Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
Sunday's game at Wrigley Field didn't want to end. The Cubs also didn't want to pitch to Bryce Harper.
MORE: Tanner Roark says Cubs were 'scared' of Harper
The Nationals outfielder became the first player in MLB history with seven plate appearances and zero official at-bats. He walked six times, three intentional, and was hit by a pitch. The six walks tied the MLB record also held by three other players.
Though Cubs ace Jake Arrieta was chased after five innings, the Cubs got the last laugh with Javier Baez's walk-off homer in the bottom of the 13th inning to give the Cubs a 4-3 win. Though Arrieta (6-0, 0.84 ERA) took a no-decision Sunday, he still has more no-hitters (2) in his past 26 regular-season starts than losses (1).
Harper wasn't the only Nationals player to set an MLB record. Washington first baseman Ryan Zimmerman set a new MLB mark by stranding 14 runners on base after going 1 for 7 with two strikeouts (he did drive in one run, though). The previous record was 12 runners left on base, held by David Ortiz (2009), Trot Nixon (2003), Todd Helton (1998) and Glenn Beckert (1972).
The Cubs are 24-6, their best 30-game start since also going 24-6 in 1907, a year in which they won the World Series. The Cubs won it again in 1908, but famously have not won it since.
Could this year be the year? Who knows? But things are looking great for the Cubs. They would just have to play .500 baseball for the rest of the year to win 90 games. Already owning a winning percentage of .800, the Cubs would have to win 70 percent of their remaining games to break the MLB record for wins in a single season — 116, last accomplished by the 2001 Mariners but first accomplished in 1906 by, yep, the Cubs.
Player of the day:
Manny Machado, Orioles — The Baltimore shortstop hit a pair of home runs, including an eighth-inning grand slam, and drove in six runs in Sunday's 11-3 win over the Athletics. Machado went 2 for 4 in the game and also drew a walk. He's now batting .350 on the season with nine home runs and 22 RBIs. His batting average is second in the AL behind Detroit's Nick Castellanos and his nine homers are tied for second in the AL.
Highlight:
Sunday was Mother's Day, but it was a dad stealing the show in Miami by snaring a sixth-inning foul ball off the bat of Marcell Ozuna.
Three things to know:
— Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. extended his hitting streak to 14 games Sunday night with a fifth-inning single during Boston's 5-1 victory at Yankee Stadium. Bradley went 2 for 3 with a double in the win.
— The Brewers earned a split in their four-game series with the Reds with a 5-4 win at Great American Ball Park. The Brewers are 31-19 all time on Mother’s Day.
— Baltimore's six home runs against the A's were the most allowed by Oakland since the Red Sox went deep six times in a 13-5 win on April 19, 1994.
What's next:
White Sox (22-10) at Rangers (18-14), 8:05 p.m. ET — If the Cubs weren't on a record pace, we'd be talking about the red-hot White Sox. Chicago's "other" team already has a five-game lead in the American League Central division. The Sox will be challenged in Arlington by a pretty good Rangers team contending for the AL West lead. Chicago's Miguel Gonzalez (0-0, 8.44 ERA) will be looking for his first win while the Rangers will send Cole Lewis (2-0, 3.32) to the mound.
Mets (19-11) at Dodgers (16-15), 10:10 p.m. ET — The Mets stay out west after splitting a four-game set with the Padres. Now they get the National League West-leading Dodgers, who will have Scott Kazmir (2-2, 5.68) toe the rubber against New York's Steven Matz (4-1, 2.83).