Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado found his groove early and often in Sunday's 10-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Machado hit three home runs in the first three innings, collecting seven RBIs in the process, and became the first player since Mike Cameron in 2002 to hit three home runs by the end of a third inning (Cameron went on to hit four that day).
Often overlooked as one of the best players in MLB, Machado is having a much better season than Bryce Harper, and he isn't far behind Mike Trout. He has all the tools to became a perennial top-five player.
MORE: Big winners and losers from MLB's trade deadline '16
Speaking of rising talents, has anyone seen Orioles flamethrower Dylan Bundy pitch? The former top prospect had seen his career hit standstill due to injuries, but he is making his presence felt now. Bundy tossed six innings of two-run baseball Sunday with nine strikeouts. He is now 5-3 with 3.05 ERA on the season.
The Orioles (63-47) currently hold a slender lead over the Boston Red Sox in the American League East. If their pitchers can continue giving them outings like Bundy did Sunday, Baltimore will be a tough team to beat in the postseason.
Player of the day
San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner gave up one run on two hits in a complete game (eight innings). Bumgarner struck out seven and lowered his ERA to 2.20 on the season, but he was still struck with a loss after the Giants failed to score a run. One of the best pitchers in MLB, Bumgarner is only 10-7 because of poor run support.
Highlights:
Ichiro Suzuki became the 30th member of the 3,000-hit club with a seventh-inning triple:
3,000 hits.
— Cut4 (@Cut4) August 7, 2016
350 doubles.
93 triples.
113 homers.
Ichiro swings into the record books: https://t.co/RRI8j9VwWA pic.twitter.com/QiiXDbDqEG
Three things to know:
— The Yankees announced designated hitter Alex Rodriguez will retire and move to an advisor role after the Yankees' game Friday. Rodriguez is one of 10 players to win three MVP awards and one of just six to win multiple MVP awards with the Yankees.
— New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom gave up just one run in 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Detroit Tigers. In his last five starts in which he's received a no-decision, deGrom's ERA is 0.76.
— Wilson Ramos became the third catcher in Washington Nationals history to hit a home run in a 1-0 win. The other two are Mike Fitzgerald (1986) & Gary Carter (1979).
What's next:
Giants (63-48) at Marlins (59-52) 7:10 p.m. ET — This game features a great pitching duel between two All-Stars. Johnny Cueto (13-3, 2.73 ERA) will take the mound for the Giants against Jose Fernandez (12-6, 2.87 ERA) in what should be a classic pitcher's duel.
Tigers (61-50) at Mariners (57-53) 10:10 p.m. ET — Super rookie Michael Fulmer (9-2, 2.42 ERA) takes the mound for Detroit against steady veteran Hisashi Iwakuma (12-7, 3.99 ERA). Fulmer may enter a pitch count soon, but for now, he looks like the AL Rookie of the Year front runner.