MLB ROUNDUP: NATS RALLY WITH SIX-RUN NINTH TO EDGE A’S
Jeter Downs hit a walk-off single with two outs to cap a six-run ninth inning as the Washington Nationals rallied to an 8-7 victory against the visiting Oakland Athletics, completing a three-game series sweep on Sunday afternoon.
Shaky relief from Oakland’s Trevor May in the ninth inning led to Kirby Snead (1-1) coming on and issuing a two-out, bases-loaded walk to Dominic Smith before shortstop Nick Allen’s error led to two runs to tie the game. Downs, who began the inning with a walk, won the game with a single to center field.
Zack Gelof hit solo home runs in the first and fifth innings and racked up four hits, but the Athletics lost for the ninth time in their last 12 games. Seth Brown also homered and drove in four runs for Oakland.
Joe La Sorsa (1-0) pitched two shutout innings for the victory — his first in the majors.
Marlins 8, Yankees 7
Jake Burger hit a game-ending single with one out in the ninth inning as Miami rallied for a victory over visiting New York.
The Marlins got their eighth walk-off win by rallying for five runs in the ninth against Clay Holmes (4-3) and Tommy Kahnle. Holmes committed a two-run throwing error on a comebacker by Josh Bell, and Bell scored from first base when Luis Arraez lined a game-tying, two-run triple down the right field line.
Before the collapse, rookie Anthony Volpe hit a two-run homer and Ben Rortvedt hit a solo homer to help New York build a 7-1 lead through 5 1/2 innings.
Orioles 5, Mariners 3 (10 innings)
Cedric Mullins hit a two-run homer with one out in the 10th inning as Baltimore defeated host Seattle in extra innings for the second straight day.
The Mariners’ streak of winning six straight series came to an end. Orioles reliever Nick Vespi (1-0) got the victory, and Shintaro Fujinami earned his first major league save. Seattle’s Trent Thornton (0-1) took the loss.
After Baltimore broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth, the Mariners again knotted the game on Dominic Canzone’s solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the inning. The bomb came just after Mullins made a leaping catch in center field to rob Ty France of a homer.
Giants 3, Rangers 2 (10 innings)
Patrick Bailey lined a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning, allowing San Francisco to escape a wild finish with a walk-off victory over visiting Texas.
Attempting to get their manager, Bruce Bochy, a three-game sweep in his San Francisco homecoming, the Rangers rallied from down 1-0 in the ninth to draw even in regulation and then went ahead 2-1 in the top of the 10th on a Camilo Doval balk. Doval (4-3), who was docked with his fourth blown save in the ninth, was credited with the win.
Rangers closer Will Smith (1-4) got the first two outs in the last of the 10th with automatic runner Wilmer Flores anchored to second base before Bailey lashed his sixth homer of the season over the fence in left field.
Dodgers 8, Rockies 3
Julio Urias tied a career high with 12 strikeouts and Miguel Rojas drove in four runs and hit a go-ahead home run as Los Angeles finished off a four-game sweep of visiting Colorado.
Mookie Betts had a two-run double as the Dodgers won their season-high eighth consecutive game. Los Angeles also has won 12 of its last 13 and is a major-league-best 20-8 in the second half. Urias (10-6) gave up three runs on four hits over seven innings with no walks as he won his third consecutive start.
Alan Trejo hit a two-run home run for the Rockies while left-hander Kyle Freeland (4-13) saw his winless streak extend to 14 consecutive starts. Freeland moved into a tie for the major league lead in losses.
Blue Jays 11, Cubs 4
Daulton Varsho hit a three-run home run and had a career-best five RBIs as Toronto ended a three-game losing streak by beating visiting Chicago.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added two RBI singles and Whit Merrifield had four hits, drove in a run and stole a base for Toronto. Winning pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu (1-1) allowed two unearned runs, two hits and two walks in five innings. It was his third start after coming back from elbow surgery.
Patrick Wisdom hit a two-run home run for the Cubs, who won the first two games of the three-game series. Right-hander Jameson Taillon (7-7) allowed eight runs, eight hits and two walks in three-plus innings.
Angels 2, Astros 1
Rookie right-hander Chase Silseth remained unbeaten over his last four starts while Shohei Ohtani clubbed his American League-leading 41st home run as Los Angeles salvaged the finale of a three-game series with a win over host Houston.
Ohtani ended an eight-game homerless drought by drilling a 1-0 slider from Astros left-hander Parker Mushinski 448 feet to straightaway center field with two outs in the sixth inning, doubling the Angels’ lead to 2-0. Silseth (4-1) allowed four hits and two walks with five strikeouts over five scoreless innings.
Astros starter Jose Urquidy pitched well in his second start following a three-month stint on the injured list with right shoulder discomfort. He allowed one run on three hits and did not issue a walk while recording seven strikeouts over five-plus innings.
Red Sox 6, Tigers 3
Adam Duvall homered and drove in four runs and Trevor Story had four hits to lead Boston past visiting Detroit.
Justin Turner, who was playing in his 1,500th major league game, also went deep for the Red Sox. It was his 19th home run of the season and his second in as many games. Duvall and Turner each had two of Boston’s 12 hits.
Akil Baddoo launched a solo home run in the fifth inning for the Tigers, who lost twice in the three-game series.
Twins 3, Phillies 0
Sonny Gray tossed six shutout innings as Minnesota beat host Philadelphia in the rubber match of their three-game series.
Gray (6-5) lowered his ERA to 3.04 after giving up just two hits en route to his fifth consecutive quality start. Jordan Luplow homered and Jorge Polanco had a pair of RBI singles for Minnesota.
Polanco’s run-scoring single provided the Twins with an insurance run in the top of the ninth, and Jhoan Duran worked the bottom of the inning for his 21st save. Philadelphia wasted a stellar outing from Ranger Suarez (2-6), who gave up two runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Pirates 4, Reds 2 (Game 1)
Jared Triolo’s pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh inning gave Pittsburgh a win over visiting Cincinnati in the first game of a doubleheader.
Alika Williams added an RBI single for the Pirates. Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller allowed two runs (one earned) and five hits in six innings. Angel Perdomo (3-2) pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the win, and David Bednar pitched the ninth for his 24th save.
Matt McLain hit an RBI double and Christian Encarnacion-Strand had an RBI single for the Reds. Cincinnati starter Brandon Williamson pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run and two hits. Losing pitcher Alex Young (4-1) gave up two runs in one inning.
Reds 6, Pirates 5 (Game 2, 10 innings)
Stuart Fairchild’s forceout drove in Tyler Stephenson in the 10th inning to give visiting Cincinnati a win over Pittsburgh and a split of the twin bill.
Stephenson was the pinch runner for the automatic runner to open the inning against Osvaldo Bido (2-3). With one out, Stephenson took third on TJ Hopkins’ single and scored on Fairchild’s grounder. Elly De La Cruz added a home run for the Reds.
Alexis Diaz (4-4) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Daniel Duarte got his first career save. Bryan Reynolds homered twice and Liover Peguero homered and hit an RBI single for the Pirates.
Guardians 9, Rays 2
Andres Gimenez collected four hits, including a home run, and Oscar Gonzalez chipped in with three doubles to power Cleveland to a win over Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Tanner Bibee (9-2) held the Rays in check, giving up two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in seven innings. Gabriel Arias added a home run for the Guardians.
Rays starter Zach Eflin (12-7) surrendered a season-high six runs in just three innings. In the bottom of the third, Rays shortstop prospect Osleivis Basabe, making his major debut, doubled in his first big-league at-bat. Yandy Diaz’s RBI single plated Basabe for the Rays’ first run.
Brewers 7, White Sox 3
Freddy Peralta pitched six shutout innings and Carlos Santana hit a three-run home run as visiting Milwaukee defeated Chicago to secure a three-game sweep.
Peralta (9-8) won his third straight start, scattering four hits — all singles — while walking three and striking out six. The Brewers won their fourth straight game overall, stretching their lead in the National League Central to 3 1/2 games.
Carlos Perez delivered an RBI double with two outs in the ninth to help the White Sox avoid the shutout. Elvis Andrus added a two-run single to account for the final margin. Andrew Vaughn singled three times to pace the White Sox, who have lost four of their last five.
Diamondbacks 5, Padres 4
A two-run home run by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the seventh inning helped Arizona come back from a three-run deficit and beat San Diego in Phoenix.
Arizona has won consecutive games after losing nine straight and earned its first series win since winning two out of three games against the Atlanta Braves on the road from July 18-20. San Diego has lost six of its last seven games.
After Gurriel’s two-run home run tied the game at 4, the Diamondbacks took the lead in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Alek Thomas. Kyle Nelson (6-3) won in relief and Paul Sewald earned his 23rd save. The Padres had held a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Mets 7, Braves 6
Kodai Senga survived a rocky first inning to toss six solid frames and earn the win for host New York, which salvaged the finale of a four-game series by edging Atlanta.
Senga (9-6) gave up three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven. Rafael Ortega had three hits, including a two-run single to cap a fifth inning in which the Mets scored six times while sending 11 batters to the plate.
Sean Murphy homered in the seventh and Matt Olson added a two-run shot in the eighth for the Braves before Adam Ottavino recorded his seventh save with a 1-2-3 ninth. Atlanta starter Yonny Chirinos (5-5) allowed six runs on seven hits.
ANGELS TWO-WAY STAR SHOHEI OHTANI TO SKIP HIS NEXT PITCHING START AFTER FEELING ARM FATIGUE
HOUSTON (AP) Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani will skip his next scheduled pitching start Wednesday at Texas after telling manager Phil Nevin he was feeling some arm fatigue.
Nevin said Sunday that Ohtani is not injured and will return to the rotation during a series at home against the Reds that begins Aug. 21.
“I’ve told you guys many times he knows his body better than anybody,” Nevin said. “I trust him when he talks about it. He’s assured me there’s no pain, there’s no injury. He’s got some regular arm fatigue that some go through at times. I trust him when he tells me this and he’ll be ready for his next time out.”
Nevin said Ohtani told him Saturday that he needed to take a start off. The right-hander will not take any time off as the team’s designated hitter.
“He feels good at the plate,” Nevin said. “He feels healthy swinging at bat. It’s just the (throwing) right now, he’s got some normal arm fatigue that happens at times.”
Ohtani is 10-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 22 starts this season. He is hitting .305 with an American League-leading 40 homers and 83 RBIs.
MLB INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS ABOUT RAYS SS WANDER FRANCO
The Tampa Bay Rays confirmed Sunday that Major League Baseball is investigating social media posts that accuse Rays shortstop Wander Franco of having an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl.
Franco, 22, did not play in Tampa Bay’s 9-2 home loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday afternoon.
“During today’s game, we were made aware of the social media posts that are circulating regarding Wander Franco,” the team said in a statement two hours after the game. “We take the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts its due diligence.”
The Spanish-language social media posts were made Saturday night and went viral Sunday. Franco was given Sunday’s game off despite a scheduled Wander Franco hat giveaway for fans aged 14 and under.
According to reports, Franco began the game in the dugout but left during the fifth inning.
Rays manager Kevin Cash later told reporters that Franco was given a “day off,” but acknowledged that he knew about the discussion brewing on social media.
“I am aware of this speculation,” Cash said. “I’m not going to comment any further on that. But the day off was because (of) the day off.”
The Rays handed Franco a $182 million, 11-year contract in November 2021, with a team option for 2033 that could make the deal worth up to $223 million.
Franco made his first All-Star Game this year and has had a strong season on the field. He is batting .281 with 17 home runs, 58 RBIs and 30 stolen bases over 112 games for a team in line to make the postseason.
The Rays also chose to bench Franco for two games in July in response to his behavior around his teammates and how he would deal with frustration.
RANGERS ACTIVATE ALL-STAR CATCHER JONAH HEIM FROM INJURED LIST
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Texas Rangers All-Star catcher Jonah Heim was activated from the injured list and was in the lineup for Sunday’s game at San Francisco.
Heim had missed 14 games with a left wrist tendon strain that he suffered while swinging a bat on June 26. The 28-year-old, who started 80 of the Rangers’ first 103 games, had been doing catching work and taking live at-bats the previous two days.
To make room, catcher Sam Huff was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock.
ROCKIES’ JURICKSON PROFAR SLAMS INTO THE OUTFIELD WALL AT DODGER STADIUM, INJURING HIS LEFT KNEE
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Colorado left fielder Jurickson Profar the Rockies’ game against Los Angeles on Sunday with a twisted left knee after he ran into the wall while making an inning-ending catch.
Profar made an impressive play on Mookie Betts’ sharp liner to end the Dodgers’ second inning, but he also ran hard into the long section of the left field wall with a mesh cover over a video board at Dodger Stadium.
Profar was down on the warning track for at least two minutes before he was helped up by the medical staff and escorted to the Rockies’ nearby bullpen. He needed help to walk, and the Rockies confirmed two innings later that Profar had injured his left knee.
Profar will be reevaluated after the Rockies return home Sunday night.
MARINERS LEFT-HANDER MARCO GONZALES WILL HAVE SEASON-ENDING FOREARM SURGERY
SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mariners left-hander Marco Gonzales will undergo nerve surgery and will miss the rest of the season.
Gonzales will have surgery Aug. 22 to decompress the anterior interosseous nerve in his left forearm. The 31-year-old hopes to recover by spring training.
“This comes after a lengthy process of trying to find answers,” Gonzales said Sunday. “This gives me the best chance to move forward and get past this so it doesn’t happen any further.”
Gonzales was 4-1 with a 5.22 ERA in 10 starts. He hasn’t pitched since May 28, when he felt discomfort in the forearm after throwing 5 2/3 innings against Pittsburgh. At the time, the Mariners thought Gonzales had a forearm strain.
“It became harder and harder to get loose each inning,” Gonzales said. “I felt some achy soreness in my forearm, in the middle of it. Basically ever since then each time I go to throw a baseball I feel this aching, sore pain in the middle of my forearm.”
Gonzales said throughout the summer that every time he went through a treatment plan and started throwing, pain remained and the underlying cause wasn’t clear. He worked with specialists over the past few weeks in a process he described as “popping the hood” when the issue with the nerve was found.
He has a $12 million salary next year in the final season of a $30 million, four-year contract. The deal includes a $15 million team option for 2025 with no buyout.
RED SOX RELIEVER RODRÍGUEZ COULD BE DONE FOR THE SEASON WITH LATEST INJURY SETBACK, CORA SAYS
BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox reliever Joely Rodríguez’s season could be over following another setback in the left-hander’s injury-riddled season, manager Alex Cora said Sunday.
Currently on the 15-day injured list since July 31 with right hip inflammation, the 31-year-old Rodríguez felt something in the upper hip when he was throwing a bullpen session a few days ago.
“It’s tough because he was throwing the ball well,” Cora said. “The upper hip, the other side of it.”
Asked if it was possible that Rodríguez wouldn’t be back this season, Cora said: “Yeah, there’s a good chance.”
Signed to a $2 million, one-year contract during the offseason with a team option for 2024, Rodríguez has been on the injured list three times. He started the season on the IL with a strained right oblique and has pitched in just 11 games, posting a 6.55 ERA over 11 innings.
He also missed a little more than a month because of left shoulder inflammation before coming back in early July.
“Now, we just have to make sure we get him right,” Cora said.