A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
MIDSUMMER SKID
The Nationals open a series against Miami hoping to end a five-game skid and get back to .500. Washington fell to 42-43 with a loss to Boston on Wednesday Oakland Raiders Jerseys Womens , the first time the preseason NL East favorites have been under .500 this late in the year since being 60-61 on Aug. 21, 2015. The Nationals held a players’ only meeting after a 3-0 loss to the Red Sox highlighted by Adam Eaton’s throwing error and a wild pitch from Ryan Madson. Jeremy Hellickson (2-1, 2.63) makes his second start since returning from the DL, while Marlins righty Pablo Lopez (1-0, 3.00) makes his second MLB start.
NOT VERY VERLANDER
Justin Verlander (9-4, 2.12) tries to stop a personal slide when the Astros open a series against the White Sox. Verlander has allowed nine runs in 11 2/3 innings over his past two starts, taking losses to Toronto (four runs) and Tampa Bay (five runs). Verlander hasn’t allowed four or more earned runs in three straight starts since June 2014 while with Detroit. Carlos Rodon (1-3, 4.55) is up for Chicago.
CUETO’S BACK
Johnny Cueto is expected to be reinstated from the disabled list and pitch when the Giants open a four-game series against the Cardinals. Cueto was placed on the disabled list May 1 with inflammation in his right elbow. A few days later, he visited Dr. James Andrews, who diagnosed him with a strained elbow. Cueto is 3-0 with a 0.84 ERA in five starts this season. The Giants are 41-21 in his starts since he joined the team in 2016.
PITCHING IN
Angels rookie Jaime Barria will start against AL West-leading Seattle in place of Tyler Skaggs a day after the left-hander went on the DL with a thigh strain. Barria is making his 12th start of the season and has given up two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. Lefty Marco Gonzales (8-5, 3.77) makes his first start since pitching the first complete game of his career in a 4-1 win over Kansas City.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Joe Mauer needs one double to give him 415 in his career, which would break a tie with Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett for the Twins’ franchise record. Minnesota has lost six straight and returns home from a 1-8 trip to play Baltimore, which has the worst record in the majors at 24-61. More good news for the scuffling Twins: Two-time All-Star Ervin Santana (right middle finger surgery) is scheduled to make his next rehab appearance for Class A Fort Myers.
Take a walk, drop down a bunt, make a play in the field. Employing those basic skills, the Mariners beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 Monday night for just their second victory in eight games.
Dee Gordon’s slick seventh-inning bunt was the lone hit in a two-run uprising that put Seattle ahead for good, and the Mariners took advantage of 10 walks to get back on track after losing successive series at Yankee Stadium and in Boston.
”Most definitely, it’s the little things that win ball games and we were trying to do those things tonight,” said left fielder Denard Span, who contributed a solo homer and a run-saving catch. ”Last couple series we weren’t able to do that, but tonight we were able to manufacture a win.”
Gordon gave the Mariners an early lead with a two-run single , then provided the key hit in a seventh inning that began with score tied at 3.
Guillermo Heredia drew a leadoff walk from Miguel Castro (2-3) and advanced when Gordon pushed a bunt inside the first-base line and beat the throw by a step.
”Dee’s a really accomplished bunter, trying to move people along. That’s his game,” manager Scott Servais said.
A walk then loaded the bases, and Heredia scored on a wild pitch before Gordon scooted home on a sacrifice fly by Mitch Haniger.
”We drew a lot of walks Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys Womens , went deep into counts, bunts, sac flies,” Servais said. ”Been doing that most of the season. That’s the way we’re built. We don’t want to rely just on the home runs.”
Backed by several fine defensive plays – most notably by shortstop Jean Segura – Seattle starter Felix Hernandez (7-6) earned his first win in four starts, allowing three runs in six innings.
Edwin Diaz worked the ninth for his major league-leading 28th save.
Jonathan Schoop homered and had two RBIs for the Orioles.
In the ninth inning, Baltimore reliever Darren O’Day was called for a balk and subsequently ejected by home plate umpire Stu Scheurwater for arguing. Manager Buck Showalter joined the fray, and earned his 32nd career ejection .
”He’s just over-umpiring. Inventing an argument,” Showalter insisted, pointing out that both of Day’s career balks have been called by Scheurwater.
The manager did, however, concede that the Orioles didn’t do enough to win.
”We walked 10 guys. Did have but four hits,” Showalter said. ”Kind of hard to win a game.”
Seattle jumped on top in the second inning when Orioles starter Andrew Cashner gave up three walks and Gordon’s bases-loaded single.
Schoop led off the fifth with his eighth home run, only the second long ball allowed by Hernandez in five starts this month.
Span answered with a solo shot in the sixth for a 3-1 lead Seattle Seahawks Jerseys Womens , but Baltimore pulled even in the bottom half on run-scoring grounders by Trey Mancini and Schoop.
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
Seattle slugger Nelson Cruz was chosen AL Player of the Week after hitting .500 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs.
”It was a good week,” Cruz said. ”Unfortunately, we only won once in seven games.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Segura was back in the starting lineup Monday after missing four games with an arm infection. … C Mike Zunino, who’s been bothered by a sore right thumb and slumping at the plate, was replaced in the starting lineup by Chris Herrmann.
Orioles: Returning from a two-month stay on the disabled list, Tim Beckham went 0 for 4. … RHP Dylan Bundy twisted his ankle running the bases but is still projected to make his next start Thursday. … RHP Chris Tillman (lower back strain) gave up two runs in 3 1/3 innings for Class A Delmarva in the second game of his rehab assignment. … Mancini played despite having ”a real bad sore throat,” according to Showalter.
UP NEXT
Mariners: James Paxton (6-2, 3.72 ERA), the starter Tuesday night in the second game of the series, has allowed 10 runs over 7 1/3 innings in his last two starts.
Orioles: Kevin Gausman (3-6, 4.38) is winless in seven starts since May 11.