Mets explode for season-high 15 runs, 21 hits in win against Dodgers
Take a look around the league with Big League Stew's daily wrap up. We'll hit on all of the biggest moments from the day that you may have missed, while providing highlights, photos and interesting stats.
Break up the New York Mets.
With newly-acquired veteran Kelly Johnson and top hitting prospect Michael Conforto both in the lineup on Saturday, the Mets offense exploded for a season-high 15 runs on 21 hits in their 15-2 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That's 15 runs and 21 hits.
Those aren't typos, but it's been awhile since they visited that neighborhood. In fact, the last time the Mets notched 20 hits in one game was on Sept. 16, 2011 in Atlanta.
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Everybody in New York's lineup contributed, but it was the 22-year-old Conforto who stood out most. In only his second major league game, Conforto reached base five times on four hits (two doubles, two singles) while also scoring four times. Hitting directly behind Conforto, Kirk Nieuwenhuis also reached base five times on four hits. He had three singles, a double and drove in four.
New arrival Kelly Johnson was one of four other Mets with at least two hits. He added a solo home run. All of this came in support of Matt Harvey (two hits, two RBI), who pitched seven innings of two-run ball.
Making a spot start for Los Angeles, prospect Zach Lee took the brunt of the beating. He allowed seven runs on 11 hits hits over 4 2/3 innings. If the Dodgers acquire a big name at the trade deadline, Lee could be used as the bait. This start won't likely hurt his value, but it certainly doesn't help.
Now this sets up an interesting matchup on Sunday, as the Mets breakout will run directly into Zack Greinke's 43 2/3 inning scoreless streak. Sign us up.
MADISON BUMGARNER HOMERS AGAIN, DOMINATES A'S
San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner is a man of many talents in the realm of baseball, and all of them were on display Saturday afternoon in a 2-1 win against the Oakland A's.
In the third inning, Bumgarner opened the game's scoring with a solo home run, his third of the season. Bumgarner has now connected for nine home runs overall during his seven-year career. Seven of those have come over the last two seasons, which include a pair of grand slams.
Bumgarner can flat rake, but he's paid to pitch, and pitch he also did on Saturday. He held the A’s to one run on five hits over seven innings. He walked two and struck out seven while lowering his ERA to 3.16. He also picked up his 11th victory, as Matt Duffy drove in the go-ahead in the sixth inning. Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla handled the eighth and ninth to cement the win.
CHRIS DAVIS GRAND SLAM ENDS O'S LOSING STREAK
Chris Davis opened the scoring Saturday with his fifth career grand slam and Miguel Gonzalez made it hold up as the Baltimore Orioles snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Davis's third-ining slam came off Rays starter Erasmo Ramirez after J.J. Hardy, Jonathan Schoop and David Lough each singled. The home run was Davis' 22nd of the season and his third in the last four games. He's also coming off a two-week stretch in which he had three home runs taken away by spectacular defensive plays. He's on pace to pass 30 home runs for the third time in four seasons.
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As for Gonzalez, he allowed one run and five hits over 7 2/3 innings to win for the third time in his last four starts. The lone run came on Curt Casali's eighth-inning homer.
With the win, Baltimore moved back to within one-half game of Tampa Bay in the standings. They're seven games behind the division leading Yankees.
ROYALS BEATS ASTROS IN EXTRAS
The Houston Astros have been a thorn in the Kansas City Royals side this season, having won each of the first four games in the season series. But the Royals finally turned that around on Saturday, winning a well pitched 2-1 battle in 10 innings.
Alcides Escobar played the role of hero, dropping a perfectly placed two-out single between second baseman Jose Altuve and right fielder Colby Rasmus. It wasn't hit hard at all, but had just enough oomph to land in that perfect spot.
It was actually the type of hit that seemed appropriate to decide such an excellently pitched game. The two sides combined for just 12 hits. Royals starter Danny Duffy allowed one run on three hits in his six innings of work. From there, Kansas City's dominant bullpen took over with Ryan Madson, Wade Davis, Greg Holland and Kelvin Herrera each pitching one scoreless inning.
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For Houston, right-hander Scott Feldman took a one-hitter into the seventh inning before the Royals tied it on Kendrys Morales' ground-rule double to center.
The weekend series will conclude on Sunday with Dallas Keuchel meeting Yordano Ventura. This will be Ventura's first start since being sent down and immediately recalled this week.
Want to see more from Saturday's slate of games? Check out our scoreboard.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
