MLB Nightly 9: Baseball makes the right call in Baltimore

Alec Brzezinski

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MLB Nightly 9: Baseball makes the right call in Baltimore image

Each night we'll provide you with the nine top story lines from the day's action, beginning with the stars of the day, and look ahead to the next day's matchups.

Baltimore is in the midst of a real-world crisis as protesters march through the city to decry the death of resident Freddie Gray. The situation is a reminder that there are things much more important than sports.

MORE: Updates on Baltimore situation | O's exec defends protesters | Hamilton trade to Rangers finalized  | Fantasy rankings, sleepers for Tuesday  

Monday's White Sox-Orioles game at Camden Yards was postponed after MLB officials spoke with local police and decided it would be safer to keep people away from an area that had turned violent. Baseball is a game that many people enjoy, but MLB wisely decided to not host a game while protesters were fighting with police nearby.

Highlights from Monday's games:

Impact players

C — Carlos Ruiz, Phillies: Ruiz was 4 for 4 with two runs scored in a 4-1 victory over the Cardinals.

1B — Justin Morneau, Rockies: Morneau went 2 for 3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Colorado's 5-4 win at Arizona.

2B — Devon Travis, Blue Jays: Quick, who's leading major league second basemen in home runs? That's right: Travis. He belted his sixth in the Jays' loss to the Red Sox.

SS — Jed Lowrie, Astros: Lowrie went 2 for 3, including a solo home run, to raise his average to .300.

3B — Mike Moustakas, Royals: "Moose" went 4 for 5 with two runs scored and an RBI in a 6-2 victory over the Indians. 

OF — Mookie Betts, Red Sox: Betts recorded his first career walkoff hit, a single to beat the Blue Jays 6-5. Betts finished 3 for 4 with a walk and two runs. 

DH — Victor Martinez, Tigers: Martinez is starting to find his footing. He went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run, and has raised his average from .214 to .250 in three games.

SP — Jason Hammel, Cubs: Hammel threw eight shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out eight, in a 4-0 win over the Pirates.

Key injuries

Dodgers starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, and is expected to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery.

The Reds placed starting pitcher Homer Bailey on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 24, with a right elbow ligament sprain, which could require Tommy John surgery.

Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval  left Monday's game in the sixth inning with soreness in his neck. He was 2 for 2 with a home run and three RBIs. 

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright has officially been ruled out for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon.

Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford added to the team's injury woes when he seemed to tweak something in his leg while sliding into third base.

Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes  landed on the DL with a cracked rib.

Surprise performers

Good: Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias has been special in the field and at the plate this season. Monday, he finished a double shy of the cycle in another Detroit win.

Bad:   Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits and five walks in just 2 1/3 innings. He took the loss against the Reds. Milwaukee (4-16) is the worst team in baseball.

Web gems

Josh Donaldson makes a great diving stop, then rifles a throw to first:

Cody Asche with the acrobatic catch and throw:

Don't sleep on Joc Peterson:

Facts of the day

Daniel Murphy is starting to heat up:

The Blue Jays' under-the-radar offseason trade for Travis is paying off:

Good defense is the best offense:

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber is off to a tough start:

This is why you don't give up on guys in April — especially talented pitchers:

Reactions

At least McCarthy has a sense of humor about his injury:

No rest for the weary when you're the best team in baseball: 

"We're tired," manager Terry Collins said of a Mets team that did not land in Miami until nearly 4 a.m. ET on Monday. "Make no mistake about it, we're stinkin' beat. So when you can have that surge of energy (in the ninth inning), that's a huge pick-me-up."

Max Scherzer doesn't think pitchers should hit:

"If you look at it from the macro side, who'd people rather see hit — Big Papi or me?" Scherzer said, via CBS Sports . "Who would people rather see, a real hitter hitting home runs or a pitcher swinging a wet newspaper? Both leagues need to be on the same set of rules."

Off the field

The Nationals are still battling injuries, and this time it's Scherzer. He injured his thumb while hitting last week and is seeing a specialist to find out the extent of the injury. A.J. Cole will be called up from the minors  to start in Scherzer's place Tuesday.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Monday that outfielder Hunter Pence (forearm) is about a week away from taking batting practice.

Scores

American League

Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 5

Royals 6, Indians 2

Yankees 4, Rays 1

Tigers 5, Twins 4

Mariners 3, Rangers 1

White Sox at Orioles, ppd.

National League

Mets 3, Marlins 1

Cubs 4, Pirates 0

Reds 9, Brewers 6

Braves 8, Nationals 4

Phillies 4, Cardinals 1

Rockies 5, Diamondbacks 4

Dodgers 8, Giants 3

Interleague

Astros 9, Padres 4

A look ahead

Tuesday's best games (all times Eastern):

White Sox (8-9) at Orioles (9-10) 7:05 p.m.: There could be another postponement as the protests continue, but it's more likely the game will be moved up to Tuesday afternoon to avoid a citywide 10 p.m. curfew. The Orioles scored 18 runs in their last game; can they keep the momentum going at the plate?

Mets (15-5) at Marlins (8-12) 7:10 p.m.: The Mets continue to impress. Timely hits and a shutdown pitching staff have carried them thus far; can it last? The Marlins started slowly but finally look like they've turned the corner.

Tigers (14-6) at Twins (8-11) 8:10 p.m.:  Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez has been shelled in his past two starts (5.96 ERA), but he draws a plus matchup against Minnesota.

Alec Brzezinski