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Rob Refsnyder and Tyler O’Neill delivered two sets of back-to-back home runs, one in the third inning and another in the eighth, propelling the Boston Red Sox to a commanding 12-3 victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Monday. This rare feat marked only the second time in Red Sox history that two players hit consecutive homers twice in the same game, following in the footsteps of Mo Vaughn and Tim Naehring, who did it on April 19, 1994, against the Oakland A’s.
Refsnyder and O’Neill Make History
In the third inning, Refsnyder launched a home run off Orioles’ starter Cade Povich, followed by a blast from O’Neill, extending Boston’s early lead. The duo repeated the performance in the eighth inning, this time against Baltimore reliever Cole Irvin, etching their names into the Red Sox record books.
Refsnyder, who had a stellar night with four hits and five RBIs, headlined Boston’s offensive onslaught. O’Neill contributed three hits, as did Rafael Devers, while Ceddanne Rafaela added two hits and drove in four runs. The Red Sox dominated from start to finish, backed by solid pitching from Brayan Bello (13-7), who allowed only two runs on three hits across 5 1/3 innings.
For those interested in how this form affects MLB Odds, Boston’s consistent offense and their recent hot streak could make them an attractive option moving forward.
Baltimore’s Struggles Continue
Orioles’ starter Cade Povich (2-8) struggled, giving up four runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings. Anthony Santander provided a lone bright spot for Baltimore, hitting his 40th home run of the season and driving in all three of their runs. Despite Santander’s efforts, the Orioles were unable to keep pace with Boston’s explosive offense. Bettors looking for value might want to monitor future Baseball Picks when Baltimore faces teams with stronger pitching.
Guardians 5, White Sox 3: Cantillo Flirts with Perfection
Cleveland Guardians rookie Joey Cantillo flirted with perfection, carrying a perfect-game bid into the seventh inning as the Guardians defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-3. Cantillo, who was recalled from Triple-A earlier in the day, retired the first 20 batters he faced before Andrew Benintendi broke up the no-hit bid with a single.
Those following the Handicapper Leaderboard would have seen expert predictions in favor of Cantillo’s potential, given his recent form in the minors.
Cantillo (1-3) finished the night allowing just one run on two hits while striking out ten over seven innings. David Fry and Bo Naylor homered to power Cleveland’s offense, and closer Emmanuel Clase earned his 43rd save of the season. For the White Sox, rookie Bryan Ramos hit his first career home run, while Jared Shuster (1-4) took the loss, allowing three runs in 2 2/3 innings.
Reds 1, Braves 0: Martinez Shines in Cincinnati’s Victory
Nick Martinez delivered a masterful performance, firing seven scoreless innings as the Cincinnati Reds edged the Atlanta Braves 1-0 in a makeup game from July 24. Martinez (8-6) retired 17 consecutive batters at one point and allowed just two hits, stifling the Braves’ potent lineup.
The Reds’ lone run came in the second inning, when Ty France’s opposite-field double brought home TJ Friedl. Atlanta’s Charlie Morton (8-8) pitched well in defeat, giving up one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings. The loss dropped the Braves a game behind the New York Mets in the race for the final National League wild-card spot.
This low-scoring game is an excellent case study for bettors learning how to bet on MLB, as it highlights the importance of strong pitching matchups and situational hitting.
Yankees 10, Royals 4: Wells’ Heroics Propel New York
Austin Wells broke a 4-4 tie with a three-run homer in the seventh inning, part of a four-RBI performance that led the New York Yankees to a 10-4 win over the visiting Kansas City Royals. Wells’ blast highlighted a five-run inning that helped the Yankees win their third game in four outings.
Alex Verdugo also added a two-run homer for the Yankees, while Gleyber Torres contributed three hits and an RBI. Yankees starter Carlos Rodon allowed four runs (three earned) over six innings, but the offense came through late to secure the victory. Kansas City’s Salvador Perez and Hunter Renfroe homered, but the Royals’ four-game winning streak was snapped.
Phillies 2, Rays 1: Clemens’ Walk-Off Single Lifts Philadelphia
Kody Clemens ended a frustrating hitless streak in dramatic fashion, grounding a walk-off RBI single through the right side with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning, giving the Philadelphia Phillies a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Clemens had been hitless in his previous 13 at-bats before coming through against Rays reliever Garrett Cleavinger. Kyle Schwarber’s 34th home run of the season and Cristopher Sanchez’s six scoreless innings provided the foundation for the Phillies’ victory. Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe tied the game with a pinch-hit homer in the ninth, but the Rays fell short in the end.
Pirates 3, Marlins 2: Skenes Dominates as Pittsburgh Tops Miami
Rookie Paul Skenes continued his sensational season, striking out nine over six strong innings to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Miami Marlins. Skenes (10-2) gave up just one run on six hits and walked only one, lowering his ERA to 2.10 and bolstering his case for National League Rookie of the Year honors.
Oneil Cruz homered, and Bryan Reynolds drove in two runs to support Skenes. Marlins starter Valente Bellozo (2-3) allowed three runs (one earned) in 5 1/3 innings as Miami dropped the opener of the three-game series.
Mets 3, Blue Jays 2: Wild Pitch, Passed Ball Lift New York
The New York Mets capitalized on Toronto’s mistakes in a two-run eighth inning to defeat the Blue Jays 3-2. After loading the bases, the Mets scored the tying run on a wild pitch by Tommy Nance (0-1), and one out later, a passed ball by catcher Brian Serven allowed the go-ahead run to cross the plate.
Tylor Megill tossed six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts for New York, which bounced back from a loss on Sunday. Ryne Stanek (7-3) earned the win, and Edwin Diaz closed the door with his 17th save. Toronto has now lost six of its last seven games.
Angels 6, Twins 2: Drury, Kavadas Homer in Los Angeles Win
Brandon Drury and Niko Kavadas each hit two-run home runs as the Los Angeles Angels pulled away for a 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis. Taylor Ward had a strong night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a walk, and Reid Detmers (4-6) pitched six innings of two-run ball for the Angels.
Kyle Farmer hit a solo home run for the Twins, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Minnesota from dropping its fourth straight game. David Festa (2-6) was charged with four runs on four hits in four innings for the Twins.
