August 9th, 2025

⚾ Headlines Around the League

Brewers 3, Mets 2 — Perkins’ Perfect Throw Seals 7th Straight Win

Astros 5, Yankees 3 (F/10) — Correa’s Clutch Single, Trammell’s Blast Lift Houston in Bronx Thriller

Red Sox 10, Padres 2 — Buehler Delivers October-Level Dominance in San Diego

Kershaw Outduels Scherzer in Historic Rematch

Cardinals 5, Cubs 0 — McGreevy Shakes Off Comebacker Scare, Walker Launches Long Homer in Shutout

Raleigh’s Late Blast Lifts Seattle in Series Opener

Happy Saturday, Thanks for reading First Pitch!

Friday night did not disappoint! In fact, there were so many good games I wish I could recap them all.

The Brewers continue to exceed expectations, and Friday’s win over the Mets was just another example. But the real headline? Blake Perkins delivered one of the greatest game-ending throws you will ever see. This one belongs in the “Plays of the Year” folder. Check it out below:

Next up, Cal Raleigh. Big Dumper came through with the most electric go-ahead homer you’ll ever witness. This screams AL MVP to me… The man has been a thrill to watch all season, and this was one more epic chapter.

Also, I wanted to take a moment to appreciate this shot of Oracle Park from Friday night. One of baseball’s most beautiful stadiums, and on a night like that? Unreal.

And yes, I didn’t forget about the Yankees. Another heartbreaker. Another bullpen collapse. At this point, you have to ask, is Aaron Boone the problem? Every time they pull you back in, another late-game gut punch knocks you down.

Boone went with Devin Williams in a tie game heading into the 10th… and, well, you know how that ended. Something has to change if this team’s going to make a deep run. It blows my mind that Boone keeps rolling Williams out in high-leverage spots given his current mental state. The Yankees literally traded for three elite relievers at the deadline and still went with Williams.

I know Bednar threw a ton this week, but honestly what on earth are we doing here?? Who knows what tomorrow will bring but I can’t wait to find out.

Enjoy your Saturday and let’s have a great weekend of baseball!
- Ryan

🔥 Notable Performances

Hitting

Pitching

📊 Final Scores and Highlights

Brewers 3, Mets 2

The Brewers kept their summer surge alive with a seventh consecutive victory, edging the Mets in front of a season-high crowd after Blake Perkins gunned down the tying run at the plate to end the game.

🔑 Key Moments

• The Mets struck early when Juan Soto lifted a solo homer to right in the 1st, followed by Starling Marte’s towering 418-foot solo shot in the 2nd for a 2–0 lead.

• In the 5th, Brice Turang turned the game with a 424-foot two-run blast to right-center, scoring Perkins and tying it 2–2.

• Later that inning, rookie Isaac Collins was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in the go-ahead run.

• Brandon Woodruff locked in after the early homers, tossing a season-high 7 innings with 8 strikeouts and holding the Mets hitless after the 2nd inning.

• With two outs in the 9th, Jeff McNeil blooped a single to center, but Perkins charged, fired a perfect one-hopper to William Contreras, and nailed Marte at the plate to end the game.

• The play capped a night that Brewers players called “playoff-like,” pushing their NL Central lead to a season-high five games.

📊 Notable Stats

Brewers

• Brice Turang: 1-for-3, HR (9), 2 RBI, BB, SB (21)

• Isaac Collins: 0-for-2, RBI (HBP)

• Blake Perkins: 1-for-4, R, game-ending assist

• Brandon Woodruff: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

• Trevor Megill: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, SV (27)

Mets

• Juan Soto: 1-for-4, HR (27), RBI

• Starling Marte: 2-for-4, HR (5), 2B, RBI

• Jeff McNeil: 2-for-4

• Kodai Senga: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K

Astros 5, Yankees 3

Carlos Correa broke a 2-2 deadlock with a go-ahead single in the 10th, then Taylor Trammell followed with a towering two-run homer as the Astros took a tense, playoff-like win at Yankee Stadium. Jose Altuve also homered early, while Josh Hader recorded a two-inning save to close it out.

🔑 Key Moments

• In the 1st, Jose Altuve wasted no time quieting the Bronx crowd’s boos, launching a two-run homer over the left-field wall for his 20th of the season.

• The Yankees rallied in the 6th, with Ben Rice and Aaron Judge delivering back-to-back RBI singles to even the score at 2–2.

• The game stayed knotted into extras, where Jose Altuve advanced to third on a wild pitch before Carlos Correa lined a single to center, putting Houston ahead 3–2.

• Three batters later, Taylor Trammell crushed a two-run shot to right-center, giving the Astros key insurance runs.

• Josh Hader worked a gritty two-inning outing, allowing one unearned run but slamming the door in the 10th to seal the win.

📊 Notable Stats

Astros

• Jose Altuve: 2-for-4, HR (20), 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B, SB

• Carlos Correa: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 BB

• Taylor Trammell: 2-for-5, HR (3), 2 RBI, R

• Hunter Brown: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

• Josh Hader: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, Win

Yankees

• Ben Rice: 2-for-4, RBI, 2B

• Aaron Judge: 1-for-4, RBI

• Austin Wells: 1-for-3, 2B, R

• Cam Schlittler: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Red Sox 10, Padres 2

Walker Buehler fired six shutout innings in his sharpest outing of the season, holding San Diego to four hits as Boston rolled to a convincing series-opening win at Petco Park. Masataka Yoshida and Wilyer Abreu each homered, while Connor Wong drove in three to pace the offense.

🔑 Key Moments

• Top 4th — Masataka Yoshida’s sac fly to center plated Alex Bregman for the game’s first run.

• Later in the inning, Wilyer Abreu crushed a two-run homer (21) to right-center, extending Boston’s lead to 4–0.

• Top 9th — Yoshida delivered the knockout blow with a two-run homer (2) to right-center, pushing the lead to double digits.

• Buehler navigated traffic with improved fastball command, stranding six Padres and lowering his ERA to 5.40.

• Boston’s bullpen closed it out with three innings of two-run ball, highlighted by Isaiah Campbell’s scoreless 9th.

📊 Notable Stats

Red Sox

• Masataka Yoshida: 2-for-4, HR (2), 3 RBI, 2B, Sac Fly

• Wilyer Abreu: 1-for-4, HR (21), 2 RBI, 2 BB

• Connor Wong: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, 2B

• Walker Buehler: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Padres

• Jake Cronenworth: 2-for-3, RBI, HBP

• Luis Arraez: 2-for-4, BB

• Nick Pivetta: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 1

Seventeen years after their first meeting as rookies, Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer faced off once again in a matchup that lived up to the hype. Kershaw tossed six strong innings and got just enough offensive support — highlighted by Mookie Betts’ go-ahead blast — to earn the win in a game packed with history, respect, and postseason-level intensity.

🔑 Key Moments

• Early Punch from Toronto — Addison Barger put the Blue Jays ahead in the 2nd with a sharp RBI single to right, scoring Bo Bichette.

• Dodgers Defense Bails Out Kershaw — In the 2nd and 6th, Los Angeles turned inning-ending double plays to erase Toronto scoring threats and keep it a one-run game.

• Betts Flips the Script — With Shohei Ohtani aboard in the 5th, Betts jumped on a Scherzer slider, sending it 389 feet to left for a two-run homer that swung the lead to the Dodgers.

• Adding Insurance — In the 7th, Alex Freeland scored on a fielder’s choice after a challenge upheld the tag play at second, stretching the lead to 3–1.

• Bullpen Closes the Door — Anthony Banda, Ben Casparius, and Blake Treinen combined for three scoreless innings.

📊 Notable Stats

Dodgers

• Shohei Ohtani: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B

• Mookie Betts: 2-for-4, HR (12), 3 RBI, 2 R

• Teoscar Hernández: 1-for-3, RBI, SF

• Clayton Kershaw: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Blue Jays

• Addison Barger: 2-for-4, RBI

• Ty France: 2-for-4

• Daulton Varsho: 3-for-4

• Max Scherzer: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Cardinals 5, Cubs 0

Michael McGreevy took a 104.6 mph line drive off the chest in the second inning but stayed in the game to spin six scoreless frames, leading the Cardinals to a series-opening shutout at Busch Stadium. Jordan Walker provided the exclamation point with a 434-foot blast, his first home run since May.

🔑 Key Moments

• Scary Start, Steady Finish — In the 2nd, McGreevy was struck square in the chest by a liner from Pete Crow-Armstrong but stayed in, scattering six singles over six shutout innings.

• Small Ball Sparks Fifth-Inning Rally — Garrett Hampson and Brendan Donovan each dropped sacrifice bunts in the same inning — a first for the Cards since 2018 — setting up a two-run frame capped by Willson Contreras’ RBI single.

• Walker Breaks the Drought — In the 6th, Jordan Walker unloaded on a 111.7 mph rocket to left-center, a 434-foot solo shot for his first homer at Busch Stadium since April 13.

• Defense Delivers — Thomas Saggese cut down a run at the plate in the 5th, while Walker and Hampson tracked down key fly balls to keep Chicago scoreless.

• Bullpen Slams the Door — Matt Svanson, JoJo Romero, and Riley O’Brien combined for three scoreless innings to complete the shutout, holding the Cubs hitless over the final two frames.

📊 Notable Stats

Cardinals

• Alec Burleson: 3-for-4, R

• Masyn Winn: 2-for-4, 2B

• Jordan Walker: 3-for-4, HR (4), 2 RBI, 2 R

• Pedro Pagés: 2-for-4, RBI

• Michael McGreevy: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K

Cubs

• Ian Happ: 2-for-4

• Dansby Swanson: 1-for-4

• Nico Hoerner: 1-for-3, BB

• Matthew Boyd: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Mariners 3, Rays 2

Seattle’s bats were quiet most of the night, but with two outs in the eighth, Cal Raleigh delivered one of the biggest swings of the Mariners’ season. His three-run shot flipped the game, electrified the crowd, and kept the Mariners rolling at 7-1 since the Trade Deadline. Luis Castillo was steady over seven innings, and Matt Brash closed it out with a dominant ninth.

🔑 Key Moments

• Brandon Lowe wasted no time setting the tone for Tampa Bay, jumping on a pitch in the first inning and driving it 391 feet to right-center for a solo homer. The blast gave the Rays early momentum and quieted the Seattle crowd.

• Junior Caminero padded Tampa Bay’s lead in the sixth, launching a high-arching 356-foot homer down the left-field line. His 31st of the year looked like it might be the dagger, as the Mariners still hadn’t reached scoring position.

• J.P. Crawford lit a spark in the eighth with a sharp single to right, giving Seattle their first real baserunner in scoring position all night. Cole Young followed with another base hit to put the tying run on base, setting the stage for something big.

• With two outs and the Mariners still scoreless, Cal Raleigh stepped to the plate. Behind in the count 2-0, he locked onto a sweeper and obliterated it 417 feet into the right-center seats. The three-run homer flipped the game and sent T-Mobile Park into a frenzy.

• Protecting the lead in the ninth, Matt Brash overpowered the Rays’ hitters. He struck out Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero back-to-back before inducing a routine groundout to seal the win.

📊 Notable Stats

Mariners

• Cal Raleigh: 1-for-4, HR (43), 3 RBI

• J.P. Crawford: 1-for-3, R

• Luis Castillo: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Rays

• Brandon Lowe: 1-for-4, HR (21), RBI

• Junior Caminero: 2-for-4, HR (31), RBI

• Drew Rasmussen: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Other scores around the league:

Guardians 9, White Sox 5
T. Bibee: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 7 SO, 4 BB
C. Santana: 2-4, 1 R, 4 RBI

Phillies 9, Rangers 1
C. Sanchez: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 6 SO, 1 BB
T. Turner: 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 5 RBI

Tigers 6, Angels 5
T. Melton: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 SO
K. Finnegan: 1.0 IP, 2 SO

Twins 9, Royals 4
J. Ryan: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 SO
K. Clemens: 2-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Pirates 3, Reds 2
K. Nicolas: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 10 SO, 1 BB
D. Santana: 1.0 IP, 1 SO

Orioles 3, Athletics 2
T. Sugano: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 SO, 2 BB
K. Akin: 1.0 IP, 1 SO

Marlins 5, Braves 1
E. Cabrera: 8.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 11 SO, 1 BB
J. Profar: 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 1
Z. Gallen: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6 SO, 3 BB
B. Alexander: 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI

Giants 5, Nationals 0
K. Teng: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 4 SO, 1 BB
C. Schmitt: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

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