Happy birthday, Mickey Moniak. The outfielder celebrated turning 28 by finishing a single short of the cycle. Per the Rockies, Moniak is the first player since at least 1898 to post a stat line that included nine total bases, three extra-base hits, a triple, a home run, and 5 RBI.
1. Walk-off Wednesday
Yesterday’s action featured several exciting finishes, including four walk-off wins. Mets rookie Carson Benge knocked in the winning run in the 10th inning against the Tigers. The Rangers gave up three runs in the top of the ninth, then scored three runs in the bottom of the frame to beat the Diamondbacks. The Astros also fumbled a ninth-inning lead, only to win it in extras on a Zach Cole single. The biggest blast of the evening was Daulton Varsho‘s game-winning grand slam against the Rays. The Blue Jays gave up two runs in the top of the 10th, but loaded the bases against reliever Aaron Brooks. Varsho sent the fans home happy with a drive to left field that landed in Toronto’s bullpen.
2. Soto leaves with ankle injury
Mets megastar Juan Soto left midway through the game against Detroit with an ankle injury. The outfielder initially remained in the contest after fouling a ball off his foot, but was relieved by MJ Melendez in the seventh inning. Soto seems to have avoided serious injury. He’s currently day-to-day and could suit up for the series finale on Thursday. “I was concerned as soon as he got hit, because it got him pretty good there,” manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters, including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “We went out there, and you could tell that he was in pain. That second at-bat didn’t look right.” The Mets can ill-afford to lose another big-name player, with Francisco Lindor and Luis Robert Jr. already sidelined.
3. Garrett returning against Twins
Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett is expected to start on Thursday against Minnesota. He’s been working his way back from UCL surgery. Garrett has a crisp 2.30 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning across six starts at Triple-A. He’ll be stepping in for lefty Robby Snelling, who hit the IL yesterday with a UCL sprain. It’s a disappointing outcome for the top prospect, who made just one big-league start before going down with the injury. Snelling was filling the rotation spot of Chris Paddack. Garrett will now have the opportunity to take over that role.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Sousa, Imagn Images