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The Orioles finally intentionally walked Gleyber Torres in his last plate appearance Monday, but by then it was too late.
Torres continued to terrorize the Orioles’ pitching staff in the Yankees’ doubleheader sweep on Monday, belting a total of three home runs and driving in seven runs in the banner day.
Torres’ first bomb of the day came in the first game when he launched a solo shot to the opposite field in the first inning. It was his only hit during the afternoon tilt, but he was just getting warmed up, as it turns out.
The young infielder slugged a three-run homer in the fifth inning of the nightcap and then parked another one in the sixth for his second three-run shot of the night and third dinger of the day. Just for fun, he also added a single and scored an additional run in the second game.
What Torres has done against the Orioles this season is nothing short of historic. The 22-year-old has walloped 13 home runs in 16 games versus the O’s, which is the most ever by any player against a single opponent in one season in the divisional era, which dates back to 1969. He’s just one home run shy of the overall record held by Lou Gehrig, who hit 14 homers off of Cleveland back in 1936.
Torres is sporting an utterly ridiculous .414/.485/1.138 batting line versus the Orioles this season. He’ll have two more games against the O’s (on Tuesday and Wednesday) to see if he can tie or break Gehrig’s record.
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Bashing Baby Blue Jays
With a record of 50-72, it’s pretty clear that the Blue Jays are not a good team. However, they’re starting to become a good team to watch.
Toronto bludgeoned Texas on Monday north of the border, banging out 21 hits and 19 runs in a 19-4 thrashing. Thirteen of those 21 hits went for extra bases. It was the Blue Jays’ 10th win in their last 15 contests.
Not coincidentally, that 15-game run began at the outset of Bo Bichette’s major league debut. Bichette has had a record-setting start to his big league career, as he’s the only player in history to record 15 extra-base hits in his first 15 games. Two of those extra-base knocks came Monday, as Bichette doubled twice, singled twice, drove in one run, scored three runs and stole a base. Dante’s son boasts a silly .394/.444/.742 batting line.
Between Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio, the Baby Blue Jays have the makings of a pretty fun infield for the next several years.
Fred a Red
This year’s one and only trade deadline passed a couple weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any significant player movement this month.
One of those moves occurred on Monday when the Reds scooped up Freddy Galvis on waivers from the Blue Jays. Galvis will officially join his new club on Tuesday, at which point a corresponding roster move will be made.
An eight-year major league veteran, Galvis has had arguably his best ever season offensively, putting up a .267/.299/.444 batting line with 18 home runs, 54 RBI and four stolen bases. He no longer looked like a fit in Toronto, though, with their infield youth movement.
Galvis doesn’t look like a perfect fit with the Reds, either, at least not for 2019. Jose Iglesias has had a nice season at shortstop, Josh VanMeter needs to play at second base and Jose Peraza and Derek Dietrich (when he returns from the injured list) will get at-bats, as well. However, while he admitted he didn’t yet have the “exact details” of how Galvis fits in, manager David Bell said that the 29-year-old “is going to end up getting a lot of playing time.”
The Reds also have a $5.5 million club option on Galvis for 2020, and it sounds like they plan to pick that up. Iglesias is slated for free agency after the season, so Galvis could take over as the team’s starting shortstop next year.[[ad:athena]]
National League Quick Hits: Aristides Aquino homered again Monday, giving him eight long balls in his first 12 major league games. … Trevor Story homered and doubled twice in the Rockies’ loss to the Diamondbacks on Monday. … Trea Turner went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer and four RBI to lead the Nationals to a win over the Reds on Monday. … Nick Ahmed went deep and drove in four runs Monday as the Diamondbacks took down the Rockies. … The Cardinals activated Yadier Molina from the injured list. … Howie Kendrick was activated from the IL on Monday. … The Cardinals placed Jose Martinez (shoulder) on the IL and called up Randy Arozarena from Triple-A Memphis. … The Nationals signed Greg Holland to a minor league contract. … The Diamondbacks designated Blake Swihart for assignment. … The Phillies signed Nick Hundley to a minor league contract.
American League Quick Hits: Gio Urshela had six hits – including a home run – in the Yankees’ doubleheader sweep of the Orioles. … Brandon Drury went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and five RBI in the Jays’ takedown of the Rangers on Monday. … Trey Mancini homered in both games of the doubleheader against the Yankees on Monday. … Aaron Hicks (elbow) is still two weeks away from resuming throwing. … Nelson Cruz will not require surgery on his left wrist and is set to resume baseball activities Tuesday. … Franmil Reyes went 2-for-4 and hit a two-run homer versus the Red Sox in Monday’s win. … Bo Bichette went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a steal and three runs scored on Monday. … The Red Sox put Michael Chavis on the IL with an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. … Nomar Mazara homered and doubled Monday against the Blue Jays. … Tommy Pham didn’t play Monday and underwent more tests on his injured right hand. … Didi Gregorius homered in the first game of a doubleheader Monday but admitted afterward that the strained finger on his right hand is still bothering him. … Luis Severino (shoulder) could begin facing live hitters this weekend. … Ken Giles (elbow) was available to pitch Monday. … Griffin Canning (elbow) is expected to return to the Angels’ rotation Tuesday against the Pirates.
