August 19th, 2025

Monday MLB Recap: From Harper’s 440-foot rockets to Detroit’s four-homer beatdown, plus Skenes’ gem and the Giants’ first-inning fireworks

⚾ Headlines Around the League

IconPirates 5, Blue Jays 2 — Skenes Silences AL East Leaders, Davis Delivers Late

IconPhillies 12, Mariners 7 — Harper’s 440-Foot Blasts, Turner’s Milestone Power Rout

IconTigers 10, Astros 0 — Pérez sparks four-homer rout as Detroit dominates

IconGiants 4, Padres 3 — Ramos ignites with leadoff blast as Giants hold on

IconRookie Basallo Earns Praise as Orioles Back Rogers’ Dominance

🔥 Notable Performances

Hitting

Player (Team)H/ABRHRRBISB
Trea Turner (PHI)4/62150
Jurickson Profar (ATL)3/53251
Lenyn Sosa (CHW)2/61140
Cole Young (SEA)1/41140
Bryce Harper (PHI)3/62230
Jarren Duran (BOS)1/30030
Trey Sweeney (DET)2/42130
Gunnar Henderson (BAL)2/43120
Riley Greene (DET)1/41120
Vinnie Pasquantino (KC)1/41120
Michael Harris II (ATL)4/41120

Pitching

Player (Team)IPHERBBK
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)7.04326
Jack Flaherty (DET)7.03019
Trevor Rogers (BAL)7.04117
Robbie Ray (SF)6.23016
Ranger Suarez (PHI)6.242010
Paul Skenes (PIT)6.05218
Freddy Peralta (MIL)6.01036
Zac Gallen (ARI)6.05303
Brady Singer (CIN)6.06114
Dustin May (BOS)6.08225

📊 Final Scores and Highlights

Pirates 5, Blue Jays 2

Paul Skenes leaned on his fastball metrics to carve up the Blue Jays with eight strikeouts over six innings, while Henry Davis provided the late offense that lifted Pittsburgh to a statement win at PNC Park.

🔑 Key Moments

  • Alexander Canario opened the scoring in the 2nd with a sharp RBI single to center, putting Pittsburgh ahead 1-0.

  • The Blue Jays answered in the 3rd — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. brought home the tying run with a groundout, and Bo Bichette followed with an RBI single to give Toronto a 2-1 lead.

  • Pittsburgh responded quickly in the bottom half as Bryan Reynolds forced a fielder’s choice that plated the tying run, knotting things at 2-2.

  • In the 7th, Henry Davis doubled to spark a rally and later scored on a wild pitch, pushing the Pirates in front 3-2.

  • Davis added insurance in the 8th with a deep sacrifice fly, giving Pittsburgh breathing room in what became a 5-2 victory.

📊 Notable Stats

Pirates

  • Paul Skenes: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K

  • Henry Davis: 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, sac fly

  • Alexander Canario: 1-for-4, RBI single

Blue Jays

  • Kevin Gausman: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

  • Bo Bichette: 1-for-4, RBI single

  • Addison Barger: 1-for-3, 2B, 1 R

Phillies 12, Mariners 7

The Phillies erupted for a season-high 21 hits as Bryce Harper crushed two of the longest homers in baseball this year and Trea Turner marked his 1,500th career hit in a blowout of Seattle. Ranger Suárez fanned 10 in a sharp bounceback start to help Philly roll in the series opener.

🔑 Key Moments

  • The tone was set early in the 2nd inning when Max Kepler knocked in the game’s first run with a sharp RBI single. Moments later, Bryson Stott doubled into the gap to bring home another, putting the Phillies up 2-0.

  • That brought Trea Turner to the plate, and he made history in style — launching his 1,500th career hit into the seats for a three-run homer that stretched the lead to 5-0.

  • J.T. Realmuto kept the inning rolling with a solo blast of his own, capping off a five-run frame that left Seattle reeling.

  • In the 6th, Bryce Harper joined the party. He crushed a 440-foot rocket into the second deck — his longest home run since 2023 — pushing the lead to 7-0.

  • Seattle finally showed life in the 7th when Mitch Garver homered and rookie Cole Young followed with a three-run shot, suddenly making it a ballgame at 7-4.

  • But Harper slammed the door shut in the bottom half. He connected for another towering shot — this one 448 feet — as part of a four-run inning that blew the game wide open at 11-4.

📊 Notable Stats

Phillies

  • Trea Turner: 4-for-6, 2 R, HR, 5 RBI (1,500th career hit)

  • Bryce Harper: 3-for-6, 2 HR, 3 RBI

  • J.T. Realmuto: 3-for-5, HR, RBI

  • Ranger Suárez: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 K

Mariners

  • Mitch Garver: 2-for-4, HR, RBI

  • Cole Young: 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI

  • J.P. Crawford: 2-for-4, 2 R

Tigers 10, Astros 0

Detroit’s offense erupted behind Wenceel Pérez’s marathon at-bat and solo blast, setting off a chain of homers that buried Houston in a one-sided win at Comerica Park.

🔑 Key Moments

  • Wenceel Pérez battled through a 10-pitch showdown with Spencer Arrighetti, narrowly missing a homer foul before launching the very next cutter fair into the right-center seats. His blast broke the scoreless tie and lit the fuse for Detroit’s offense.

  • The very next inning, Kerry Carpenter ripped a two-run triple down the right-field line, bringing home Colt Keith and Gleyber Torres to stretch the lead. Moments later, Riley Greene crushed a 405-foot two-run shot to put the Tigers up 5-0.

  • In the sixth, Trey Sweeney sparked another rally with a sharp triple to center, putting more pressure on the Astros’ pitching staff.

  • The Tigers broke the game wide open in the seventh when Trey Sweeney returned to the plate and belted a three-run homer to right, all but sealing Houston’s fate.

  • To cap the offensive barrage, Colt Keith launched a solo shot in the same inning, bringing the crowd to its feet and giving Detroit double-digit runs.

📊 Notable Stats

Astros

  • Carlos Correa: 1-3, 2B

  • Christian Walker: 2-3, BB

Tigers

  • Wenceel Pérez: 2-3, HR (10), RBI, BB, SB

  • Riley Greene: 1-4, HR (29), 2 RBI

  • Trey Sweeney: 2-4, 3B, HR (6), 3 RBI

  • Colt Keith: 3-4, 2B, HR (11), 2 RBI, SB

  • Kerry Carpenter: 1-2, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 BB

  • Jack Flaherty: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 9 K

Giants 4, Padres 3

Heliot Ramos sparked San Francisco with a leadoff homer and stayed in the spotlight all night as the Giants rode a three-homer first inning and Robbie Ray’s steady outing to edge the Padres at Petco Park.

🔑 Key Moments

  • Top 1st — The tone was set immediately. Heliot Ramos ambushed Nestor Cortes’ first offering and drilled it 358 feet to left for a leadoff homer, giving the Giants instant momentum (SF 1–0).

  • Next Batter — The fireworks weren’t done. Rafael Devers crushed a 405-foot shot to right-center for back-to-back homers, a rare feat for the Giants (SF 2–0).

  • Still 1st Inning — After a walk and an out, Wilmer Flores joined the party, turning on an 89 mph fastball and sending it into the seats for a two-run blast. In a blink, the Giants led by four (SF 4–0).

  • Bottom 2nd — San Diego thought they answered when Xander Bogaerts’ drive appeared to pop out of Ramos’ glove and over the fence. After replay, fan interference was ruled, taking the run off the board. Manager Mike Shildt was ejected in the fallout, and boos rained down on Ramos the rest of the night.

  • Bottom 7th — The Padres finally broke through. After a two-error sequence by Casey Schmitt, Ryan O’Hearn made it sting, blasting a two-run homer off Ray’s final pitch of the night to cut it to one (SF 4–3).

  • Bottom 9th — With the tying run on base, Randy Rodríguez induced Freddy Fermin to pop out to Devers at first, sealing a tight Giants win (Final: SF 4–3).

📊 Notable Stats

Giants

  • Heliot Ramos: 2-5, HR (15), R, RBI

  • Rafael Devers: 1-4, HR (24), R, RBI, BB

  • Wilmer Flores: 1-3, HR (13), 2 RBI, R, BB

  • Robbie Ray: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 6 K, HR — 10th win

Padres

  • Ryan O’Hearn: 1-2, HR (15), 2 RBI, R

  • Xander Bogaerts: 1-4, 2B, R

  • Jose Iglesias: 1-3, R, BB

  • Nestor Cortes: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 3 HR

Orioles 6, Red Sox 3

Trevor Rogers carved up the Red Sox at Fenway, firing seven dominant innings while Samuel Basallo and Gunnar Henderson carried the bats in a milestone night for Baltimore.

🔑 Key Moments

  • In the 3rd, Gunnar Henderson got the O’s rolling, unloading a 414-foot blast to dead center — a solo shot that gave Baltimore a 1–0 lead.

  • The very next inning, Samuel Basallo — catching in Fenway for the first time — delivered a sharp RBI single to center, extending the lead to 2–0.

  • The Orioles kept piling on in the 7th when Henderson ripped a triple into the gap, bringing home Jackson Holliday to push it to 3–0.

  • Boston finally scratched against Rogers late, but the Orioles answered in the 9th. Basallo doubled in his second RBI of the night, and Henderson crossed again, ballooning the cushion to 6–1.

  • With Fenway buzzing in the bottom of the 9th, Jarren Duran doubled home two runs to cut the deficit, but Yennier Cano shut the door to secure the 6–3 win.

📊 Notable Stats

Orioles

  • Trevor Rogers: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (1.41 ERA)

  • Gunnar Henderson: 2-for-4, HR (15), 3 R, 2 RBI, 3B

  • Samuel Basallo: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R

Red Sox

  • Jarren Duran: 1-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI

  • Dustin May: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Other scores around the league:

Brewers 7, Cubs 0
F. Peralta: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 6 SO, 3 BB
C. Durbin: 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Cardinals 8, Marlins 3
M. Svanson: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO
M. Liberatore: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 5 SO, 1 BB

White Sox 13, Braves 9
J. Profar: 3-5, 3 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI
Y. Gomez: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 SO, 1 BB

Royals 4, Rangers 3
M. Wacha: 5.2 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 3 SO
C. Estevez: 1.0 IP

Rockies 4, Dodgers 3
Y. Yamamoto: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 6 SO, 2 BB
V. Vodnik: 1.0 IP, 1 SO

Reds 4, Angels 1
B. Singer: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4 SO, 1 BB
S. Barlow: 1.1 IP, 4 SO, 1 BB

Guardians 3, Diamondbacks 1
G. Williams: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 5 SO, 1 BB
Z. Gallen: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 SO

Like this newsletter? Help us keep the content free by sharing our newsletter and supporting our sponsors.

Thanks for reading!