It's already been an interesting week for MLB, and the action isn't over yet. The San Francisco Giants are going to have to rethink their strategy after two injuries, and the Tampa Bay Rays are going to have to rethink their strategy after losing to a team with the worst record in the league.
Giants take a hit
During the game between the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals, the Giants informed reporters that outfielder Mitch Haniger suffered a fractured right hand. Meanwhile, third baseman JD Davis experienced a sprained right leg. In the third inning, a Jack Flaherty pitch unexpectedly hit Haniger on a check swing that caused him to immediately leave the game. Blake Sabol subsequently replaced him in the left field position.
Unfortunately, the fracture was definitely confirmed via X-ray, resulting in a prolonged period on the injured list. It's a stroke of bad luck for an experienced outfielder. Haniger, who is 6-foot-3 and 32 years old, has had several injury problems throughout his career, one of which included a concussion that prevented him from running.
In 2019, he suffered a torn ligament from a ball hit, which led him to undergo numerous core surgeries that consumed his entire 2020. He made his full-season return in 2021, but was unable to play the previous year due to a high-profile sprain in his right leg.
Dodgers defeat the White Sox
In Tuesday's game, the Los Angeles Dodgers secured a 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Leading the charge were Will Smith and David Peralta, who each scored two runs in the first inning. Tony Gonsolin was the star pitcher, throwing six scoreless innings and allowing just two hits to Andrew Vaughn and Yoan Moncada.
With the win, the Dodgers extended their perfect record to 4-0. Smith also had a significant impact on the game by hitting a home run, celebrated with special wrists in his image.
Freddie Freeman drew a base on balls when he was at bat and then the ball was hit by him for 413 feet to left field by the player. This led to Freddie Freeman's walk. The score then expanded to 4-0 after three more runs were taken, a home run by Smith and another by Peralta. Peralta sent a fly over the center field wall to score Jason Heyward, who had earlier singled.
Miguel Cabrera's first home run of the season! His 508th lifetime home run in the majors. He's still looking sharp. pic.twitter.com/cBplbK2z4i
- Miguel Santana ✍️ (@Santanadeportes) June 14, 2023
Oakland A's Find Luck
In front of more than 27,000 people at the Oakland Coliseum, the Oakland Athletics players proved that their debut series win was no fluke, as they once again emerged victorious against the best team in all of MLB by a score of 2-1. The Tampa Bay Rays, the MLB team to beat this year, faltered.
During the fifth inning, the Rays secured the lead with an RBI single by Manuel Margot. However, the opposing team's Brent Rooker tied the score in the seventh inning with an RBI double. In the eighth minute of the game, Venezuelan infielder Carlos Perez made a game-winning play by hitting a fly out to third on Ramon Laureano's grounder against Tampa Bay. Despite Isaac Paredes' best efforts, Perez's swing sealed the deal.
The Oakland Athletics secured their 19th win of the season and seventh in the series after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite the win, the Athletics continue to have the lowest record in the league.
