The Rangers coughed up a late lead on Sunday, but rallied in the ninth inning to walk off the Astros. Texas picked up three straight hits off closer Josh Hader to seal the win. The club heads into the break leading the AL Central by 1 1/2 games.
1. Sluggers take center stage in Philly
The All-Star break festivities will kick off with the Home Run Derby tonight at Citizens Bank Park. The event is streaming on Netflix and begins at 7 pm CT. The field features a pair of teammates playing in their home ballpark. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper will be looking to run it back after facing off in the finals of the 2018 derby (won by Harper). This year’s derby will ditch the timed rounds in favor of a swing format. Participants get 20 swings in the first round and 15 in the two subsequent rounds. Check out the full field here.
2. Cease, Sanchez tabbed as ASG starters
Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease will get the ball for the American League on Tuesday. He’ll be opposed by Phillies lefty Cristopher Sanchez. Cease took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Giants in his final start of the first half. He’s tossed 15 scoreless frames to begin July. Sanchez opened the month with the worst start of his career, but got back on track last time out with seven innings of two-run ball. As Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out, the last Blue Jay and the last Phillie to start the All-Star game was Hall of Fame righty Roy Halladay (2009, 2011).
3. Red Sox beat Mets in extras
Boston swept New York with an extra-inning win on Sunday, pushing its winning streak to nine games. The Mets were two outs away from salvaging a game in the series. A Francisco Lindor error opened the door for a two-run ninth inning, and the Mets were unable to cash in the ghost runner after the Red Sox scored in the top of the 10th inning. Boston now sits a half-game out of the final AL Wild Card spot with a 46-48 record. The club has the second-best run differential in the American League.
Photo courtesy of Jordan Godfree, Imagn Images
