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.
Wednesday's MLB action provided three walkoff wins, but only one of those games ended with a hit.
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Rockies catcher Michael McKenry blasted a two-out, two-run home run off Mariners rookie reliever Mayckol Guaipe in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Colorado a come-from-behind 7-5 victory. Ben Paulsen and Kyle Parker connected on RBI hits off Mariners closer Fernando Rodney in the ninth to send the game into extras. McKenry ended it two innings later with his first career walkoff homer.
Avisail Garcia's bases-loaded walk in the 10th scored Adam Eaton to give the White Sox a 6-5 win over the Rays. Eaton singled, stole second, then went to third on an error by Asdrubal Cabrera. After Tyler Saladino flied out, Rays manager Kevin Cash ordered reliever Brad Boxberger to intentionally walk Jose Abreu and Melky Cabrera to load the bases for Garcia. The White Sox snapped their three-game losing streak despite blowing a 5-0 lead.
The Angels were one strike away from losing for the 11th time in their past 13 games before completing an incredible comeback against Indians closer Cody Allen. The Angels' C.J. Cron delivered a two-out, two-run single to tie the game 3-3 before Allen's final pitch of the game got away from catcher Roberto Perez, allowing pinch runner Taylor Featherston to score the winning run with a head-first slide.
In all, 29 home runs were hit Wednesday, with an average distance of 413 feet, the longest average distance since ESPN began tracking homers in 2009 (minimum of 20 home runs). Ten homers traveled an estimated 430 feet or longer, highlighted by Edwin Encarnacion’s 471-foot blast, the seventh-longest home run of the season, in Toronto's 9-7 win over the Twins.
Here are more highlights from Wednesday's games:
Impact players
C — Welington Castillo, Diamondbacks: Castillo went 2 for 4, including a three-run homer, in Arizona's 11-4 win over the Nationals. Castillo has homered in six of his past eight games.
1B — Chris Davis, Orioles: "Crush" Davis hit a grand slam in the 11th inning — the sixth slam of his career — to lead the Orioles to a road win over the A's.
2B — Daniel Murphy, Mets: Murphy went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and a walk as the Mets won their sixth consecutive game and opened a two-game lead on the Nationals in the NL East.
SS — Asdrubal Cabrera, Rays: Cabrera was 4 for 5 with a double, three singles and two RBIs. He extended his hitting streak to eight games.
3B — Evan Longoria, Rays: Falling a triple shy of the cycle, Longoria was 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
OF — Franklin Gutierrez, Mariners: Gutierrez went 3 for 5 with a homer and two RBIs. The M's reserve is hitting .299/.333/.552 in 62 at-bats this season.
DH — Miguel Sano, Twins: Sano snapped an 0-for-9 skid by going 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs.
SP — Steven Wright, Red Sox: Wright had his best performance of the season, scattering four hits over eight innings of one-run ball. He struck out nine as the Red Sox ruined Luis Severino's debut, 2-1.
Key injuries
Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman is tentatively slated to start a rehab assignment Aug. 21. That would give him a couple of weeks to get up to speed before the minor league season ends, at which point he might join Toronto's bullpen.
An MRI on Giants second baseman Joe Panik's back showed only inflammation. He was placed on the disabled list Monday but is expected to miss the minimum amount of time.
Pirates third baseman Josh Harrison (thumb) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, while teammate Jordy Mercer (knee) will likely start his on Friday.
Web gems
Rockies outfielder Kyle Parker went into the stands to make a spectacular catch against the Mariners:
Giants outfielder Hunter Pence hustled to take a hit away from the Braves' Eury Perez:
Surprise performers
Good: Paul Goldschmidt ended an 0-for-15 slump by going 3 for 5 with two stolen bases.
Bad: Twins starter Tyler Duffey lasted just two innings, allowing six runs on five hits against the Blue Jays, including a grand slam to Jose Bautista.
Facts of the day
Severino is first starter in Yankees history to allow two or fewer batters to reach base safely in his MLB debut, according to Elias Sports Bureau. He joined an impressive list of Yankees pitchers to strike out at least seven hitters in their major league debut, since World War II: Vic Raschi, Rich Beck, Al Leiter, Hideki Irabu, Orlando Hernandez and Masahiro Tanaka.
Two years ago Wednesday, Alex Rodriguez was suspended 211 games for his involvement with Biogenesis. He later appealed, and his ban was set at 162 games.
After allowing 12 hits to the Giants, the Braves have now given up 10 or more in seven straight games for the first time since April 12-21, 1990, per ESPN.
With a 2-for-5 performance, Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz extended his hitting streak to 16 games, the longest active streak in the majors.
Reactions
"In my mind, before (the trades), I was like, yeah, I need to rush it because I want to be in the field," injured Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera (calf) said via MLB.com. "But right now, everybody's talked to me and told me (to slow down) because they see I want to push it. They see me and say, 'No, calm down and try to get better, be smart.'"
He may be a rookie, but White Sox starter Carlos Rodon was OK with manager Robin Ventura yanking him when he was one out away from a possible win against the Rays. “It’s a decision that the manager has to make, and you go with that and what’s best for the team,” Rodon said via Comcast Sports Net. “I totally understand the circumstances and the outcome, and I agree with it. That’s all you can do.”
Off the field
The Braves released Elmer Reyes, a minor leaguer who was arrested in May and charged with rape and kidnapping .
The Reds will host Grateful Dead Night at Great American Ball Park on Sept. 4 to commemorate the band's 50th anniversary.
Chad Billingsley and his wife, Tiffany, are celebrating her triumph over a rare form of aggressive cancer that she was diagnosed with earlier this year. She says support from her husband’s new team, the Phillies, played a big role in her recovery.
After Giants pitchers Madison Bumgarner and Jake Peavy told The New York Times they have been using smokeless tobacco since they were in fifth grade, Curt Schilling voiced a warning to those two and to other MLB players who dip.
Scores
American League
White Sox 6, Rays 5, 10 innings
Angels 4, Indians 3
Orioles 7, Athletics 3, 11 innings
Red Sox 2, Yankees 1
Blue Jays 9, Twins 7
Tigers 2, Royals 1
Rangers 4, Astros 3
National League
Pirates 7, Cubs 5
Dodgers 4, Phillies 3
Mets 8, Marlins 6
Giants 6, Braves 1
Diamondbacks 11, Nationals 4
Cardinals 4, Reds 3, 13 innings
Brewers 8, Padres 5
Interleague:
Rockies 7, Mariners 5, 11 innings
A look ahead
The three best games Thursday (all times Eastern):
Dodgers (61-46) at Phillies (42-66), 1:05 p.m.: Zack Greinke (10-2, 1.41 ERA) takes the mound against the Phillies, who have scored just 10 earned runs off Greinke in seven career games. David Buchanan (2-5, 6.44 ERA) toes the rubber for the Phillies, who will try to avoid a three-game sweep.
Giants (59-48) at Cubs (58-48), 8:05 p.m.: Making his first career start against the Cubs, Giants starter Chris Heston (11-5, 3.24 ERA) looks to continue his winning ways away from AT&T Park. Heston owns a 6-1 mark on the road this season. Jason Hammel (6-5, 3.13 ERA) takes the mound for the Cubs, who are seeking their seventh win in their past eight games.
Astros (60-49) at Athletics (48-61), 10:05 p.m.: Scott Feldman (4-5, 4.58 ERA) and the Astros open a four-game series against the Athletics as they try to improve their road record. The Astros are 18-31 away from Minute Maid Park this season. Aaron Brooks (1-0, 3.09 ERA) will look to keep the Astros down, hoping for a performance similar to his last outing when he limited the Indians to one run on five hits over 7 1/3 innings.