Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards binge on homers, blast Orioles — BALTIMORE • When Paul DeJong first came to the majors late last month, everything was “eye-opening,” from the size of the stadiums to the luxury of the hotels, the break of the sliders, the politics of the clubhouse, the comfort of the charter …
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David Driver / UPI:
St. Louis Cardinals rough up Baltimore Orioles in 11-2 win — BALTIMORE — After playing in just 246 minor league games, infielder Paul DeJong could be in the Major Leagues to stay. — At least that would be the case based on his performance in his 14th major league game on Friday.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
‘Big City’ doesn't spend much time looking back — The Cardinals' middle-of-the-lineup issues have been well documented, but here's a closer look: — Before the weekend, Cardinals No. 3 batters were hitting .226, ranking 14th in the National League. No. 4 hitters had eight home runs, ranking 13th out of 15.
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Cubs-Pirates gets off to wacky start in Pittsburgh — PITTSBURGH — A wild first inning between the Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night saw nearly another leadoff home run by first baseman Anthony Rizzo, an ejection of manager Joe Maddon and even a delay to cut off the sleeves …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and FanRag Sports
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Shelly Anderson / UPI:
Chicago Cubs rally with six runs in ninth for 9-5 win over Pittsburgh Pirates — PITTSBURGH — Joe Maddon didn't have a chance to watch from the dugout as his club came back in a big way Friday night. — The Chicago manager was long gone, having been ejected from the game in the first inning …
Fox Sports:
Cubs' Happ right at home in series vs. Pirates (Jun 17, 2017) — PITTSBURGH — It has been just barely more than two years since the Chicago Cubs selected Ian Happ with the ninth overall pick in the 2015 draft out of the University of Cincinnati. — Happ didn't have a certain projected …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Joe Maddon ejected after Anthony Rizzo's leadoff home run overturned; Cubs trail Pirates 4-3
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Rich Shook / UPI:
Nick Castellanos, Justin Upton lead Detroit Tigers' hit parade in 13-4 win — DETROIT — After several forgettable seasons, Alex Avila is putting together a year to remember. — Avila broke the dam open with a home run leading off the fourth inning Friday night and the Detroit Tigers used …
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks Game Day: Rupp's homer ties it for Phillies … Rupp hits equalizer — The Phillies' Cameron Rupp lined an opposite-field home run to right field off Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin, tying the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and AZ Snake Pit
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Marc Narducci / Philly.com:
Diamondbacks rally to beat Phillies, 5-4 — If Phillies fans want to find a reason for hope all they have to do is look at this weekend's guest at Citizens Bank Park, the resurgent Arizona Diamondbacks. — It's hard to believe that the Diamondbacks won fewer games last season than the Phillies …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Gregor Blanco's blast keys another comeback win for Diamondbacks … PHILADELPHIA - With two strikes on him in the seventh inning on Friday night, light-hitting Gregor Blanco launched a hanging curveball an estimated 424 feet for a game-tying home run. Asked if he'd ever hit a ball that far, Blanco laughed sheepishly.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Cole Hamels allows only one hit in 3 innings in rehab start for Double-A Frisco — The results of a rehab start don't matter. Unless they do. — When you allow one baserunner in your first start in six weeks, they most definitely do. Such was the case for Cole Hamels in his Friday outing for Double-A Frisco.
Discussion:
FanRag Sports
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ESPN:
Rangers' Cole Hamels strikes out 3 in 1st rehab start at Double-A — Texas Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels made his first rehab start Friday at Double-A Frisco, striking out three batters in as many innings. — Hamels has been nursing a right oblique strain since early last month.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Roger Clemens understands David Price's frustration at Boston media — HOUSTON — As David Price continues to adapt to the heightened scrutiny that comes with playing for the Boston Red Sox, Roger Clemens says he can relate. — “I learned that it's a little different brand of baseball in the East …
Discussion:
FanRag Sports
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MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Mookie Betts' homer guides Boston Red Sox by Houston Astros — HOUSTON — Houston Astros setup man Will Harris had no real quarrel with the quality of the pitch that yielded the decisive run on Friday night, opting instead to sincerely acknowledge the talent of Mookie Betts, who crushed the pitched over the fence.
Joe Totoraitis / MLB on Yahoo! Sports:
Thames hits walk-off home run, Brewers beat Padres 6-5 … Eric Thames hit the Brewers' first walk-off home run of the season in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting Milwaukee to a 6-5 victory over the — San Diego Padres on Friday night. — Thames hit his 19th home run of the season …
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Gaslamp Ball and Brew Crew Ball
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Andrew Wagner / UPI:
Red-hot Eric Thames' blast sends Milwaukee Brewers past San Diego Padres — MILWAUKEE — Six of the first seven home runs hit Friday night at Miller Park were of the no-doubt-about-it variety — mammoth shots that bounced off the scoreboard or deep into the stands.
Pedro Moura / Los Angeles Times:
Angels can't stop Royals from rolling to their sixth straight victory — The victims lingered, together trying to ascertain what went wrong and why. Twenty minutes after the Angels fell 3-1 to Kansas City on Friday, most of their hitters lingered in Angel Stadium's home clubhouse …
Discussion:
Royals Review
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Pedro Moura / The Charlotte Observer:
Angels can't stop Royals from rolling — ANAHEIM, Calif.-Twenty minutes after the Angels lost, 3-1, to Kansas City on Friday at Angel Stadium, several Angel hitters lingered in the clubhouse and tried to figure out what went wrong. — They had succumbed, again, to the Royals' Ian Kennedy …
Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds continue to struggle — Billy Hamilton sat at his locker following Friday night's 3-1 loss to the Dodgers, his entire left hand covered in a bandage holding an ice bag in place for his sore left thumb - and that wasn't even the hand that had just been hit by a pitch.
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Associated Press:
Braves agree to $7 million signing bonus with 1st-round pick Kyle Wright — ATLANTA — Pitcher Kyle Wright and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a minor league contract with a $7 million signing bonus, the highest in baseball since 2011. — A 21-year-old right-hander who pitched for Vanderbilt …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mets Release Desmond Jennings — The Mets have released outfielder Desmond Jennings, per an announcement from the team's Triple-A affiliate. He had been playing there on a minors deal since early April. — Jennings spent the spring with the Reds, but headed back to the open market …
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Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Gary Sanchez, Aaron Hicks day-to-day for Yankees as they place Adam Warren on DL — OAKLAND — The suddenly injury-plagued Yankees appear to have dodged a bullet regarding the health of Gary Sanchez and Aaron Hicks. — They weren't as fortunate when it comes to Adam Warren.
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers reaction: Ross and reinforcements help crush Mariners — ARLINGTON — You are excused if your Rangers fanaticism reached another gear Friday night. It's understandable. — For the first time in 2017 they fielded their full complement of players, which included Carlos Gomez …
Fox Sports:
Giants-Rockies Preview (Jun 17, 2017) — DENVER — The Colorado Rockies will try to reach a milestone Saturday when they seek their third straight win in their series with the San Francisco Giants. — A 10-9 victory Thursday followed by Friday's 10-8 win gave the Rockies seven straight wins …
