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It’s funny when grown men are said to be “acting like children” when they show joyful emotion on a baseball field. There was plenty of emotion at the Little League World Series on Saturday as the team from Lake Mary, Florida, defeated Borne, Texas, 10-7 in the U.S. title game. Lake Mary will now face Taoyuan City, Taiwan, in Sunday’s final. Taiwan defeated Barquisimeto, Venezuela, 4-1 in the international final.
Today’s headlines
Bowden’s no-hit attempt failed in the 9th.
If you didn’t know who the Toronto Blue Jays right-hander is Francis of Bowden was before Saturday, you were not alone. The 28-year-old was making his eighth MLB start after 35 relief appearances over the past three seasons. A seventh-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017 and was traded to the Jays along with a relief pick. Trevor Richards for the first baseman Rowdy TellezFrancis will find his niche in 2024. What he did on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels almost etched his name in team history. Francis managed a no-hitter until the ninth inning, but Taylor Ward foiled his attempt by hitting a home run to left-center field. Bowden had a career-high 12 strikeouts and three walks. He left the field to thunderous applause after Ward’s home run, giving the Jays a 3-1 victory.
Bowden’s 100th career strikeout is his SIXTH of the day 👏 pic.twitter.com/QHbhY2y7tz
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) 24 August 2024
Bowden Francis held the Angels hitless for 8 innings 👀
Tune in to Angels-Blue Jays on @MLBNetwork and for free at https://t.co/pJtEFvoaXJ! pic.twitter.com/UqCU6JKfAS
— MLB (@MLB) 24 August 2024
Taylor Ward thwarts Bowden Francis’ no-hit attempt with a home run in the 9th inning. pic.twitter.com/529bqwuEmc
— MLB (@MLB) 24 August 2024
Ohtani throws from the mound, hits No. 41
There is no chance Shohei Ohtani pitching this season. There are some notable milestones, however, as the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar returns from surgery on his right elbow. Less than 24 hours after hitting a walk-off grand slam to become the sixth player in MLB history to enter the 40-40 club, Ohtani pitched from the mound for the first time since his injury nearly a year ago. He wore a T-shirt in support of Freddie Freeman‘s son MaximusOhtani threw just 10 pitches in the pregame bullpen session. Then against the Tampa Bay Rays, Ohtani hit another home run, his 41st of the season, and has set his sights on becoming the first player to have 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases.
Shohei Ohtani last night, 40/40.
Today I’m throwing from a hill for the first time since my elbow surgery 👀 pic.twitter.com/jjQtSCqZkF
— MLB (@MLB) 25 August 2024
The Sho can’t be stopped! pic.twitter.com/FfL5C2vLZ5
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) 25 August 2024
It is Realmuto, not once, but twice
Think JT Realmuto was happy to have left-handed people Ranger Suarez back on the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies? The catcher hit two three-run home runs and finished with seven RBIs in the Phillies’ 11-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Suarez, meanwhile, returned from the injured list after suffering back pain. Limited by the number of pitches, he struck out six players in five innings and allowed one run on four hits and one walk.
Holy cow, JT#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/jA8SNiMHFq
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) 25 August 2024
Oops, he did it again#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/6RPhsQX7ny
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) 25 August 2024
Good and bad news for Reds’ Greene
First the positive: The right-hander of the Cincinnati Reds Hunter Greene has no UCL damage, meaning he will not need Tommy John surgery. That was determined by an MRI scan and three medical exams. Although it was hoped Greene would only spend the minimum 15 days on the injured list, Greene said he has elbow inflammation and will not throw again until that subsides. He plans to return this season.
Cardinals player Contreras moves to Illinois
Another blow in the second disappointing season in a row: The St. Louis Cardinals lose their starting catcher Wilson Contreras to a broken finger on his right hand. He was hit by a pitch early in the fourth inning of the Cardinals’ 6-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Contreras is placed on the 10-day injured list. How long he will be out is unknown, but with only a few weeks left, Contreras’ season could be over. Catcher Ivan Herrera is expected to be called up to the team to take Contreras’ place.
The best moments of yesterday
The wait is worth it
You can say that a save in three innings is meaningless in an eight-run win. But then look at the smile on Julia Kelly‘s face and say that. The 38-year-old hadn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2018 until he was called up to the major leagues just hours before the Cincinnati Reds’ 10-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kelly pitched the final three innings to earn his first MLB save (Julian Aguiar also picked up his first MLB win). Kelly was selected in the first round of the 2008 draft and made the major leagues in 2012. He struggled in his five seasons before joining the Korea Baseball Organization and finding success as a starter. Oh, and part of Kelly’s road back involved playing for his father, who manages the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate.
Julian Aguiar gets his first major league win and Casey Kelly pitches three scoreless innings for his first major league save. The Reds beat the Pirates 10-2!
💥💥💥#ATOBTTR pic.twitter.com/PdGK4tdXXf
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) 25 August 2024
“I’m just so grateful for this opportunity. You never know when the opportunity will come again, if it ever comes at all.”
In his first MLB appearance since 2018, Casey Kelly earned his first MLB save with three scoreless innings in relief. @JustCK3 | @JimDayTV pic.twitter.com/l4jkguxYSe
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) 25 August 2024
15 years later …
It was Old-Timers Day at Yankee Stadium, which meant plenty of greats were in the house. The focus of this year’s ceremony was honoring the winners of the 2009 World Series.
Honoring the 2009 World Series Championship Team 🏆#OldTimersDay | #RepBX pic.twitter.com/Z4tsCkiEHM
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) 24 August 2024
Timeless voice
Someone needs to get a choir to sing “Happy Birthday” to him when he turns 100 in November.
Performance of the national anthem before today’s @wmwhitecaps Play: 99-year-old John Pylman, veteran of World War II. pic.twitter.com/Ad4Dm7eaIg
— Dan Hasty (@ThatDanHasty) 24 August 2024
Father-son moment
They often play Cactus League games together, but the Milwaukee Brewers’ recent trip to Oakland to face the A’s provided an opportunity for Vince Cotroneo and son Cathedral to do a radio broadcast of a regular season MLB game. While Dad is a regular on A’s Radio, Dom works behind the scenes with the Brewers’ television and radio teams and does a postgame show for the premier radio station. Vince will no longer be working A’s games after this season.
Today a pure Cotroneo broadcast! Thanks to Dau’laire Louwerse, the A’s,@KenKorachRadioAnd@JDoskowfor making this possible! pic.twitter.com/wXH9NCNHFd
— Vince Cotroneo (@CotroneoVince) 24 August 2024
Injuries and other movements
⚾ The San Francisco Giants promoted the right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from Triple-A. Doval, a top MLB closer the past two seasons, was demoted earlier this month after having severe problems regaining his mental fitness.
⚾ Washington Nationals outfielder Alex call (partially torn left plantar fascia) went on the 10-day IL.
Articles you should read
This is how the Boras Four are doing after the “botched” offseason — RJ Anderson, CBS Sports
Why a six-inning minimum makes sense for starting pitchers —John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle
Review: Veeck hosts “Grandstand Managers Night” —Alex Coffey, Baseball Hall of Famer
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Overview of the starting pitchers
Batsman performances
Reliever Ranks
Starting Pitcher Streamers