(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- The Miami Marlins managed just three hits and two walks on Friday night.
But the Marlins, for the second time in three days, beat a 2016 playoff team despite getting three or less hits. First it was the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. On Friday, it was the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs.
It helps, though, when one of those three hits on Friday was a home run by Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Urena pitched six scoreless innings. To cap it off, the bullpen did its job flawlessly.
Add it all up, and Miami shut out Chicago 2-0 at Marlins Park.
One night after the Cubs routed Miami 11-1, Urena (6-2) held the Cubs to five hits and three walks (with three strikeouts). Relievers Kyle Barraclough, David Phelps and A.J. Ramos completed the shutout. Ramos earned his 11th save of the season.
Urena, who has won a career-high five consecutive decisions, impressed Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant.
"The guy went up to 100 mph with sink," Bryant said.
The Cubs were familiar with Urena going into the game because he had defeated them as recently as June 7 in Chicago. But he looked different this time out.
"They changed their tactic," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Urena and the Marlins. "Their guy (Urena) threw a lot more breaking balls than last time, and he was good with it."
Perhaps that is part of the maturation of Urena, who leads all Marlins pitchers with his six wins.
"We know the power is there," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Urena's fastball. "But he's pitching more now.
"He's using his changeup. He's using his slider. You still want him to continue to improve, but he's using them, and that makes you think as a hitter."
Stanton's solo homer -- his ninth game-winning RBI this season -- gave Miami a 1-0 lead in the third. He hit a curveball on the outside part of the plate for his 19th long ball of the season, and he also doubled and was hit by a pitch in a 2-for-3 performance as Miami improved to 33-39.
The Cubs (37-36) got a good pitching performance by John Lackey (5-8), who allowed three hits, two walks and two runs, one earned, in six innings. Lackey has lost his past three decisions against the Marlins.
Offensively, Chicago hit into three double plays and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. The Cubs managed just one extra-base hit, a two-out double by rookie right fielder Ian Happ in the first inning. Urena got the next batter, Addison Russell, to ground out to end the threat.
The Cubs threatened again in the fifth. With two outs, Bryant drew a five-pitch walk. Happ, who has six hits in the past two games, singled to put runners on the corners, but Russell struck out looking as Urena escaped again.
"I just focused on putting the ball down in the zone," Urena said. "That's how I can get people out."
Miami extended its lead to 2-0 in the sixth. Dee Gordon blooped a soft single over the shortstop, stole second, advanced to third on catcher Miguel Montero's throwing error. After Stanton was hit by a pitch, Gordon scored on Christian Yelich's sacrifice fly.
"Whatever," Stanton said when asked his reaction to getting hit in the back with that pitch from Lackey. "Do your job, Yelly."
Yelich indeed did his job, and the Marlins emerged with the win, even with very little offensive firepower.
NOTES: Marlins 2B Dee Gordon stole his 28th base, tying him for second place in the National League. ... Miami activated 3B Martin Prado, who went 0-for-3. Prado had been on the disabled list since May 7 due to his second hamstring injury of the year. He hit in the sixth hole because RF Giancarlo Stanton has found his niche is the second spot in the order. ... Miami designated INF Christian Colon for assignment. ... Miami is reportedly shopping starting SS Adeiny Hechavarria, who is on the disabled list due to an oblique injury. The Orioles, Rays and Cardinals are reportedly interested in Hechavarria, who has been replaced by rookie SS J.T. Riddle. Miami could also turn to SS Miguel Rojas when he gets healthy. ... With SS Addison Russell and RF Ian Happ each going 4-for-5 on Thursday, it was the first time since 1913 that the Cubs had two players age 23 or younger each collect at least four hits in a game. ... Chicago entered the weekend 29th in the majors in batting average (.239).
Saturday, June 24, 2017
A's beat White Sox, end 4-game skid behind Davis' HR
(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Oakland Athletics pitcher Jharel Cotton told his teammates in the bullpen that he wanted to give them a break and go nine innings. He didn't live up to his end of the bargain, but the A's will certainly live with his performance.
Cotton (5-7) threw five shutout innings, scattering three hits in Oakland's 3-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night before leaving the game at the start of the sixth inning because of a blister on his right (throwing) thumb.
"I was cruising until the fifth and the sixth and then this happened," Cotton said, pointing to the blister. "It was kind of a bummer that I couldn't at least finish the sixth inning."
Cotton has been dealing with a blister for some time, and A's manager Bob Melvin said "it doesn't seem to be a big issue" and he's hopeful the right-hander makes his next start.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the A's (33-42) as Khris Davis listened to Melvin's pregame message of jumping out to an early lead. On the first pitch he saw from Mike Pelfrey in the top of the first, Davis launched his 19th home run of the season, a 429-foot, two-run blast to center field.
"(Melvin) told me he wanted to give me a kiss for some reason because we jumped out to an early lead," Davis said with a laugh. "I think I agree with that, that it was important to jump out and score first. Just keeping an aggressive mindset early on."
Davis went 2-for-3 and also had a walk and stolen base. The early lead gave Cotton some confidence as he notched his first win in a night game this season.
"Yeah, I told KD he took coaching very well today," Melvin said. "Any time he makes the manager look good he gets to play again tomorrow. We needed to get on the board first, the way things had been going on the road for us. And Jharel kind of took that and ran with it, and obviously when he had to come out we had some rested guys in the bullpen today and they did a good job after it."
Matt Joyce also hit a home run for the A's, blasting a solo shot to right-center field in the fourth inning against Pelfrey (3-6), who dropped to 0-5 in his career against Oakland. He threw 106 pitches in only 4 2/3 innings.
"For six or seven lefties, I did a terrible job of commanding the inside of the plate with the fastball," said Pelfrey, who was 3-1 in his previous six starts coming in. "(I was) probably fortunate to get out of it with three runs like I did."
Melvin said that Oakland's bullpen was "terrific" in throwing four shutout innings. Closer Santiago Casilla made it interesting in the ninth, though, allowing the tying run to come to the plate, but Matt Davidson flied out to deep center field to end the game.
"They did a great job from Liam (Hendriks) coming in and finishing my inning for me to (Sean) Doolittle coming in and throwing up zeros and especially (Ryan) Madson, a guy I talk to a lot, and of course Casilla, just closing the game out for us and giving us the first 'W' of the road series, which is pretty good," Cotton said.
Davidson had two hits for the White Sox (32-40), who have lost four of five.
White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson and manager Rick Renteria were ejected by home plate umpire Jim Wolf in the bottom of the fifth inning. Anderson was tagged out by A's catcher Bruce Maxwell on a tapper that he thought was foul. Renteria came out to argue Anderson's ejection and he was tossed for the third time this season and second time in a week.
"It happened kind of quick," Renteria said. "I started walking out and I was too late obviously. But I mean things like that happen. In the heat of the battle, your emotions are flying high so it happens."
NOTES: Oakland SS Chad Pinder left the game after the fifth inning with a strained left hamstring. Manager Bob Melvin said it "could be a little bit. ... Usually those things aren't one day.". ... White Sox starter Mike Pelfrey had not given up a home run since May 26 -- he had gone five appearances and 21 innings without allowing a long ball. ... Khris Davis' home run for Oakland was only his third in June after hitting 10 in April and six in May, but he is hitting .294 in the month compared with a .186 average in May. ... White Sox SS Tim Anderson's first career ejection came on his 24th birthday. ... The White Sox will retire Mark Buehrle's No. 56 before Saturday afternoon's game.
Cotton (5-7) threw five shutout innings, scattering three hits in Oakland's 3-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night before leaving the game at the start of the sixth inning because of a blister on his right (throwing) thumb.
"I was cruising until the fifth and the sixth and then this happened," Cotton said, pointing to the blister. "It was kind of a bummer that I couldn't at least finish the sixth inning."
Cotton has been dealing with a blister for some time, and A's manager Bob Melvin said "it doesn't seem to be a big issue" and he's hopeful the right-hander makes his next start.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the A's (33-42) as Khris Davis listened to Melvin's pregame message of jumping out to an early lead. On the first pitch he saw from Mike Pelfrey in the top of the first, Davis launched his 19th home run of the season, a 429-foot, two-run blast to center field.
"(Melvin) told me he wanted to give me a kiss for some reason because we jumped out to an early lead," Davis said with a laugh. "I think I agree with that, that it was important to jump out and score first. Just keeping an aggressive mindset early on."
Davis went 2-for-3 and also had a walk and stolen base. The early lead gave Cotton some confidence as he notched his first win in a night game this season.
"Yeah, I told KD he took coaching very well today," Melvin said. "Any time he makes the manager look good he gets to play again tomorrow. We needed to get on the board first, the way things had been going on the road for us. And Jharel kind of took that and ran with it, and obviously when he had to come out we had some rested guys in the bullpen today and they did a good job after it."
Matt Joyce also hit a home run for the A's, blasting a solo shot to right-center field in the fourth inning against Pelfrey (3-6), who dropped to 0-5 in his career against Oakland. He threw 106 pitches in only 4 2/3 innings.
"For six or seven lefties, I did a terrible job of commanding the inside of the plate with the fastball," said Pelfrey, who was 3-1 in his previous six starts coming in. "(I was) probably fortunate to get out of it with three runs like I did."
Melvin said that Oakland's bullpen was "terrific" in throwing four shutout innings. Closer Santiago Casilla made it interesting in the ninth, though, allowing the tying run to come to the plate, but Matt Davidson flied out to deep center field to end the game.
"They did a great job from Liam (Hendriks) coming in and finishing my inning for me to (Sean) Doolittle coming in and throwing up zeros and especially (Ryan) Madson, a guy I talk to a lot, and of course Casilla, just closing the game out for us and giving us the first 'W' of the road series, which is pretty good," Cotton said.
Davidson had two hits for the White Sox (32-40), who have lost four of five.
White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson and manager Rick Renteria were ejected by home plate umpire Jim Wolf in the bottom of the fifth inning. Anderson was tagged out by A's catcher Bruce Maxwell on a tapper that he thought was foul. Renteria came out to argue Anderson's ejection and he was tossed for the third time this season and second time in a week.
"It happened kind of quick," Renteria said. "I started walking out and I was too late obviously. But I mean things like that happen. In the heat of the battle, your emotions are flying high so it happens."
NOTES: Oakland SS Chad Pinder left the game after the fifth inning with a strained left hamstring. Manager Bob Melvin said it "could be a little bit. ... Usually those things aren't one day.". ... White Sox starter Mike Pelfrey had not given up a home run since May 26 -- he had gone five appearances and 21 innings without allowing a long ball. ... Khris Davis' home run for Oakland was only his third in June after hitting 10 in April and six in May, but he is hitting .294 in the month compared with a .186 average in May. ... White Sox SS Tim Anderson's first career ejection came on his 24th birthday. ... The White Sox will retire Mark Buehrle's No. 56 before Saturday afternoon's game.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Bases-loaded walk helps Padres beat Cubs
(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- A rookie catcher and the San Diego Padres bullpen combined to save the day when a forearm strain forced an abrupt end to the start of right-hander Miguel Diaz on Wednesday.
Five Padres relievers combined to limit the Chicago Cubs to two runs on one hit in the final 6 2/3 innings in a 3-2 victory that salvaged the finale of the three-game series.
"To get that many good innings to keep a good offense down, to give us the opportunity to win a lot of the credit goes to (backup catcher) Luis Torrens," Padres manager Andy Green said. "That's a young kid back there and he's navigating a very difficult lineup. He's calling the right pitches, he's blocking better and better."
Torrens also helped at the plate when he drew an eighth-inning walk with two out and bases loaded off Cubs reliever Koji Uehara to score Wil Myers for the go-ahead run.
"He's grown and for the long run that's really fun to see him take those steps forward," Green said. "He deserves a lot of credit for the win today."
Padres reliever Phil Maton (1-0) worked a scoreless seventh for the victory as the Padres (29-44) broke a three-game losing streak. Reliever Brandon Maurer worked a one-two-three ninth for his career-high-tying 13th save.
Uehara (2-4) took the loss as the Cubs (36-35) had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Cubs right-hander Eddie Butler had no decision in his start.
Diaz departed a right forearm strain after working 2 1/3 innings. Albert Almora Jr. was on base following a walk at the time, and Anthony RIzzo was at the plate. Right-hander Craig Stammen entered and got Rizzo to ground to second for an inning-ending double play.
"(Diaz) was having some trouble spinning the baseball, every time he did he could feel it," Green said. "You never feel good when you hear that, but we don't know how severe it is at this time."
Diaz had been limited to no more than 3 1/3 innings in three starts. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two on 43 pitches on Wednesday.
"Their young guy (Diaz) got hurt -- he has a good arm also -- and their bullpen matched up well," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We hit a couple balls fairly good at people but otherwise couldn't mount an attack."
Ian Happ gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the fourth with his 10th homer of the season, a two-out shot off Stammen to right field that also brought home Kyle Schwarber. It was his second homer in two days and third since Sunday.
"I feel like the at-bats are getting better," said Happ, who joined the Cubs from Triple-A Iowa on May 13. "When I go up there I'm just trying to make contact ... Right now it's happening to go out of the ballpark."
Stammen doubled to right to open the fifth and scored on Jose Pirela's single to center. That spelled the end for Butler, who departed with Pirela on second and none out. Cubs reliever Justin Grimm wrapped up the inning with a pair of strikeouts.
Butler threw 92 pitches in his four-plus innings. He allowed one run on five hits, struck out four and walked three.
Padres shortstop Erick Aybar forced a 2-2 tie in the fifth with his one-out solo home run to right off left-handed reliever Brian Duensing. Aybar's fifth homer of the season came on Duensing's 2-0 pitch.
Rizzo went 0-for-4, ending his streak of seven straight games reaching base in his leadoff at-bat.
The Padres swept the Cubs in a three-game series at Petco Park in late May.
NOTES: The Cubs presented 2016 World Series rings to Padres RHP Trevor Cahill and LHP Clayton Richard this week. Cahill spent all of last season with Chicago while Richard was released last August and rejoined San Diego. ... C Luis Torrens started again in place of Austin Hedges, injured in a home plate collision with Anthony Rizzo on Monday. Hedges may return to action on Friday. ... San Diego has Thursday off and opens a three-game weekend series against the Detroit Tigers as RHP Dinelson Lamet (2-2, 7.50 ERA) goes against Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer (6-5, 3.45 ERA). ... Several media outlets reported on Wednesday that the wife of Cubs SS Addison Russell is filing for divorce. The report comes in the wake of Melisa Russell's allegations of infidelity and a friend's charge of physical abuse made earlier this month. ... The Cubs hit the road on Thursday for an 11-game trip and send RHP Jake Arrieta (6-5, 4.64 ERA) against LHP Jeff Locke (0-2, 4.58 ERA) in the opener of a four-game series at Miami.
Five Padres relievers combined to limit the Chicago Cubs to two runs on one hit in the final 6 2/3 innings in a 3-2 victory that salvaged the finale of the three-game series.
"To get that many good innings to keep a good offense down, to give us the opportunity to win a lot of the credit goes to (backup catcher) Luis Torrens," Padres manager Andy Green said. "That's a young kid back there and he's navigating a very difficult lineup. He's calling the right pitches, he's blocking better and better."
Torrens also helped at the plate when he drew an eighth-inning walk with two out and bases loaded off Cubs reliever Koji Uehara to score Wil Myers for the go-ahead run.
"He's grown and for the long run that's really fun to see him take those steps forward," Green said. "He deserves a lot of credit for the win today."
Padres reliever Phil Maton (1-0) worked a scoreless seventh for the victory as the Padres (29-44) broke a three-game losing streak. Reliever Brandon Maurer worked a one-two-three ninth for his career-high-tying 13th save.
Uehara (2-4) took the loss as the Cubs (36-35) had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Cubs right-hander Eddie Butler had no decision in his start.
Diaz departed a right forearm strain after working 2 1/3 innings. Albert Almora Jr. was on base following a walk at the time, and Anthony RIzzo was at the plate. Right-hander Craig Stammen entered and got Rizzo to ground to second for an inning-ending double play.
"(Diaz) was having some trouble spinning the baseball, every time he did he could feel it," Green said. "You never feel good when you hear that, but we don't know how severe it is at this time."
Diaz had been limited to no more than 3 1/3 innings in three starts. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two on 43 pitches on Wednesday.
"Their young guy (Diaz) got hurt -- he has a good arm also -- and their bullpen matched up well," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We hit a couple balls fairly good at people but otherwise couldn't mount an attack."
Ian Happ gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the fourth with his 10th homer of the season, a two-out shot off Stammen to right field that also brought home Kyle Schwarber. It was his second homer in two days and third since Sunday.
"I feel like the at-bats are getting better," said Happ, who joined the Cubs from Triple-A Iowa on May 13. "When I go up there I'm just trying to make contact ... Right now it's happening to go out of the ballpark."
Stammen doubled to right to open the fifth and scored on Jose Pirela's single to center. That spelled the end for Butler, who departed with Pirela on second and none out. Cubs reliever Justin Grimm wrapped up the inning with a pair of strikeouts.
Butler threw 92 pitches in his four-plus innings. He allowed one run on five hits, struck out four and walked three.
Padres shortstop Erick Aybar forced a 2-2 tie in the fifth with his one-out solo home run to right off left-handed reliever Brian Duensing. Aybar's fifth homer of the season came on Duensing's 2-0 pitch.
Rizzo went 0-for-4, ending his streak of seven straight games reaching base in his leadoff at-bat.
The Padres swept the Cubs in a three-game series at Petco Park in late May.
NOTES: The Cubs presented 2016 World Series rings to Padres RHP Trevor Cahill and LHP Clayton Richard this week. Cahill spent all of last season with Chicago while Richard was released last August and rejoined San Diego. ... C Luis Torrens started again in place of Austin Hedges, injured in a home plate collision with Anthony Rizzo on Monday. Hedges may return to action on Friday. ... San Diego has Thursday off and opens a three-game weekend series against the Detroit Tigers as RHP Dinelson Lamet (2-2, 7.50 ERA) goes against Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer (6-5, 3.45 ERA). ... Several media outlets reported on Wednesday that the wife of Cubs SS Addison Russell is filing for divorce. The report comes in the wake of Melisa Russell's allegations of infidelity and a friend's charge of physical abuse made earlier this month. ... The Cubs hit the road on Thursday for an 11-game trip and send RHP Jake Arrieta (6-5, 4.64 ERA) against LHP Jeff Locke (0-2, 4.58 ERA) in the opener of a four-game series at Miami.
Berrios, Sano lift Twins past White Sox
(TSX / STATS) -- MINNEAPOLIS -- Jose Berrios' transition from struggling prospect to potential staff ace took another big step on Wednesday night at Target Field.
Berrios allowed two runs and four hits in eight strong innings and Miguel Sano's solo blast in the third inning gave Minnesota the lead for good in the Twins' 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
After surrendering runs in the first and third innings, Berrios settled in and was dominant over his final five innings.
"He didn't really have a lot of trouble that he had to deal with after that," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "That eighth inning was huge."
Chicago catcher Omar Narvaez led off the eighth with a single, but Berrios struck out Adam Engel and induced Allen Hanson to ground into a double play.
Berrios (7-1), who was 3-7 with an 8.02 ERA in 14 starts for Minnesota as a rookie, struck out eight and walked one.
Minnesota closer Brandon Kintzler pitched a scoreless ninth for his 19th save in 22 opportunities.
"Last year I gave a lot of credit to the hitter so this year I don't think about him," Berrios said. "I don't care who is hitting. I'm trying to think about my pitches and make them."
Trailing 2-1 heading to the bottom of the third inning, the Twins jumped on Holmberg for a trio of runs -- only one earned -- beginning with Sano's leadoff home run. Sano turned on Holmberg's 3-0 fastball sending it 414 feet into the second deck in right-center field -- his 18th homer of the season.
"You don't see right-handers go up there too often," Molitor said. "It was impressive for me in that you don't get pull happy even though it's 3-0. I think he knows that his power is anywhere."
After left fielder Robbie Grossman reached on a throwing error by shortstop Tim Anderson, Kennys Vargas singled him to third and he scored on Max Kepler's single. Vargas advanced to third and scored when Ehire Adrianza beat out a potential inning-ending double-play ball.
"(Anderson) probably should've been more aggressive coming toward the bag, but he wasn't, and that didn't give him enough time to recover, reset the ball in his hand and be able to make a better throw," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "That was big -- we needed that double play."
Holmberg (1-1) was lifted in favor of right-hander Gregory Infante with one out in the fourth and Twins second baseman Brian Dozier on first following a leadoff walk. Holmberg allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.
Dozier advanced to second on his 10th stolen base of the season, leading Renteria to intentionally walk Sano. Grossman drew a walk to load the bases, but Vargas grounded into a double play to end the threat.
"There were times I had to make a pitch. I labored through a couple innings," Holmberg said. "I would've liked to get ahead of these guys, get some quick outs and gone a little deeper into the game."
Infante and fellow reliever Michael Ynoa combined to allow Minnesota just three hits over the final 4 2/3 innings.
"I thought our relief did a nice job to contain them and keep us within striking distance," Renteria said. "We just weren't able to get anything going after the two initial runs we scored."
The White Sox got to Berrios early on Avisail Garcia's first-inning RBI single, which drove in Allen Hanson, who led off with a walk and advanced to second on Melky Cabrera's groundout to Dozier.
Garcia added a double in the ninth to finish 2-for-4. He has hits in 16 of his last 20 games and his 51st RBI on Wednesday matches his total in 120 games last season.
The first-inning earned run was only the second that Berrios has surrendered in eight opening frames this season.
Holmberg stranded two Minnesota runners in the first two innings, but the Twins tied the score in the second when Dozier's double scored Byron Buxton.
Engel restored the short-lived Chicago lead when he led off the third inning with a double and trotted home from third on Cabrera's double-play ball.
Berrios went on to retire six of the next seven batters. Garcia reached on an error by Adrianza to start the fourth, but Berrios struck out the side to end the inning.
The 22-year-old Berrios said his mindset changed once his teammates gave him the lead.
"I tried to be more aggressive with the hitters and throw quality pitches," Berrios said.
NOTES: The Twins announced plans to play the Cleveland Indians in a two-game series in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on April 17 and 18, 2018, in what will serve as home games for Minnesota. The games mark the fifth time MLB regular season games will be played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium but the first time in San Juan for the Twins and the Indians. ... The White Sox rested 3B Todd Frazier on Wednesday after he went 1-for-5 in the series opener. Frazier is mired in a 3-for-30 slump in his last eight games dating back to June 12. ... Rehabbing Minnesota starters Phil Hughes and Hector Santiago each saw action for Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday. The left-handed Santiago started and threw 57 pitches in three scoreless innings, allowing no hits while striking out to and walking two. Right-hander Hughes tossed one scoreless inning on 19 pitches, with one walk.
Berrios allowed two runs and four hits in eight strong innings and Miguel Sano's solo blast in the third inning gave Minnesota the lead for good in the Twins' 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
After surrendering runs in the first and third innings, Berrios settled in and was dominant over his final five innings.
"He didn't really have a lot of trouble that he had to deal with after that," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "That eighth inning was huge."
Chicago catcher Omar Narvaez led off the eighth with a single, but Berrios struck out Adam Engel and induced Allen Hanson to ground into a double play.
Berrios (7-1), who was 3-7 with an 8.02 ERA in 14 starts for Minnesota as a rookie, struck out eight and walked one.
Minnesota closer Brandon Kintzler pitched a scoreless ninth for his 19th save in 22 opportunities.
"Last year I gave a lot of credit to the hitter so this year I don't think about him," Berrios said. "I don't care who is hitting. I'm trying to think about my pitches and make them."
Trailing 2-1 heading to the bottom of the third inning, the Twins jumped on Holmberg for a trio of runs -- only one earned -- beginning with Sano's leadoff home run. Sano turned on Holmberg's 3-0 fastball sending it 414 feet into the second deck in right-center field -- his 18th homer of the season.
"You don't see right-handers go up there too often," Molitor said. "It was impressive for me in that you don't get pull happy even though it's 3-0. I think he knows that his power is anywhere."
After left fielder Robbie Grossman reached on a throwing error by shortstop Tim Anderson, Kennys Vargas singled him to third and he scored on Max Kepler's single. Vargas advanced to third and scored when Ehire Adrianza beat out a potential inning-ending double-play ball.
"(Anderson) probably should've been more aggressive coming toward the bag, but he wasn't, and that didn't give him enough time to recover, reset the ball in his hand and be able to make a better throw," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "That was big -- we needed that double play."
Holmberg (1-1) was lifted in favor of right-hander Gregory Infante with one out in the fourth and Twins second baseman Brian Dozier on first following a leadoff walk. Holmberg allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.
Dozier advanced to second on his 10th stolen base of the season, leading Renteria to intentionally walk Sano. Grossman drew a walk to load the bases, but Vargas grounded into a double play to end the threat.
"There were times I had to make a pitch. I labored through a couple innings," Holmberg said. "I would've liked to get ahead of these guys, get some quick outs and gone a little deeper into the game."
Infante and fellow reliever Michael Ynoa combined to allow Minnesota just three hits over the final 4 2/3 innings.
"I thought our relief did a nice job to contain them and keep us within striking distance," Renteria said. "We just weren't able to get anything going after the two initial runs we scored."
The White Sox got to Berrios early on Avisail Garcia's first-inning RBI single, which drove in Allen Hanson, who led off with a walk and advanced to second on Melky Cabrera's groundout to Dozier.
Garcia added a double in the ninth to finish 2-for-4. He has hits in 16 of his last 20 games and his 51st RBI on Wednesday matches his total in 120 games last season.
The first-inning earned run was only the second that Berrios has surrendered in eight opening frames this season.
Holmberg stranded two Minnesota runners in the first two innings, but the Twins tied the score in the second when Dozier's double scored Byron Buxton.
Engel restored the short-lived Chicago lead when he led off the third inning with a double and trotted home from third on Cabrera's double-play ball.
Berrios went on to retire six of the next seven batters. Garcia reached on an error by Adrianza to start the fourth, but Berrios struck out the side to end the inning.
The 22-year-old Berrios said his mindset changed once his teammates gave him the lead.
"I tried to be more aggressive with the hitters and throw quality pitches," Berrios said.
NOTES: The Twins announced plans to play the Cleveland Indians in a two-game series in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on April 17 and 18, 2018, in what will serve as home games for Minnesota. The games mark the fifth time MLB regular season games will be played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium but the first time in San Juan for the Twins and the Indians. ... The White Sox rested 3B Todd Frazier on Wednesday after he went 1-for-5 in the series opener. Frazier is mired in a 3-for-30 slump in his last eight games dating back to June 12. ... Rehabbing Minnesota starters Phil Hughes and Hector Santiago each saw action for Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday. The left-handed Santiago started and threw 57 pitches in three scoreless innings, allowing no hits while striking out to and walking two. Right-hander Hughes tossed one scoreless inning on 19 pitches, with one walk.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Padres rookie Diaz gets third start vs. Cubs
Stats, LLC
(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Rookie right hander Miguel Diaz is getting a baptism under fire this month as a San Diego Padres starting pitcher.
Diaz will make his 24th appearance of the season and third start in the finale of a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday afternoon.
"I don't think it's a long-term commitment to where he's in the rotation the entire season," said Padres manager Andy Green. "We like what this has afforded us the opportunity to do with him and work with him and hopeful that he makes more starts that are trending in the right direction.
"I'm sure every single time he takes the mound he gets more comfortable."
Diaz (1-1, 7.36 ERA) goes against Cubs right-hander Eddie Butler (3-2, 4.41 ERA).
So far, Diaz has had relatively short starts.
In last Friday's second start -- a 6-5 Padres loss at Milwaukee -- Diaz worked a season-high 3 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on five hits while striking out five and walking just one.
Diaz lasted just two innings in his debut start -- a 12-6 Padres interleague loss to the Kansas City Royals on June 10. He was pulled after just two innings after giving up just one hit and no runs.
"If he goes back to the bullpen it's no way an indictment on his future in the rotation, like he still has a chance to start for us," Green said. "He's a competitive kid, he just needs time. He needs opportunity."
Butler, meanwhile, will make his eighth start of the season and fifth at home. He hopes his current fill-in role with Bret Anderson and Kyle Hendricks might become a little more permanent.
He had a no-decision in last Friday's start at Pittsburgh, working 5 2/3 innings and giving up four earned runs on four hits while striking out none for the first time this season.
Butler has faced the Padres four times, including a May 30 start at San Diego when he gave up a season-high seven hits and six earned runs in the Cubs' 6-2 loss. He is 0-3 with a 7.41 ERA against Chicago in his career, including one relief appearance.
"You never know what pieces are going to become available and what teams are going to be selling and buying at the deadline," he told reporters. "Whatever it takes for us to get to our final goal of holding that trophy again at the end of the year."
Cubs first baseman Anthony RIzzo won't serve any suspension in the wake of Monday's home plate collision with Padres catcher Austin Hedges.
Hedges left the game with thigh bruise and he sat out Tuesday's middle game.
"Very hopeful for tomorrow, as the time progresses he feels better and better," said Green. "He had a deep thigh bruise, charley horse, basically when the knee went into his quad."
The Padres are off Thursday before opening a three-game weekend interleague series against Detroit. The Cubs have no break as they travel to Miami to start a four-game series, the first in an 11-game road trip.
(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Rookie right hander Miguel Diaz is getting a baptism under fire this month as a San Diego Padres starting pitcher.
Diaz will make his 24th appearance of the season and third start in the finale of a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday afternoon.
"I don't think it's a long-term commitment to where he's in the rotation the entire season," said Padres manager Andy Green. "We like what this has afforded us the opportunity to do with him and work with him and hopeful that he makes more starts that are trending in the right direction.
"I'm sure every single time he takes the mound he gets more comfortable."
Diaz (1-1, 7.36 ERA) goes against Cubs right-hander Eddie Butler (3-2, 4.41 ERA).
So far, Diaz has had relatively short starts.
In last Friday's second start -- a 6-5 Padres loss at Milwaukee -- Diaz worked a season-high 3 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on five hits while striking out five and walking just one.
Diaz lasted just two innings in his debut start -- a 12-6 Padres interleague loss to the Kansas City Royals on June 10. He was pulled after just two innings after giving up just one hit and no runs.
"If he goes back to the bullpen it's no way an indictment on his future in the rotation, like he still has a chance to start for us," Green said. "He's a competitive kid, he just needs time. He needs opportunity."
Butler, meanwhile, will make his eighth start of the season and fifth at home. He hopes his current fill-in role with Bret Anderson and Kyle Hendricks might become a little more permanent.
He had a no-decision in last Friday's start at Pittsburgh, working 5 2/3 innings and giving up four earned runs on four hits while striking out none for the first time this season.
Butler has faced the Padres four times, including a May 30 start at San Diego when he gave up a season-high seven hits and six earned runs in the Cubs' 6-2 loss. He is 0-3 with a 7.41 ERA against Chicago in his career, including one relief appearance.
"You never know what pieces are going to become available and what teams are going to be selling and buying at the deadline," he told reporters. "Whatever it takes for us to get to our final goal of holding that trophy again at the end of the year."
Cubs first baseman Anthony RIzzo won't serve any suspension in the wake of Monday's home plate collision with Padres catcher Austin Hedges.
Hedges left the game with thigh bruise and he sat out Tuesday's middle game.
"Very hopeful for tomorrow, as the time progresses he feels better and better," said Green. "He had a deep thigh bruise, charley horse, basically when the knee went into his quad."
The Padres are off Thursday before opening a three-game weekend interleague series against Detroit. The Cubs have no break as they travel to Miami to start a four-game series, the first in an 11-game road trip.
Twins' Berrios looks to stay hot versus White Sox
Stats, LLC
(TSX / STATS) -- MINNEAPOLIS -- Jose Berrios insists not much is different with his arsenal of pitches this year compared to last season.
One thing that is different for the Twins right-hander, though, is his confidence level.
Berrios made his big league debut in 2016 and struggled on the big stage. He was 3-7 with an 8.02 ERA in 14 starts for Minnesota as he was unable to carry over the success he had in the minor leagues.
The 2017 season has been a different story for the 23-year-old. Entering Wednesday's start against the Chicago White Sox, Berrios is 6-1 with a 2.74 ERA in seven starts. His strikeout rate is up and his walk rate is down from a year ago as he has developed into one of Minnesota's most consistent starters.
"This year, I feel better from the last year," Berrios said. "Last year, first time up here, I learned a lot about what I did wrong and good last year. That's why I have good numbers so far this year."
A big part of Berrios' success has been his curveball, arguably his best pitch. It wasn't always a go-to pitch for him in 2016, but manager Paul Molitor noted there's been a difference with the pitch this season.
"It's been fun to watch him develop confidence in that pitch," Molitor said. "Last year there was just a problem of getting out front and his arm would trail and he'd spin that thing and it would hang or back up or hit the right-handed hitter. But he just seems now that he's getting it out to where he needs to get it most of the time."
Berrios has faced the White Sox once. He went five innings in a start against Chicago in 2016, allowing one run to earn the victory. On Wednesday, he opposes left-hander David Holmberg (1-0, 2.63 ERA).
Holmberg has made four starts this year. The 25-year-old has also appeared as a reliever eight times, but his last four games have been in the rotation. He spent 2016 in the minors and has faced the Twins once -- for two innings as a reliever earlier this year when he allowed a hit and no runs.
Though Berrios has been tough on opposing hitters this year, Chicago appears to have a lineup that can do some damage. The White Sox tagged the Twins for seven runs on 16 hits in Tuesday's 9-7 Chicago loss, including three home runs.
The middle of Chicago's lineup, led by Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia, continues to provide power. It wasn't enough to equal a win in Tuesday's series opener, but an impressive night by the lineup still has manager Rick Renteria excited about his team's potential on offense.
"We have some guys that are actually able to elevate and drive the ball out of the ballpark in Abreu and Avi and (Matt) Davidson," he said. "I don't think of it as being unique to us. Every club we play is probably thinking, 'Gosh, these guys can put a charge into a ball and hit it out of the ballpark at any moment,' which I would agree with."
(TSX / STATS) -- MINNEAPOLIS -- Jose Berrios insists not much is different with his arsenal of pitches this year compared to last season.
One thing that is different for the Twins right-hander, though, is his confidence level.
Berrios made his big league debut in 2016 and struggled on the big stage. He was 3-7 with an 8.02 ERA in 14 starts for Minnesota as he was unable to carry over the success he had in the minor leagues.
The 2017 season has been a different story for the 23-year-old. Entering Wednesday's start against the Chicago White Sox, Berrios is 6-1 with a 2.74 ERA in seven starts. His strikeout rate is up and his walk rate is down from a year ago as he has developed into one of Minnesota's most consistent starters.
"This year, I feel better from the last year," Berrios said. "Last year, first time up here, I learned a lot about what I did wrong and good last year. That's why I have good numbers so far this year."
A big part of Berrios' success has been his curveball, arguably his best pitch. It wasn't always a go-to pitch for him in 2016, but manager Paul Molitor noted there's been a difference with the pitch this season.
"It's been fun to watch him develop confidence in that pitch," Molitor said. "Last year there was just a problem of getting out front and his arm would trail and he'd spin that thing and it would hang or back up or hit the right-handed hitter. But he just seems now that he's getting it out to where he needs to get it most of the time."
Berrios has faced the White Sox once. He went five innings in a start against Chicago in 2016, allowing one run to earn the victory. On Wednesday, he opposes left-hander David Holmberg (1-0, 2.63 ERA).
Holmberg has made four starts this year. The 25-year-old has also appeared as a reliever eight times, but his last four games have been in the rotation. He spent 2016 in the minors and has faced the Twins once -- for two innings as a reliever earlier this year when he allowed a hit and no runs.
Though Berrios has been tough on opposing hitters this year, Chicago appears to have a lineup that can do some damage. The White Sox tagged the Twins for seven runs on 16 hits in Tuesday's 9-7 Chicago loss, including three home runs.
The middle of Chicago's lineup, led by Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia, continues to provide power. It wasn't enough to equal a win in Tuesday's series opener, but an impressive night by the lineup still has manager Rick Renteria excited about his team's potential on offense.
"We have some guys that are actually able to elevate and drive the ball out of the ballpark in Abreu and Avi and (Matt) Davidson," he said. "I don't think of it as being unique to us. Every club we play is probably thinking, 'Gosh, these guys can put a charge into a ball and hit it out of the ballpark at any moment,' which I would agree with."
Cubs shut out Padres for third straight win
(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Mike Montgomery continues to make a case to remain in the Chicago Cubs' rotation.
The left-hander, who started the season in the bullpen, pitched six sharp innings Tuesday in his third start of the year as Chicago claimed a 4-0 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Montgomery (1-3) allowed three hits, walked two and struck out four as the Cubs (36-34) won their third straight.
"I felt strong, even toward the end, was able to get quick outs and being efficient helps in that as well," said Montgomery, who threw 75 pitches on the night. "I think this last time in between (starts) having an extra day, really gave me a chance to get my legs under me a little more."
Anthony Rizzo's leadoff homer provided the only run needed while Montgomery set the tone from the start, retiring the first seven Padres batters and relied on the Cubs defense' to snuff out other Padres' threats.
"When you're able to pitch like that, you give your team a chance to get into the flow of the game," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We caught the ball really well. We made nice plays. And Anthony (Rizzo) did it again, jump starting the offense."
Right hander Jhoulys Chacin (6-6) also worked six innings and saw a personal two-game winning streak snapped as the Padres (28-44) dropped their third straight. Chacin gave up two runs on five hits, walked three, struck out six and hit two batters.
The Cubs tried to add insurance runs in the sixth, loading the bases with one out. But Chacin worked out of the threat, including an inning-ending ground out to second by pinch hitter Tommy La Stella.
"(Chacin) was great," Padres manager Andy Green said. "You get past that first batter of the game -- obviously he missed a spot to Rizzo pretty badly there and made him pay -- but after that I thought he battled really well. Made big pitches when he had to."
San Diego threatened in the seventh with two runners on and two outs, but reliever Carl Edwards Jr. struck out pinch hitter Matt Szczur to end the inning. Cubs reliever Pedro Strop escaped a similar jam in the eighth.
The Cubs added two runs in the eighth as Ian Happ's solo homer -- his ninth of the season -- led things off. Javier Baez singled to deep center, advanced to third on Franchy Cordero's error and scored as pinch-hitter Albert Almora doubled to center.
Justin Grimm worked a one-two-three scoreless ninth.
Rizzo homered to center in his opening at-bat for a 1-0 Cubs lead. It was the third time in seven games he clubbed a home run from the lead-off spot. It was his team-leading 17th homer of the season and the 150th of his Cubs career.
In the fourth, Addison Russell bounced a one-out single past a diving shortstop Allen Cordoba to score Kris Bryant, who had reached base by being hit by a pitch before stealing second base.
Rizzo learned before the game that he will not be fined or suspended in the wake of a Monday home plate collision with Padres catcher Austin Hedges. There was no apparent San Diego retaliation for the incident.
Hedges sat out Tuesday after suffering a thigh bruise but could return to action as soon as Wednesday.
NOTES: Monday's leadoff home run by OF Jose Pirela was the Padres' sixth of the season, first in the NL and tied for second in the big leagues. ... Padres 2B Yangervis Solarte was in Tuesday's starting lineup but never took the field after suffering a strained left oblique and was replaced by Chase d'Arnaud. Manager Andy Green said Solarte might be bound for the disabled list. ... The Padres send RHP Miguel Diaz (1-1, 7.36 ERA) out for his third career start Wednesday, facing Cubs RHP Eddie Butler (3-2, 4.41). ... Cubs OF Jon Jay continued to rank among leading NL pinch hitters, third with a .385 average. ... Chicago's brief three-game homestand this week interrupts a stretch of 17 of 20 games on the road through July 2. ... Cubs 3B Kris Bryant holds a substantial 300,000-vote lead for starting NL All-Star third baseman in the latest voting, but teammate Anthony Rizzo still trails the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman by more than 150,000 votes for the first base starting nod.
The left-hander, who started the season in the bullpen, pitched six sharp innings Tuesday in his third start of the year as Chicago claimed a 4-0 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Montgomery (1-3) allowed three hits, walked two and struck out four as the Cubs (36-34) won their third straight.
"I felt strong, even toward the end, was able to get quick outs and being efficient helps in that as well," said Montgomery, who threw 75 pitches on the night. "I think this last time in between (starts) having an extra day, really gave me a chance to get my legs under me a little more."
Anthony Rizzo's leadoff homer provided the only run needed while Montgomery set the tone from the start, retiring the first seven Padres batters and relied on the Cubs defense' to snuff out other Padres' threats.
"When you're able to pitch like that, you give your team a chance to get into the flow of the game," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We caught the ball really well. We made nice plays. And Anthony (Rizzo) did it again, jump starting the offense."
Right hander Jhoulys Chacin (6-6) also worked six innings and saw a personal two-game winning streak snapped as the Padres (28-44) dropped their third straight. Chacin gave up two runs on five hits, walked three, struck out six and hit two batters.
The Cubs tried to add insurance runs in the sixth, loading the bases with one out. But Chacin worked out of the threat, including an inning-ending ground out to second by pinch hitter Tommy La Stella.
"(Chacin) was great," Padres manager Andy Green said. "You get past that first batter of the game -- obviously he missed a spot to Rizzo pretty badly there and made him pay -- but after that I thought he battled really well. Made big pitches when he had to."
San Diego threatened in the seventh with two runners on and two outs, but reliever Carl Edwards Jr. struck out pinch hitter Matt Szczur to end the inning. Cubs reliever Pedro Strop escaped a similar jam in the eighth.
The Cubs added two runs in the eighth as Ian Happ's solo homer -- his ninth of the season -- led things off. Javier Baez singled to deep center, advanced to third on Franchy Cordero's error and scored as pinch-hitter Albert Almora doubled to center.
Justin Grimm worked a one-two-three scoreless ninth.
Rizzo homered to center in his opening at-bat for a 1-0 Cubs lead. It was the third time in seven games he clubbed a home run from the lead-off spot. It was his team-leading 17th homer of the season and the 150th of his Cubs career.
In the fourth, Addison Russell bounced a one-out single past a diving shortstop Allen Cordoba to score Kris Bryant, who had reached base by being hit by a pitch before stealing second base.
Rizzo learned before the game that he will not be fined or suspended in the wake of a Monday home plate collision with Padres catcher Austin Hedges. There was no apparent San Diego retaliation for the incident.
Hedges sat out Tuesday after suffering a thigh bruise but could return to action as soon as Wednesday.
NOTES: Monday's leadoff home run by OF Jose Pirela was the Padres' sixth of the season, first in the NL and tied for second in the big leagues. ... Padres 2B Yangervis Solarte was in Tuesday's starting lineup but never took the field after suffering a strained left oblique and was replaced by Chase d'Arnaud. Manager Andy Green said Solarte might be bound for the disabled list. ... The Padres send RHP Miguel Diaz (1-1, 7.36 ERA) out for his third career start Wednesday, facing Cubs RHP Eddie Butler (3-2, 4.41). ... Cubs OF Jon Jay continued to rank among leading NL pinch hitters, third with a .385 average. ... Chicago's brief three-game homestand this week interrupts a stretch of 17 of 20 games on the road through July 2. ... Cubs 3B Kris Bryant holds a substantial 300,000-vote lead for starting NL All-Star third baseman in the latest voting, but teammate Anthony Rizzo still trails the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman by more than 150,000 votes for the first base starting nod.
Twins beat White Sox to end four-game skid
(TSX / STATS) -- MINNEAPOLIS -- With one swing of the bat, Kennys Vargas and the Minnesota Twins erased their frustration from a tough weekend.
Vargas hit a mammoth three-run homer to pick up a struggling Ervin Santana as the Twins outlasted the Chicago White Sox 9-7 on Tuesday.
Vargas' blast was part of a five-run third inning for Minnesota, which snapped a four-game losing streak. Miguel Sano added a two-run homer for the Twins, who were out-hit 16-12 by Chicago.
Minnesota was swept in a four-game series over the weekend by Cleveland, but got back on track Tuesday thanks to Vargas and the offense.
"I like home runs, but I just want to produce," Vargas said. "Home run, double, whatever it takes. The fans like home runs. They get excited."
The Twins didn't get a clean outing from their ace Santana, who has struggled in his last several outings. The veteran right-hander lasted five innings and allowed six runs on a season-high 10 hits. Two of those 10 hits were back-to-back home runs by Chicago in the third inning. Still, Santana earned the win to improve to 9-4 on the year.
"The good thing was our offense and bullpen did a good job," Santana said. "They had my back today."
Left-hander Derek Holland (5-7) took the loss for the White Sox. He couldn't get through the third inning, allowing seven runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings. Holland has given up six or more runs in three of his last four starts.
"It was a pretty embarrassing performance," Holland said. "To go out to the game and let it slip up like that is just unacceptable, especially when the guys are out there working as hard as they did to put the runs back up on the board for me after the first inning."
Minnesota jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to the two-run homer by Sano in the first inning. Chicago answered back with four runs in the third before the Twins scored five in the bottom half of the frame.
Chicago had the tying run on third base in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings but couldn't score the equalizer.
"We had some opportunities," said Chicago manager Rick Renteria. "The more chances we give ourselves, the greater the chance is in the long haul that we're going to drive those guys in."
Errors on back-to-back plays by right fielder Avisail Garcia allowed Minnesota to score an insurance run in the eighth. Sano's single got past Garcia, allowing Ehire Adrianza to score from second. Adrianza had reached base one at-bat earlier on a Garcia error.
Brandon Kintzler earned his 18th save of the year by pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Kintzler topped his mark of 17 saves from a season ago.
The Twins' home record is now 15-24 after Tuesday's victory. Chicago fell to 16-26 on the road this year.
Trailing 2-0 after Sano's two-run homer, Chicago took the lead with a four-run third.
Jose Abreu put the White Sox on the board with an RBI double down the left field line. Two batters later, Garcia hit a two-run homer off Santana to put Chicago up 3-2.
Matt Davidson followed Garcia's blast with one of his own. Davidson's solo shot, his 16th homer of the season, made it 4-2. For Santana, it marked the third time in his last four starts that he surrendered multiple homers after doing so once in his first 11 starts.
Minnesota used a big third inning to regain the lead. The inning was highlighted by Vargas' long homer. His three-run shot traveled an estimated 475 feet and landed in the second deck in left-center field.
After an RBI single by Eddie Rosario capped the outburst, the Twins had a 7-4 lead.
Chicago got back to within a run in the fifth. Yolmer Sanchez lined a two-out, two-strike, two-run triple off Santana to the right field corner to make it 7-6.
Byron Buxton's RBI single in the bottom of the inning pushed Minnesota's lead to 8-6.
NOTES: Twins RHP Phil Hughes is scheduled to pitch Wednesday in relief with Triple-A Rochester as part of a rehab assignment. Hughes has been dealing with shoulder stiffness and hasn't pitched since May 21. The veteran right-hander was 4-3 with a 5.74 ERA in nine starts before landing on the 10-day disabled list. ... Minnesota RHP Hector Santiago will pitch in a rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Rochester. Santiago was placed on the 10-day disabled list on June 7 with a left shoulder strain. He is expected to pitch four innings or around 60 pitches in his rehab outing Wednesday. ... White Sox CF Adam Engel was recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Charlotte. Engel played in eight games with the White Sox earlier this season and was 6-for-20 with seven strikeouts. The 25-year-old Engel was in the lineup Tuesday as Chicago's leadoff hitter and center fielder. Engel takes the roster spot of Leury Garcia, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday with a sprained finger.
Vargas hit a mammoth three-run homer to pick up a struggling Ervin Santana as the Twins outlasted the Chicago White Sox 9-7 on Tuesday.
Vargas' blast was part of a five-run third inning for Minnesota, which snapped a four-game losing streak. Miguel Sano added a two-run homer for the Twins, who were out-hit 16-12 by Chicago.
Minnesota was swept in a four-game series over the weekend by Cleveland, but got back on track Tuesday thanks to Vargas and the offense.
"I like home runs, but I just want to produce," Vargas said. "Home run, double, whatever it takes. The fans like home runs. They get excited."
The Twins didn't get a clean outing from their ace Santana, who has struggled in his last several outings. The veteran right-hander lasted five innings and allowed six runs on a season-high 10 hits. Two of those 10 hits were back-to-back home runs by Chicago in the third inning. Still, Santana earned the win to improve to 9-4 on the year.
"The good thing was our offense and bullpen did a good job," Santana said. "They had my back today."
Left-hander Derek Holland (5-7) took the loss for the White Sox. He couldn't get through the third inning, allowing seven runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings. Holland has given up six or more runs in three of his last four starts.
"It was a pretty embarrassing performance," Holland said. "To go out to the game and let it slip up like that is just unacceptable, especially when the guys are out there working as hard as they did to put the runs back up on the board for me after the first inning."
Minnesota jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to the two-run homer by Sano in the first inning. Chicago answered back with four runs in the third before the Twins scored five in the bottom half of the frame.
Chicago had the tying run on third base in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings but couldn't score the equalizer.
"We had some opportunities," said Chicago manager Rick Renteria. "The more chances we give ourselves, the greater the chance is in the long haul that we're going to drive those guys in."
Errors on back-to-back plays by right fielder Avisail Garcia allowed Minnesota to score an insurance run in the eighth. Sano's single got past Garcia, allowing Ehire Adrianza to score from second. Adrianza had reached base one at-bat earlier on a Garcia error.
Brandon Kintzler earned his 18th save of the year by pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Kintzler topped his mark of 17 saves from a season ago.
The Twins' home record is now 15-24 after Tuesday's victory. Chicago fell to 16-26 on the road this year.
Trailing 2-0 after Sano's two-run homer, Chicago took the lead with a four-run third.
Jose Abreu put the White Sox on the board with an RBI double down the left field line. Two batters later, Garcia hit a two-run homer off Santana to put Chicago up 3-2.
Matt Davidson followed Garcia's blast with one of his own. Davidson's solo shot, his 16th homer of the season, made it 4-2. For Santana, it marked the third time in his last four starts that he surrendered multiple homers after doing so once in his first 11 starts.
Minnesota used a big third inning to regain the lead. The inning was highlighted by Vargas' long homer. His three-run shot traveled an estimated 475 feet and landed in the second deck in left-center field.
After an RBI single by Eddie Rosario capped the outburst, the Twins had a 7-4 lead.
Chicago got back to within a run in the fifth. Yolmer Sanchez lined a two-out, two-strike, two-run triple off Santana to the right field corner to make it 7-6.
Byron Buxton's RBI single in the bottom of the inning pushed Minnesota's lead to 8-6.
NOTES: Twins RHP Phil Hughes is scheduled to pitch Wednesday in relief with Triple-A Rochester as part of a rehab assignment. Hughes has been dealing with shoulder stiffness and hasn't pitched since May 21. The veteran right-hander was 4-3 with a 5.74 ERA in nine starts before landing on the 10-day disabled list. ... Minnesota RHP Hector Santiago will pitch in a rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Rochester. Santiago was placed on the 10-day disabled list on June 7 with a left shoulder strain. He is expected to pitch four innings or around 60 pitches in his rehab outing Wednesday. ... White Sox CF Adam Engel was recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Charlotte. Engel played in eight games with the White Sox earlier this season and was 6-for-20 with seven strikeouts. The 25-year-old Engel was in the lineup Tuesday as Chicago's leadoff hitter and center fielder. Engel takes the roster spot of Leury Garcia, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday with a sprained finger.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Cops: Chicago woman caught with half-kilo of cocaine in trunk
Sun-Times Wire
Driving on a suspended license without insurance is never a good idea, especially when you’re speeding with half a kilogram of cocaine in the vehicle.
When Indiana State Police pulled over a Chicago woman about 9:37 a.m. Monday on U.S. 41 near CR 200S in west central Indiana, it was initially speeding, a statement from ISP said.
A trooper was on patrol on U.S. 41, just north of Boswell near the Illinois state line, when he stopped the silver 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, ISP said.
The driver, 25-year-old Camille A. Rouse of Chicago, was then found to have a suspended license in Illinois and no insurance on the vehicle, according to ISP.
So the trooper did a walk around the car with his K-9 partner Colt, who alerted near the trunk. Inside was an estimated 500 grams of what appeared to be cocaine, police said.
Rouse was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of narcotic drugs, and more charges are pending, police said. She was being held at the Benton County Jail in Fowler.
Driving on a suspended license without insurance is never a good idea, especially when you’re speeding with half a kilogram of cocaine in the vehicle.
When Indiana State Police pulled over a Chicago woman about 9:37 a.m. Monday on U.S. 41 near CR 200S in west central Indiana, it was initially speeding, a statement from ISP said.
A trooper was on patrol on U.S. 41, just north of Boswell near the Illinois state line, when he stopped the silver 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, ISP said.
The driver, 25-year-old Camille A. Rouse of Chicago, was then found to have a suspended license in Illinois and no insurance on the vehicle, according to ISP.
So the trooper did a walk around the car with his K-9 partner Colt, who alerted near the trunk. Inside was an estimated 500 grams of what appeared to be cocaine, police said.
Rouse was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of narcotic drugs, and more charges are pending, police said. She was being held at the Benton County Jail in Fowler.
Cubs hold on to beat Padres
(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo had another big night as a leadoff batter on Monday, going 2-for-3 with a triple, bunt single and sacrifice fly in a 3-2 Chicago Cubs victory over the San Diego Padres.
But a play at the plate that stopped Rizzo from scoring a run raised ire from the Padres and shrugs from Rizzo and the Cubs.
Rizzo tripled to open the Cubs sixth, bolted for home after Kris Bryant's liner to center was caught. Rizzo barreled into Padres catcher Austin Hedges after he caught a throw from center fielder Matt Szczur and defended the plate.
"It's a cheap shot," said Padres manager Andy Green. "I'm not saying he's a dirty player, nobody's saying that (but) he clearly deviated from his path to hit our catcher. He took our catcher out."
But the Cubs first baseman, who was tagged out on the play, said it was just good, hard baseball.
"By no means do I think that's a dirty play at all," Rizzo said. "I went pretty much straight in. He caught the ball and went towards the plate so I went in -- I slid in there -- it was a hard slide. ... I play this game hard for a 162 games-plus so I can't see that being dirty."
Hedges apparently suffered a bruised thigh in the collision and did not return for the seventh inning.
"I don't expect him to play tomorrow," said Green. "I don't know how long he's out for."
Javier Baez went 2-for-3 and scored a go-ahead run on a throwing error as the Cubs (35-34) beat the Padres for the first time this season after three losses last month in San Diego.
Reliever Hector Rondon (2-1) worked one inning -- a scoreless seventh -- for the victory.
Right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (1-1) took the loss after allowing one run on two hits in the seventh.
Cubs reliever Wade Davis faced five batters in the ninth and had runners on second and third with one out after two wild pitches. But he struck out Wil Myers swinging and got Hunter Renfroe to ground out to earn his 14th save.
Neither San Diego left-hander Clayton Richard nor Chicago left-hander Jon Lester figured in decisions.
The Padres (28-43) dropped their second straight and third in four games despite homers from leadoff batter Jose Pirela and second baseman Yangervis Solarte.
Rizzo, playing this sixth game in the leadoff spot, extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games. He has reached base in all six games leading off, just the fifth Cubs player to do so since 1946.
Lester worked six innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
The Cubs tied the game 2-2 in the seventh on Willson Contreras' sixth homer of the season, coming with none out on Richard's 1-2 pitch.
Richard departed with one out, and Baez greeted Yates with a single to shallow right. Albert Almora Jr. then doubled to left, and Baez scored on Pirela's throwing error for a 3-2 Cubs lead.
Richard allowed two runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.
The Padres claimed an instant 1-0 lead on leadoff batter Pirela's first-inning home run. Pirela sent Lester's 1-1 pitch to center field for his third homer of the season.
In the bottom of the first, Rizzo spoiled the Padres' infield shift toward first base by placing a perfect bunt down the third-base line that wasn't picked up until he had reached first.
"It's not your prototypical lead off the game," said Rizzo.
Solarte made it 2-0 in the third with a first-pitch homer to left field. It was his 10th of the season and third since Saturday, when he clubbed two against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Cubs got one run back in the third when Rizzo sent a one-out sacrifice fly deep to left field to drive in Almora from third.
Chicago had runners at first and second with none out in the fifth, but Lester struck out while bunting foul and Jon Jay grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Cubs were without right fielder Jason Heyward, who sat out Monday after suffering a laceration to his left hand in the second inning of Sunday's game at Pittsburgh while attempting to make a sliding catch.
NOTES: San Diego designated RHP Zach Lee for assignment on Monday and claimed LHP Dillon Overton off waivers from Seattle and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso. ... San Diego needs just one win this week to take the season series from Chicago after the Padres recorded a three-game sweep and held the Cubs to 12 collective hits last month at Petco Park. ... The Padres will send RHP Jhoulys Chacin (6-5, 5.10 ERA) against Cubs LHP Mike Montgomery (0-3, 2.65 ERA) in Tuesday's middle game. ... The three-game Cubs-Padres series is also Chicago's shortest homestead of the season. After Wednesday's finale, the Cubs embark on an 11-day, 11-game road trip that takes them to Miami, Washington and Cincinnati. ... The Cubs have been at the .500 mark 14 times this season. ... 1B Anthony Rizzo led off for the sixth time on Monday and went 2-for-3 with a bunt single and triple.
But a play at the plate that stopped Rizzo from scoring a run raised ire from the Padres and shrugs from Rizzo and the Cubs.
Rizzo tripled to open the Cubs sixth, bolted for home after Kris Bryant's liner to center was caught. Rizzo barreled into Padres catcher Austin Hedges after he caught a throw from center fielder Matt Szczur and defended the plate.
"It's a cheap shot," said Padres manager Andy Green. "I'm not saying he's a dirty player, nobody's saying that (but) he clearly deviated from his path to hit our catcher. He took our catcher out."
But the Cubs first baseman, who was tagged out on the play, said it was just good, hard baseball.
"By no means do I think that's a dirty play at all," Rizzo said. "I went pretty much straight in. He caught the ball and went towards the plate so I went in -- I slid in there -- it was a hard slide. ... I play this game hard for a 162 games-plus so I can't see that being dirty."
Hedges apparently suffered a bruised thigh in the collision and did not return for the seventh inning.
"I don't expect him to play tomorrow," said Green. "I don't know how long he's out for."
Javier Baez went 2-for-3 and scored a go-ahead run on a throwing error as the Cubs (35-34) beat the Padres for the first time this season after three losses last month in San Diego.
Reliever Hector Rondon (2-1) worked one inning -- a scoreless seventh -- for the victory.
Right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (1-1) took the loss after allowing one run on two hits in the seventh.
Cubs reliever Wade Davis faced five batters in the ninth and had runners on second and third with one out after two wild pitches. But he struck out Wil Myers swinging and got Hunter Renfroe to ground out to earn his 14th save.
Neither San Diego left-hander Clayton Richard nor Chicago left-hander Jon Lester figured in decisions.
The Padres (28-43) dropped their second straight and third in four games despite homers from leadoff batter Jose Pirela and second baseman Yangervis Solarte.
Rizzo, playing this sixth game in the leadoff spot, extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games. He has reached base in all six games leading off, just the fifth Cubs player to do so since 1946.
Lester worked six innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
The Cubs tied the game 2-2 in the seventh on Willson Contreras' sixth homer of the season, coming with none out on Richard's 1-2 pitch.
Richard departed with one out, and Baez greeted Yates with a single to shallow right. Albert Almora Jr. then doubled to left, and Baez scored on Pirela's throwing error for a 3-2 Cubs lead.
Richard allowed two runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.
The Padres claimed an instant 1-0 lead on leadoff batter Pirela's first-inning home run. Pirela sent Lester's 1-1 pitch to center field for his third homer of the season.
In the bottom of the first, Rizzo spoiled the Padres' infield shift toward first base by placing a perfect bunt down the third-base line that wasn't picked up until he had reached first.
"It's not your prototypical lead off the game," said Rizzo.
Solarte made it 2-0 in the third with a first-pitch homer to left field. It was his 10th of the season and third since Saturday, when he clubbed two against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Cubs got one run back in the third when Rizzo sent a one-out sacrifice fly deep to left field to drive in Almora from third.
Chicago had runners at first and second with none out in the fifth, but Lester struck out while bunting foul and Jon Jay grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Cubs were without right fielder Jason Heyward, who sat out Monday after suffering a laceration to his left hand in the second inning of Sunday's game at Pittsburgh while attempting to make a sliding catch.
NOTES: San Diego designated RHP Zach Lee for assignment on Monday and claimed LHP Dillon Overton off waivers from Seattle and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso. ... San Diego needs just one win this week to take the season series from Chicago after the Padres recorded a three-game sweep and held the Cubs to 12 collective hits last month at Petco Park. ... The Padres will send RHP Jhoulys Chacin (6-5, 5.10 ERA) against Cubs LHP Mike Montgomery (0-3, 2.65 ERA) in Tuesday's middle game. ... The three-game Cubs-Padres series is also Chicago's shortest homestead of the season. After Wednesday's finale, the Cubs embark on an 11-day, 11-game road trip that takes them to Miami, Washington and Cincinnati. ... The Cubs have been at the .500 mark 14 times this season. ... 1B Anthony Rizzo led off for the sixth time on Monday and went 2-for-3 with a bunt single and triple.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Rizzo, Lackey send Cubs past Pirates
(TSX / STATS) -- PITTSBURGH -- Anthony Rizzo batted leadoff for the fifth time in a row -- and fifth time in his career -- when the Chicago Cubs played in a weekend series finale on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He's getting the hang of it, apparently.
"The game can't start until I get in the batter's box," Rizzo said with a smile after Chicago's 7-1 win.
No, and lately it doesn't get started until he leads off the game with a hit. On Sunday, it was a double to left on Jameson Taillon's first pitch. He came around to score, part of a 3-for-5 day that included his 16th homer, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Rizzo is 5-for-5 leading off games and has tied a career high with a 12-game hitting streak.
"If we win ballgames, I'll be the leadoff hitter for the rest of my career," Rizzo said, still being jovial. "But no, the objective is the pitchers are going to throw strike one. They want to get into a groove. You've got to be ready to hit."
Willson Contreras was 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs, and rookie Ian Happ added his eighth homer for the Cubs (34-34), who took two of three against the Pirates -- their first road series win in more than six weeks, since winning two of three at PNC Park on April 24-26.
It all started with Rizzo.
"Gosh, the way he started the game again, got the momentum rolling," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "We had good at-bats up and down the lineup."
Cubs starter John Lackey (5-7) allowed one run, a solo homer by Jordy Mercer, in six innings of two-hit ball, striking out four and walking three for his first win since May 16. In the interim, he had been 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in five starts.
"I'm just going to try to enjoy the rest of the season, try to calm down a little bit and just enjoy myself a little bit more," Lackey said. "Didn't give in to some guys and had a couple walks, but felt pretty good.
"It's very weird -- you can pitch very similar and get lots of different results sometimes."
Relievers Carl Edwards Jr., Hector Rondon and Brian Duensing each pitched a scoreless inning for the Cubs to polish off a combined three-hitter.
Pittsburgh (31-38) had won five of its previous seven games and missed a chance to move within 1 1/2 games of the second-place Cubs in the National League Central.
Taillon (3-2) took a step back as he made his second start since returning from surgery for testicular cancer. He gave up four runs and eight hits through five innings, with four strikeouts and one walk.
Taillon beat Colorado in his first game off the DL with five innings of scoreless work with five hits, five strikeouts.
"I think they're looking for fastballs early, and then some breaking balls didn't work his way at all," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "The curveball was inconsistent and the misfires he did have were barreled. They were up in the zone, so his overall command was probably a culprit."
But not anything major, Taillon said.
"I felt good. Felt sharp. A couple pitches I would've like to have back, but I felt like it was coming out of my hand clean," he said. "My mechanics felt good. A couple execution problems, but I felt fine."
Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first. Rizzo, after his double to the left field corner, moved to third on Happ's bunt and scored on Contreras' double.
Lackey got out of a two-on, none-out jam in the second -- shortstop Javier Baez bobbled what could have been a double-play grounder -- with three fly balls.
The Cubs scored two in the third before there was an out, on Contreras' two-run double, for a 3-0 lead, and added another in the fourth on John Jay's RBI single to make it 4-0.
Mercer lined a leadoff homer just inside the foul pole in left to bring the Pirates within 4-1 in the fifth. It was the 20th homer allowed by Lackey this season.
"He hung that ball -- a slider or a curveball or whatever it was," Mercer said. "Those are good to backspin. Those balls can go a long ways at times. I was able to just get underneath it. I hit it on a line, but I didn't think it was going to go out."
Rizzo's two-run shot to left in the seventh provided 6-1 advantage.
Happ, a rookie playing in his hometown for the first time this weekend, launched a two-out homer, his eighth, into the Chicago bullpen in center to make it 7-1 in the ninth.
"Awesome weekend. Just special, family being here, friends being here," said Happ, adding that he procured the home run ball hit in the park he formerly knew only as a spectator growing up.
NOTES: Chicago LF Jason Heyward left the game in the fourth inning because of a left hand abrasion. He got that in the second inning sliding to attempt to catch a foul ball. ... Pittsburgh reinstated C Chris Stewart from the 10-day DL and optioned C Jacob Stallings to Triple-A Indianapolis. ... Cubs SS Addison Russell, who twisted an ankle rounding second Saturday night, was available to play but given the day off. ... The Seattle Mariners claimed minor league RHP Pat Light from the Pirates.
He's getting the hang of it, apparently.
"The game can't start until I get in the batter's box," Rizzo said with a smile after Chicago's 7-1 win.
No, and lately it doesn't get started until he leads off the game with a hit. On Sunday, it was a double to left on Jameson Taillon's first pitch. He came around to score, part of a 3-for-5 day that included his 16th homer, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Rizzo is 5-for-5 leading off games and has tied a career high with a 12-game hitting streak.
"If we win ballgames, I'll be the leadoff hitter for the rest of my career," Rizzo said, still being jovial. "But no, the objective is the pitchers are going to throw strike one. They want to get into a groove. You've got to be ready to hit."
Willson Contreras was 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs, and rookie Ian Happ added his eighth homer for the Cubs (34-34), who took two of three against the Pirates -- their first road series win in more than six weeks, since winning two of three at PNC Park on April 24-26.
It all started with Rizzo.
"Gosh, the way he started the game again, got the momentum rolling," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "We had good at-bats up and down the lineup."
Cubs starter John Lackey (5-7) allowed one run, a solo homer by Jordy Mercer, in six innings of two-hit ball, striking out four and walking three for his first win since May 16. In the interim, he had been 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in five starts.
"I'm just going to try to enjoy the rest of the season, try to calm down a little bit and just enjoy myself a little bit more," Lackey said. "Didn't give in to some guys and had a couple walks, but felt pretty good.
"It's very weird -- you can pitch very similar and get lots of different results sometimes."
Relievers Carl Edwards Jr., Hector Rondon and Brian Duensing each pitched a scoreless inning for the Cubs to polish off a combined three-hitter.
Pittsburgh (31-38) had won five of its previous seven games and missed a chance to move within 1 1/2 games of the second-place Cubs in the National League Central.
Taillon (3-2) took a step back as he made his second start since returning from surgery for testicular cancer. He gave up four runs and eight hits through five innings, with four strikeouts and one walk.
Taillon beat Colorado in his first game off the DL with five innings of scoreless work with five hits, five strikeouts.
"I think they're looking for fastballs early, and then some breaking balls didn't work his way at all," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "The curveball was inconsistent and the misfires he did have were barreled. They were up in the zone, so his overall command was probably a culprit."
But not anything major, Taillon said.
"I felt good. Felt sharp. A couple pitches I would've like to have back, but I felt like it was coming out of my hand clean," he said. "My mechanics felt good. A couple execution problems, but I felt fine."
Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first. Rizzo, after his double to the left field corner, moved to third on Happ's bunt and scored on Contreras' double.
Lackey got out of a two-on, none-out jam in the second -- shortstop Javier Baez bobbled what could have been a double-play grounder -- with three fly balls.
The Cubs scored two in the third before there was an out, on Contreras' two-run double, for a 3-0 lead, and added another in the fourth on John Jay's RBI single to make it 4-0.
Mercer lined a leadoff homer just inside the foul pole in left to bring the Pirates within 4-1 in the fifth. It was the 20th homer allowed by Lackey this season.
"He hung that ball -- a slider or a curveball or whatever it was," Mercer said. "Those are good to backspin. Those balls can go a long ways at times. I was able to just get underneath it. I hit it on a line, but I didn't think it was going to go out."
Rizzo's two-run shot to left in the seventh provided 6-1 advantage.
Happ, a rookie playing in his hometown for the first time this weekend, launched a two-out homer, his eighth, into the Chicago bullpen in center to make it 7-1 in the ninth.
"Awesome weekend. Just special, family being here, friends being here," said Happ, adding that he procured the home run ball hit in the park he formerly knew only as a spectator growing up.
NOTES: Chicago LF Jason Heyward left the game in the fourth inning because of a left hand abrasion. He got that in the second inning sliding to attempt to catch a foul ball. ... Pittsburgh reinstated C Chris Stewart from the 10-day DL and optioned C Jacob Stallings to Triple-A Indianapolis. ... Cubs SS Addison Russell, who twisted an ankle rounding second Saturday night, was available to play but given the day off. ... The Seattle Mariners claimed minor league RHP Pat Light from the Pirates.
Happ pitches into seventh as Blue Jays beat White Sox
(TSX / STATS) -- TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays pulled a different version of a bloop and a blast Sunday afternoon and then went on to defeat the Chicago White Sox 7-3 to avoid a three-game sweep.
With two outs in the sixth inning, Troy Tulowitzki hit a trickler up the third base line that hit the bag and went for an infield single against White Sox starter James Shields.
Russell Martin followed with his seventh home run of the season, a drive to center that hit off the top of the wall, to tie the score.
The inning continued when Anthony Swarzak (3-2) replaced Shields and allowed a single to Steve Pearce and a triple to Ryan Goins that put the Blue Jays in the lead to stay.
Kendrys Morales added a two-run homer and Pearce hit an RBI double, both in the seventh inning, to complete the scoring.
"I knew he put a good swing on it," Shields said of Martin's homer. "(Josh) Donaldson hit pretty much a similar ball earlier in the game. I left it up a little bit, but it was off the plate a little bit, too, and he put a good swing on it and unfortunately it hit the top the wall.
"If Tulowitzki didn't hit that dribbler down the line, I think we'd have been out of the inning there."
Martin said, "It felt pretty good off the bat. It wasn't a bad pitch. I think it was a cutter-slider. I definitely barreled it, but it wasn't a no-doubter by any means, then I saw on the replay it hit off the top of the wall."
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said, "Russell probably has as much, or more than anybody, on the team opposite field power. So, when he's driving the ball that way, he gets his share of home runs. I just think he needs some at-bats, he was out those 10 days (with a stiff neck).
"It really takes some at-bats to get going. He's getting on base all the time. He's always been a top defensive catcher. What separated him is ability to hit, which a lot of catchers can't do."
The White Sox (31-37) had won six straight games at the Rogers Centre dating to 2015.
J.A. Happ (2-4) allowed eight hits, no walks and three runs in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out nine in earning his second straight win. It was Happ's fourth start since coming off the disabled list (elbow inflammation).
"The last two have been a lot better. I feel like I'm throwing in my lanes a little better on each side of the plate," Happ said. "There's a little more life on my fastball as well."
Shields, who was on the disabled list with a strained right lat, made his first start since April 16 and did not factor in the decision. The right-hander allowed seven hits, one walk and three runs while striking out three in 5 2/3 innings.
"We kept trying to grind and Shields was containing them pretty good up to that homer," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "Even then I thought at that point we were still kind of battling and Swarzak came in, obviously we didn't get the results we wanted then but again all our guys have been doing a great job for us all season long."
Swarzak allowed three hits and two runs in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss.
The White Sox started the fifth inning with singles by Willy Garcia, Kevan Smith and Yolmer Sanchez to take a 1-0 lead. Melky Cabrera bunted the runners to second and third and Jose Abreu hit a two-run single to increase the lead to 3-0.
The Blue Jays scored once in the bottom of the fifth. Pearce singled, took second on a groundout to third by Goins and scored on a single by Kevin Pillar.
Danny Barnes replaced Happ after Cabrera's two-out double in the seventh and ended the inning on Tim Anderson's flyout to center.
Left-hander Dan Jennings replaced Swarzak with one out in the bottom of the seventh after Jose Bautista ended an 0-for-11 drought with a single.
Morales blasted his 15th homer of the season to left and the Blue Jays led 6-3. Justin Smoak singled and was forced at second by Tulowitzki. Michael Ynoa replaced Jennings and allowed an RBI double to Pearce.
Barnes pitched around a walk in the eighth and Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth.
NOTES: White Sox RHP Miguel Gonzalez (A/C joint inflammation in right shoulder) was put on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Thursday. RHP James Shields was reinstated from the DL to fill the roster spot. ... White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon (left biceps bursitis) allowed seven hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings Saturday with Triple-A Charlotte in his third rehabilitation start. He has been on the DL since April 2. ... White Sox CF Leury Garcia (sore left wrist) did not start for the seventh straight game. ... Blue Jays RHP Marco Estrada (4-5, 4.54 ERA) will face Rangers RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2-0, 3.28 ERA) on Monday in the opener of a four-game series at Texas. ... White Sox LHP Derek Holland (5-6, 3.79) will start the opener of a three-game series against the Twins, who had not listed a starter, at Minnesota on Tuesday.
With two outs in the sixth inning, Troy Tulowitzki hit a trickler up the third base line that hit the bag and went for an infield single against White Sox starter James Shields.
Russell Martin followed with his seventh home run of the season, a drive to center that hit off the top of the wall, to tie the score.
The inning continued when Anthony Swarzak (3-2) replaced Shields and allowed a single to Steve Pearce and a triple to Ryan Goins that put the Blue Jays in the lead to stay.
Kendrys Morales added a two-run homer and Pearce hit an RBI double, both in the seventh inning, to complete the scoring.
"I knew he put a good swing on it," Shields said of Martin's homer. "(Josh) Donaldson hit pretty much a similar ball earlier in the game. I left it up a little bit, but it was off the plate a little bit, too, and he put a good swing on it and unfortunately it hit the top the wall.
"If Tulowitzki didn't hit that dribbler down the line, I think we'd have been out of the inning there."
Martin said, "It felt pretty good off the bat. It wasn't a bad pitch. I think it was a cutter-slider. I definitely barreled it, but it wasn't a no-doubter by any means, then I saw on the replay it hit off the top of the wall."
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said, "Russell probably has as much, or more than anybody, on the team opposite field power. So, when he's driving the ball that way, he gets his share of home runs. I just think he needs some at-bats, he was out those 10 days (with a stiff neck).
"It really takes some at-bats to get going. He's getting on base all the time. He's always been a top defensive catcher. What separated him is ability to hit, which a lot of catchers can't do."
The White Sox (31-37) had won six straight games at the Rogers Centre dating to 2015.
J.A. Happ (2-4) allowed eight hits, no walks and three runs in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out nine in earning his second straight win. It was Happ's fourth start since coming off the disabled list (elbow inflammation).
"The last two have been a lot better. I feel like I'm throwing in my lanes a little better on each side of the plate," Happ said. "There's a little more life on my fastball as well."
Shields, who was on the disabled list with a strained right lat, made his first start since April 16 and did not factor in the decision. The right-hander allowed seven hits, one walk and three runs while striking out three in 5 2/3 innings.
"We kept trying to grind and Shields was containing them pretty good up to that homer," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "Even then I thought at that point we were still kind of battling and Swarzak came in, obviously we didn't get the results we wanted then but again all our guys have been doing a great job for us all season long."
Swarzak allowed three hits and two runs in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss.
The White Sox started the fifth inning with singles by Willy Garcia, Kevan Smith and Yolmer Sanchez to take a 1-0 lead. Melky Cabrera bunted the runners to second and third and Jose Abreu hit a two-run single to increase the lead to 3-0.
The Blue Jays scored once in the bottom of the fifth. Pearce singled, took second on a groundout to third by Goins and scored on a single by Kevin Pillar.
Danny Barnes replaced Happ after Cabrera's two-out double in the seventh and ended the inning on Tim Anderson's flyout to center.
Left-hander Dan Jennings replaced Swarzak with one out in the bottom of the seventh after Jose Bautista ended an 0-for-11 drought with a single.
Morales blasted his 15th homer of the season to left and the Blue Jays led 6-3. Justin Smoak singled and was forced at second by Tulowitzki. Michael Ynoa replaced Jennings and allowed an RBI double to Pearce.
Barnes pitched around a walk in the eighth and Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth.
NOTES: White Sox RHP Miguel Gonzalez (A/C joint inflammation in right shoulder) was put on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Thursday. RHP James Shields was reinstated from the DL to fill the roster spot. ... White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon (left biceps bursitis) allowed seven hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings Saturday with Triple-A Charlotte in his third rehabilitation start. He has been on the DL since April 2. ... White Sox CF Leury Garcia (sore left wrist) did not start for the seventh straight game. ... Blue Jays RHP Marco Estrada (4-5, 4.54 ERA) will face Rangers RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2-0, 3.28 ERA) on Monday in the opener of a four-game series at Texas. ... White Sox LHP Derek Holland (5-6, 3.79) will start the opener of a three-game series against the Twins, who had not listed a starter, at Minnesota on Tuesday.
Friday, June 16, 2017
Davidson, Cabrera lead White Sox past Orioles
(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Matt Davidson's locker has been the popular postgame gathering place for reporters this week.
Home runs in four consecutive games will bring that kind of attention, but the Chicago White Sox rookie designated hitter is taking it all in stride.
"I'm just trying to ignore everything outside and take every pitch for what it's worth and be relaxed up there," said Davidson, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and scored twice on Thursday in a 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. "It proves that (with) all the hard work you've done that it can happen and it can happen consistently."
Melky Cabrera also went 2-for-5 with two RBIs as the White Sox (29-36) took three of four in the series while the Orioles (32-33) slipped back below the .500 mark with their seventh loss in eight games.
Baltimore starter Chris Tillman (1-5) suffered his fifth straight loss while Chicago starter David Holmberg had no decision after allowing just one run in a 4 1/3-inning outing.
"Chris has a good track record and he's going to pitch better and hopefully today's the start of that," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "They made him earn everything. He gave us a chance, we're just not scoring any runs."
Right-handed reliever Anthony Swarzak (3-1) worked 1 2/3 innings for the victory.
Chicago got off to a slow start despite early scoring opportunities. The White Sox loaded the bases in the second inning and had runners on first and second but came up empty in both innings.
Davidson gave Chicago a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to left to lead off the last of the fourth. It was his team-leading 14th of the season.
"It's something the whole organization has been hoping that he's capable of doing so he's showing signs obviously that he can do it," said White Sox manager Rick Renteria.
Holmberg, meanwhile, was sharp through the first four innings, allowing just three baserunners while recording three strikeouts.
But the Orioles threatened in the fifth with runners at first and second with none out, and Holmberg departed after Ruben Tejada flied out to center.
Catcher Caleb Joseph greeted Swarzak with a double to center to score Jonathan Schoop from second base to tie the game 1-1. But Swarzak limited further damage as he struck out Joey Rickard and got Adam Jones to line out to right.
Holmberg was charged with the run.
"Everything went pretty good, I tried to keep them off the bases for the most part," said Holmberg. "They've got pretty big power all throughout the lineup. A couple guys got on there in the fifth and I think we did a pretty good job of keeping it to one run there."
In the bottom of the fifth, Renteria and right fielder Avisail Garcia were ejected by first base umpire Paul Emmel after arguing a third strike call on Garcia's one-out at-bat.
Chicago loaded the bases on Tillman for the second time in the game in the sixth, this time with none out as the White Sox scored four times.
Cabrera bounced a one-out single up the middle to score Davidson and Yolmer Sanchez for a 3-1 lead.
That spelled the end for Tillman, who was replaced by right-handed reliever Jimmy Yacabonis.
He walked Tim Anderson to again load the bases and issued a base on balls to Jose Abreu to bring home Kevan Smith to make it 4-1.
Leury Garcia's sacrifice fly to deep center drove in Cabrera, and Yacabonis then walked Frazier -- the third of the inning -- to again put three runners on base.
Right-handed reliever Miguel Castro got Davidson on a called third strike to finally end the inning.
Tillman gave up five runs on a season-high 11 hits through 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one.
"I never really felt like I was in a huge jam, I feel like from the get-go I was able to make pitches," Tillman said. "Guys got on base early, but I know that most of those situations you're just one pitch away and you've got to focus on making that pitch."
Welington Castillo slammed a leadoff solo home run in the ninth off Chicago reliever David Robertson.
NOTES: Baltimore took the seven-game season series from Chicago, winning four games. The Orioles are 7-0-2 in the last nine series against the White Sox. ... Thursday's loss in the series finale at Guarantee Rate Field left Baltimore 11-23 on the road. ... The Orioles return home Friday for a three-game inter-league series against St. Louis, sending RHP Kevin Gausman (3-5, 6.49 ERA) against Cardinals RHP Carlos Martinez (5-5, 2.95 ERA). ... Chicago begins a six-game, seven-day road trip on Friday, visiting Toronto and Minnesota. The White Sox send LHP Jose Quintana (2-8, 5.30 ERA) against Blue Jays RHP Joe Biagini (1-5, 3.38 ERA) in the Rogers Centre opener. ... Chicago reinstated RHP Michael Ynoa from the 10-day disabled list (right hip flexor strain) prior to Thursday's game. He is 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 appearances this season.
Home runs in four consecutive games will bring that kind of attention, but the Chicago White Sox rookie designated hitter is taking it all in stride.
"I'm just trying to ignore everything outside and take every pitch for what it's worth and be relaxed up there," said Davidson, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and scored twice on Thursday in a 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. "It proves that (with) all the hard work you've done that it can happen and it can happen consistently."
Melky Cabrera also went 2-for-5 with two RBIs as the White Sox (29-36) took three of four in the series while the Orioles (32-33) slipped back below the .500 mark with their seventh loss in eight games.
Baltimore starter Chris Tillman (1-5) suffered his fifth straight loss while Chicago starter David Holmberg had no decision after allowing just one run in a 4 1/3-inning outing.
"Chris has a good track record and he's going to pitch better and hopefully today's the start of that," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "They made him earn everything. He gave us a chance, we're just not scoring any runs."
Right-handed reliever Anthony Swarzak (3-1) worked 1 2/3 innings for the victory.
Chicago got off to a slow start despite early scoring opportunities. The White Sox loaded the bases in the second inning and had runners on first and second but came up empty in both innings.
Davidson gave Chicago a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to left to lead off the last of the fourth. It was his team-leading 14th of the season.
"It's something the whole organization has been hoping that he's capable of doing so he's showing signs obviously that he can do it," said White Sox manager Rick Renteria.
Holmberg, meanwhile, was sharp through the first four innings, allowing just three baserunners while recording three strikeouts.
But the Orioles threatened in the fifth with runners at first and second with none out, and Holmberg departed after Ruben Tejada flied out to center.
Catcher Caleb Joseph greeted Swarzak with a double to center to score Jonathan Schoop from second base to tie the game 1-1. But Swarzak limited further damage as he struck out Joey Rickard and got Adam Jones to line out to right.
Holmberg was charged with the run.
"Everything went pretty good, I tried to keep them off the bases for the most part," said Holmberg. "They've got pretty big power all throughout the lineup. A couple guys got on there in the fifth and I think we did a pretty good job of keeping it to one run there."
In the bottom of the fifth, Renteria and right fielder Avisail Garcia were ejected by first base umpire Paul Emmel after arguing a third strike call on Garcia's one-out at-bat.
Chicago loaded the bases on Tillman for the second time in the game in the sixth, this time with none out as the White Sox scored four times.
Cabrera bounced a one-out single up the middle to score Davidson and Yolmer Sanchez for a 3-1 lead.
That spelled the end for Tillman, who was replaced by right-handed reliever Jimmy Yacabonis.
He walked Tim Anderson to again load the bases and issued a base on balls to Jose Abreu to bring home Kevan Smith to make it 4-1.
Leury Garcia's sacrifice fly to deep center drove in Cabrera, and Yacabonis then walked Frazier -- the third of the inning -- to again put three runners on base.
Right-handed reliever Miguel Castro got Davidson on a called third strike to finally end the inning.
Tillman gave up five runs on a season-high 11 hits through 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one.
"I never really felt like I was in a huge jam, I feel like from the get-go I was able to make pitches," Tillman said. "Guys got on base early, but I know that most of those situations you're just one pitch away and you've got to focus on making that pitch."
Welington Castillo slammed a leadoff solo home run in the ninth off Chicago reliever David Robertson.
NOTES: Baltimore took the seven-game season series from Chicago, winning four games. The Orioles are 7-0-2 in the last nine series against the White Sox. ... Thursday's loss in the series finale at Guarantee Rate Field left Baltimore 11-23 on the road. ... The Orioles return home Friday for a three-game inter-league series against St. Louis, sending RHP Kevin Gausman (3-5, 6.49 ERA) against Cardinals RHP Carlos Martinez (5-5, 2.95 ERA). ... Chicago begins a six-game, seven-day road trip on Friday, visiting Toronto and Minnesota. The White Sox send LHP Jose Quintana (2-8, 5.30 ERA) against Blue Jays RHP Joe Biagini (1-5, 3.38 ERA) in the Rogers Centre opener. ... Chicago reinstated RHP Michael Ynoa from the 10-day disabled list (right hip flexor strain) prior to Thursday's game. He is 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 appearances this season.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Castillo hits grand slam, Orioles beat White Sox 10-6
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles kept insisting they would turn things around and break out of their slump. Maybe this is a start.
Welington Castillo hit his first career grand slam and drove in a personal-best five runs, and the Orioles snapped a six-game losing streak with a rain-delayed 10-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Castillo gave the Orioles an 8-5 lead with his drive against Miguel Gonzalez (4-8) in the fifth inning and helped prevent them from matching their longest slide of the season. Baltimore also evened its record at 32-32 after falling below .500 for the first time since Oct. 3, 2015.
“We needed a win, we got one today and hopefully we can keep it rolling,” Dylan Bundy said.
The Orioles have been struggling since a 22-10 start.
Things weren’t looking good for them early on, after Matt Davidson homered in his third straight game to help Chicago grab a 5-1 lead. But the Orioles turned this one around, pounding out 13 hits and overcoming two errors on the way to a lopsided victory.
Trey Mancini had a double and two singles. He scored three runs and drove in one.
Mark Trumbo added two hits and two runs, and a shaky Dylan Bundy (7-5) got the support he needed. The right-hander picked up the win after going 1-4 in his previous six starts. He gave up five runs and six hits in five innings.
Gonzalez got pounded for eight runs - matching his highest total since June 25, 2016 - and nine hits over five innings. The right-hander is 1-8 in his past nine starts.
“I’ve been there before and I’ve had success,” he said. “Right now I’m struggling. I just have to keep working between my starts and hopefully everything will turn around.”
The game was delayed 90 minutes at the start. And after getting outscored a combined 16-8 by the White Sox over the previous two games, the Orioles looked like they might get blown out again.
They jumped into it by scoring three in the fourth, with Hyun Soo Kim’s two-run single cutting it to 5-4. Castillo got caught in a rundown between second and third on the play for the third out, but did he ever make up for it in the fifth.
Gonzalez retired the first two batters before giving up singles to Trumbo and Mancini and walking Jonathan Schoop. That brought up Castillo, whose towering grand slam to the bushes beyond the center-field wall gave the Orioles an 8-5 lead.
“(Castillo) has had had a track record of that for awhile,” manager Buck Showalter said. “You always wonder how numbers are going to translate from league to league. He had to learn a lot of new hitters and new pitchers. ... He’s been a quick study. Very easy to pull for, really good teammate.”
GOING DEEP
Chicago’s Alen Hanson hit his first career homer in the ninth, but the Orioles got the win they needed.
DAVIS TO DL
The Orioles placed slugging first baseman Chris Davis on the 10-day disabled list because of a strained right oblique. Davis - batting .226 with 14 homers and 26 RBIs - exited Monday’s loss to Chicago. He had trouble sleeping Tuesday night and probably won’t start treatment for a few days, manager Buck Showalter said.
The Orioles selected infielder David Washington’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk and transferred outfielder Anthony Santander from the 10-day to the 60-day DL because of a strained right forearm.
MINAYA SENT DOWN
The White Sox optioned Juan Minaya to Triple-A Charlotte after the game. He has an 8.10 ERA in seven relief appearances.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: Manager Buck Showalter held OF Seth Smith out of the lineup for the second straight game because he’s “not 100 percent,” though he wouldn’t say what the issue was.
White Sox: James Shields is ready to return to the Chicago White Sox’s rotation. The 35-year-old right-hander is scheduled to start Sunday at Toronto after being sidelined the past two months because of a strained right back muscle.
UP NEXT
The Orioles and White Sox wrap up a four-game series, with RHP Chris Tillman (1-4, 8.01 ERA) starting for Baltimore and LHP David Holmberg (1-0, 2.74) pitching for Chicago.
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More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles kept insisting they would turn things around and break out of their slump. Maybe this is a start.
Welington Castillo hit his first career grand slam and drove in a personal-best five runs, and the Orioles snapped a six-game losing streak with a rain-delayed 10-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Castillo gave the Orioles an 8-5 lead with his drive against Miguel Gonzalez (4-8) in the fifth inning and helped prevent them from matching their longest slide of the season. Baltimore also evened its record at 32-32 after falling below .500 for the first time since Oct. 3, 2015.
“We needed a win, we got one today and hopefully we can keep it rolling,” Dylan Bundy said.
The Orioles have been struggling since a 22-10 start.
Things weren’t looking good for them early on, after Matt Davidson homered in his third straight game to help Chicago grab a 5-1 lead. But the Orioles turned this one around, pounding out 13 hits and overcoming two errors on the way to a lopsided victory.
Trey Mancini had a double and two singles. He scored three runs and drove in one.
Mark Trumbo added two hits and two runs, and a shaky Dylan Bundy (7-5) got the support he needed. The right-hander picked up the win after going 1-4 in his previous six starts. He gave up five runs and six hits in five innings.
Gonzalez got pounded for eight runs - matching his highest total since June 25, 2016 - and nine hits over five innings. The right-hander is 1-8 in his past nine starts.
“I’ve been there before and I’ve had success,” he said. “Right now I’m struggling. I just have to keep working between my starts and hopefully everything will turn around.”
The game was delayed 90 minutes at the start. And after getting outscored a combined 16-8 by the White Sox over the previous two games, the Orioles looked like they might get blown out again.
They jumped into it by scoring three in the fourth, with Hyun Soo Kim’s two-run single cutting it to 5-4. Castillo got caught in a rundown between second and third on the play for the third out, but did he ever make up for it in the fifth.
Gonzalez retired the first two batters before giving up singles to Trumbo and Mancini and walking Jonathan Schoop. That brought up Castillo, whose towering grand slam to the bushes beyond the center-field wall gave the Orioles an 8-5 lead.
“(Castillo) has had had a track record of that for awhile,” manager Buck Showalter said. “You always wonder how numbers are going to translate from league to league. He had to learn a lot of new hitters and new pitchers. ... He’s been a quick study. Very easy to pull for, really good teammate.”
GOING DEEP
Chicago’s Alen Hanson hit his first career homer in the ninth, but the Orioles got the win they needed.
DAVIS TO DL
The Orioles placed slugging first baseman Chris Davis on the 10-day disabled list because of a strained right oblique. Davis - batting .226 with 14 homers and 26 RBIs - exited Monday’s loss to Chicago. He had trouble sleeping Tuesday night and probably won’t start treatment for a few days, manager Buck Showalter said.
The Orioles selected infielder David Washington’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk and transferred outfielder Anthony Santander from the 10-day to the 60-day DL because of a strained right forearm.
MINAYA SENT DOWN
The White Sox optioned Juan Minaya to Triple-A Charlotte after the game. He has an 8.10 ERA in seven relief appearances.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: Manager Buck Showalter held OF Seth Smith out of the lineup for the second straight game because he’s “not 100 percent,” though he wouldn’t say what the issue was.
White Sox: James Shields is ready to return to the Chicago White Sox’s rotation. The 35-year-old right-hander is scheduled to start Sunday at Toronto after being sidelined the past two months because of a strained right back muscle.
UP NEXT
The Orioles and White Sox wrap up a four-game series, with RHP Chris Tillman (1-4, 8.01 ERA) starting for Baltimore and LHP David Holmberg (1-0, 2.74) pitching for Chicago.
___
More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Twice is nice: Rizzo hits another leadoff homer for Cubs
By MIKE FITZPATRICK
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Rizzo has taken quite a liking to the leadoff spot.
One night after hitting a leadoff homer in his first career start atop the batting order, the Chicago Cubs’ 240-pound first baseman did it again. Rizzo drove Matt Harvey’s first pitch over the left-center fence at Citi Field for his 15th home run of the season Wednesday, prompting excited high-fives from giddy teammates in the dugout.
“I am statistically the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time,” Rizzo said after the game. “I would like to retire there just to talk smack to everyone that tries to do it.”
Chicago rookie Ian Happ followed with his seventh homer for a 2-0 lead over the New York Mets, who later rallied for a 9-4 victory.
Rizzo was asked about television broadcasters mentioning that he predicted his leadoff homer against Harvey before the game.
“I think that’s kind of bogus that they bring out what we talk about in the dugout a lot. That’s between me and my teammates and they’re putting that on TV,” he said. “We talk all the time here, just saying, ’Hey, it’s going to be 1-0, it’s going to be 1-0 again. But you can’t ever predict a home run off a pitcher, especially Matt Harvey, so to put it out there, I’m not too thrilled with all that. But I was saying it before the game, messing around, being loose.”
The previous night, Rizzo launched Zack Wheeler’s second pitch a projected 462 feet to center, sparking a 14-3 rout of the Mets. Happ hit a grand slam off Wheeler in the second inning.
Looking to energize his slumping team, manager Joe Maddon batted Rizzo first on Tuesday — making the All-Star slugger the seventh Chicago player to hit at the top of the lineup this year.
The defending World Series champions entered Tuesday with a .306 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot, which ranked 24th in the majors.
“You just go with it. It’s fun,” Rizzo said Wednesday. “Obviously you go back-to-back there, it gets the clubhouse really loose. Just statistically, by the books, to lead off the game, I’m the best there ever was. Right now.”
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Rizzo has taken quite a liking to the leadoff spot.
One night after hitting a leadoff homer in his first career start atop the batting order, the Chicago Cubs’ 240-pound first baseman did it again. Rizzo drove Matt Harvey’s first pitch over the left-center fence at Citi Field for his 15th home run of the season Wednesday, prompting excited high-fives from giddy teammates in the dugout.
“I am statistically the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time,” Rizzo said after the game. “I would like to retire there just to talk smack to everyone that tries to do it.”
Chicago rookie Ian Happ followed with his seventh homer for a 2-0 lead over the New York Mets, who later rallied for a 9-4 victory.
Rizzo was asked about television broadcasters mentioning that he predicted his leadoff homer against Harvey before the game.
“I think that’s kind of bogus that they bring out what we talk about in the dugout a lot. That’s between me and my teammates and they’re putting that on TV,” he said. “We talk all the time here, just saying, ’Hey, it’s going to be 1-0, it’s going to be 1-0 again. But you can’t ever predict a home run off a pitcher, especially Matt Harvey, so to put it out there, I’m not too thrilled with all that. But I was saying it before the game, messing around, being loose.”
The previous night, Rizzo launched Zack Wheeler’s second pitch a projected 462 feet to center, sparking a 14-3 rout of the Mets. Happ hit a grand slam off Wheeler in the second inning.
Looking to energize his slumping team, manager Joe Maddon batted Rizzo first on Tuesday — making the All-Star slugger the seventh Chicago player to hit at the top of the lineup this year.
The defending World Series champions entered Tuesday with a .306 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot, which ranked 24th in the majors.
“You just go with it. It’s fun,” Rizzo said Wednesday. “Obviously you go back-to-back there, it gets the clubhouse really loose. Just statistically, by the books, to lead off the game, I’m the best there ever was. Right now.”
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
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