By Ron Kaplan, contributor

Joc Pederson was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a sacrifice fly as the LA Dodgers (26-29) beat Gabe Kapler‘s visiting Philadelphia Phillies (30-23), 8-2. Speaking of Kap, Yahoo has an interesting interview with him.

Ian Kinsler was back in the leadoff spot for the LA Angels (30-26), going 2-for-3 — including his ninth double — with a walk (and a caught stealing) in a 6-1 loss to the host Detroit Tigers, his former team. The two hits lifted Kinsler’s batting average to .204. Just think: he could have been an Arizona Diamondback and wearing one of those hideous uniforms right about now.

Kevin Pillar, batting in the #2 spot, was 1-for-4 with a run scored as the Toronto Blue Jays (25-31) lost to the host Boston Red Sox, 6-3.

Alex Bregman was 1-for-4 as the Houston Astros (35-22) lost to the host NY Yankees, 5-3.

Ryan Braun walked as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning for the Milwaukee Brewers (36-21) in their 3-2 win over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

Neither Danny Valencia nor Richard Bleier appeared for the Baltimore Orioles in their 2-0 loss to the visiting Washington Nationals. Can’t speak for Bleier, but Valencia had a good reason for his absence: he and his wife had a baby.

Ron Kaplan (@RonKaplanNJ) hosts Kaplan’s Korner, a blog about Jews and sports. He is the author of three books, including The Jewish Olympics: The History of the Maccabiah Games and Hank Greenberg in 1938: Hatred and Home Runs in the Shadow of War.

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