July 5th, 2025

⚾ Headlines Around the League

Busch Blasts 3 HRs as Cubs Set Franchise Record in 11–3 Win

Mets 6, Yankees 5 — McNeil and Soto Power Mets Past Yankees in Subway Series Fireworks

Walker Stays Red-Hot in LA as Astros Obliterate Dodgers 18–1

Clement’s Walk-Off Bunt Lifts Blue Jays to Sixth Straight Win

Reds Rally Past Phillies Behind Steer’s Spark and Deep Lineup

Raleigh Makes History as Mariners Blank Bucs Behind Two-Homer Day

🔥 Top Performances

Hitting

Pitching

📊 Final Scores and Highlights

Cubs 11, Cardinals 3

https://sovrn.co/7h8edmm

(MUST SEE GAME, FULL VIDEO RECAP HERE)

The Cubs delivered a July 4th power show at Wrigley, setting a franchise record with eight home runs and handing the Cardinals an 11–3 loss behind a three-homer game from Michael Busch.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• Michael Busch homered in the 2nd, 3rd, and 7th innings, driving in five runs and becoming the first Cubs first baseman since Ernie Banks (1963) to hit three in a game.

• Pete Crow-Armstrong also went deep twice and finished 4-for-4 with four runs scored, including solo homers in the 1st and 3rd innings.

• The Cubs went back-to-back three times: Crow-Armstrong/Suzuki (1st), Busch/Kelly (2nd), and Swanson/Busch (7th), breaking the team’s single-game HR record.

• Colin Rea allowed just one hit over 6.2 innings to earn the win as the Cubs improved to 53–35.

📊 Notable Stats:

(Cubs)
Michael Busch: 4-for-4, 3 HR (15, 16, 17), 5 RBI, 3 R
Pete Crow-Armstrong: 4-for-4, 2 HR (22, 23), 2 RBI, 4 R
Dansby Swanson: 2-for-4, HR (15), 2 RBI
Seiya Suzuki: Solo HR (24), 1-for-4
Colin Rea: 6.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

(Cardinals)
Brendan Donovan: Solo HR (7), 1-for-3
Lars Nootbaar: 1-for-4, RBI
Garrett Hampson: Double, 1-for-1
Miles Mikolas: 6.0 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 4 K, 6 HR allowed

Mets 6, Yankees 5
Full Video Recap Here

The Mets pulled out a thrilling 6–5 win over the Yankees on the Fourth of July at Citi Field, sparked by two-run homers from Juan Soto and Jeff McNeil, and sealed by a gutsy two-inning save from Reed Garrett. In a back-and-forth game filled with momentum swings, New York’s National League squad showed resilience, taking the opener of the holiday weekend Subway Series.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• Juan Soto tied the game in the first inning with a two-run homer, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs against his former team.

• Jeff McNeil launched the go-ahead two-run homer in the 7th, then made a diving stop in the 9th to rob DJ LeMahieu and preserve the lead.

• Reed Garrett recorded a six-out save, shutting down the Yankees’ lineup over the final two frames.

• Jasson Domínguez and Aaron Judge opened the game with back-to-back homers for the Yankees, and Cody Bellinger added a solo shot.

• Brett Baty also went deep for the Mets with a solo homer in the 6th.

• Justin Hagenman battled through 4.1 innings for the Mets after giving up three early homers.

📊 Notable Stats:

Mets

• Juan Soto: 3-for-4, 2B, HR (21), 2 RBI

• Jeff McNeil: 1-for-3, HR (9), 2 RBI, diving stop in 9th

• Brett Baty: 2-for-4, HR (9), RBI

• Reed Garrett: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 29 pitches

• Justin Hagenman: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 5 K, 3 HR allowed

Yankees

• Jasson Domínguez: 2-for-4, 2 HR (7, 8), 3 RBI, SB (14)

• Aaron Judge: 2-for-4, HR (32), RBI

• Cody Bellinger: 1-for-4, HR (13), RBI

• Marcus Stroman: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Astros 18, Dodgers 1

Christian Walker continued his dominance at Dodger Stadium with a four-hit, four-RBI night as the Astros exploded for 18 runs in a holiday drubbing of the Dodgers. Backed by five home runs and a 10-run sixth inning, Houston extended its offensive outburst and handed Los Angeles its worst loss of the season.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• Isaac Paredes opened the game with a first-pitch solo homer, setting the tone early.

• Christian Walker crushed a two-run homer in the 3rd and finished 4-for-5 with 4 RBIs, including a hit-by-pitch RBI in the 6th.

• Jose Altuve drove in five, including a two-run homer in the 3rd and a three-run blast in the 6th.

• Victor Caratini capped off the Astros’ 10-run sixth with a grand slam, his 8th home run of the season.

• Lance McCullers Jr. tossed six strong innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits while striking out four.

📊 Notable Stats:

Astros

• Christian Walker: 4-for-5, HR (11), 4 RBI

• Jose Altuve: 3-for-3, 2 HR (14, 15), 5 RBI, 2 BB

• Victor Caratini: 3-for-5, 2 2B, Grand Slam (8), 4 RBI

• Jake Meyers: 3-for-5, 3 R, 2B

• Lance McCullers Jr.: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K

Dodgers

• Will Smith: 2-for-2, HR (12), BB, RBI

• Andy Pages: 1-for-3, BB

• Dodgers bullpen: 6 IP, 11 ER, 6 BB, 3 HR allowed

Blue Jays 4, Angels 3
Full Video Recap Here

The Blue Jays found an unexpected way to win their sixth straight game Friday night: a walk-off bunt.

In the 10th inning of a tight 3–3 game, Ernie Clement dropped down a perfectly placed bunt between third base and the pitcher’s mound. When Sam Bachman’s throw sailed over first, Leo Jiménez scored from third and Toronto celebrated a 4–3 walk-off victory over the Angels.

🔑 Key Moments:

• Eric Lauer continued his resurgent season with six strong innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six. He left the game with a 3–1 lead, lowering his ERA to 2.65 over his first 51 innings with Toronto.

• The Angels clawed back in the top of the 7th when Jo Adell launched a game-tying three-run homer off Nick Sandlin, his 19th of the year, capping a rally that erased the Blue Jays’ two-run advantage.

• Andrés Giménez and Bo Bichette each contributed early RBI hits that helped Toronto build a 3–0 lead through six innings.

• With the game tied in extras, Leo Jiménez entered as a pinch-runner and advanced to third, setting the stage for Clement. On a bunt attempt that hugged the infield grass, Clement’s hustle forced a rushed throw from Bachman, which sailed high, allowing the winning run to score.

• Toronto’s bullpen held strong late. Brendon Little, Yariel Rodríguez, and Chad Green combined for 2.2 scoreless innings to preserve the tie and give the Blue Jays a chance to win it in the 10th.

📊 Notable Stats:

TOR
George Springer: 2-for-4, R
Bo Bichette: 1-for-4, RBI
Eric Lauer: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 6 K
Chad Green: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, K (Win)

LAA
Jo Adell: 2-for-4, 2B, HR (19), 3 RBI
Mike Trout: 1-for-3, 2 BB, R
Kyle Hendricks: 5.1 IP, 3 ER
Sam Bachman: 0.0 IP, 1 R (unearned), throwing error on game-ending bunt

Reds 9, Phillies 6

The Reds shook off a rough outing from starter Andrew Abbott with a relentless offensive charge Friday, scoring in four straight innings to beat the Phillies 9–6 in Philadelphia. Spencer Steer drove in two and scored twice as Cincinnati secured its sixth win in the last eight games.

🔑 Key Moments:

• Nick Castellanos opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first off Abbott, part of a three-run opening frame that could have derailed the Reds early.

• Trailing 3–1 in the third, Cincinnati flipped the game with a five-run rally. TJ Friedl started it with a bunt single, and after patient at-bats from Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz, the Reds rattled off five straight scoring plays — including RBI hits from Austin Hays and Steer, and a sac fly from Noelvi Marte — to take a 6–3 lead.

• De La Cruz added another RBI single in the fourth and threw out a runner at home in the bottom half to preserve a three-run lead.

• Steer led off the fifth with a single and scored on a Will Benson pinch-hit RBI knock. Santiago Espinal added another RBI that inning to make it 9–4.

• After the Phillies pulled within three on a Kyle Schwarber two-run double in the sixth, Tony Santillan and Emilio Pagán locked things down in the late innings to secure the win.

📊 Notable Stats:

CIN
Spencer Steer: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2B
Elly De La Cruz: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, great throw at home
Austin Hays: RBI double, 1 R
Andrew Abbott: 3.1 IP, 9 H, 4 ER
Bullpen: 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 K

PHI
Nick Castellanos: 2-run HR (11)
Kyle Schwarber: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Bryce Harper: 2-for-4, BB
Jesús Luzardo: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R (5 ER), 3 BB

Mariners 6, Pirates 0

Cal Raleigh tied franchise legend Ken Griffey Jr. with his 35th home run before the All-Star break, powering the Mariners to a 6–0 shutout win over the Pirates on Friday. With two more long balls, Raleigh continued one of the most dominant first-half displays by a catcher in MLB history.

🔑 Key Moments:

• Raleigh launched his 34th homer of the season in the 1st inning, a 433-foot blast into the upper deck—his hardest-hit ball ever at 115.2 mph.

• In the 6th, Raleigh added No. 35 with a towering solo shot to left-center, tying Griffey’s 1998 club record for most homers before the break and surpassing his own career high from 2024.

• Randy Arozarena homered in the 4th and later singled in a run, while Dylan Moore capped the scoring with a two-run shot in the 7th.

• Bryan Woo delivered a gem on the mound, firing six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. Seattle’s bullpen combined for three dominant frames to complete the shutout.

📊 Notable Stats:

SEA
Cal Raleigh: 2-for-4, 2 HR (34, 35), 3 RBI
Dylan Moore: 2-run HR (9)
Randy Arozarena: 2-for-4, HR (13), 2 R
Bryan Woo: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

PIT
Nick Gonzales: 3-for-4, 2B
Bailey Falter: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R (3 ER), 4 K, 3 HR allowed

Other scores around the league:

Red Sox 11, Nationals 2
L. Giolito: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 7 SO, 3 BB
T. Story: 4-5, 3 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI

Twins 4, Rays 3
L. Varland: 2.0 IP, 1 SO
Z. Littell: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 SO, 2 BB

Padres 3, Rangers 2
R. Vasquez: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 SO, 3 BB
A. Morejon: 1.0 IP, 1 SO, 1 BB

Tigers 2, Guardians 1
T. Holton: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 4 SO
W. Vest: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 SO, 1 BB

Brewers 6, Marlins 5
A. Ashby: 2.1 IP, 3 SO
C. Durbin: 2-3, 2 R, 1 RBI

Orioles 3, Braves 2
C. Morton: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 7 SO, 1 BB
F. Bautista: 1.0 IP

White Sox 3, Rockies 2
A. Houser: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 6 SO, 2 BB
G. Taylor: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO

Royals 9, Diamondbacks 3
K. Bubic: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 6 SO, 3 BB
V. Pasquantino: 3-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI

Athletics 11, Giants 2
J. Sears: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 6 SO, 2 BB
J. Perkins: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 SO

⚾ Must-Watch Games Today

⚾️ Astros (53–35) at Dodgers (56–33)
🕖 7:15 PM ET (FOX)
Framber Valdez (9–4, 2.72 ERA) vs. Shohei Ohtani (0–0, 2.25 ERA)

🍎 Yankees (48–40) at Mets (51–38)
🕓 4:10 PM ET (FS1, YES, SNY)
Carlos Rodón (9–5, 2.95 ERA) vs. Frankie Montas (0–1, 6.00 ERA)

🧹 Cardinals (47–42) at Cubs (53–35)
🕝 2:20 PM ET (Marquee, FDN Midwest)
Matthew Liberatore (6–6, 3.70 ERA) vs. Drew Pomeranz (2–1, 0.00 ERA)

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