Tuesday was a strong day for Jewish hitters, who collectively went 9-for-19 (.473) with four doubles, four RBIs and a walk. Four of five batters had two hits apiece.
Dodgers CF Joc Pederson went 2-for-2 with a single, double and a walk in a 3-2 win over Washington. In the 8th inning, he drew the first walk allowed by Nationals P Tanner Roark and went on to score what would prove to be the winning run. Curious about Joc's living arrangements back in L.A.? He recently recorded an online house tour while riding a hoverboard.
Detroit 2B Ian Kinsler singled twice and drove in the tying run in a 4-2 win over Seattle. The RBI, his 46th, tied him for 10th place in the American League. Kinsler still ranks fifth in All-Star voting among A.L. second basemen.
Brewers LF Ryan Braun singled and stroked an RBI double in a 5-3 loss to Oakland. He ranks fifth in All-Star voting among N.L. outfielders behind Dexter Fowler, Bryce Harper, Yoenis Cespedes, and Jason Heyward.
On the other side of the diamond Tuesday, A's 3B Danny Valencia also singled and doubled and was hit in the left hand by a pitch. In a sorta-kinda Jew vs. Jew moment, Milwaukee's Chris Carter launched a line-drive missile off Valencia's glove, allowing Braun to score. Valencia is hitting .330, which would be good enough for fourth best in the A.L. if he weren't a few at-bats shy of qualifying. Nevertheless, he is not among the top five A.L. third basemen in All-Star voting.
Toronto CF Kevin Pillar had quite a 4th inning in a 4-2 loss to Arizona, earning another MLB.com Top 5 Plays of the Day honor with a wall-crashing catch and following up in the bottom of the frame with a two-run double. "No regard for his body," a commentator correctly noted. Pillar ranks a distant 11th in All-Star voting among A.L. outfielders.
Yankees reliever Richard Bleier held batters scoreless for 1.2 innings in an 8-4 loss to Colorado, yielding 2 hits and no walks while striking out 2. Yankees 1B Ike Davis did not play.
Reliever Scott Feldman did not play in Houston's 3-2 win over the Angels.
