Winn's homer in 12th, Carlson's throw lead Cardinals over Marlins for 1st winning record since April - MLB (2024)

The Canadian Press - Jun 18, 2024 / 11:40 am | Story: 492970

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball's top minor leagues are switching to a challenge system full-time for their test of robot umpires.

Major League Baseball has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019. It has been used at all Triple-A ballparks this year for the second straight season, the robot alone for the first three games of each series and a human with a challenge system in the final three.

Starting June 25, only the challenge system will be used, according to a memo sent Tuesday from MLB vice president of on-field strategy Joe Martinez to farm directors and Triple-A managers that was obtained by The Associated Press.

MLB says 47% of challenges have been successful this year.

As part of the change, the number of challenges allowed per team will be decreased from three to two in the International League but will remain at three in the Pacific Coast League. A team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for big league teams with video reviews.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said last month robot umpires were unlikely to come to the major leagues for 2025 and refinements were needed.

“There’s a growing consensus in large part based on what we’re hearing from players that the challenge form should be the form of ABS if and when we bring it to the big leagues, at least as a starting point,” Manfred said on May 23 following an owners meeting. “I think that’s a good decision.”

Coming to a consensus on what a computer strike zone should look like remains an obstacle. There is little desire to call the strike zone as defined in the rule book as a cube. The ABS currently calls strikes solely based on where the ball crosses the midpoint of the plate, 8.5 inches from the front and the back. The top of the strike zone was increased to 53.5% of batter height this year, up from 51%.

In data accompanying the memo, MLB said 61% of staff and players prefer the challenge system and 11% liked the full robot system. MLB said fans preferred the challenge system by a 2-1 margin.

MLB said almost 40% of Triple-A games have had more than six total challenges and that 89% of fans said the optimal number was six or fewer.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums

The Canadian Press - Jun 18, 2024 / 11:39 am | Story: 492966

CLEVELAND (AP) — Guardians third baseman José Ramírez was activated from the paternity list Tuesday before AL Central-leading Cleveland opened a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.

Ramírez, who leads All-Star voting at his position, missed the final two games of the Guardians' weekend series in Toronto while his third child was born.

The 31-year-old Ramírez is batting .269 with a team-leading 18 homers and 62 RBIs for the Guardians, who have a five-game lead over second-place Kansas City.

To make room for Ramírez, the Guardians optioned rookie first baseman/DH Kyle Manzardo to Triple-A Columbus. Manzardo showed some positive signs in his first stint with Cleveland, but like so many young hitters, he struggled with consistency.

Manzardo batted just .207 with seven RBIs in 30 games. He struck out 23 times in 82 at-bats.

The Guardians remain high on the 23-year-old, who was acquired last year at the trading deadline from Tampa Bay for starter Aaron Civale.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums

The Canadian Press - Jun 18, 2024 / 10:41 am | Story: 492955

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Seattle Mariners reinstated first baseman Ty France from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against Cleveland.

France had been out for a little more than a week after suffering a hairline fracture in his right heel when he was hit by a pitch in a game against Kansas City. The hit by pitch was the 90th time France had been plunked in his Mariners career, setting a franchise record.

After a slow start, France had raised hit batting average to .251 with seven homers and 27 RBIs, with five of those homers coming in the past 27 games.

To clear the roster spot, Seattle designated for assignment catcher Seby Zavala, a move which could end up seeing Mitch Garver get more time behind the plate as the primary backup to Cal Raleigh. Zavala had appeared in only 18 games and was hitting .154 in his limited at bats.

Garver, who was acquired in the offseason to be Seattle’s primary designated hitter, had started to get occasional time behind the plate lately and has caught four games since May 29. Garver has struggled at the plate and is hitting .173 with eight homers in 61 games this season.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums

The Canadian Press - Jun 17, 2024 / 9:18 pm | Story: 492894

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Zach Plesac pitched six innings of four-hit ball in his Angels debut and his first major league start in nearly 14 months, and Zach Neto hit a two-run homer in Los Angeles' 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.

Luis Guillorme had an RBI triple during the Angels’ three-run third, which was abetted by two Brewers defensive misplays. Nolan Schanuel had two hits and drove in a run as the Angels hung on for their fourth win in six games.

Plesac (1-0) was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake earlier Monday to replace José Suarez on the Angels' roster, and he got assigned to start about two hours before first pitch when José Soriano was scratched with lower abdominal pain. Plesac's plane only landed in mid-afternoon, but he quickly got into form for his return to the big leagues.

“It was a big spot,” Plesac said. “I needed to step up for these guys today, and that was my goal. It was one of those things you don't plan for, but you've got to be ready to do.”

Plesac signed with the Angels in January after parts of five seasons with Cleveland. He hadn't pitched in the majors since April 2023, but he made 13 starts for Triple-A Salt Lake this year before his promotion.

Although he had just one strikeout while throwing a fastball that didn't top 91 mph, Plesac effectively pitched to contact all night against Milwaukee.

“He's a starter, and we were fortunate enough that (Tuesday) was his (scheduled) day (to start),” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “He went out and gave us six quality innings against a good team. It was a tremendous six innings.”

Los Angeles-area natives Jake Bauers and Brice Turang homered for the NL Central-leading Brewers in the opener of a seven-game California trip.

Milwaukee got three runners into scoring position in the final three innings against three Angels relievers, but couldn’t score. Carlos Estévez pitched the ninth for his 13th save.

“Wasn't a great ballgame for us, for sure,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said. “We had opportunities many times. We didn't play a complete ballgame on any side of the ball. Defense, pitching, offense. We had opportunities again and didn't come through. That's disappointing.”

Carlos Rodriguez (0-2) yielded five runs on five hits while pitching into the fifth inning of his second career start for Milwaukee.

Bauers, an Orange County native who went to high school in Huntington Beach, hit his first homer since May 17 in the second inning on a first-pitch fastball. That undoubtedly pleased his father, Stu, who drove him to the ballpark.

“I grew up coming to games in this stadium," Bauers said. "Came to playoff games during the playoff run when they won the World Series, so something about this place feels different than all the others, for sure. ... Dad drove me, gave me a little pep talk. He did tell me he likes it when I swing at first-pitch fastballs.”

In the third, Jo Adell drew a walk and scored when Guillorme’s drive to right got away from Sal Frelick. Schanuel then singled in Guillorme and eventually scored on Taylor Ward’s sacrifice fly.

Neto hit a line drive for his 10th homer in the fourth, scoring Logan O’Hoppe.

Turang, who grew up 25 miles east of Anaheim in Corona, had a solo shot in the fifth for his first homer since May 25.

Retired Brewers star Ryan Braun attended the game with his family. The six-time All-Star and 2011 NL MVP, who retired in 2021, is a Los Angeles native.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: Brandon Drury went 0 for 3 in his return from a 34-game absence with a hamstring injury. ... Washington wasn't sure when Soriano started to feel ill, and didn't know when Soriano will pitch again. ... Anthony Rendon is increasing his running progression. The $245 million third baseman has been out since April 20 with a hamstring strain.

Brewers: C William Contreras cleared concussion protocol Monday after being involved in a game-ending collision at the plate Sunday, but he was out of the starting lineup for only the second time in Milwaukee's 72 games.

UP NEXT

Griffin Canning (2-7, 4.76 ERA) looks to end his three-start losing streak when he makes his first career appearance against the Brewers. Milwaukee counters with rookie Tobias Myers (3-2, 3.76), who has won two straight starts for the first time.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums

The Canadian Press - Jun 17, 2024 / 8:53 pm | Story: 492891

DENVER (AP) — Shohei Ohtani had three hits, James Paxton pitched seven smooth innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 9-5 on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series between the top and bottom teams in the NL West.

Miguel Rojas and Jason Heyward also had three hits apiece for the first-place Dodgers, who finished with 14. Freddie Freeman walked five times, one shy of a major league record.

“Over the last few weeks, I know we haven’t been swinging the way we wanted to, but it felt like the bats were getting better and better as each day went on," Freeman said. "Today, we just kind of put it all together.”

Ohtani doubled twice, drove in a run and had his third multi-hit performance in his past four games, a stretch in which he has seven hits in 15 at-bats. The two-time AL MVP entered second in the majors in extra-base hits, tied for fifth in hits and sixth in batting average.

Paxton (7-1) permitted just one run and two hits in his longest outing of the season. He had a season-high eight strikeouts and walked only one in his first career start at hitter-friendly Coors Field.

“If you’re thinking about it being Coors Field and the ball flying and you’re worried about that, you’re not focused on the pitch you’re throwing," Paxton said. "You can’t be distracted by stuff like that.”

Los Angeles left 13 runners on base, equaling a season high.

The loss was the Rockies’ sixth in their past eight games and 12th in 16 games in June. During that stretch, they’ve been outscored by a 109-66 margin.

Jacob Stallings, Greg Jones and Hunter Goodman homered for Colorado, which got four runs in the ninth inning off reliever J.P. Feyereisen. Jones’ home run, which came as a pinch hitter in the ninth, was his first career hit.

Cal Quantrill (6-5) gave up seven hits and three earned runs in five innings. The 29-year-old right-hander entered 6-1 with a 1.91 ERA over his previous eight starts.

“They just make it hard," Quantrill said. "If you get the first two guys out, they’re going to make sure that that third guy is a tough out. There are some things I could have done better today, but on the whole, we battled. We just weren’t able to make it happen.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: SS Mookie Betts (fractured left hand) was placed on the 10-day injured list, with manager Dave Roberts saying the 2018 AL MVP will miss roughly six to eight weeks. … Los Angeles recalled OF Miguel Vargas from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Rockies: Reinstated RHP Jake Bird (right elbow inflammation) and RHP Justin Lawrence (right shoulder strain) from the 15-day IL. … Placed LHP Josh Rogers (rotator cuff strain) on the 15-day IL, retroactive to June 14. … Optioned RHP Angel Chivilli to Double-A Hartford.

UP NEXT

Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler (1-4, 4.64 ERA) pitches Tuesday against LHP Austin Gomber (1-4, 4.36).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums

The Canadian Press - Jun 17, 2024 / 8:24 pm | Story: 492889

CHICAGO (AP) — Thairo Estrada hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the San Francisco Giants to a 7-6 victory over the Cubs on a steamy Monday night.

Heliot Ramos and Patrick Bailey also homered for the Giants, who won their second straight after erasing a 6-3 deficit in the final two innings.

Ian Happ and Michael Busch had home runs for the Cubs, who’ve dropped four of their last five.

The Giants got a run back in the eighth on Bailey’s solo shot off reliever Mark Leiter Jr., then took the lead for good off Héctor Neris (6-2) in the ninth when Estrada sent the first pitch he saw into the left-field bleachers.

“I had a feeling something big was going to happen for me today,” he said through an interpreter.

With one out, Jorge Soler reached on catcher’s interference. Mike Yastrzemski followed with a walk before Estrada’s homer.

It was Neris’ fourth blown save in 14 chances but Cubs manager Craig Counsell said the right-hander will remain in the closer’s spot for now.

“I wouldn’t anticipate doing that,” Counsell said. “We had the catcher’s interference, we had a walk and, frankly, (Estrada’s homer is) a fly ball. It’s the wrong night to give up fly balls.

“The walk was the only bad at-bat.”

Camilo Doval worked the ninth for his 13th save in 15 tries. Reliever Erik Miller (2-2) won despite giving up Happ’s three-run homer in the seventh that gave the Cubs the lead. Happ nearly drove Miller’s 2-2 pitch onto Waveland Avenue in left field. The ball cleared the bleachers but landed a few feet shy of leaving the park.

Soler drew a two-out walk in the fourth and came home two pitches later on Yastrzemski’s triple to give the Giants the game’s first lead. It held up until the sixth, when Busch hit a booming, two-out drive off Randy Rodríguez to center to give the Cubs a 2-1 edge.

“We’ve got a grinding team,” said Yastrzemski, who also started an inning-ending 9-2 double play to prevent a Cubs run. “It’s huge for our confidence knowing we’re never really out of the game.”

Chicago’s Javier Assad allowed five hits, walked two and struck out seven in the first five innings. Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks also went five, striking out four while walking for and allowing four hits.

San Francisco manager Bob Melvin was ejected in the bottom of the eighth by home-plate umpire Manny Gonzalez after arguing balls and strikes.

“We were behind the eight ball a few times tonight,” said Melvin, who took the early exit in stride. “Sometimes it seems our at-bats get even better late in the game.”

It was 93 degrees at the first pitch, three off the record high for the date that was matched earlier in the day.

Trainer’s Room

Cubs: DH Mike Tauchman left the game in the bottom of the third after legging out a single. The club said he experienced left groin tightness.

Up Next

The series continues Tuesday night, when RHP Logan Webb (6-5, 3.02 ERA) faces Chicago LHP Justin Steele (0-3, 3.22).

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums

The Canadian Press - Jun 17, 2024 / 8:17 pm | Story: 492887

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — DJ Stewart hit a three-run homer and Brandon Nimmo also went deep around a bunch of singles as the New York Mets extended their winning streak to six games with a 14-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.

The Mets' 22 hits, five for extra bases, were their most since getting 23 against Atlanta in August 2019. They had five players with at least three hits for the first time since August 2018 at Philadelphia.

“Right now, we’re riding a good wave. Hitting’s contagious and it seems like we are in one of those stages where everything’s coming our way,” leadoff batter Francisco Lindor said. “We’ve just got to continue to ride as long as we can.”

Lindor went 4 for 4 with three singles and a double, three runs scored and two RBIs — all in the first five innings. Pete Alonso had three singles, two of those driving in runs.

Rangers starter Jon Gray, who had a 1.53 ERA over his previous 12 games, felt he was tipping pitches.

“It seemed like they knew what was coming,” Gray said. “I’m just not sure what it is.”

Nimmo's two-run shot with nobody out in the fourth made it 9-2 and chased Gray (2-3), who allowed nine singles and those two homers. Nimmo also had a pair of RBI singles in his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, and is 10 for 16 in that span.

Reigning World Series champion Texas (33-39) has lost four in a row and 22 of 33 overall. The Rangers are a season-worst six games under .500 and nine games behind AL West-leading Seattle, which swept them last weekend.

“We’ll get this figured out here,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We had a really good pitcher out there that’s done a great job for us that had an off night. ... A lot of pitches over the heart of the plate.”

The Mets have won 12 of 16 games, and their six-game winning streak matches their season high.

David Peterson (3-0) became the first Mets pitcher this season to win three consecutive starts. The lefty allowed two runs over six innings, with six strikeouts and three walks in his fourth start since offseason surgery on his left hip.

Playing in Globe Life Field for the first time and at Texas for the first time since 2017, the Mets (34-37) already had eight singles before Stewart's drive with two outs in the second inning for a 7-0 lead. Lindor reached on a single just before Nimmo's eighth homer of the season.

“Guys were making really, really good contact on pitches in the zone,” Nimmo said. “Even the ones that weren’t the greatest contact, they’re finding some grass. And, there’s days like that, and there’s a reason that you don’t get 22 hits in the big leagues every single day. A lot of things have to go right in order for that to happen.”

Gray's season ERA jumped from 2.17 to 3.31 after throwing 42 of 55 pitches for strikes, and matching career highs for earned runs and hits allowed in a game. The right-hander had allowed only 10 earned runs over 58 2/3 innings in a span that was interrupted by a 15-day injured list stint because of a right groin strain.

Rangers catcher Andrew Knizner had his second scoreless relief appearance in a week, pitching the final 1 1/3 innings after throwing 1 2/3 innings to close out their 15-2 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers last Tuesday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: RF Starling Marte was out of the lineup for the second time in three games. He was scratched Saturday as a precaution when his troublesome right knee flared up, then played Sunday. New York manager Carlos Mendoza said Marte was fine, but was never going to play all three games on the turf in Texas. ... The team released catcher Tomás Nido.

Rangers: RHP Jacob deGrom threw 15 pitches off a mound for the first time since reconstructive surgery on his right elbow just more than a year ago. ... INF Josh Smith missed his fourth game in a row because of hamstring and glute tightness. “It'll be another day or two before he hits the field,” Bochy said.

UP NEXT

Mets right-hander Luis Severino (4-2, 3.12 ERA) threw six scoreless innings for the Yankees in a win when he faced Texas last summer.

Rangers RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-3, 2.86) is 2-1 with a 1.46 ERA over his last six starts, allowing six earned runs in 37 innings.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums

The Canadian Press - Jun 17, 2024 / 7:49 pm | Story: 492886

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber homered twice, Trea Turner had two hits in his return to the lineup and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the San Diego Padres 9-2 on Monday night.

Alec Bohm added a three-run homer and two singles, and Rafael Marchán had four hits and an RBI for Philadelphia, which pounded out 18 hits — seven for extra bases. The NL East leaders were playing at home for the first time since June 5 after an eight-game, three-city, intercontinental road trip that included two games in London against the Mets.

Donovan Solano had an RBI double for the Padres, who have lost four straight overall and eight in a row on the road.

BRAVES 2, TIGERS 1

ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies hit a go-ahead home run with two outs in the eighth and Atlanta overcame a strong start by Detroit right-hander Reese Olson to beat the Tigers.

Albies hit his fifth homer of the season 407 feet, high into the right field seats, off right-hander Shelby Miller (4-5).

Atlanta right-hander Daysbel Hernández (1-0), who was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett before the game, pitched a scoreless eighth. Joe Jiménez recorded the final three outs for his first save.

Olson threw six scoreless innings in a successful return to his home state, leaving with a 1-0 lead.

PIRATES 4, REDS 1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rookie Paul Skenes pitched one-run ball over six innings to win his fourth straight decision and lead Pittsburgh over Cincinnati.

Skenes (4-0) allowed six hits in six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk, lowering his ERA to 2.29. The 22-year-old right-hander has 53 strikeouts and seven walks in 39 1/3 innings, and the Pirates are 6-1 in his starts.

Skenes reached 100 mph with five pitches and has thrown 65 pitches of 100 mph or higher. The second-most in the major leagues is the Los Angeles Angels’ José Soriano with 36, according to MLB Statcast.

David Bednar pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 15th save in 18 chances. He has converted 14 in a row after blowing three of his first four.

RED SOX 7, BLUE JAYS 3

TORONTO (AP) — Tyler O’Neill hit two of Boston’s four home runs, fellow Canadian Nick Pivetta pitched seven innings and Boston beat Toronto for their sixth win in eight games.

One day after setting a team record with nine stolen bases, the Red Sox slugged their way to victory by going deep four times off Yusei Kikuchi, matching his career worst.

Boston didn’t steal any bases, but Romy Gonzalez was caught stealing twice.

Gonzalez got caught in a rundown and was tagged out at third base in the fourth inning. Toronto used video replay to overturn a safe call at third on Boston’s double-steal attempt in the eighth.

Pivetta (4-4) allowed three runs and nine hits. He walked one and struck out four.

CARDINALS 7, MARLINS 6, 12 INNINGS

MIAMI (AP) — Rookie Masyn Winn hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning, Dylan Carlson threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the bottom half and St. Louis beat Miami to move over .500 for the first time since early April.

St. Louis (36-35) won for the fifth time in six games and has a winning record for the first time since the Cardinals were 5-4 after defeating the Marlins on April 6.

NL-worst Miami (23-49) lost its sixth straight and dropped to 2-12 in June.

METS 14, RANGERS 2

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — DJ Stewart hit a three-run homer, Brandon Nimmo also went deep around a bunch of singles and the New York Mets extended their winning streak to six games with a victory over Texas.

The Mets’ 22 hits, only five for extra bases, were their most since getting 23 against Atlanta in August 2019. They had five players with at least three hits for the first time since August 2018 at Philadelphia.

Leadoff batter Francisco Lindor went 4 for 4 with three singles and a double, three runs scored and two RBIs — all in the first five innings. Pete Alonso had three singles, two of those driving in runs.

Nimmo’s two-run shot with nobody out in the fourth made it 9-2 and chased Texas starter Jon Gray (2-3), who allowed nine singles and those two homers. Nimmo also had a pair of RBI singles in his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, and is 10 for 16 in that span

GIANTS 7, CUBS 6

CHICAGO (AP) — Thairo Estrada hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to lift San Francisco to a victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Heliot Ramos and Patrick Bailey also homered for the Giants, who won their second straight after erasing a 6-3 deficit in the final two innings.

Ian Happ and Michael Busch had home runs for the Cubs, who’ve dropped four of their last five.

The Giants got a run back in the eighth on Bailey’s solo shot off reliever Mark Leiter Jr., then took the lead for good off Héctor Neris (6-2) in the ninth when Estrada sent the first pitch he saw into the left-field bleachers.

DODGERS 9, ROCKIES 5

DENVER (AP) — Shohei Ohtani had three hits, James Paxton pitched seven smooth innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated Colorado on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series between the top and bottom teams in the NL West.

Miguel Rojas and Jason Heyward also had three hits apiece for the first-place Dodgers, who finished with 14. Freddie Freeman walked five times, one shy of a major league record.

Ohtani doubled twice, drove in a run and had his third multi-hit performance in his past four games, a stretch in which he has seven hits in 15 at-bats. The two-time AL MVP entered second in the majors in extra-base hits, tied for fifth in hits and sixth in batting average.

Paxton (7-1) permitted just one run and two hits in his longest outing of the season. He had a season-high eight strikeouts and walked only one.

ANGELS 5, BREWERS 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Zach Plesac pitched six innings of four-hit ball in his Angels debut and his first major league start in nearly 14 months, and Zach Neto hit a two-run homer in Los Angeles' victory over Milwaukee.

Luis Guillorme had an RBI triple during the Angels’ three-run third, which was abetted by two Brewers defensive misplays. Nolan Schanuel had two hits and drove in a run as the Angels hung on for their fourth win in six games.

Los Angeles-area natives Jake Bauers and Brice Turang homered for the NL Central-leading Brewers in the opener of a seven-game California trip.

Milwaukee got three runners into scoring position in the final three innings against three Angels relievers, but couldn’t score. Carlos Estévez pitched the ninth for his 13th save.

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums

The Canadian Press - Jun 17, 2024 / 7:34 pm | Story: 492885

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums

The Canadian Press - Jun 17, 2024 / 7:01 pm | Story: 492882

TORONTO — A couple of Canadians helped the Boston Red Sox to a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night at Rogers Centre.

Tyler O'Neill hit two of Boston's four solo homers and starter Nick Pivetta threw seven effective innings for the win as the Red Sox prevented the Blue Jays from returning to the .500 mark.

"I wanted to show up in front of the home crowd, I guess you could say," O'Neill said. "A lot of maple leaves around walking around today, so that’s fun to see. I made sure to get my Tim Hortons this morning."

Rafael Devers and Ceddanne Rafaela also went deep off Toronto starter Yusei Kikuchi, who lasted only four innings.

"There were obviously some pitches that I didn't locate too well," Kikuchi said via an interpreter. "But I think they also had a good approach as well."

Boston outhit Toronto 11-10 in the opener of the three-game series between American League East division foes. Justin Turner and Davis Schneider hit solo homers for the Blue Jays.

Pivetta (4-4), a Victoria native, allowed three earned runs, nine hits and a walk while striking out four.

"We had the right guy on the mound for the game tonight because of who he is and his resilience," said Boston manager Alex Cora.

O'Neill, a native of Burnaby, B.C., and Devers share the team lead with 14 home runs this season.

"They put good swings on pitches that were kind of in the middle," said Blue Jays manager John Schneider.

Boston (38-35) won for the sixth time in eight games while Toronto fell to 35-37.

Kikuchi (4-6) fanned the first two batters he faced before giving up back-to-back blasts to O'Neill and Devers.

Toronto halved the lead in the second inning after Turner walked and George Springer followed with a broken-bat flare that dropped in shallow right field.

Turner hustled to third base — dodging large shards of Springer's bat on the basepath — and scored on a sacrifice fly by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Ernie Clement reached on a single but was later thrown out on a double-steal attempt to end the inning.

Rafaela led off the third with his eighth homer of the year and O'Neill went deep later in the inning for the seventh multihomer game of his career.

"It’s always fun coming back home and breathing that northern air, just being up here for a little bit," O'Neill said.

The Red Sox padded their lead in the fourth after opening the inning with three straight singles. Bobby Dalbec hit a liner that Kevin Kiermaier bobbled in centre field, allowing Connor Wong to score from second base without a throw.

Kikuchi struck out a pair with runners on the corners and escaped with a pickoff play that led to Romy Gonzalez being tagged out after a rundown.

The Toronto starter allowed five earned runs and seven hits. He had seven strikeouts.

Turner went deep in the sixth inning for his fifth homer of the year, briefly giving the announced crowd of 29,907 some life.

Boston tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh off reliever Tim Mayza. Rob Refsnyder drove in Rafaela with a single and Jarren Duran scored on a sacrifice fly by Devers.

In the bottom half, Schneider's ninth homer of the year nearly reached the 300 level just inside the left-field pole.

Toronto put two runners on in the ninth inning before Kenley Jansen came on to get Schneider on a pop-up, ending the game in two hours 43 minutes. It was Jansen's 12th save of the season.

INJURY WOES

Before the game, Blue Jays right-hander Yimi Garcia was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow ulnar neuritis.

Left-hander Brandon Eisert, who made 20 appearances with Triple-A Buffalo this season, was selected to the roster. The reliever pitched two scoreless innings in his big-league debut.

Boston shortstop David Hamilton left the game in the fourth inning due to left side discomfort.

VOTING UNDERWAY

Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has a slim lead on Baltimore's Ryan Mountcastle in early voting for the American League's first base position at the 2024 all-star game.

The first phase of all-star voting continues through June 27 at noon ET. Guerrero is looking to make his third start for the AL side and fourth career all-star appearance.

COMING UP

Chris Bassitt (6-6, 3.56 ERA) was scheduled to start for the Blue Jays on Tuesday night against fellow right-hander Tanner Houck (7-5, 2.08).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2024.

Follow @GregoryStrongCP on X.

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums

The Canadian Press - Jun 17, 2024 / 6:58 pm | Story: 492879

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rookie Paul Skenes pitched one-run ball over six innings to win his fourth straight decision and lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Monday night.

Skenes (4-0) allowed six hits in six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk, lowering his ERA to 2.29. The 22-year-old right-hander has 53 strikeouts and seven walks in 39 1/3 innings, and the Pirates are 6-1 in his starts.

Skenes reached 100 mph with five pitches and has thrown 65 pitches of 100 mph or higher. The second-most in the major leagues is the Los Angeles Angels’ José Soriano with 36, according to MLB Statcast.

However, Skenes was most pleased with being able to mix pitches on a night he didn’t have his best fastball.

“It’s literally just getting to a position where I have to use all five of my pitches,” Skenes said. “That’s where I was today. There were a couple games like that last year, in pro ball and in college, too, where I had to do that. It was kind of cool to execute my way through six innings, kind of out of necessity.”

Skenes arrived in the major leagues on May 11 to great expectations. He has matched them so far.

“I think it speaks to his maturity,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “You really don’t ever see him get rattled, which is a really good sign for a starting pitcher.”

Skenes faced Cincinnati for the first time.

“Early on, we were really trying to be ready for his fastball and I thought we did a nice job of it in the first inning,” Reds manager David Bell said. “To his credit, he made a nice adjustment, went to his other pitches and did a really good against us. He’s impressive.”

David Bednar pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 15th save in 18 chances. He has converted 14 in a row after blowing three of his first four.

After a 30-minute rain delay at the start, Spencer Steer in an RBI double in the first.

Bryan Reynolds hit a pair of doubles for the Pirates, extending his hitting streak to 15 games.

Bell was ejected by plate umpire Malachi Moore in the middle of the eighth inning. The Reds were upset that a stadium LED light display was distracting pitcher Brent Suter during the seventh inning.

Pittsburgh opened a six-game homestand by winning for the third time in four games. The Reds have lost five of seven. The Reds’ Elly De La Cruz had three hits and stole his major league-leading 37th base.

Rookie Carson Spiers (0-1) gave up four runs and seven hits over six innings in his first start this season after five relief appearances

Andrew McCutchen walked in the first, took third on Reynolds’ double and scored on Oneil Cruz’s two-run single. Ke’Bryan Hayes hit an RBI groundout in the third, and McCutchen and Reynolds hit back-to-back doubles in the second.

Pittsburgh recalled right-hander Daulton Jefferies from Indianapolis and optioned left-hander Justin Bruihl to the Triple-A club.

TRAINER’S ROOM

LHP Martín Pérez (left groin muscle strain) threw batting practice. … INF/OF Ji Hwan (hip muscle strain) was one of the hitters who faced Perez and could be ready to begin a rehab assignment this week

Reds: CF TJ Friedl left in the sixth inning with tightness in his right hamstring after making a diving catch of Nick Gonzales’ line drive to left-center field. … INF Christian Encarnacion-Strand (right ulnar styloid fracture) was transferred to the 60-day IL. Out since May 7, Encarnacion-Strand is expected to decide this week whether to have surgery. RHP Brooks Kriske’s contract was selected from Louisville and he was optioned to the Triple-A farm team. Kriske had exercised an opt-out clause in his minor league contract.

UP NEXT

Reds LHP Nick Lodolo (7-2, 2.93 ERA) will face the Pirates LHP Bailey Falter (3-4, 3.86) on Tuesday night. Lodolo is the first Cincinnati pitcher to win at least seven of his first 10 starts in a season since Bronson Arroyo in 2009. Falter has lost his last two starts.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums

The Canadian Press - Jun 17, 2024 / 6:54 pm | Story: 492880

ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies hit a go-ahead home run with two outs in the eighth and the Atlanta Braves overcame a strong start by Detroit right-hander Reese Olson to beat the Tigers 2-1 on Monday night.

Albies hit his fifth homer of the season 407 feet, high into the right field seats, off right-hander Shelby Miller (4-5).

“I'm happy it came at the right time,” Albies said.

The Braves, who enjoyed an offensive resurgence in winning two of three against Tampa Bay, have won four of their last five games.

“It set a tone, big time,” said Albies of the team's 22 runs in three games against the Rays. “We swung the bats really well, better than we did for a couple of weeks.”

Atlanta right-hander Daysbel Hernández (1-0), recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett before the game, pitched a scoreless eighth. Joe Jiménez recorded the final three outs for his first save.

Olson threw six scoreless innings in a successful return to his home state, leaving with a 1-0 lead.

He allowed a combined 18 runs in an ugly string of three consecutive losses before returning to his more impressive early season form. Olson excelled against the Braves, his favorite team while growing up in Gainesville, Georgia, about one hour north of Atlanta. The right-hander matched his season high with eight strikeouts while allowing only four hits with no walks.

Olson gave his cheering section of about 50 friends and family members ample highlights while never allowing more than one baserunner in an inning.

“I'm thankful to have so many people come out to support me,” Olson said. “I'm happy to get back on track after struggling for a few. ... I got ahead in the counts a little better.”

The Braves pulled even against right-hander Will Vest in the seventh. Austin Riley led off the inning with his second double of the game. With two outs, Riley scored from third on a single to right field by Forrest Wall, also recalled from Gwinnett on Monday.

Atlanta left-hander Max Fried allowed one run on four hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. Jesse Chavez stranded two inherited baserunners in the sixth by striking out Gio Urshela and Justyn-Henry Malloy.

“Obviously I would have loved to have put him in a better spot,” said Fried of Chavez. “... It was a really big part of the game.”

Andy Ibáñez opened the sixth with a single to right field off Fried. Following Fried's walk to Mark Canha, Greene's single to right field drove in Ibáñez, giving Detroit a 1-0 lead.

Trainer’s room

Braves: There had been plans to option RHP Hurston Waldrep to Triple-A Gwinnett before he reported having a sore arm following Sunday's 8-6 loss to Tampa Bay. Instead, the rookie was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. Manager Brian Snitker said Waldrep will be shut down for a week. OF J.P. Martínez was optioned to Gwinnett.

Up next

Braves rookie RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (0-2, 6.32) will make his fourth start against Tigers RHP Casey Mize (1-4, 4.43) on Tuesday night.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums