The Cubs have responded well to their young first baseman's red-hot June.
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo continued his red-hot June on Thursday by going 3-for-4 with a double in his team's 5-3 win over the Nationals.
Rizzo is hitting .337/.416/.663 with eight doubles, seven home runs, 20 runs scored and 16 RBI in 24 games in June. The 24-year-old slugger, who was a highly touted prospect upon making his big league debut in 2011, is coming into his own in 2014. Rizzo his hitting .291 with an on-base percentage exceeding .400 and has 17 home runs a little less than halfway through his second full season in the majors.
The Cubs have responded to their star first baseman's success by going 13-11 this month. If they can keep that up, they'll finish June with their first winning month since July 2013.
Floyd undergoes season-ending surgery
Braves starter Gavin Floyd will miss the rest of 2014 after undergoing surgery on his fractured right elbow, according to Major League Baseball.
.@Braves RHP Gavin Floyd underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair a fractured olecranon in right elbow. He’ll miss the rest of 2014.
— MLB (@MLB) June 26, 2014Floyd exited the Braves' game against the Nationals on June 19 with swelling in the elbow, and X-rays later revealed the true extent of the injury. The 31-year-old right-hander was in the midst of an impressive bounce-back campaign, posting a 2.65 ERA with 45 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 54⅓ innings.
Harper nearing return
Bryce Harper is reportedly close to rejoining the Nationals. The star outfielder will make a few more rehab appearances before possibly returning for the Nats' series against the Rockies:
Harper playing 7 inn tonight in RF for Harrisburg, will play 9 in CF tomorrow. Off Saturday, LF on Sunday. Best case: Activated Monday.
— Mark Zuckerman (@ZuckermanCSN) June 26, 2014Pirates plate go-ahead run during pickle
Ike Davis isn't really known as a threat to steal bases. The 6'4, 220-pound first baseman has seven steals over the course of his five-year big league career. That didn't stop his former team from trying to catch him slipping with two outs and runners at the corners, and Andrew McCutchen took full advantage:
Rookie sensation Gregory Polanco later hit the decisive three-run home run in the Bucs' win over the Mets.
Thursday scores
Astros 6, Braves 1
Angels 6, Twins 4
Pirates 5, Mets 2
Blue Jays 7, White Sox 0
Tigers 6, Rangers 0
Cubs 5, Nationals 3
Phillies 5, Marlins 3 (14)
Brewers 7, Rockies 4
Dodgers 1, Cardinals 0
Reds 3, Giants 1