Last Night in Baseball: The Phillies (Somehow) Won on Catcher Interference Again
That's why we're here to help, though, by sifting through the previous days' games, and figuring out what you missed, but shouldn't have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball: Phillies beat Red Sox again, with help from catcher interference, again
On Monday, the Phillies beat the Red Sox thanks to a walk-off catcher interference call with the bases loaded — a rarity that's only happened once before in MLB history, all the way back in 1971. On Tuesday, catcher interference scored the game-winner for the Phillies yet again.
With the Phillies up 1-0 already in the first inning, Bryce Harper decided it was time to steal home. Richard Fitts' windup was slow enough for Harper to risk a straight steal, so he took off during it and made it safely home at basically the same time as Fitts' pitch to Brandon Marsh. However, Harper was called safe for another reason: catcher interference by Carlos Narváez, his second in his last two innings.
Narváez caught Fitts' pitch and immediately put himself in position to get Harper, but the problem was that he had crossed home plate to get it. This kept Marsh from swinging, so even though he had bailed to get out of Harper's way and a potential play at the plate, by the letter of the law Narváez had broken a rule, resulting in the CI and a balk called on Fitts. Harper scored, Nick Castellanos was awarded second and Marsh was sent to first.
While Harper scored the eventual game-winner that early, that didn't stop Kyle Schwarber from piling on with his 33rd homer of the season the very next inning.
The Phillies' weak point is their bullpen, but the performance of starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez negated that. Sanchez struck out 12 batters in a complete-game effort that saw him allow just four hits, one run and no walks. It was his third start with double digits in strikeouts on the season, and his ERA now sits at 2.40, all of 0.01 behind teammate and Phillies' ace Zack Wheeler.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox, who had won 10 in a row before the All-Star break, are just 1-4 since the season resumed. They'll try to avoid the sweep on Wednesday with Lucas Giolito on the mound against Jesus Luzardo. A three-run… check swing?
The Dodgers looked good on Monday in a way that they haven't nearly often enough in July. On Tuesday? Well. That looked a lot like the rest of the month. The highlight/lowlight example being the three runs they allowed the Twins to score on a check-swing infield hopper.
Reliever Will Klein came in for the Dodgers to start the top of the seventh, and while he struck out Will Castro to open the frame, he then walked Carlos Correa, Ty France and Matt Wallner in order. Los Angeles would put Edgardo Henriquez on the mound to try to keep something terrible from happening. He did not keep something terrible from happening.
In fact, Henriquez was directly responsible for said happening.
Royce Lewis would reach first base despite a dribbling little checked-swing ball hit right to Henriquez, because the Dodgers' reliever picked it up in a way that caused him to pause and then rush his throw, which sailed by first base and into right field — a ball hit a few feet up the line had reached the warning track, with the bases loaded. By the time the ball got back to the infield, Lewis was standing on third, and the Twins were up 9-5. They'd end up winning 10-7.
Well hey, at least Ohtani went yard and tied for the NL home run lead once more. That's four games in a row now, for the first time in his career. Matthews' week is already huge
Brice Matthews was drafted by the Astros in the first round in 2023, and already found himself in the majors as of July 11. He's had himself a week just two games into it, as Matthews hit two homers on Monday against the Diamondbacks, driving in five runs in a 6-3 win, and on Tuesday he was at it again.
First, with his third homer of the year, a two-run shot in the top of the eighth that put Houston up 2-1.
Then, Matthews decided to flash his glove, too. He kicked off a smooth-looking double play to end the D-backs' scoring threat in the ninth, and the game.
The Diamondbacks had the bases loaded with one out, down 3-1, and it's very easy to imagine that ball getting through to the outfield and, at the least, tying things up in Arizona. Instead, Matthews makes the sliding stop and pivot, successfully gets the ball to second, and a throw to first later the Astros came away victorious once more. Raleigh goes deep when the Mariners need it most
Cal Raleigh went on a tear before the All-Star Game, and ended up finishing one home run shy of Barry Bonds' 2001 record of 39 homers before the break because of it. Then Big Dumper won the Home Run Derby, but since play resumed following the Midsummer Classic, he hadn't yet hit another homer. Until Tuesday, anyway, when Raleigh mashed a no-doubt solo shot to break a scoreless tie in the sixth inning against the Brewers.
That homer mattered in-game, but it also tied Ken Griffey Jr. for the most through five seasons in Mariners' history… and Raleigh's season isn't over. He's at 132 career dingers now, but the next one will give him 40 for the year, and sole possession of this franchise-best stat with over two months of season to go.
Seattle would end up winning 1-0 courtesy this Raleigh long ball, snapping the Brewers' 11-game win streak. While Raleigh might have driven in the lone run, he doesn't deserve all the credit for the victory: M's starter Logan Gilbert struck out 10 batters over 6.1 innings while scattering a pair of hits, and four members of Seattle's bullpen kept the red-hot Brewers ice-cold the rest of the way. A challenger appears
Rich Hill is back! The 45-year-old was called up by the Royals on Tuesday for his first MLB start of the season against the Cubs, which made him (1) the oldest active player in the league, (2) the oldest pitcher to start a game since a 49-year-old Jamie Moyer once roamed the land in 2012 and (3) tied with Edwin Jackson for the most teams any one player has ever played for, with 14.
How long will Dick Mountain stick around? The answer to that is unknown whether you're talking about 2025 or long-term, but what matters at this moment is that Hill is back, and he went five innings with two strikeouts and one earned run in his return. Enjoy him while you can, whether that's for a few more starts, the rest of the year, or long enough for him to add a record 15th team to his résumé. You can't forget about Cruz's legs
Oneil Cruz's absurd strength dominates the conversation, but the dude can also run, as he reminded the Tigers on Tuesday. The Pirates were already up 2-0 in the bottom of the third, and then Ke'Bryan Hayes hit a ball to third that should have been an easy out at first. Instead, there was a throwing error by Zach McKinstry, allowing Hayes to reach, and Cruz took advantage of the confusion. He not only advanced to third on the throw, but never quite stopped, and then turned on the jets to make it all the way home despite the ball never leaving the infield.
A real heads-up play from Cruz, who noticed that the Tigers weren't moving with the kind of urgency they should have been with a runner like him already in scoring position. A Cubs' Double steal!
The Royals fell for the oldest trick in the book. Wasn't Rich Hill there when that thing was written? Come on, guys.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Bryce Harper Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball
recommended
Item 1 of 1 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 minutes ago
- USA Today
To avoid MLB's worst record ever, Rockies attack stretch run like pennant race
BALTIMORE – Embarking on a stretch drive like no other, the Colorado Rockies will attack the final two months of this season with a unique laundry list of objectives. Finishing school: All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman wants to sprint through the tape of this year, proving he can sustain an .839 OPS at a position young players often wear down in the second half. Avoiding ignominy: After a 9-50 start buried them in a historic hole, the Rockies have improved to the point they are right on the cut line to break the Chicago White Sox's one-year-old modern record of 121 losses, a 'chase' that should come down to the last week of the season. And of utmost importance, taking steps to ensure it doesn't get any worse in 2026. 'These next two months, obviously it doesn't look like we're making the postseason this year, but we gotta act like it,' center fielder Mickey Moniak tells USA TODAY Sports. 'Act like we're making that run just to grow as a team and get better. 'And make sure next year, we're in a spot where we can compete and have something like this year not happen again.' For now, this year remains to be fully defined. At 27-78, the Rockies' .257 winning percentage puts them just ahead of the White Sox's .253 mark, although that's a little deceiving. Chicago was 27-82 before the trade deadline, then proceeded to lose 24 of 28 games after its roster was strip-mined, digging a hole that not even a respectable September could overcome. The Rockies' long, hard goodbyes have only begun: Third baseman Ryan McMahon, their best all-around player, was dealt to the New York Yankees on July 25, and more players could be on their way out before the July 31 deadline. Uncomfortably numb On the field, the Rockies will have to plug holes, shift roles and find production from new faces. Off it, the psychic drag of bidding their best farewell is yet another hurdle. 'It feels like it happens so often, you almost grow numb to it,' says reliever Jake Bird, who debuted in 2022. 'Mac's an awesome guy. It was great having him around. A great player, especially on the defensive end. It's just the nature of the business. It's almost next man up. 'It sucks, but it's part of the business. A new day and you gotta go out and compete.' Says Moniak, whose .865 OPS likely means he's found a permanent home in Colorado: 'Mac's been a Rockie his whole life. I've been here for a few months, just this year, and you instantly get the feel how much he he meant to this organization and the guys in this clubhouse. 'He was probably the leader of this team. Losing a guy like that, we're going to miss him. But also at the end of the day, the organization made a decision they felt was best for it. 'I'm very excited for Mac to have the opportunity to go play in New York and try to hunt down a postseason this year and a World Series.' Interim manager Warren Schaefer echoes that, noting his charges' happiness for McMahon's opportunities – he hit a game-tying two-run double at Yankee Stadium on Sunday – while lamenting his departure. 'I think they've processed it well. I think they understand,' says Schaefer, who's posted a 20-44 record after Bud Black got off to a 7-33 start, resulting in the firing of Colorado's all-time winningest manager. 'At the same time, there's a part of every guy in that clubhouse – especially the ones who have been with him for a long time – there's a bit of sadness that he's gone. 'I think that's natural with a friend. But it's not like he's gone forever.' The four days to come before the 6 p.m. ET deadline will be curious. Colorado has a bevy of veteran starters, yet none of them – Antonio Senzatela (6.68 ERA), left-hander Kyle Freeland (5.24) and German Marquez (5.67, on injured list with biceps injury) – have consistently distinguished themselves. Bullpen arms are always in demand, yet Bird and current closer Seth Halvorsen have multiple years of club control remaining, with peripheral stats that may not compel contenders to pay a premium for those future years. It's a similar situation with a handful of veteran position players, whose acquisitions wouldn't necessarily make anyone's list of 'MLB Trade Deadline Winners,' but would nonetheless leave holes on an inexperienced team grasping for any sense of consistency. 'We've gotta learn how to win' It's already a lineup filled with folks like DH Yanquiel Fernandez, who debuted on July 2, and first baseman Warming Bernabel, who was recalled after the McMahon trade and homered in his second career game. The progress comes in the likely keepers the club has identified. Moniak, the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 by the Philadelphia Phillies, has, at 27, perhaps finally found a groove with his third team in four seasons. While he lacks the All-Star berth McMahon once earned, he and other Rockies have seen some things in their career arcs that have value to the less experienced. 'Baseball's kind of a revolving door of wisdom,' says Moniak. 'All of us in here consider us family. Obviously, guys who have more time and been through more experiences can kind fo share that knowledge with the younger guys and pass on stuff that older guys pass on to them.' For Goodman, it's a matter of building on a season that, other than a soft May, has resulted in monthly OPSes of .829, 1.108 and .814. He's caught 65 games and served as DH for 28 others, with an eye toward preserving his offensive vitality. 'I want to keep building off that. I want to play a full season, not just that first half,' says Goodman, a fourth-round pick in 2021 from the University Memphis who has stuck in his third season with Colorado. 'Since the second half started, as a team we've started playing better. There's a lot of confidence in the locker room. 'We've got a really young team. We gotta learn to play the game the right way and learn how to win some ballgames.' Preferably, one more than 41, the better to avoid the wrong sort of history. It is what will pass as drama for outside observers as the schedule drains away Within the Rockies' realm, the growth chart is far more difficult to measure, particularly if the team becomes even less recognizable after the deadline. How best to measure an ethos when the record is so grim? 'Continuing to play baseball the right way. Stringing two months together of mostly playing nine-inning games, full games,' says Schaeffer. 'Playing aggressive baseball. The goal when I'm evaluating on a day-to-day basis is the style of play. The intent of what we're doing at the plate. 'Just seeing progress in all facets on a daily basis.' And hopefully, never having to do this again.
Axios
2 minutes ago
- Axios
Marlins star Kyle Stowers' Best Day Ever in Miami
Miami Marlins left fielder Kyle Stowers is having an impressive 2025 season. He made his first All-Star Game and ranks among the MLB's most prolific home run hitters. We caught up with the California native to ask him how he likes to unwind during an off-day in Miami. Answers edited for space 🍊 Morning Meal: My wife and I like going to Pura Vida because of their healthy and tasty options. I like to get the overnight oats and maybe a smoothie. We also love to go to Pasión del Cielo. They have so many good coffee options. 🐶 Morning Activity: We love to walk our dog around the Key Biscayne Dog Beach. We also like to lay out for a little. I love going in the water, because I think ocean water is healing. We then will walk our dog on the beach, and he'll put his feet in the water. ⛱ Afternoon activity: I love to go to get a day pass at a resort and hang out by the pool. It feels like vacation when you go to those places and get to order food or a drink to one of the cabanas. Having beach access is also a nice perk. I just love being by the water. 🌮 Lunch: I'm probably going to The Taco Stand. We have a few of them in San Diego, so it really just reminds me of home. Mexican food is my favorite, so it's the perfect spot. I'm probably getting one of the burritos there but will sometimes get a quesadilla or rolled tacos. 🍣 Dinner: There is no shortage of fine dining in Miami, that's for sure! But I think my favorite spot I've been to so far is Mila in South Beach. I really liked the sushi rolls I got there, but their other options are amazing, too. 🌙 Evening activity: Usually on off days we try to get home fairly early and have some time to wind down. But if we were to go out, we would probably go to Brickell with teammates and watch whatever sports is on at one of the restaurants. I love spending time with the guys off the field.
Hamilton Spectator
3 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Shaq has been refurbishing basketball courts for 30 years, knows first hand how they can help kids
Shaquille O'Neal knows exactly how much refurbishing a basketball court can mean to a community and the kids who play on it. He learned first-hand from his former Boston Celtics teammate Marquis Daniels. He was a teenager three decades ago when O'Neal was playing with the Orlando Magic and rebuilt a court in the inner city area where Daniels was growing up. 'It was big. He was somebody growing up that I looked up to, he was the tallest person I had ever seen,' Daniels told The AP. 'He was playing with my home team the Orlando Magic and giving back to the community and showing his appreciation. For kids like me to have a court in the inner city was huge.' Years later when they were teammates in Boston, Daniels reminded the Hall of Famer that he had been at that court dedication and how it helped change his life. After a 10-year career in the NBA, Daniels has been working as a coach at his alma mater Auburn since 2018. O'Neal recalled Daniels telling him the story. 'He said, you don't remember me?' O'Neal said while in Rockwell, Texas, to refurbish another court near his new home. 'I said no, and he said well I was one of the kids that grew up in Orlando and you fixed up a court. Because you fixed it up, I'm here.' Refurbishing courts is commonplace around the NBA and WNBA. The Indiana Fever unveiled a new Legacy Court at a local park in Indianapolis during All-Star weekend and the league has an initiative this year to put down orange lines across the country to inspire young players with a WNBA 3-point arc on outdoor courts. The renovated court at Gloria Williams park is now part of a collection of Comebaq Courts, a joint venture by Icy Hot and the Shaquille O'Neal Foundation to build well-equipped and safe courts for kids across the country. 'They found this court that hasn't been refurbished in a while and that's historical with the city,' O'Neal said. Renovating one in Rockwall was actually the idea of Dallas Wings star Arike Ogunbowale. She's played her entire career in Dallas and wanted to do something for the community. 'This is like my second home. I've been here my whole career, so this initiative with Icy Hot and Shaq was a no-brainer,' she said. 'Just to give back to the youth that pours into us and my teammates every night is special.' It's special to O'Neal also as he plans to spend a lot of his time in the Texas city. 'I'll get on my little scooter or motorcycle and just ride by and see what's going on with the kids,' he said. 'I work in Atlanta, but it's only an hour flight and I'm sure at some point this will be my permanent home.' O'Neal, who is the president of Reebok Basketball, also donated basketball shoes to all the members of the Boys & Girls Club kids who were at the event. ___ AP WNBA: AP NBA:
