Friday, August 2, 2019
COLE CORRECTS REELING ASTROS
Gerrit Cole had a masterful performance against the lowly Seattle Mariners, halting the Astros six game losing streak. The losing streak found the Oakland Athletics, who had an off day Friday, just two games back of the division leading Astros. Cole pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just two-hits and striking out 15 Seattle Mariners. Cole now has 232 strikeouts on the year, a commanding 34 strikeout lead over Max Scherzer.
"Gerrit is spectacular. That's the job of the ace is to keep the train from derailing and keep it on the tracks, and that's what he did today," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.
Cole improves to 12-5 with a 2.91 ERA. Combine that with his MLB-leading strikeout numbers, and he could be the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award, battling it out with former Astro Charlie Morton and fellow Astro Justin Verlander.
"I'm not really worried about that type of thing. I'm worried about winning the division and ultimately a World Series," Cole said.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Justin Smoak hit two homers in the Nationals win over Arizona. The deadline acquisition has three homers in nine at-bats as a National.
The Cleveland Indians are on a six-game winning streak, leaving them 1 GB of the Twins and in the driver's seat for the AL Wild Card.
Boston swept both ends of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, scoring a blistering thirty runs over the two games.