Rangers 2, @Astros 1 — Texas finished off a sweep, as Yu Darvish flirted with a no-hitter for the 2nd time against Houston this year, surrendering a first-pitch home run to Carlos Corporan with 1 out in the 8th. Darvish retired the first 17 Astros (with 11 Ks) before issuing a walk that led to catcher A.J. Pierzynski being ejected. He left after 8 innings, 115 pitches, yielding just those two baserunners, with a career-high 15 strikeouts. Joe Nathan finished neatly for his 35th save.

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I’m back, and ready for the stretch run! By the way, Theodore Roosevelt Island is my new favorite spot in D.C.

@Dodgers 8, Rays 2 — Clayton Kershaw picked up his shortstop on both ends, with 8 innings of 3-hit ball (getting a DP right after 2 of the 3 Dee Gordon errors), while stroking the game’s biggest hit, a 2-out, 2-run single in the 2nd after Gordon whiffed with 2 in scoring position.

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The players in this quiz all played their entire careers since 1946, including seasons in which they played primarily in the infield. They are also the only players from this era with a particular season accomplishment.

What is this unusual seasonal feat? The HHS panel was stumped on this one. The solution is after the jump.

Hint: it is not a mistake that one of these players is included in a list of infielders.
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Top current 2013 Wins Above Replacement (baseball-reference version) totals in each of the six divisions, after the jump. Continue reading →

This post is for voting and discussion in the twenty-sixth round of balloting for the Circle of Greats.  This round adds those players born in 1947.  Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading →

Here’s a full set of notes on a short slate, and then a three-day pass for your Game Notes narrator. He’s off to D.C., to play Uncle John with the next generation of Autins. See you again on Monday. Until then, keep hitting the cutoff man! Or woman.

@Royals 5, Red Sox 1 — K.C. kicked off a 4-game home series by beating Boston from start to finish, their 14th win in the last 16 games, to reach 59-53 — their best mark in 10 years at this point in the season. Bruce Chen has been Panama red-hot since stepping up to the rotation. He blanked Boston on 5 hits for 7.2 innings, improving to 5-0, 1.79 overall (65.2 IP), with a 1.14 ERA in 5 starts.

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Just a few tonight; my teams needed me. Sorry if I missed a big story somewhere.

Braves 6, @Nationals 3 — With Atlanta seeking a 15-game bulge and their best win streak since 2000, Kris Medlen set aside the first 11 batters and led by 2-0. But he walked Bryce Harper, and Jayson Werth made it count with his 16th HR. Jordan Zimmermann had to leave after 4 innings, cause yet unknown. Justin Upton got the lead back with a solo in the 7th, but Medlen couldn’t hold again, and Werth scored that run after singling.

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Whoops! I did it again, for the Battle of the Justins. We’ll make it the last one for this series (the outcome took the edge off), and get back to regular Game Notes next post. Once again, this is working from ESPN’s printed play-by-play, as it happened, with the video links added later. (Oh, and a few oldies tacked on at the end. I hope you’re suitably giddy if you get to the Sunday Leftovers.)

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…just kidding.

Instead, how about a quick look at the effects of yesterday’s suspensions on the 2013 baseball season?  Seven players who were on major league rosters as of Sunday were suspended for 50 games each.  After the jump, we’ll look at those players, their year-to-date WAR (per baseball-reference), and their teams’ positions in the standings as of this morning.  In ascending order of potential playoff race impact:

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Two of the AL’s hottest teams kicked off a 4-game set on Monday. I didn’t get to see the game — where are you, MLB Network? — but I thought I’d try a running diary from the printed play-by-play, as it happened. With condolences to my Tribe-fan friends, who probably won’t read this anyway:

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1st/Top — Corey Kluber on the hill. He’s faced the Tigers three times this year, with mixed results (two quality starts, one crowning). Just his luck, Miguel Cabrera‘s in the lineup after 4 games out; Miggy’s 7 for 14 with 3 HRs in this matchup. But another tormentor, Jhonny Peralta (5-13, 2 doubles), will miss this game and many more.

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