonight.
1. Torkelson ties Detroit record
First baseman Spencer Torkelson extended the Tigers’ lead in the seventh inning on Sunday with a solo shot off righty Pierce Johnson. The blast bumped his home run streak to five games, tying him with Hank Greenberg, Rudy York, Vic Wertz, Willie Horton, and Marcus Thames for the franchise record. The most surprising part of the run might be Torkelson’s slow start coming into it. He had a .566 OPS with zero home runs before going deep on Wednesday against Chad Patrick and the Brewers. Torkelson now has an .836 OPS, a good reminder of how quickly numbers can flip this early in the year.
2. Tracy earns first MLB win
Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy is on the board as a big league manager. Boston beat the Orioles 5-3 behind a strong outing from young left-hander Connelly Early. It’s the 500th managerial win of Tracy’s career, with the first 499 coming at various stops in the minor leagues. Tracy took over for former skipper Alex Cora, who was unexpectedly fired on Saturday, along with several other coaches. The Red Sox were off to a 10-17 start under Cora. Boston now heads to Toronto for a three-game set.
3. Miller extends scoreless streak
Closer Mason Miller retired the side in order against the Diamondbacks on Saturday. The uneventful save gave him 10 on the year, three more than any other reliever. It also pushed his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 34 2/3 innings. “Big load off, for sure — I think we can stop talking about it now,” Miller told reporters, including AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. “Just keep pitching, see how long we can go.” The righty is up to eighth on the all-time list for scoreless inning streaks by relievers since 1961.
Photo courtesy of Aaron Doster, Imagn Images
Meanwhile muts lost 15th of 17 games
$400mil payroll. worst record in mlb. on pace for 110 L. they are approaching 62 status. a more himiliating first minth of a season i cannot.recall
“himiliating first minth”
That somehow seems like an entirely apt way of describing the Mets.
They’ve driven Salem to drink. Look, he’s slurring his words. Have another on me!
Tix are being resold for $5.95 to games next week hahaha. Savannah bananas game cost more than the muts!!
The real story is Ildemaro Vargas hitting .367 with 6 home runs right now. It’s really shocking a 34 year old utility player suddenly is playing at an MVP level the only other time he even had 6 home runs it came in over twice as many at bats. I doubt he keeps even close to this level of production up but it’s a fun story to watch right now and he might be headed for a big league deal next season.
Tracy has best winning percentage of all times for the Red Sox. Joe McCarthy eat your heart out.
I liked Tracy’s first lineup, hope he sticks with the top of it.
Tough matchup tonight vs Cease.
I’ve been clamoring for Duran and Anthony to be swapped since opening day. Let’s hope it’s not too late to salvage both of these guys who have seemingly been damaged beyond repair by the Fatse effect.
Fever,
I think Tracy will do his best with the young players that Boston has. I don’t think Cora was very good with helping young players, and this team has quite a few of them. If he can get the young guys going, it’s already a win.
Fun fact… Chad Tracy is in fact NOT that Chad Tracy 🐍 I assumed it was him until about a year ago. Forgot. Was relearned Sunday.
And the BoSox’ interim skipper is the son of Jim Tracy, who spent 10 years as a big league manager. Won the NL West with the Dodgers in 2004 and got Colorado in as a wild card in 2009.
Sean – If you have a desire to learn more about the firing, this is a great read.
cbssports.com/mlb/news/why-craig-breslow-fired-ale…
I’ve often said eventually the truth is exposed. It’s nice whenever things I’ve said are confirmed like this (maybe I was the “source”? LOL)
“Why do a lot of players go to other places and get better?” one source said of the questions being asked. “Why do other guys come here and get worse?”
Can confirm
FPG
I do want Duran leading off ,he just has to start producing. .. I think Storys spot could be in jeopardy. He is striking out at almost a 34% clip and his defense has not been great.
Definitely a tough matchup against Cease, Suarez, ,he had put together a couple good starts before the Yankee game. With Crochet seemingly back on track,and the positive signs from Tolle &; Early maybe just maybe we can get something going. Need the offense to start clicking.
Yes, 4 capable starters, including an ace, is more than enough to turn around this season as long as we can consistently score 4.5+ runs/game. Absolutely.
Look I don’t know if we’ve got the team this year. I do know one thing, in game management was costing us games as well. Say what you want about Cora, I don’t give him credit for 2018. That team was stacked. Could have won 120 games if not for the last 1/4 of the season while they auditioned for the playoffs. I do hold him accountable for the cheating in Houston. I’ve watched him consistently make poor decisions with end of game management and each and every time someone who doesn’t follow this team chimes in with “Monday morning QB” comments. I get hindsight is 20/20. Totally. But when it’s been repeated so often that it stops being cute and starts being expected… that’s when the change HAS TO BE MADE. I’ve never been more confident that a manager would blow a game than after both of Tolles gems. 100% would have put the deed to my house on it. Flat out mismanagement. Put a low leverage guy in for the highest leverage situation and that’s what happens. He follows a script to the point where it costs the team. I’m just glad that the front office finally started noticing too and we cut ties. I’m sure Cora is managing in Philly next year and that’s cool with me. Best of luck. Could not care less. He wasn’t a good fit here.
“ Cora, I don’t give him credit for 2018. ”
Just a completely jaw dripping, batshit take. And I’m no fan of his either. EVERY move that guy made in the playoffs that year was right.
Touché. He did. Can admit when I wrong.
That being said, he was gift wrapped an all time great roster. And that’s not the same AC we got for the subsequent 8 seasons. But you’re right.
Until Torkelson his a hr in 45 different MLB parks, he’ll never be Sammy Sosa.
Until Torkelson hits three homers on opening day against doc gooden, he’ll never be Tuffy Rhodes
And unless he hits two grand slams in the same inning, he will never be Fernando Tatís or have a son that will play for the Padres. We seem to agree his streak is meaningless to everyone including his family
Im still waiting for Torkleson to throw a perfect game and a no hitter. Until then, he will never be Mark Beuhrle
I’ve never actually thought of this, but is a perfect game not also statistically labeled as a no hitter? Wouldn’t every pitcher who has thrown a perfect game also thrown a no hitter simultaneously? And where did I park?
Sack – Yes both labels.
It’s like hitting a homerun with the bases loaded …. it’s a homerun, but it’s also a Grand Slam.
You can have a hitless game and walk five guys….which would not be a perfect game…..
Obviously.
jays – But if the hitless game is shortened by rain, it’s not a no-hitter ;O)
Remember that time Pedro pitched 9 perfect but lost it in the 10th. Amazing thing is, this is like tenth on the list of jaw dropping once in a lifetime things he accomplished.
Lunch – Imagine losing a perfect game to a guy named Bip.
One other amazing thing about Pedro, he never had a no-hitter …. quite shocking actually.
I’m sure we both immediately conjure images of the Chili Davis game, arguably one of his most dominant starts of his career. One second inning solo homer allowed.
Enjoy – Yep I remember it well.
Another shocking fact, Roger Clemens never had a no-hitter either.
I remember rooting for Rocket a start or two after a big milestone (4k Ks? 300 wins? I forget…) when he took a No-No into the 8th, his longest stint *i think i recall hearing at the time*
Tracy took over for former skipper Alex Cora, who was unexpectedly fired on Saturday, along with several other coaches.
Yes, the hibernating fans were surprised.
Yeah, needed to happen a while ago.
NESN had a lot of coverage of the players reactions, which i think most handled the awkward situation well. The only one I think you could take some exception with was Trevor Story. Story came across as angry (understandable, to a point) and seemingly implied he demands an explanation from the font office. If I’m John Henry, Sam Kennedy, or Craig Breslow I inform him we owe him nothing and if he really wants answers he better be prepared to hear it was his crappy play that helped get Cora fired
My take was that Story was venting his spleen as a friend of mine used to say. Good to get it out. Plus taking responsibility for his own lack of production. Lastly he may feel his days as a shortstop are somewhat numbered.
Breslow told the Red Sox players on Sunday morning that “you’re paid to play baseball and your job is to play baseball”. Henry and Kennedy were at that clubhouse meeting but did not speak.
Snakes are getting a lot of production out of a few players who weren’t necessarily thought to be in the starting lineup this season.
I dont think anybody saw Ildemaro Vargas coming in March. .367/.383/.722 — this guy is slugging like Bonds.
How about Jose Fernandez? .342/.359/.500 — he wasn’t in their top40 prospects in Fangraphs ’26 rankings.
The BB% and BABIP on Vargas (2.2%,.365) and Fernandez (2.6%,.418) says they will likely regress some but that duo has contributed substantially to the early season success of the team.
It’s an interesting development. Tommy Troy was the Stanford product who was expected to make an impact this season but it’s Tim Tawa, also a Stanford Cardinal, with the big hit to win the game last night in Mexico City. Big win for AZ.
Really cool that Tracy’s first MLB win was the 500th managerial win of his career
“Unexpectedly fired”
How’d you get fired on your day off, Craig?
I guess I’ll have to take back my new nickname for Spencer Torkelson – Torkelsingle.
So basically if Tracy salvages the season Breslow keeps his job. If not we’re looking for a new GM and manager in October… fun.
Late to the Opener today, but here’s the latest on MLBTR Fans Fantasy Baseball league:
Last week we welcomed Choof to the league! Thanks for joining in!
Big wins: The #1 and now #2 teams, Ignorant SOB and SeanP, both beat their opponents 11-1! Can Sean topple Iggy this week in the standings? They face off with WadeBoggsWildRide and Salzilla (that guy?!) respectively!
Rest of the standings: 3. Gwynning 4. Salzilla 5. StudWinfield 6. FLANSTER 7. Oppo Nacho 8. WadeBoggsWildRide 9. RunDMC 10. Iwalt27 11. Choof 12. MeowMeow
Trades:
S.Alcantara for R.Anthony
S.Kwan/D.Santana for C.Rafaela/BChandler
Tiger fans are overjoyed hes started to heat up as he is Detroit’s best fielding first baseman. Tork, Greene, Torres, and Carpenter are all heating up together right now. The new player Lee from Taiwan is looking pretty good as well right hand power J.J. Barring a rain out Tuesday night it’ll be a major Tork watch hoping he can get the 6th consecutive home run. GO TIGERS !