MLB Nightly 9: Scott Kazmir makes stellar Astros debut on busy day of trades

Joe Rodgers

MLB Nightly 9: Scott Kazmir makes stellar Astros debut on busy day of trades 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.

Newly acquired starter Scott Kazmir delivered seven scoreless innings in his debut for the Astros, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out three. Coming over to Houston from Oakland in a trade for two minor leaguers, Kazmir helped the Astros (55-43) secure a 4-0 win over the Royals (57-38) in what could be a preview of the ALCS. A three-time All-Star, Kazmir now owns a remarkable 0.34 ERA in July.

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The trade deadline is heating up as evidenced by three trades completed Friday. First, the Cardinals acquired right-handed reliever Steve Cishek in exchange for minor league pitcher Kyle Barraclough.The Angels then shored up their infield after losing David Freese to a broken finger by acquiring Conor Gillaspie from White Sox for cash considerations. In the biggest move of the night, the Braves and Mets finalized a trade that sent infielders Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson and cash from Atlanta to New York for minor league pitchers John Gant and Rob Whalen.

Here are more highlights from Friday’s games:

Impact performers

 C — Kurt Suzuki, Twins: While Minnesota is rumored to be looking to upgrade at catcher, Suzuki was 2 for 4 with two RBIs in a 10-1 mashing of the Yankees. 

1B — Joey Votto, Reds: The red-hot Votto was 3 for 5 with a solo home run and is now 16 for 27 (.592) in his last seven games. 

2B — Ian Kinsler, Tigers: Extending his multi-hit streak to five games, Kinsler finished 3 for 5 with two singles, a triple and one RBI. He is batting .452/.452/.839 in his last seven games. 

SS — Alexei Ramirez, White Sox: Getting it done at the plate and on the basepaths, Ramírez was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two stolen bases in a 6-0 win over Cleveland. 

3B — Justin Turner, Dodgers: All three of Turner's hits were for extra bases as he finished with two doubles, a homer and two RBIs. 

OF — Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies: CarGo was 2 for 4 with a pair of solo homers as the Rockies won on a walkoff wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth.

DH — Mark Trumbo, Mariners: Trumbo finished 1 for 3 with a two-run homer, his 12th of the season, and a walk. 

SP — Jose Quintana, White Sox: Throwing his first career shutout, Quintana scattered seven hits while walking none and striking out eight in 120 pitches against the Indians. 

Play of the day

Xander Bogaerts connected on a RBI single in the bottom of the 11th to give the Red Sox a 2-1 win over the Tigers. It was Boston's third walkoff win of the season and its first since April 27. 

Trade rumor roundup

Sporting News' Jesse Spector notes that the Royals should shop for fit rather than flash at the deadline, specifically a starter and a left-handed bench bat. 

The Padres reportedly are in sell mode and the club "really wants to move" starters James Shields and Andrew Cashner. Closer Craig Kimbrel, starters Tyson Ross and Ian Kennedy, and All-Star outfielder Justin Upton are also rumored to be on the trading block. 

The Pirates have put slugger Pedro Alvarez on the trade block, per CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. Alvarez's defense has been bad this season and he's batting just .232/.302/.424 with 13 homers. 

Heyman also reports the Cubs have some limitations on their spending capacity but will still try to add Tigers ace David Price. They also have shown interest in Reds starter Mike Leake. 

The Nationals have had talks with the Phillies about closer Jonathan Papelbon, Fox Sports reported. 

Key injuries

A's outfielder Billy Burns suffered what is being called a "testicular contusion" after he fouled a ball off his groin in San Francisco.

Manager Bruce Bochy said outfielder Nori Aoki (leg) still needs at least two additional minor league rehab games before he is ready to rejoin the Giants. 

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia sat out for a second straight day because of soreness in his right hamstring. Pedroia has one hit in 22 at-bats since returning from the DL a week ago. 

Athletics manager Bob Melvin said outfielder Coco Crisp (neck) could begin a minor league rehab assignment soon. Crisp has played in just 13 games due to a variety of injuries. 

Surprise performers

Good: Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello shined in a shocking pitchers' duel in Boston. Each right-hander allowed just one run and issued zero walks. Verlander pitched eight innings and struck out three, while Porcello fired seven innings and had six punchouts. 

Bad: The last time Max Scherzer faced the Pirates he threw a no-hitter. On Friday, he was shelled for five runs, including an Alvarez homer that landed in the Allegheny River. It was just the second time all season Scherzer had not lasted six innings or more.

Facts of the day

Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has not played in a game in 27 days but still leads the National League in home runs.

Orioles golden sombrero recipient Jimmy Paredes became the first Orioles leadoff hitter with four strikeouts since J.J. Hardy on July 27, 2011. 

Barry Bonds, who turned 51 Thursday, has an MLB record 2,558 walks, which is more than Hank Aaron (1,402) and Albert Pujols (1,145) combined. 

Alvarez's 453-foot homer was the second-longest homer this season by a Pirates player (Starling Marte, 460). In the last seven seasons at PNC Park, Alvarez has more homers longer than 450 feet (five) than all other players combined (four).

The Indians have been shut out nine times this season. Reigning AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber has started four of those games, including Friday's loss to the White Sox. 

Off the field

ESPN announced that Colin Cowherd will no longer appear on the network after he made disparaging comments about Dominicans in baseball. 

The Indians will not trade infielder Mike Aviles as his 4-year-old daughter battles leukemia.

The Mets placed Michael Cuddyer on the 15-day disabled list and promoted highly touted outfielder Michael Conforto, who went 0 for 3 with an RBI in his debut. 

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke, who has a scoreless streak of 42 2/3 innings, missed his scheduled start Friday because of the birth of his son. He will return to the mound Sunday against the Mets.

Tigers ace David Price took to Twitter to voice his anger because a columnist for the Detroit News called him self-absorbed for the way he walked off the mound Thursday. 

Scores

American League

White Sox 6, Indians 0
Rays 3, Orioles 1
Astros 4, Royals 0
Red Sox 2, Tigers 1, 11 innings
Twins 10, Yankees 1
Rangers 4, Angels 2
Mariners 5, Blue Jays 2

National League

Phillies 5, Cubs 3, 10 innings
Pirates 7, Nationals 5
Dodgers 7, Mets 2
Cardinals 4, Braves 2
Rockies 6, Reds 5
Brewers 2, Diamondbacks 1
Padres 3, Marlins 1

Interleague

Giants 9, Athletics 3

A look ahead

The three best games Saturday (all times Eastern):

Phillies (35-63) at Cubs (51-44), 4:05 p.m.: In what may be the final Phillies start for Cole Hamels (5-7, 3.91 ERA), the three-time All-Star looks to end a recent rough stretch when he takes on Jake Arrieta (11-5, 2.52 ERA) and the Cubs. In his last two outings, Hamels has posted a dismal 19.89 ERA, but he owns a 2.40 ERA in his career against the Cubs. Arrieta is vying for his sixth straight win. 

Reds (42-52) at Rockies (41-53), 8:10 p.m.: Johnny Cueto (6-6, 2.79 ERA) will be a heavily scouted man as trade rumors circle the former All-Star. Cueto doesn’t get any help in facing a tough Rockies lineup in hitter-friendly Coors Field. Chris Rusin (3-3, 3.88 ERA) takes the mound for the Rockies. He owns a surprising 3.00 ERA at home this season (four starts). 

Rangers (46-49) at Angels (54-42), 9:05 p.m.: The only AL matchup between starters with sub-3.00 ERAs, Yovani Gallardo (7-9, 2.91 ERA) and the Rangers face Hector Santiago (7-4, 2.30 ERA). Gallardo, rumored to be on the way out of Arlington, is 0-3 with a 5.28 ERA in his past three starts but has allowed just one homer in his past 67 innings. Santiago was impressive in his last outing despite working just five innings. He struck out 10 and allowed one run in a game pushed back a day by the first rainout in Anaheim in 20 years. 

Joe Rodgers