June 29th, 2025

⚾ Headlines Around the League

Tucker’s 4 Hits Power Cubs to 12–3 Rout of Astros

Sears Shines, A’s Blank Yankees 7–0 in Statement Win

White Sox Edge Giants 1–0 as San Francisco’s Offense Stalls Again

Aranda’s 467-Foot Blast Leads Rays' 11–3 Rout, O's Skid Continues

Sheets Powers Padres’ 6–4 Comeback with Bat and Glove

Hall of Famer Dave Parker Passes Away at 74, Weeks Before Induction

Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!

Unfortunate news to share but baseball legend Dave Parker, known as “The Cobra,” passed away Saturday at the age of 74 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. A two-time World Series champion and the 1978 NL MVP, Parker was revered for his power, swagger, and unmistakable presence on the field.

He will be posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 27, 2025. This is a long-awaited honor for one of the game’s most dominant stars.

I never got to see Dave Parker play live, but he was one of my late father’s all-time favorite players. I’d love to hear any of your favorite memories or moments from his career. If you have any YouTube clips or highlights you enjoyed live, feel free to send them my way. It would be awesome to revisit some of his greatest moments.

Legacy Highlights:

• 1978 NL MVP, 7x All-Star, 3x Gold Glove, 2x Silver Slugger

• First-ever Home Run Derby champion (1985)

• 2,712 career hits, 339 HR, 1,493 RBI across 19 seasons

• World Series champion in 1979 (Pirates) & 1989 (A’s)

• Known for cannon arm, iconic quotes, and larger-than-life personality

• Elected to the Hall by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in late 2024

• Fought Parkinson’s with resilience and grace since diagnosis in 2012

📊 Career Teams:

• Pittsburgh Pirates (1973–83)

• Cincinnati Reds (1984–87)

• Oakland A’s (1988–89)

• Milwaukee Brewers (1990)

• Angels / Blue Jays (1991)

🔥 Top Performances

Hitting

Pitching

📊 Final Scores and Highlights

Cubs 12, Astros 3

In his second game back in Houston, Kyle Tucker put on a show against his old club, collecting four hits — including a booming three-run homer — as the Cubs erupted for a 12–3 win on Saturday night at Daikin Park.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Kyle Tucker went 4-for-5 with 3 RBIs and a homer, tying career highs in both hits and runs scored (4)

• Cubs scored 7 runs in the 4th inning, capped by Tucker’s 3-run blast and homers from Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner

• Seiya Suzuki added a triple and a two-run homer, finishing with 2 extra-base hits and 2 RBIs

• Cam Smith stayed hot for Houston with a two-run homer, his second in as many games

• Colin Rea held the Astros to 2 runs over 5 innings for the win

📊 Notable Stats

Kyle Tucker (CHC): 4-for-5, HR (17), 2B, 3 RBI, 4 R, SB (20)
Seiya Suzuki (CHC): 2-for-5, 3B, HR (22), 2 RBI
Michael Busch (CHC): 2-for-4, HR (14), 3 RBI
Nico Hoerner (CHC): 1-for-4, HR (3), RBI, R
Colin Rea (CHC): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Cam Smith (HOU): 2-for-4, HR (7), 2 RBI
Isaac Paredes (HOU): 2-for-3, HR (17), RBI, HBP
Lance McCullers Jr. (HOU): 3.1 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 3 HR

Athletics 7, Yankees 0

JP Sears snapped a brutal stretch and exacted revenge on his former club, tossing 5 2/3 scoreless innings as the Athletics shut out the Yankees 7–0 at Yankee Stadium. Nick Kurtz and Brent Rooker powered the offense with a pair of big home runs.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• JP Sears held the Yankees to 2 hits over 5.2 shutout innings, ending his 8-start skid.

• Brent Rooker crushed his 17th homer to snap Oakland’s 27-inning scoreless streak.

• Nick Kurtz launched a 3-run homer in the 6th, his 12th of the season.

• Yankees held to just 3 hits and 0 runs in front of their home crowd.

📊 Notable Stats:

• JP Sears (OAK): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K

• Nick Kurtz (OAK): 1-for-4, HR (12), 3 RBI

• Brent Rooker (OAK): 1-for-4, HR (17), 2 R

• Luis Urías (OAK): 1-for-4

• Austin Wynns (OAK): 1-for-4, RBI
  

• Paul Goldschmidt (NYY): 1-for-4

• Cody Bellinger (NYY): 1-for-3, BB

• DJ LeMahieu (NYY): 1-for-2, BB

• Clarke Schmidt (NYY): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 2 HR

White Sox 1, Giants 0

Andrew Benintendi’s solo homer broke a scoreless tie in the sixth, and Adrian Houser tossed seven shutout innings to lead the White Sox past the Giants 1–0 at Rate Field. Rookie Grant Taylor locked down the final six outs for his second career save.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• Andrew Benintendi crushed a solo homer (10) in the 6th off Robbie Ray for the game’s only run.

• Adrian Houser threw 7.0 shutout innings with 5 strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 1.90.

• Catcher Edgar Quero and Josh Rojas teamed up for a crucial backpick at 3B to erase a scoring chance in the top of the sixth.

• Grant Taylor hit 100+ mph seven times across two perfect innings to close it out.

📊 Notable Stats:

White Sox:

• Adrian Houser (CWS): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

• Grant Taylor (CWS): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

• Andrew Benintendi (CWS):1-for-4, HR (10), RBI

• Michael A. Taylor (CWS): 2-for-3, 2B

• Josh Rojas (CWS): 1-for-3

• Robbie Ray (SF): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, HR

• Christian Koss (SF): 2-for-4

• Mike Yastrzemski (SF): 1-for-3

• Brett Wisely (SF): 1-for-3, caught stealing 3B

Rays 11, Orioles 3

Jonathan Aranda crushed a jaw-dropping 467-foot home run in the first inning — the third-longest in Rays history — to power Tampa Bay past the Orioles, 11–3. Aranda’s blast headlined a four-run opening frame as the Rays rebounded emphatically from Friday’s 22–8 loss. The 27-year-old, slashing .330/.411/.504, continues to build a rock-solid All-Star case with consistent contact and growing power.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• Jonathan Aranda (TB): 467-foot, 2-run homer in the 1st — longest Rays HR of the year

• Yandy Díaz (TB): 3-run shot in the 4th, his 13th of the season

• Zack Littell (TB): 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 K — dominant rebound start

• Joe Rock (TB): 2 IP, 4 K in MLB debut

• Rays' offense: 14 hits, 11 runs, all 9 starters scored or drove in a run

📊 Notable Stats:

• Jonathan Aranda (TB): 1-for-4, HR (10), 2 RBI, BB

• Yandy Díaz (TB): 2-for-4, HR (13), 3 RBI, BB

• Jake Mangum (TB): 3-for-5, R

• Chandler Simpson (TB): 2-for-4, R, RBI, SB (21)

• Zack Littell (TB): 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 K

• Ramón Laureano (BAL): 1-for-3, HR (10), 2 RBI

• Chadwick Tromp (BAL): 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI

• Jackson Holliday (BAL): 3-for-5, SB (9)

Padres 6, Reds 4

Gavin Sheets delivered a massive all-around performance to lift the Padres over the Reds 6–4, erasing an early three-run deficit with his bat and glove. Sheets doubled twice and launched a go-ahead three-run homer in the 7th, then made a full-extension diving catch to strand a runner at third. Jake Cronenworth and Luis Arraez added homers as San Diego worked a patient, grind-it-out approach to chase Andrew Abbott after 5. The bullpen followed with 4.2 shutout innings to seal the win.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• Gavin Sheets: Go-ahead 3-run homer in the 7th, two doubles, and a full-extension diving catch in LF

• Jake Cronenworth: 2-run homer in the 6th brought Padres within one

• Luis Arraez: Solo shot in the 5th put SD on the board

• Padres wore down Abbott with long at-bats, forcing 102 pitches in 5 IP

• Bryan Hoeing, Jason Adam, Robert Suarez: Combined for 4.2 scoreless innings to close it out

📊 Notable Stats:

• Gavin Sheets (SD): 3-for-5, 2 2B, HR (13), 3 RBI, diving catch

• Jake Cronenworth (SD): 1-for-3, HR (7), 2 RBI, BB

• Luis Arraez (SD): 1-for-5, HR (4)

• Manny Machado (SD): 2-for-5

• Padres bullpen (SD): 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 K

• Matt McLain (CIN): 2-for-5, RBI

• TJ Friedl (CIN): 2-for-3, RBI, 2 BB

• Gavin Lux (CIN): 2-for-3, 2B, RBI

• Andrew Abbott (CIN): 5.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Other games around the league:

Tigers 10, Twins 5
C. Mize (DET): 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 SO, 1 BB
B. Buxton (MIN): 3-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Pirates 9, Mets 2
B. Waddell (NYM): 3.0 IP, 1 H, 3 SO
B. Ashcraft (PIT): 2.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 SO

Rangers 3, Mariners 2
B. Woo (SEA): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 9 SO, 2 BB
K. Rocker (TEX): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 6 SO, 1 BB

Brewers 5, Rockies 0
Q. Priester (MIL): 7.0 IP, 1 H, 11 SO, 2 BB
J. Ortiz (MIL): 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Royals 9, Dodgers 5
S. Lugo (KC): 5.2 IP, 4 H, 8 SO, 5 BB
V. Pasquantino (KC): 2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 5 RBI

Marlins 8, Diamondbacks 7
A. Bender (MIA): 2.0 IP, 1 SO
B. Pfaadt (ARI): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 SO, 1 BB

Cardinals 9, Guardians 6
W. Contreras (STL): 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
R. Helsley (STL): 1.0 IP, 1 SO

Red Sox 15, Blue Jays 1
L. Giolito (BOS): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 5 SO, 1 BB
W. Abreu (BOS): 2-6, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI

Braves 6, Phillies 1
S. Schwellenbach (ATL): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 12 SO, 1 BB
S. Murphy (ATL): 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI

Angels 8, Nationals 2
M. Soroka (WAS): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 SO, 1 BB
K. Hendricks (LAA): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 SO

⚾ Must-Watch Games Today

🔥 Phillies (48-35) at Braves (38-44)

Start Time: 1:35 PM ET
Pitching Matchup: Ranger Suárez (2.08 ERA) vs. Spencer Strider (4.07 ERA)

🐻 Cubs (49-34) at Astros (49-34)

Start Time: 2:10 PM ET
Pitching Matchup: Jameson Taillon (4.47 ERA) vs. Framber Valdez (2.88 ERA)

🍁 Blue Jays (44-38) at Red Sox (41-43)

Start Time: 1:35 PM ET
Pitching Matchup: Eric Lauer (2.21 ERA) vs. Walker Buehler (6.29 ERA)
Lauer tries to keep Toronto rolling while Buehler looks to steady Boston.

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