A teenager among men Dexter Lawrence Jersey , Juan Soto has impressed his teammates on the Washington Nationals with his maturity and, even more so, his potent bat.
and Washington beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 Thursday night in the deciding matchup of a three-game interleague series between neighboring rivals.
Soto, a 19-year-old rookie, is batting .326 with 16 RBIs in 28 games. Starting in the cleanup spot for the first time, he drew a walk and delivered the game’s pivotal hit.
”I think we’re all amazed every single day,” Washington ace Max Scherzer said. ”He puts together great ABs. He has antics and has some flair. He’s a great young player. He’s just enjoying himself.”
Bryce Harper led off the eighth with a double off Mychal Givens (0-4) and Trea Turner followed with a single. After Anthony Rendon struck out, Soto hit a liner into the gap in left-center.
”He’s got unbelievable poise,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Soto. ”No matter what the situation is, he goes out there with a game plan.”
Rendon homered for the Nationals, who received seven strong innings from Scherzer and flawless work from their bullpen.
Newcomer Kelvin Herrera (1-0) pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Sean Doolittle got three straight outs for his 20th save in 21 tries.
Seeking to end a rare run of two straight losses, Scherzer left a tied game after allowing two runs – both on solo homers – and striking out nine.
Afterward, the right-hander heaped praise upon Soto for the manner in which he’s adapted to playing in the big leagues.
”He has a great feel for the strike zone,” Scherzer said. ”To have that type of eye, it’s remarkable for him to be able to do that at this time and this age and this level.”
Activated from the 60-day disabled list before the game, Colby Rasmus homered for the Orioles in his first at-bat since April 6.
”Me and Max, we go way back, so I felt real good,” said Rasmus, who had been sidelined with a hip injury.
In addition, Rasmus made an outstanding throw from right field to the plate Oshane Ximines Jersey , nailing Wilmer Difo on a tag-up play in the seventh inning with the score tied.
Mark Trumbo also homered for Baltimore, his sixth of the season and third in four games.
Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman gave up two runs and four hits over six innings. The right-hander was lifted with the score tied, leaving him winless in his last seven starts.
WALK THIS WAY
Martinez put Harper in the leadoff spot for the first time since May for this reason: ”The thinking is if he’s hitting up top, he’ll start taking his walks again and it will get him going.” It worked. Harper walked twice.
DAVIS COMEBACK
Struggling Orioles slugger Chris Davis will start Friday night in Atlanta, manager Buck Showalter said. Davis hasn’t played since June 11, when an 0-for-5 outing against Boston dropped his batting average to .150. Since then, he’s been working on his swing and mental approach in an effort to turn around his unproductive season.
ROSTER SHUFFLE
In addition to activating Rasmus from the DL, the Orioles optioned OF Joey Rickard to Triple-A Norfolk and moved LHP Richard Bleier (latissimus tear) to the 60-day DL. Also, DH Pedro Alvarez cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Norfolk.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Chris Tillman (back) will next pitch for Class A Delmarva after allowing three runs in two innings for lower Class A Aberdeen on Wednesday night.
Nationals: RHP Brandon Kintzler (flexor strain) is close to coming off the DL. Martinez hopes the reliever can pitch an inning on a rehabilitation assignment before being is activated. … Martinez said RHP Jeremy Hellickson (right hamstring strain) will soon go on a rehab assignment and pitch five or six innings.
UP NEXT
Orioles: Alex Cobb (2-9, 7.14 ERA) helps Baltimore open a three-game series on the road Friday night against the Braves, who lead the NL East.
Nationals: Tanner Roark (3-7, 3.87) takes the mound in the opener of a three-game set against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies Julian Love Jersey , who entered play Thursday in a second-place tie with Washington.
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When Mike Trout gets on a power-hitting hot streak like this, it’s hard for other teams to watch – and match.
The Seattle Mariners have been doing just fine the past two games going toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Angels slugger.
Mitch Haniger and Ryon Healy each homered twice as the first-place Mariners shook off two homers by Trout for the second consecutive night, beating the Angels 6-3 on Tuesday.
Trout took sole possession of the major league lead with 23 home runs. He also hit a pair in the Angels’ 5-3 loss Monday and has 20 career homers at Safeco Field, most in any visiting ballpark.
Mike Leake (7-3) allowed one run in six innings for Seattle, which has won three consecutive games and 10 of 12 overall to remain a half-game ahead of Houston atop the AL West.
Edwin Diaz worked the ninth for his big league-best 25th save in 28 tries.
”Everything is kind of clicking,” Haniger said.
Yes, fly balls were leaving the ballpark with ease Tuesday, and the Mariners are 5-0 when they hit four or more home runs in a game.
But the play that had everyone talking was Haniger’s throw from right field to cut down Luis Valbuena at second base leading off the sixth.
Haniger had just given Seattle a 3-1 lead in the fifth with a two-run homer when Valbuena roped a line drive down the right-field line. By the time Haniger was able to get to it, Valbuena was on his way to second base for what appeared to be a double.
”Luckily, I just got a really good bounce off the bottom of the wall,” Haniger said. ”Usually you just come up firing, and try and keep your throw low.”
Haniger’s throw from deep in the corner was high Darius Slayton Jersey , but traveled more than 240 feet right into the glove of shortstop Jean Segura, who made a no-look, backhand tag on Valbuena as he slid into the bag.
”(Haniger) is a five-tool player,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said.
Healy homered in the sixth to extend the lead to 4-1.
Trout answered with his second of the game in the seventh, a two-run drive that hit the scoreboard in left-center to cut it to 4-3.
In two games, Trout has accounted for five of his team’s six runs on four homers.
”One guy can’t carry you,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ”Mike is swinging the bat very well, but we need some of our other guys to start to get into the game.”
Seattle added insurance runs on Segura’s RBI double in the seventh and Healy’s leadoff homer in the eighth.
Haniger lined an opposite-field solo shot off Jaime Barria (5-2) in the first to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. Trout tied it with his homer in the fifth off Leake.
That was the only run permitted by Leake, who gave up four hits while striking out four. It was his 10th win with the Mariners since they acquired him from St. Louis on Aug. 30 last year for infielder Rayder Ascanio.
”It’s tough. We’re playing good games,” Trout said. ”They’re hitting the ball well and they’re pitching good. We’ve just got to keep battling. It’s a long season.”
THEY COME IN THREES
Segura had his 12th three-hit game Monday, most in the majors, and is on pace for 30 this season – which has been done only 14 times. George Sisler holds the single-season record of 41 set in 1920.
ROSTER RESHUFFLING
Angels: Barria was recalled from the minors to make the start T.J. Hockenson Jersey , and Los Angeles optioned reliever Eduardo Paredes to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Mariners: To complete a trade with Boston for left-hander Roenis Elias, Seattle sent outfielder Eric Filia to the Red Sox. Filia began the season serving a 50-game suspension. He was hitting .426 at Double-A Arkansas.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: 1B Jefry Marte (sprained left wrist) was in a splint after being placed on the 10-day disabled list. Scioscia said Marte will be re-evaluated later this week in Southern California. INF David Fletcher was promoted from Triple-A Salt Lake to replace Marte. … SS Andrelton Simmons (ankle) did some light baseball activities but is not running yet. … After fouling a ball off his foot Monday, Trout started in center field as usual. … Relief pitcher Blake Wood (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day DL after Tommy John surgery.
Mariners: Right-handed reliever Nick Vincent (groin) had to cut a 25-pitch bullpen session short Monday and likely won’t attempt another one until this weekend at the earliest. … Servais said reliever Juan Nicasio (right knee) felt better and some of the swelling in his knee has subsided. Nicasio has yet to throw off a mound. … Right-hander Dan Altavilla (elbow) isn’t close to returning to baseball activity, Servais said.
UP NEXT
Angels: Right-hander Garrett Richards (4-4, 3.26 ERA) shut out the Mariners for 6 2/3 innings on May 4 for his fourth win. He hasn’t won since. After dropping three consecutive decisions to close out May, Richards has given up just two runs in the past 12 1/3 innings.
Mariners: Left-hander Marco Gonzales (7-3, 3.28 ERA) has allowed just three earned runs in his past five starts, a span of 33 1/3 innings. He has gone at least six innings in eight of his last nine starts.
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