Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
Justin Upton did not like sitting on the bench.
After Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus "rested" the struggling, high-priced outfielder for three games last week, Upton made up for the lost time by blasting two three-run home runs Sunday in a 10-5 win over the Boston Red Sox.
Track & field may be over at the Olympics, but @JUST_JUP took a couple laps around Comerica Park today.https://t.co/jDarEGjO31
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 21, 2016
With two hits Sunday following two more Saturday, Upton exceeded his trips to first base in the 10 games leading up to the weekend. In fact, he only had seven hits all of August before re-entering the lineup Saturday and continuing his success Sunday.
Upton, who signed a six-year, $132.75 million contract this offseason, is hitting just .231 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs this year. The Tigers are currently seven games behind the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central, so they need more games like this out of Upton moving forward.
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This was also David Ortiz's last game against the Tigers in his storied career. The amiable slugger went 1 for 4 with a strikeout, but Detroit fans will always remember him for his days with the Twins.
Player of the day
Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado unloaded on the Cubs by collecting four hits, two home runs and six RBIs. The talented 25-year-old looks destined to win two of the three National League Triple Crown categories this season, considering he is leading home runs (32) and RBIs (104).
Highlight
Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria shows off his impressive range by gunning a laser to first base:
"Wow!" https://t.co/b815nd81mD
— MLB (@MLB) August 21, 2016
Three things to know
— Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy quietly improved to 11-1 on the season after allowing just one run in 6 2/3 innings in a 2-1 win against the Minnesota Twins. With the win, Kansas City has now won 11 of its last 12 games, including eight straight. Duffy also became the first Royals pitcher to win 10 straight decisions in a season since Rich Gale, 1980 (12).
— Jason Hammel became the first Chicago Cubs pitcher to allow 10 runs in a game twice in the same season since Sheriff Blake (1930) Sunday in a 11-4 loss to the Rockies. Though only six of them were earned runs, Hammel was bounced after 3 1/3 innings of disastrous pitching.
— The Milwaukee Brewers earned their first win after trailing by three runs in the ninth inning this season (they had lost 238 such games in a row dating back to 2012). Keon Broxton led the way with two solo home runs — one of which came in the ninth inning.
What's next:
Nationals (73-50) at Orioles (67-56) 7:05 p.m. ET — Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 3.59 ERA), having given up 19 earned runs in his last three starts, takes the mound against promising Orioles rookie Dylan Bundy (6-4, 3.36 ERA).
Astros (64-60) at Pirates (62-59) 7:05 p.m. ET — Both teams' playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. Houston is in the tougher of the two leagues right now, but they have the offensive firepower to win games in bunches. Pittsburgh needs a good month out of its young pitchers. Jameson Taillon (3-2, 3.00 ERA) starts Monday.