Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — It's decision time for Gov. Rick Scott.
On Wednesday, the Florida Legislature formally delivered the proposed state budget to Scott, who has 15 days to sign or veto the bill. He could also just veto individual spending items included in the budget.
For weeks Scott has hinted he could veto the entire $82.4 billion spending bill. He has criticized legislators because they rejected his main priorities and have recommended slashing money for tourism marketing.
School officials, meanwhile, want Scott to veto the main education part of the budget, saying legislators didn't provide them enough money.
If Scott vetoes the budget, or the education section, it would trigger the need for a special session.
Legislators have not yet delivered to Scott other bills that contain an additional $600 million in spending.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Florida: 7 babies born with Zika-related birth defects
Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Seven babies have been born in Florida with birth defects linked to the Zika virus.
The Orlando Sentinel (http://bit.ly/2raUJdJ ) reports that State Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip told Orlando-area officials Tuesday that seven babies with Zika-related neurological conditions have been born in Florida since June 2016.
Philip did not say where the babies lived or whether their mothers contracted Zika in Florida or while traveling. She said the state hired additional staff to help their families navigate their health care options.
Florida's Department of Health has reported 43 Zika cases involving pregnant women so far this year. About 300 pregnant women in Florida showed lab evidence of Zika last year.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 64 babies have been born nationwide with defects linked to Zika.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Seven babies have been born in Florida with birth defects linked to the Zika virus.
The Orlando Sentinel (http://bit.ly/2raUJdJ ) reports that State Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip told Orlando-area officials Tuesday that seven babies with Zika-related neurological conditions have been born in Florida since June 2016.
Philip did not say where the babies lived or whether their mothers contracted Zika in Florida or while traveling. She said the state hired additional staff to help their families navigate their health care options.
Florida's Department of Health has reported 43 Zika cases involving pregnant women so far this year. About 300 pregnant women in Florida showed lab evidence of Zika last year.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 64 babies have been born nationwide with defects linked to Zika.
Marlins sweep Phillies
Marcelo Ozuna went 3-for-5 with a 2-run homer and can RBI single, and Justin Bour went deep twice for his first multi-homer game of the season in the Marlins’ three-game sweep over the Phillies on Wednesday.
J.T. Riddle also notched 2 RBIs on a pair of hits and Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich each drove in a run. Marlins starter Dan Straily struck out 10 over 6 2/3 innings, while the Phillies’ Aaron Nola lasted only three innings.
Philadelphia scored only twice, first on a throwing error and then on Aaron Altherr’s RBI single.
The Marlins open a four-game series with the D-backs at 7:10pm ET Thursday. Jeff Locke makes his Miami debut, coming off the disabled list. He has been out with left shoulder tenditis. Zack Greinke (6-3, 3.24 ERA) starts for Arizona.
J.T. Riddle also notched 2 RBIs on a pair of hits and Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich each drove in a run. Marlins starter Dan Straily struck out 10 over 6 2/3 innings, while the Phillies’ Aaron Nola lasted only three innings.
Philadelphia scored only twice, first on a throwing error and then on Aaron Altherr’s RBI single.
The Marlins open a four-game series with the D-backs at 7:10pm ET Thursday. Jeff Locke makes his Miami debut, coming off the disabled list. He has been out with left shoulder tenditis. Zack Greinke (6-3, 3.24 ERA) starts for Arizona.
Stanton, Ozuna slug Marlins past Phillies
(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Something borrowed helped make the Philadelphia Phillies blue.
Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna homered to lead the resurgent Miami Marlins to a 7-2 win over the Phillies on Tuesday night at Marlins Park.
After the game, Ozuna revealed that the bat he used to go 3-for-5, including a solo homer, was one he got from Marlins backup outfielder and future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki.
"I just made contact with 'Ichi's bat," Ozuna said. "After practice, I just asked him, 'Can I get one of your bats?'
"He said, 'For what, for signing?'
"I said, 'No, for using in the game tonight.'"
The plan worked, helping the Marlins (20-30) win for the fourth time in the past five games. They have won consecutive series -- the Los Angeles Angels and the Phillies -- for the first time all season. And Miami's three-game win streak ties its season high.
Both starting pitchers left the game due to injuries. Miami left-hander Justin Nicolino did not allow a hit, walk or run in three innings but was forced to leave with a 7-0 lead after suffering a contusion on his left index finger.
"No fracture," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Nicolino, who got hurt while trying to bunt. "We'll make a decision later in the week."
Phillies starter Vince Velasquez (2-5) suffered a right elbow flexor strain and will be placed on the disabled list. He lasted just 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, no walks and two runs.
His issues started on a first-inning pitch to Stanton.
"Just a little numbness," Velasquez said. "You can tell when you don't have full velocity. ... But I'm not worried, not at all."
In the second inning, Velasquez's catcher, Cameron Rupp, nodded toward Phillies manager Pete Mackanin, which was a signal that something was wrong.
"We went out and checked," Mackanin said. "(Velasquez) said he felt something, so we took him out. We weren't going to take any chances."
Mackanin said the Phillies will bring in a pitcher on Wednesday to "stabilize" the bullpen.
The Marlins' bullpen, meanwhile, did well, holding the Phillies to two runs in six innings. Dustin McGowan (2-0) earned the win, pitching three innings and allowing one run. He was followed by Brian Ellington, Nick Wittgren and Vance Worley, who each pitched one inning.
All of Miami's pitchers were supported by Stanton, who hit his team-high 14th homer, a two-run shot. Ozuna's homer was his 13th of the year, and it went out to left.
Stanton, who played just five innings in the lopsided game, went 1-for-3 and is batting .414 (12-for-29) with three homers since being moved to the two-hole in the batting order.
The Phillies (17-33), who are in last place in the National League East, are 6-24 in their past 30 games.
After falling behind 2-0 in the second, the Phillies found more trouble in the third.
Dee Gordon led off with an infield single, and Stanton followed with his opposite-field homer into the Marlins bullpen in right. Miami scored three more times in the inning. A bases-loaded walk by J.T. Realmuto and an RBI single by JT Riddle were among the highlights.
Philadelphia closed its deficit to 7-1 in the fourth. Howie Kendrick, in just his second game back from the disabled list due to an oblique injury, drilled a homer to center, his first of the season. He is four homers short of 100 for his career.
The Phillies loaded the bases with one out in the eighth but could only manage one run on a sacrifice fly by Odubel Herrera.
In the end, the night belonged to Miami's offense, including Ozuna, who said his new Suzuki bat is lighter than the wood he normally uses.
NOTES: After 3B Maikel Franco produced just two singles and a walk in 22 plate appearances, the Phillies rested him on Tuesday. ... Marlins RHP Junichi Tazawa (rib cartilage) is nearing a rehab assignment. ... LHP Braxton Garrett, Miami's top prospect, is being shut down temporarily due to elbow soreness. The Marlins, who are confident Garrett will be fine with rest, want to limit him to 100 innings this year. ... Phillies CF Odubel Herrera was benched for the second straight game but got a sacrifice fly as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. ... Marlins 3B prospect James Nelson ranks third in the Low Class A Midwest League with a .348 batting average and owns a 15-game hit streak.
Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna homered to lead the resurgent Miami Marlins to a 7-2 win over the Phillies on Tuesday night at Marlins Park.
After the game, Ozuna revealed that the bat he used to go 3-for-5, including a solo homer, was one he got from Marlins backup outfielder and future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki.
"I just made contact with 'Ichi's bat," Ozuna said. "After practice, I just asked him, 'Can I get one of your bats?'
"He said, 'For what, for signing?'
"I said, 'No, for using in the game tonight.'"
The plan worked, helping the Marlins (20-30) win for the fourth time in the past five games. They have won consecutive series -- the Los Angeles Angels and the Phillies -- for the first time all season. And Miami's three-game win streak ties its season high.
Both starting pitchers left the game due to injuries. Miami left-hander Justin Nicolino did not allow a hit, walk or run in three innings but was forced to leave with a 7-0 lead after suffering a contusion on his left index finger.
"No fracture," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Nicolino, who got hurt while trying to bunt. "We'll make a decision later in the week."
Phillies starter Vince Velasquez (2-5) suffered a right elbow flexor strain and will be placed on the disabled list. He lasted just 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, no walks and two runs.
His issues started on a first-inning pitch to Stanton.
"Just a little numbness," Velasquez said. "You can tell when you don't have full velocity. ... But I'm not worried, not at all."
In the second inning, Velasquez's catcher, Cameron Rupp, nodded toward Phillies manager Pete Mackanin, which was a signal that something was wrong.
"We went out and checked," Mackanin said. "(Velasquez) said he felt something, so we took him out. We weren't going to take any chances."
Mackanin said the Phillies will bring in a pitcher on Wednesday to "stabilize" the bullpen.
The Marlins' bullpen, meanwhile, did well, holding the Phillies to two runs in six innings. Dustin McGowan (2-0) earned the win, pitching three innings and allowing one run. He was followed by Brian Ellington, Nick Wittgren and Vance Worley, who each pitched one inning.
All of Miami's pitchers were supported by Stanton, who hit his team-high 14th homer, a two-run shot. Ozuna's homer was his 13th of the year, and it went out to left.
Stanton, who played just five innings in the lopsided game, went 1-for-3 and is batting .414 (12-for-29) with three homers since being moved to the two-hole in the batting order.
The Phillies (17-33), who are in last place in the National League East, are 6-24 in their past 30 games.
After falling behind 2-0 in the second, the Phillies found more trouble in the third.
Dee Gordon led off with an infield single, and Stanton followed with his opposite-field homer into the Marlins bullpen in right. Miami scored three more times in the inning. A bases-loaded walk by J.T. Realmuto and an RBI single by JT Riddle were among the highlights.
Philadelphia closed its deficit to 7-1 in the fourth. Howie Kendrick, in just his second game back from the disabled list due to an oblique injury, drilled a homer to center, his first of the season. He is four homers short of 100 for his career.
The Phillies loaded the bases with one out in the eighth but could only manage one run on a sacrifice fly by Odubel Herrera.
In the end, the night belonged to Miami's offense, including Ozuna, who said his new Suzuki bat is lighter than the wood he normally uses.
NOTES: After 3B Maikel Franco produced just two singles and a walk in 22 plate appearances, the Phillies rested him on Tuesday. ... Marlins RHP Junichi Tazawa (rib cartilage) is nearing a rehab assignment. ... LHP Braxton Garrett, Miami's top prospect, is being shut down temporarily due to elbow soreness. The Marlins, who are confident Garrett will be fine with rest, want to limit him to 100 innings this year. ... Phillies CF Odubel Herrera was benched for the second straight game but got a sacrifice fly as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. ... Marlins 3B prospect James Nelson ranks third in the Low Class A Midwest League with a .348 batting average and owns a 15-game hit streak.
Andrus (5 RBIs) powers Rangers past Rays
(TSX / STATS) --
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers were finally able to put together a
big comeback Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, with Elvis
Andrus leading the charge.
The shortstop collected a career-high five RBIs as the Rangers rallied from to beat the Rays 9-5.
Before overcoming a 5-2 deficit Tuesday, Texas hadn't won a game in which it trailed by more than two runs. The Rangers also were 3-15 when trailing after six innings.
Andrus changed all of that with two big swings. He tied the game at 5-5 with a three-run homer off Danny Farquhar in the bottom of the seventh. Then, in the eighth inning, he capped a four-run rally off Chase Whitley (1-1) with a two-run single to left.
"(The win) was a good one, especially the way things were going through the middle innings," said Andrus, who went 3-for-5. "Everybody thought we were out of it, but that was not the case. We were able to come back, knowing and believing that we can turn the game around at any point."
The Rangers led 2-0 early but found themselves in a 5-2 hole after five innings as the Rays rapped three homers off Texas starter Nick Martinez.
Tampa Bay was forced to extend its bullpen because Matt Andriese exited after just 1 2/3 innings with a strained groin. That worked until the seventh when Andrus hit his two-run homer off Farquhar, the fourth of six Tampa Bay pitchers.
The Rangers took the lead in the eighth on a bases-loaded single from outfielder Jared Hoying off Whitley. Shin-Soo Choo, who led off the first with a homer, pushed the lead to 7-5 with a sacrifice fly ahead of Andrus' third hit of the night.
"We needed a game like that where we fought all the way to the end," Hoying said. "We put together great at-bats all night. We got some stuff to break through. We had runners on. Elvis hit that big three-run home run. That was unbelievable. Then he had those two RBIs there, and that kind of sealed the deal. Elvis was outstanding tonight."
The rally made a winner of Keone Kela (2-1), who pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Whitley allowed four hits and four runs in an inning.
The Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on Choo's homer and an RBI single from Nomar Mazara.
Tampa Bay scored four times off Martinez in the third inning. Daniel Robertson opened the inning with a solo homer and Steven Souza Jr. closed the scoring with a two-run shot that put the Rays up 4-2.
The Rays, who lead the majors with 79 home runs, got another from Kevin Kiermaier in the fifth to push the advantage to 5-2.
"That was a tough loss, but I think you can pull a lot of positives from it," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "The way the bullpen really stepped up after Andriese's injury. Found their way to kind of navigate their way through that game. We asked a lot of those guys, and they really stepped up for us."
Andriese is hoping he can avoid the disabled list after his early exit.
"I'll see how it feels," he said. "I'll get some treatment on it. We've got a couple days off before my next start, so we'll go from there. This is not something you can really prevent. I went through my normal routine."
Tim Beckham had three of the 10 Tampa Bay hits. The Rangers finished with 11 hits, with Joey Gallo and Mazara each collecting two.
NOTES: The Rays recalled RHP Hunter Wood from Double-A Montgomery and RHP Chih-Wei Hu from Triple-A Durham for bullpen depth. Hu threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings Tuesday, and Wood retired the only batter he faced. To make room for the duo, the Rays put OF Peter Bourjos on the disabled list with tennis elbow and optioned RHP Jose De Leon to Triple-A Durham. ... The Rangers decided to start RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx on Wednesday. It will be his first major league start. He will oppose Rays RHP Chris Archer. ... Texas 3B Adrian Beltre took over sole possession of 34th on the all-time hit list with his sixth-inning double. Beltre has 2,944 career hits.
The shortstop collected a career-high five RBIs as the Rangers rallied from to beat the Rays 9-5.
Before overcoming a 5-2 deficit Tuesday, Texas hadn't won a game in which it trailed by more than two runs. The Rangers also were 3-15 when trailing after six innings.
Andrus changed all of that with two big swings. He tied the game at 5-5 with a three-run homer off Danny Farquhar in the bottom of the seventh. Then, in the eighth inning, he capped a four-run rally off Chase Whitley (1-1) with a two-run single to left.
"(The win) was a good one, especially the way things were going through the middle innings," said Andrus, who went 3-for-5. "Everybody thought we were out of it, but that was not the case. We were able to come back, knowing and believing that we can turn the game around at any point."
The Rangers led 2-0 early but found themselves in a 5-2 hole after five innings as the Rays rapped three homers off Texas starter Nick Martinez.
Tampa Bay was forced to extend its bullpen because Matt Andriese exited after just 1 2/3 innings with a strained groin. That worked until the seventh when Andrus hit his two-run homer off Farquhar, the fourth of six Tampa Bay pitchers.
The Rangers took the lead in the eighth on a bases-loaded single from outfielder Jared Hoying off Whitley. Shin-Soo Choo, who led off the first with a homer, pushed the lead to 7-5 with a sacrifice fly ahead of Andrus' third hit of the night.
"We needed a game like that where we fought all the way to the end," Hoying said. "We put together great at-bats all night. We got some stuff to break through. We had runners on. Elvis hit that big three-run home run. That was unbelievable. Then he had those two RBIs there, and that kind of sealed the deal. Elvis was outstanding tonight."
The rally made a winner of Keone Kela (2-1), who pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Whitley allowed four hits and four runs in an inning.
The Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on Choo's homer and an RBI single from Nomar Mazara.
Tampa Bay scored four times off Martinez in the third inning. Daniel Robertson opened the inning with a solo homer and Steven Souza Jr. closed the scoring with a two-run shot that put the Rays up 4-2.
The Rays, who lead the majors with 79 home runs, got another from Kevin Kiermaier in the fifth to push the advantage to 5-2.
"That was a tough loss, but I think you can pull a lot of positives from it," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "The way the bullpen really stepped up after Andriese's injury. Found their way to kind of navigate their way through that game. We asked a lot of those guys, and they really stepped up for us."
Andriese is hoping he can avoid the disabled list after his early exit.
"I'll see how it feels," he said. "I'll get some treatment on it. We've got a couple days off before my next start, so we'll go from there. This is not something you can really prevent. I went through my normal routine."
Tim Beckham had three of the 10 Tampa Bay hits. The Rangers finished with 11 hits, with Joey Gallo and Mazara each collecting two.
NOTES: The Rays recalled RHP Hunter Wood from Double-A Montgomery and RHP Chih-Wei Hu from Triple-A Durham for bullpen depth. Hu threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings Tuesday, and Wood retired the only batter he faced. To make room for the duo, the Rays put OF Peter Bourjos on the disabled list with tennis elbow and optioned RHP Jose De Leon to Triple-A Durham. ... The Rangers decided to start RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx on Wednesday. It will be his first major league start. He will oppose Rays RHP Chris Archer. ... Texas 3B Adrian Beltre took over sole possession of 34th on the all-time hit list with his sixth-inning double. Beltre has 2,944 career hits.
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Volquez's long dry spell ends as Marlins top Phillies
(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Edinson Volquez, who is in his 13th season in the majors and has already won a World Series and pitched in an All-Star Game, got the "rookie treatment" on Monday night.
And he loved it.
Volquez snapped his career-high, eight-game losing streak, leading the Miami Marlins to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park.
After the game, Volquez's teammates had a lot of fun with him as this was his first win in a Marlins uniform.
"They put me in a little car (a laundry basket), and they drove me all over the clubhouse," said Volquez, 33. "They got me in the shower -- shampoo, beer ... whatever they wanted to do.
"It was crazy. They were so happy. Those guys were trying so hard to get me a win."
Volquez, who is 6 feet, 220 pounds, said he grew a bit concerned when his playful teammates crammed him into the laundry cart.
"It was kind of small for me," Volquez said.
Fortunately for the Marlins (19-30), there were no injuries, and the team could fully celebrate its third win in the past four games.
It was the first win for Volquez (1-7) since Aug. 25, when he was a member of the Kansas City Royals and earned a 5-2 victory over Miami at Marlins Park.
Volquez had gone 16 consecutive starts without a win, and his seven straight losses to start this season tied a Marlins record that was first set by Joe Fontenot in 1998.
"It was kind of funny," said Marlins third baseman Derek Dietrich, who slugged a two-run homer. "A salty vet like (Volquez) with a world championship ... it was great to have some fun with him like that."
Volquez allowed just three hits, two walks and one run in six innings, striking out four.
Philadelphia (17-32), which is last in the National League East -- two games below the Marlins -- is 6-23 in its past 29 games.
"We're in a rut right now," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "Every loss stings. ... We just need to battle our way out."
Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson (5-3) took the loss, allowing six hits, two walks and four runs in six innings. He struck out two.
"I think the biggest thing was not getting strike ones," said Hellickson, who is 1-3 with a 7.15 ERA in May after going 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in April. "I was falling behind too much."
Miami got to Hellickson for two runs in the third. JT Riddle singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Volquez and scored when Dee Gordon pulled a low breaking ball down the right-field line for a double.
Gordon then scored on a single by Giancarlo Stanton, who is hitting .423 (11-for-26) since moving to the No. 2 hole in the batting order.
The Phillies cut their deficit to 2-1 in the sixth. Hellickson drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a double by Cesar Hernandez and scored on Aaron Altherr's single to left.
Miami rallied with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. After a single by J.T. Realmuto, Dietrich pulled a high fastball for his two-run homer to right.
For Dietrich, it was just his second homer of the season after slugging a total of 17 the past two years. He hadn't gone deep since May 12.
"Hellickson is a guy who can throw four or five pitches for strikes," Dietrich said. "You have to be ready to hit any pitch in any count."
NOTES: Marlins LHP Jeff Locke (shoulder tendinitis) will soon be activated from the disabled list, where he has been all season, so he can start on Thursday against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. Miami is expected to send RHP Vance Worley to the bullpen to accommodate Locke, who had a 1.77 ERA in 20 1/3 rehab innings. ... Phillies LF Howie Kendrick, who had been out since April 16 with an oblique injury, returned and went 1-for-4. RHP Zach Eflin was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. ... The Phillies have lost nine straight series -- their worst streak since dropping 10 in a row in 1997. ... Phillies OF Daniel Nava started a rehab assignment after going down on May 23 with a hamstring injury.
And he loved it.
Volquez snapped his career-high, eight-game losing streak, leading the Miami Marlins to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park.
After the game, Volquez's teammates had a lot of fun with him as this was his first win in a Marlins uniform.
"They put me in a little car (a laundry basket), and they drove me all over the clubhouse," said Volquez, 33. "They got me in the shower -- shampoo, beer ... whatever they wanted to do.
"It was crazy. They were so happy. Those guys were trying so hard to get me a win."
Volquez, who is 6 feet, 220 pounds, said he grew a bit concerned when his playful teammates crammed him into the laundry cart.
"It was kind of small for me," Volquez said.
Fortunately for the Marlins (19-30), there were no injuries, and the team could fully celebrate its third win in the past four games.
It was the first win for Volquez (1-7) since Aug. 25, when he was a member of the Kansas City Royals and earned a 5-2 victory over Miami at Marlins Park.
Volquez had gone 16 consecutive starts without a win, and his seven straight losses to start this season tied a Marlins record that was first set by Joe Fontenot in 1998.
"It was kind of funny," said Marlins third baseman Derek Dietrich, who slugged a two-run homer. "A salty vet like (Volquez) with a world championship ... it was great to have some fun with him like that."
Volquez allowed just three hits, two walks and one run in six innings, striking out four.
Philadelphia (17-32), which is last in the National League East -- two games below the Marlins -- is 6-23 in its past 29 games.
"We're in a rut right now," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "Every loss stings. ... We just need to battle our way out."
Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson (5-3) took the loss, allowing six hits, two walks and four runs in six innings. He struck out two.
"I think the biggest thing was not getting strike ones," said Hellickson, who is 1-3 with a 7.15 ERA in May after going 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in April. "I was falling behind too much."
Miami got to Hellickson for two runs in the third. JT Riddle singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Volquez and scored when Dee Gordon pulled a low breaking ball down the right-field line for a double.
Gordon then scored on a single by Giancarlo Stanton, who is hitting .423 (11-for-26) since moving to the No. 2 hole in the batting order.
The Phillies cut their deficit to 2-1 in the sixth. Hellickson drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a double by Cesar Hernandez and scored on Aaron Altherr's single to left.
Miami rallied with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. After a single by J.T. Realmuto, Dietrich pulled a high fastball for his two-run homer to right.
For Dietrich, it was just his second homer of the season after slugging a total of 17 the past two years. He hadn't gone deep since May 12.
"Hellickson is a guy who can throw four or five pitches for strikes," Dietrich said. "You have to be ready to hit any pitch in any count."
NOTES: Marlins LHP Jeff Locke (shoulder tendinitis) will soon be activated from the disabled list, where he has been all season, so he can start on Thursday against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. Miami is expected to send RHP Vance Worley to the bullpen to accommodate Locke, who had a 1.77 ERA in 20 1/3 rehab innings. ... Phillies LF Howie Kendrick, who had been out since April 16 with an oblique injury, returned and went 1-for-4. RHP Zach Eflin was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. ... The Phillies have lost nine straight series -- their worst streak since dropping 10 in a row in 1997. ... Phillies OF Daniel Nava started a rehab assignment after going down on May 23 with a hamstring injury.
Rays rally for high-scoring win over Rangers
(TSX / STATS) -- ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Tampa Bay Rays are finding different ways to win games.
On Sunday, the Rays needed 15 innings to beat the Minnesota Twins in a contest that lasted more than six hours.
On Monday, the Rays didn't have to go extras, but they did have to come back to move two games over .500 for the first time since April 10.
Tim Beckham's three-run homer capped a five-run seventh inning as the Rays rallied for a 10-8 victory over the Texas Rangers.
Tampa Bay trailed 7-5 before scoring five off the Texas bullpen in the seventh.
Pinch hitter Colby Rasmus tied the game at 7 with a two-run double off Tony Barnette (1-1). Barnette then intentionally walked Kevin Kiermaier to get to Beckham, who drilled his eighth homer of the season to left-center.
Beckham said he was fired up by the intentional walk and wanted to keep the momentum going for the Rays.
"We've got a really good club here and a lot of athletic ability, and it just shows how resilient we are to come off a six-hour game and come back and battle," said Beckham, who was has 18 RBIs in May. "It's impressive, man, it's two of the most impressive games I've been a part of."
Right-hander Jose De Leon (1-0), who was called up from Triple-A Durham earlier in the day, allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings yet still picked up the win in his first appearance for the Rays.
Alex Colome, the sixth Tampa Bay pitcher, struck out the side in the ninth for his 14th save.
Tampa Bay was forced to play catch-up throughout the game. The Rangers jumped to a 3-1 lead in the first inning off Erasmo Ramirez and led 5-3 after four frames.
Evan Longoria, who had RBI grounders in the first and third innings, tied the game at 5 with a two-run homer to center off Texas starter Martin Perez in the fifth inning.
Texas got the lead back in the sixth on a two-run single by Shin-Soo Choo, but the Texas bullpen couldn't hold the lead. Jeremy Jeffress allowed a double to open the seventh, and then Alex Claudio hit Corey Dickerson with a pitch. That set the stage for Rasmus to tie the game off Barnette, who allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings.
"All I know is I let my team down tonight," said Barnette, who has a 6.10 ERA. "They put us in a spot to win, and I let it snowball from there. That's all there is to it."
The Rangers have struggled to get the ball to closer Matt Bush, as they are just 17-9 in games they led after six innings. Monday night was no exception.
"Yeah, again the seventh inning has been something that we'd like to forget all year long," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "We've got to find a way to get through that seventh inning and record some outs and continue to shut down the innings and get us in a situation where we have a lead so we can get it to the two guys at the back end that have been successful."
Steven Souza Jr. went 4-for-5 for the Rays and scored four times, leading a 13-hit charge.
"We've been doing it all year," Longoria said of the offense. "We've had our games where we've been quiet. But I like the way our offense is playing. The confidence is there even when we're down in games. It's nice to see the belief in the dugout that even if you're down a couple late you can get something going."
Nomar Mazara had three hits for the Rangers, including a two-run double in the first. Joey Gallo hit a solo homer, his 16th long ball of the season, and also doubled and scored for Texas.
Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, who had been on the disabled list all season with a right calf strain, had one hit in his 2017 debut.
NOTES: To make room for RHP Jose De Leon, Tampa Bay optioned RHP Ryan Garton to Triple-A Durham. ... The Rangers are undecided on a Wednesday starter, but they will go with either RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx or RHP Dillon Gee. ... Texas sent INF Drew Robinson to Triple-A Round Rock to make roster room for 3B Adrian Beltre. ... Tampa Bay RHP Erasmo Ramirez became the first pitcher to record a save in one game and then start the next for his team since Montreal's Dennis Martinez did it in 1993.
On Sunday, the Rays needed 15 innings to beat the Minnesota Twins in a contest that lasted more than six hours.
On Monday, the Rays didn't have to go extras, but they did have to come back to move two games over .500 for the first time since April 10.
Tim Beckham's three-run homer capped a five-run seventh inning as the Rays rallied for a 10-8 victory over the Texas Rangers.
Tampa Bay trailed 7-5 before scoring five off the Texas bullpen in the seventh.
Pinch hitter Colby Rasmus tied the game at 7 with a two-run double off Tony Barnette (1-1). Barnette then intentionally walked Kevin Kiermaier to get to Beckham, who drilled his eighth homer of the season to left-center.
Beckham said he was fired up by the intentional walk and wanted to keep the momentum going for the Rays.
"We've got a really good club here and a lot of athletic ability, and it just shows how resilient we are to come off a six-hour game and come back and battle," said Beckham, who was has 18 RBIs in May. "It's impressive, man, it's two of the most impressive games I've been a part of."
Right-hander Jose De Leon (1-0), who was called up from Triple-A Durham earlier in the day, allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings yet still picked up the win in his first appearance for the Rays.
Alex Colome, the sixth Tampa Bay pitcher, struck out the side in the ninth for his 14th save.
Tampa Bay was forced to play catch-up throughout the game. The Rangers jumped to a 3-1 lead in the first inning off Erasmo Ramirez and led 5-3 after four frames.
Evan Longoria, who had RBI grounders in the first and third innings, tied the game at 5 with a two-run homer to center off Texas starter Martin Perez in the fifth inning.
Texas got the lead back in the sixth on a two-run single by Shin-Soo Choo, but the Texas bullpen couldn't hold the lead. Jeremy Jeffress allowed a double to open the seventh, and then Alex Claudio hit Corey Dickerson with a pitch. That set the stage for Rasmus to tie the game off Barnette, who allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings.
"All I know is I let my team down tonight," said Barnette, who has a 6.10 ERA. "They put us in a spot to win, and I let it snowball from there. That's all there is to it."
The Rangers have struggled to get the ball to closer Matt Bush, as they are just 17-9 in games they led after six innings. Monday night was no exception.
"Yeah, again the seventh inning has been something that we'd like to forget all year long," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "We've got to find a way to get through that seventh inning and record some outs and continue to shut down the innings and get us in a situation where we have a lead so we can get it to the two guys at the back end that have been successful."
Steven Souza Jr. went 4-for-5 for the Rays and scored four times, leading a 13-hit charge.
"We've been doing it all year," Longoria said of the offense. "We've had our games where we've been quiet. But I like the way our offense is playing. The confidence is there even when we're down in games. It's nice to see the belief in the dugout that even if you're down a couple late you can get something going."
Nomar Mazara had three hits for the Rangers, including a two-run double in the first. Joey Gallo hit a solo homer, his 16th long ball of the season, and also doubled and scored for Texas.
Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, who had been on the disabled list all season with a right calf strain, had one hit in his 2017 debut.
NOTES: To make room for RHP Jose De Leon, Tampa Bay optioned RHP Ryan Garton to Triple-A Durham. ... The Rangers are undecided on a Wednesday starter, but they will go with either RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx or RHP Dillon Gee. ... Texas sent INF Drew Robinson to Triple-A Round Rock to make roster room for 3B Adrian Beltre. ... Tampa Bay RHP Erasmo Ramirez became the first pitcher to record a save in one game and then start the next for his team since Montreal's Dennis Martinez did it in 1993.
Monday, May 29, 2017
Marlins roll to 9-2 win; Angels' Trout injured
(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Mike Trout's first series in Marlins Park didn't turn out the way he wanted, and the Los Angeles Angels' 9-2 loss to the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon was only part of his issues.
Trout, a two-time American League MVP who leads the majors with 16 homers, sprained his left thumb in the fifth inning while stealing second base. He left the game in the middle of the sixth, and the Angels said X-rays showed no broken bones.
"It was a scary thing," Trout said. "There's no fracture -- that's a relief.
"I jammed (my thumb) on the bag. It was sore. It was aching. I will ice it and see how it feels tomorrow."
Trout said he has never had this type of injury before.
"I'm bummed out," he said. "Hopefully it's just a bad jam."
The Trout injury overshadowed a Marlins effort that included homers by Giancarlo Stanton and JT Riddle.
Stanton's homer was his 13th of the season -- two short of the National League lead -- and his second in this series. He went 3-for-5 and is hitting .391 (9-for-23) since moving to the two-hole in the batting order.
"Maybe it's a little different feel," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of the new lineup, which has been in place since Tuesday. "(Stanton has) been swinging the bat (well), and we've been scoring pretty good from there. I kind of like what (Stanton batting second) does to our middle guys."
The homer by Riddle, who also had a double and three RBIs, was a two-run shot that snapped a 2-2 tie.
Riddle, a rookie in his 25th major league game, was asked if batting leadoff for the first time -- just ahead of Stanton -- gave him better pitches to hit.
"I think maybe it helped me see more balls in the zone," Riddle said. "But I don't know what the pitcher is thinking."
With the win, the Marlins improved to 18-30, The Angels (26-27) have lost four of their past five games.
Jose Urena (3-2) earned his first home win of the season, allowing two runs in five innings. He struck out seven and walked six -- both career highs.
Matt Shoemaker (4-3) had his three-game win streak snapped, allowing seven hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Shoemaker gave up Stanton's homer in the first before settling down, at least initially.
Trout had a chance to do some damage with two outs in the third inning. However, he grounded out with the bases loaded.
"Nobody wants to be in that situation," Urena said of facing Trout with bags jammed. "You have to put everything you have to try to get out of the inning."
Urena got out of trouble there but got stung in the fourth. Following a walk to Kole Calhoun, Martin Maldonado gave the Angels a 2-1 lead with a long two-run homer to left. It was Maldonado's fourth homer this year and his second in this series.
Urena walked four batters in that fourth inning but escaped further damage when Andrelton Simmons hit a two-out liner to Marcell Ozuna in left.
Derek Dietrich started Miami's three-run, fifth-inning rally with a leadoff double to right-center. He advanced to third on Christian Colon's sacrifice fly and scored when pinch hitter Ichiro Suzuki pulled a single over a drawn-in infield.
Riddle drilled the next pitch over the fence in right to give Miami a 4-2 lead.
"I just wanted to see a ball up," Riddle said. "In the at-bat before that, I was swinging at stuff down."
Miami padded its lead to 6-2 in the sixth. The Marlins' first two batters in the inning got on base as J.T. Realmuto doubled and Colon walked. Miami cashed in with pinch hitter Tyler Moore's sacrifice fly and an an RBI double by Riddle.
The Marlins scored three more runs in the eighth, and the highlights included Christian Yelich's RBI walk and Ozuna's run-scoring single.
Miami shut down the Angels in the ninth, giving the Marlins their first series win since they took two of three at the San Diego Padres April 21-23.
"It's been a long time," Mattingly said. "It's good to get one."
NOTES: Marlins 2B Dee Gordon, who walked as a pinch hitter, is hitting .452 over the past eight games. ... Marlins LHP Jeff Locke, who has a 1.77 ERA in four rehab starts, could be activated this week. He has missed the entire season so far due to biceps tendinitis. ... The Angels rested 1B Albert Pujols, who has a sore hamstring and is three homers short of 600 for his career. ... Up next, the Angels return home on Monday night to face the Atlanta Braves. ... The Marlins continue their homestand on Monday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Trout, a two-time American League MVP who leads the majors with 16 homers, sprained his left thumb in the fifth inning while stealing second base. He left the game in the middle of the sixth, and the Angels said X-rays showed no broken bones.
"It was a scary thing," Trout said. "There's no fracture -- that's a relief.
"I jammed (my thumb) on the bag. It was sore. It was aching. I will ice it and see how it feels tomorrow."
Trout said he has never had this type of injury before.
"I'm bummed out," he said. "Hopefully it's just a bad jam."
The Trout injury overshadowed a Marlins effort that included homers by Giancarlo Stanton and JT Riddle.
Stanton's homer was his 13th of the season -- two short of the National League lead -- and his second in this series. He went 3-for-5 and is hitting .391 (9-for-23) since moving to the two-hole in the batting order.
"Maybe it's a little different feel," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of the new lineup, which has been in place since Tuesday. "(Stanton has) been swinging the bat (well), and we've been scoring pretty good from there. I kind of like what (Stanton batting second) does to our middle guys."
The homer by Riddle, who also had a double and three RBIs, was a two-run shot that snapped a 2-2 tie.
Riddle, a rookie in his 25th major league game, was asked if batting leadoff for the first time -- just ahead of Stanton -- gave him better pitches to hit.
"I think maybe it helped me see more balls in the zone," Riddle said. "But I don't know what the pitcher is thinking."
With the win, the Marlins improved to 18-30, The Angels (26-27) have lost four of their past five games.
Jose Urena (3-2) earned his first home win of the season, allowing two runs in five innings. He struck out seven and walked six -- both career highs.
Matt Shoemaker (4-3) had his three-game win streak snapped, allowing seven hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Shoemaker gave up Stanton's homer in the first before settling down, at least initially.
Trout had a chance to do some damage with two outs in the third inning. However, he grounded out with the bases loaded.
"Nobody wants to be in that situation," Urena said of facing Trout with bags jammed. "You have to put everything you have to try to get out of the inning."
Urena got out of trouble there but got stung in the fourth. Following a walk to Kole Calhoun, Martin Maldonado gave the Angels a 2-1 lead with a long two-run homer to left. It was Maldonado's fourth homer this year and his second in this series.
Urena walked four batters in that fourth inning but escaped further damage when Andrelton Simmons hit a two-out liner to Marcell Ozuna in left.
Derek Dietrich started Miami's three-run, fifth-inning rally with a leadoff double to right-center. He advanced to third on Christian Colon's sacrifice fly and scored when pinch hitter Ichiro Suzuki pulled a single over a drawn-in infield.
Riddle drilled the next pitch over the fence in right to give Miami a 4-2 lead.
"I just wanted to see a ball up," Riddle said. "In the at-bat before that, I was swinging at stuff down."
Miami padded its lead to 6-2 in the sixth. The Marlins' first two batters in the inning got on base as J.T. Realmuto doubled and Colon walked. Miami cashed in with pinch hitter Tyler Moore's sacrifice fly and an an RBI double by Riddle.
The Marlins scored three more runs in the eighth, and the highlights included Christian Yelich's RBI walk and Ozuna's run-scoring single.
Miami shut down the Angels in the ninth, giving the Marlins their first series win since they took two of three at the San Diego Padres April 21-23.
"It's been a long time," Mattingly said. "It's good to get one."
NOTES: Marlins 2B Dee Gordon, who walked as a pinch hitter, is hitting .452 over the past eight games. ... Marlins LHP Jeff Locke, who has a 1.77 ERA in four rehab starts, could be activated this week. He has missed the entire season so far due to biceps tendinitis. ... The Angels rested 1B Albert Pujols, who has a sore hamstring and is three homers short of 600 for his career. ... Up next, the Angels return home on Monday night to face the Atlanta Braves. ... The Marlins continue their homestand on Monday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rays' 15th-inning blasts sink Twins
(TSX / STATS) -- MINNEAPOLIS -- Evan Longoria came to bat for the eighth time Sunday in the 15th inning. The game was about six hours old, and the longtime Tampa Bay Rays star was, unexpectedly, facing a starting pitcher from the opposing team.
Only two days earlier, Minnesota Twins left-hander Hector Santiago started against Tampa Bay.
Longoria provided a big blow off Santiago in a long, unusual game.
Longoria and Logan Morrison hit back-to-back homers to open the 15th, and the Rays outlasted the Twins 8-6 on Sunday in the longest game in Target Field history.
"We're all just kind of swinging at that point, hoping that the guy makes a mistake," Longoria said. "When we faced him two days ago, he's around the plate, and the plan was to just go up there and be aggressive against him."
Longoria's seventh homer of the season came off the second pitch of the inning from Santiago (4-4), who is scheduled to start Wednesday for Minnesota. Morrison followed with a long homer to deep right field on the next pitch as Tampa Bay won for the second time in five extra-inning games this season.
"It's a tough situation," Santiago said. "One day off, I just threw 100 pitches. I just wanted to go out there and compete and try to keep it as close as I can. Felt good. I made a good pitch to Longo, he got on it."
The game equaled the Target Field record of 15 innings and set a record for time of game for the eight-season-old stadium at 6 hours, 26 minutes.
"We're just about picking each other up," said Rays outfielder Steven Souza, who had three hits and threw a runner out at home to keep the game tied in the ninth. "Somebody makes an error, pitchers picking each other up. Someone blows a lead, pick each other up. That's just really what we did today for six hours."
Alex Colome (1-2) earned the win despite giving up the tying run in the 14th inning. Colome pitched two innings and allowed two hits. The run he surrendered was unearned after Max Kepler reached on an error by center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.
Erasmo Ramirez earned his first save of the season with a scoreless inning. Ramirez is scheduled to start Monday in Texas, and manager Kevin Cash said the right-hander would still start.
The Rays won their fourth consecutive road series and are 8-3 in their past 11 road games after starting the season 3-10 away from Tropicana Field.
Santiago worked the 15th inning as the Twins' ninth pitcher of the game.
"A lot of guys stepped up and did a little bit more than you would expect in a normal situation," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "Hector said he was good to go for an inning. We brought him in. We just couldn't contain at the end. They hit a couple balls over the fence. It's a tough loss, no question about that."
Corey Dickerson's fourth hit of the game gave Tampa Bay the lead in the 14th before pinch hitter Robbie Grossman replied with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame for Minnesota. However, the Twins left the bases loaded in the inning. They stranded 17 baserunners in the game and were 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Tampa Bay left 18 runners on base and finished 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
"I guess if you can put a silver lining on it, if you can find ways to win games like this, it's going to be pretty good down the road," Longoria said. "A win is a win, and they don't all have to be pretty."
Joe Mauer had four hits and three walks for Minnesota.
"It's fun, I guess," Mauer said of his day. "It was good. I had some good at-bats and I was able to get on there. But just got off the field after a long day and wish it would have turned out different."
Mauer tied the game with a solo homer in the seventh, and Brian Dozier's RBI single in the eighth gave Minnesota its first lead of the game. Jorge Polanco's sacrifice fly later in the eighth put the Twins up 5-3.
The Rays scored two runs in the top of the ninth off Twins closer Brandon Kintzler.
Dickerson singled and scored on Longoria's RBI double. Longoria then scored on Souza's single to right field. Right fielder Max Kepler's throw home met Longoria at the plate, but Jason Castro's tag was late as the catcher had to grab the throw and come across to tag Longoria.
A video review upheld the call.
Ryan Pressly relieved closer Brandon Kintzler and struck out Tim Beckham to leave the bases loaded.
It was Kintzler's second blown save in 14 chances this season.
NOTES: Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano was out of the starting lineup for the second straight day as manager Paul Molitor tries to give the struggling slugger a break. Sano entered as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded in the 11th inning and struck out for the ninth straight at-bat. He is 1-for-16 in his past five games. ... Tampa Bay C Wilson Ramos (ACL surgery), SS Matt Duffy (Achilles surgery) and 2B Brad Miller (left abdominal strain) will take live batting practice in Port Charlotte, Fla., on Monday. The Tampa Bay Times reported that RHP Brad Boxberger (right flexor strain) would throw the batting practice. ... Tampa Bay continues its nine-game road trip Monday in Texas. ... The Twins host the Houston Astros on Monday. ... After the game, Minnesota placed RHP Justin Haley on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder soreness. Haley allowed a run and four hits in 1 2/3 innings of relief Sunday. The Twins also optioned DH Kennys Vargas to Triple-A Rochester. Corresponding moves will be announced Monday.
Only two days earlier, Minnesota Twins left-hander Hector Santiago started against Tampa Bay.
Longoria provided a big blow off Santiago in a long, unusual game.
Longoria and Logan Morrison hit back-to-back homers to open the 15th, and the Rays outlasted the Twins 8-6 on Sunday in the longest game in Target Field history.
"We're all just kind of swinging at that point, hoping that the guy makes a mistake," Longoria said. "When we faced him two days ago, he's around the plate, and the plan was to just go up there and be aggressive against him."
Longoria's seventh homer of the season came off the second pitch of the inning from Santiago (4-4), who is scheduled to start Wednesday for Minnesota. Morrison followed with a long homer to deep right field on the next pitch as Tampa Bay won for the second time in five extra-inning games this season.
"It's a tough situation," Santiago said. "One day off, I just threw 100 pitches. I just wanted to go out there and compete and try to keep it as close as I can. Felt good. I made a good pitch to Longo, he got on it."
The game equaled the Target Field record of 15 innings and set a record for time of game for the eight-season-old stadium at 6 hours, 26 minutes.
"We're just about picking each other up," said Rays outfielder Steven Souza, who had three hits and threw a runner out at home to keep the game tied in the ninth. "Somebody makes an error, pitchers picking each other up. Someone blows a lead, pick each other up. That's just really what we did today for six hours."
Alex Colome (1-2) earned the win despite giving up the tying run in the 14th inning. Colome pitched two innings and allowed two hits. The run he surrendered was unearned after Max Kepler reached on an error by center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.
Erasmo Ramirez earned his first save of the season with a scoreless inning. Ramirez is scheduled to start Monday in Texas, and manager Kevin Cash said the right-hander would still start.
The Rays won their fourth consecutive road series and are 8-3 in their past 11 road games after starting the season 3-10 away from Tropicana Field.
Santiago worked the 15th inning as the Twins' ninth pitcher of the game.
"A lot of guys stepped up and did a little bit more than you would expect in a normal situation," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "Hector said he was good to go for an inning. We brought him in. We just couldn't contain at the end. They hit a couple balls over the fence. It's a tough loss, no question about that."
Corey Dickerson's fourth hit of the game gave Tampa Bay the lead in the 14th before pinch hitter Robbie Grossman replied with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame for Minnesota. However, the Twins left the bases loaded in the inning. They stranded 17 baserunners in the game and were 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Tampa Bay left 18 runners on base and finished 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
"I guess if you can put a silver lining on it, if you can find ways to win games like this, it's going to be pretty good down the road," Longoria said. "A win is a win, and they don't all have to be pretty."
Joe Mauer had four hits and three walks for Minnesota.
"It's fun, I guess," Mauer said of his day. "It was good. I had some good at-bats and I was able to get on there. But just got off the field after a long day and wish it would have turned out different."
Mauer tied the game with a solo homer in the seventh, and Brian Dozier's RBI single in the eighth gave Minnesota its first lead of the game. Jorge Polanco's sacrifice fly later in the eighth put the Twins up 5-3.
The Rays scored two runs in the top of the ninth off Twins closer Brandon Kintzler.
Dickerson singled and scored on Longoria's RBI double. Longoria then scored on Souza's single to right field. Right fielder Max Kepler's throw home met Longoria at the plate, but Jason Castro's tag was late as the catcher had to grab the throw and come across to tag Longoria.
A video review upheld the call.
Ryan Pressly relieved closer Brandon Kintzler and struck out Tim Beckham to leave the bases loaded.
It was Kintzler's second blown save in 14 chances this season.
NOTES: Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano was out of the starting lineup for the second straight day as manager Paul Molitor tries to give the struggling slugger a break. Sano entered as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded in the 11th inning and struck out for the ninth straight at-bat. He is 1-for-16 in his past five games. ... Tampa Bay C Wilson Ramos (ACL surgery), SS Matt Duffy (Achilles surgery) and 2B Brad Miller (left abdominal strain) will take live batting practice in Port Charlotte, Fla., on Monday. The Tampa Bay Times reported that RHP Brad Boxberger (right flexor strain) would throw the batting practice. ... Tampa Bay continues its nine-game road trip Monday in Texas. ... The Twins host the Houston Astros on Monday. ... After the game, Minnesota placed RHP Justin Haley on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder soreness. Haley allowed a run and four hits in 1 2/3 innings of relief Sunday. The Twins also optioned DH Kennys Vargas to Triple-A Rochester. Corresponding moves will be announced Monday.
Friday, May 26, 2017
Rasmus supplies damage as Rays top Angels
(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Colby Rasmus believes it's hard enough in the major leagues to get run-scoring hits in key situations. So he wasn't about to let his two golden opportunities go to waste.
Rasmus drove in all four runs for the Tampa Bay Rays in a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Tampa Bay (25-25) won the final two games of the four-game series to climb back to .500. The Angels (25-25) will travel to Miami to face the Marlins and close out a 10-game trip.
Ramsus, batting out of the sixth spot, came up with the bases loaded and two out in the first inning and hit a single to center that scored Corey Dickerson and Evan Longoria.
Rasmus faced a similar bases-loaded, two-out situation in the bottom of the fifth inning and hit a ground-rule double to the gap in left-center field that again sent Dickerson and Longoria to the plate.
It was the second time Rasmus has had four RBIs this month, as he hit a grand slam against the Royals on May 10.
"You're just going to stay up on what you're doing," Rasmus said. "It's tough. My swings have been pretty good. They've not going to make mistakes to me, they know who I am. I've been around long enough. There's a good enough report on me -- where not to throw the ball.
"You've got to continue to try to learn and figure out what they're doing in those situations and try to beat them."
That was more than enough offense for Rays starter Matt Andriese, who pitched eight scoreless innings, to improve his record to 5-1. He gave up six hits and struck out five over 112 pitches.
"Andriese was outstanding," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "There was one inning where he kind of battled for the feel of what he was trying to accomplish out there, but other than that he settled down and made pretty quick work with efficient innings."
Angels starter Daniel Wright (0-1) gave up four runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings and took the loss.
"The game is slowing down a little bit for me, which is always a good thing," Wright said. "I got in some pretty good counts, especially in the middle of the outing there. I had to scramble and hold them to two in the first, then kind of got into trouble in the fifth and they decided to take me out."
Andriese ran into trouble early when Mike Trout doubled with one out in the top of the first, but he was tagged out at home trying to score on a single from Andrelton Simmons.
"It was one of those games where I just battled through," Andriese said. "I didn't have great location on all my pitches, but early in the game I made some pitches when I needed to.
"(Steven) Souza Jr. bailed me out with a nice throw in the first inning. All day our defense made some great plays."
Los Angeles had runners in scoring position in the each of the first four innings but could not scratch across any runs. The Angels were 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, with the one hit resulting in Trout's out at home.
"(Souza) was pinching shallow," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "And to get Mike, he's got to put that throw on the money and he did. It was a nice play -- nice throw from him."
GAME NOTES: Angels manager Mike Scioscia said 3B Yunel Escobar (hamstring) has begun a running program and will start running the bases in next few days. ... The Rays activated RHP Tommy Hunter from the 10-day disabled list before the game and placed RHP Jumbo Diaz on the disabled list because of arm fatigue. Hunter pitched the ninth inning on Thursday. ... Angels RHP Cam Bedrosian (groin) threw off a mound Wednesday and will begin throwing batting practice. ... Rays RHP Brad Boxberger (forearm) will throw batting practice Monday. ... Angels OF Cameron Maybin left the game in the fifth inning because of right knee soreness.
Rasmus drove in all four runs for the Tampa Bay Rays in a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Tampa Bay (25-25) won the final two games of the four-game series to climb back to .500. The Angels (25-25) will travel to Miami to face the Marlins and close out a 10-game trip.
Ramsus, batting out of the sixth spot, came up with the bases loaded and two out in the first inning and hit a single to center that scored Corey Dickerson and Evan Longoria.
Rasmus faced a similar bases-loaded, two-out situation in the bottom of the fifth inning and hit a ground-rule double to the gap in left-center field that again sent Dickerson and Longoria to the plate.
It was the second time Rasmus has had four RBIs this month, as he hit a grand slam against the Royals on May 10.
"You're just going to stay up on what you're doing," Rasmus said. "It's tough. My swings have been pretty good. They've not going to make mistakes to me, they know who I am. I've been around long enough. There's a good enough report on me -- where not to throw the ball.
"You've got to continue to try to learn and figure out what they're doing in those situations and try to beat them."
That was more than enough offense for Rays starter Matt Andriese, who pitched eight scoreless innings, to improve his record to 5-1. He gave up six hits and struck out five over 112 pitches.
"Andriese was outstanding," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "There was one inning where he kind of battled for the feel of what he was trying to accomplish out there, but other than that he settled down and made pretty quick work with efficient innings."
Angels starter Daniel Wright (0-1) gave up four runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings and took the loss.
"The game is slowing down a little bit for me, which is always a good thing," Wright said. "I got in some pretty good counts, especially in the middle of the outing there. I had to scramble and hold them to two in the first, then kind of got into trouble in the fifth and they decided to take me out."
Andriese ran into trouble early when Mike Trout doubled with one out in the top of the first, but he was tagged out at home trying to score on a single from Andrelton Simmons.
"It was one of those games where I just battled through," Andriese said. "I didn't have great location on all my pitches, but early in the game I made some pitches when I needed to.
"(Steven) Souza Jr. bailed me out with a nice throw in the first inning. All day our defense made some great plays."
Los Angeles had runners in scoring position in the each of the first four innings but could not scratch across any runs. The Angels were 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, with the one hit resulting in Trout's out at home.
"(Souza) was pinching shallow," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "And to get Mike, he's got to put that throw on the money and he did. It was a nice play -- nice throw from him."
GAME NOTES: Angels manager Mike Scioscia said 3B Yunel Escobar (hamstring) has begun a running program and will start running the bases in next few days. ... The Rays activated RHP Tommy Hunter from the 10-day disabled list before the game and placed RHP Jumbo Diaz on the disabled list because of arm fatigue. Hunter pitched the ninth inning on Thursday. ... Angels RHP Cam Bedrosian (groin) threw off a mound Wednesday and will begin throwing batting practice. ... Rays RHP Brad Boxberger (forearm) will throw batting practice Monday. ... Angels OF Cameron Maybin left the game in the fifth inning because of right knee soreness.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
2 southwest Florida cities among nation's fastest-growing
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Two southwest Florida cities were among the nation's fastest-growing last year.
The U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday said Bonita Springs and Fort Myers respectively had the 8th and 15th fastest growth rates in the nation.
Both cities are located in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro areas, and both had growth rates just under 5 percent.
In pure numbers, the city of Jacksonville and the city of Miami were among the nation's leaders in population gains from July 2015 to July 2016.
The city of Jacksonville increased by almost 13,500 people, and the city of Miami increased by almost 13,000 people.
The U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday said Bonita Springs and Fort Myers respectively had the 8th and 15th fastest growth rates in the nation.
Both cities are located in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro areas, and both had growth rates just under 5 percent.
In pure numbers, the city of Jacksonville and the city of Miami were among the nation's leaders in population gains from July 2015 to July 2016.
The city of Jacksonville increased by almost 13,500 people, and the city of Miami increased by almost 13,000 people.
Suspect arrested in 2013 Florida school slayings
Associated Press
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A suspect in the 2013 slayings of two janitors at a prestigious Florida arts schools has been flown back from Colombia to face murder charges.
West Palm Beach police say FBI agents flew Javier Burgos back this week and that he confessed to detectives Thursday to shooting Ted Orama and Christopher Marshall on June 19, 2013, at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. He was being booked at the Palm Beach County.
The Palm Beach Post (http://bit.ly/2rDRs7G ) reported police investigated Burgos during his four years at the school. He had been accused of trying to sell a gun to a co-worker on school grounds, grabbing his crotch in front of a female colleague and challenging another co-worker to fight.
It couldn't be determined if Burgos has an attorney.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A suspect in the 2013 slayings of two janitors at a prestigious Florida arts schools has been flown back from Colombia to face murder charges.
West Palm Beach police say FBI agents flew Javier Burgos back this week and that he confessed to detectives Thursday to shooting Ted Orama and Christopher Marshall on June 19, 2013, at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. He was being booked at the Palm Beach County.
The Palm Beach Post (http://bit.ly/2rDRs7G ) reported police investigated Burgos during his four years at the school. He had been accused of trying to sell a gun to a co-worker on school grounds, grabbing his crotch in front of a female colleague and challenging another co-worker to fight.
It couldn't be determined if Burgos has an attorney.
Florida Gov. oks end to tampon tax, approves 2 tax holidays
Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed a $180 million tax cut package that will eliminate taxes charged on tampons and will create two sales tax holidays that will be held over the next three months.
Scott approved the bill even though state legislators gave the Republican governor far less than what he had initially asked for in January.
"Every time we cut taxes, we are encouraging businesses of all sizes to create opportunities for families across the state and more money is put back in taxpayers' pockets," said Scott in a statement.
The tax cut package creates a three-day "back-to-school" tax holiday in August where residents can purchase tax-free clothes that cost $60 or less. The tax holiday, which will be held Aug. 4 through Aug. 6, will also cover school supplies costing $15 or less and computers that cost $750 or less.
There will also be a three-day period during the first weekend in June to allow residents to purchase storm preparation supplies tax-free. Batteries, flashlights, portable generators costing $750 or less are on the list of items that will be exempt from Florida's 6 percent sales tax.
Starting in January, the new law will make feminine hygiene products such as tampons and menstrual pads tax-exempt. Florida is joining 13 states and the District of Columbia that exempt taxes on the sale of feminine hygiene products or have enacted laws to exempt these products in the future.
"This common sense legislation will result in a tax savings for women all over the state who purchase these necessary products," said Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, the Naples Republican who pushed for the exemption.
Scott had initially asked the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature to pass a hefty $618 million tax cut package that included a 25 percent reduction in the sales tax charged on commercial rents. Scott also wanted the "back-to-school" sales tax holiday to last 10 days and he wanted a three-day sales tax holiday for military veterans. The governor also asked for a one-year elimination of sales taxes charged on college textbooks.
Legislators ignored, or greatly scaled back Scott's recommendations. They decided to cut the sales tax on commercial rent by only 3 percent.
Republican legislators rejected a Scott plan to use a rise in local property taxes to pay for an increase to public schools. Instead they put together a new state budget that calls for a slight cut in local property taxes that go to schools. They also placed on the 2018 ballot a measure that would increase the state's homestead exemption for property taxes if approved by voters.
Scott, however, has hinted he may veto the budget, which would force legislators back to the state capital later this year.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed a $180 million tax cut package that will eliminate taxes charged on tampons and will create two sales tax holidays that will be held over the next three months.
Scott approved the bill even though state legislators gave the Republican governor far less than what he had initially asked for in January.
"Every time we cut taxes, we are encouraging businesses of all sizes to create opportunities for families across the state and more money is put back in taxpayers' pockets," said Scott in a statement.
The tax cut package creates a three-day "back-to-school" tax holiday in August where residents can purchase tax-free clothes that cost $60 or less. The tax holiday, which will be held Aug. 4 through Aug. 6, will also cover school supplies costing $15 or less and computers that cost $750 or less.
There will also be a three-day period during the first weekend in June to allow residents to purchase storm preparation supplies tax-free. Batteries, flashlights, portable generators costing $750 or less are on the list of items that will be exempt from Florida's 6 percent sales tax.
Starting in January, the new law will make feminine hygiene products such as tampons and menstrual pads tax-exempt. Florida is joining 13 states and the District of Columbia that exempt taxes on the sale of feminine hygiene products or have enacted laws to exempt these products in the future.
"This common sense legislation will result in a tax savings for women all over the state who purchase these necessary products," said Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, the Naples Republican who pushed for the exemption.
Scott had initially asked the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature to pass a hefty $618 million tax cut package that included a 25 percent reduction in the sales tax charged on commercial rents. Scott also wanted the "back-to-school" sales tax holiday to last 10 days and he wanted a three-day sales tax holiday for military veterans. The governor also asked for a one-year elimination of sales taxes charged on college textbooks.
Legislators ignored, or greatly scaled back Scott's recommendations. They decided to cut the sales tax on commercial rent by only 3 percent.
Republican legislators rejected a Scott plan to use a rise in local property taxes to pay for an increase to public schools. Instead they put together a new state budget that calls for a slight cut in local property taxes that go to schools. They also placed on the 2018 ballot a measure that would increase the state's homestead exemption for property taxes if approved by voters.
Scott, however, has hinted he may veto the budget, which would force legislators back to the state capital later this year.
Buccaneers sign second-round draft pick Justin Evans
Evans (6-1, 195) was chosen 50th overall out of the Texas A&M, where he played in 25 games over two seasons (2015-16), totaling 165 tackles, 14 passes defensed and five interceptions, while returning 17 kickoffs for 474 yards. In 2016, he led the Aggies with four interceptions, while adding 87 tackles and 10 passes defensed, earning second-team All-SEC honors.
Prior to his time at Texas A&M, Evans spent two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he tallied 86 tackles, 13 passes defensed and six interceptions, with two returned for touchdowns. Evans earned first-team all-conference honors during his final season at Mississippi Gulf Coast. A native of Wiggins, Mississippi, Evans attended Stone High School. He will wear No. 21 for Tampa Bay.
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Raccoon causes power outage in central Florida
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — A raccoon is to blame for a power outage that left thousands of central Florida residents in the dark.
Chris Gent, the vice president of corporate communications for the Kissimmee Utility Authority, tells the Orlando Sentinel (http://bit.ly/2rzzByY ) that the raccoon climbed onto a 13,200-volt piece of equipment at a substation late Tuesday, causing three primary feeder lines to fail.
The outage left nearly 5,200 people without power for almost an hour.
Gent says the raccoon died at the scene.
Chris Gent, the vice president of corporate communications for the Kissimmee Utility Authority, tells the Orlando Sentinel (http://bit.ly/2rzzByY ) that the raccoon climbed onto a 13,200-volt piece of equipment at a substation late Tuesday, causing three primary feeder lines to fail.
The outage left nearly 5,200 people without power for almost an hour.
Gent says the raccoon died at the scene.
Bour sparks Marlins to high-scoring win over A's
(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- By the time the top of the third inning ended Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum, the Marlins owned a six-run lead against the Oakland Athletics and every batter in the Miami lineup had at least one hit.
The Marlins' hitters were just warming up.
Miami pounded out a season-high 19 hits in an 11-9 victory against the A's, and the red-hot Justin Bour led the way.
Bour went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and four runs in the opener of a two-game interleague series.
"It's very easy to become complacent if you go out there and score a lot of runs (early), but the team did a great job," Bour said. "Everybody, one through nine, continued to take good at-bats, getting on base for everyone, and it worked out well for us."
Dee Gordon and Giancarlo Stanton each had three hits for the Marlins, who won for just the sixth time in their past 26 games. Derek Dietrich, J.T. Realmuto and JT Riddle each had two hits. Dietrich, Gordon and Ichiro Suzuki had two RBIs apiece.
Bour hit his team-high 12th home run of the season, a solo shot in the seventh. He has homered in eight of his past 12 games.
"I think he's just feeling good," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "When he was struggling, it didn't look good, but we also talked about water finding its level, and guys that can hit eventually get there."
A's right-hander Jesse Hahn (1-4) left the game in the third inning with a right triceps strain. Hahn gave up five runs on seven hits over two-plus innings, striking out two without issuing a walk.
The velocity on Hahn's fastball in the third had a decided drop, from its regular 93-95 mph to 90. He gave up a single to Christian Yelich and fell behind 2-1 in the count to Marcell Ozuna. At that point, trainer Nick Paparesta and manager Bob Melvin came to the mound, and Hahn left the game.
"I wasn't feeling anything out there," Hahn said of pain. "It was kind of weird. I was trying to throw the ball as hard as I can and look up and see 89 (mph) on the board. I know something isn't right."
Oakland's Yonder Alonso hit his 13th home run of the season, a leadoff shot in the second, tying Khris Davis for the team lead. Alonso was hit by a pitch by left-hander Jarlin Garcia in his right hand in the sixth. He finished the sixth inning, then left the game with contusions on his right hand and wrist.
X-rays were negative.
"It's a little sore, but it's good," said Alonso, who returned to the lineup after missing four games with a strained left knee. "I got to see how I feel during the night. I think we got very lucky. Lucky there were no breaks."
Ryon Healy hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning for the A's, and Rajai Davis added a two-run blast in the ninth when Oakland scored three times off AJ Ramos and closed within two runs. Jed Lowrie went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs.
"It was a good win," Mattingly said. "I don't care how you get it at this point. We need to get them. It's not exactly the way you would want to do it, but these guys, they hit the home run, they get back in the game with it, but we were able to keep tacking on, which is obviously good for us. We pretty much needed all of it."
Marlins right-hander Jose Urena (2-2) gave up six runs on four hits over five innings in his fourth start of the season. He struck out three, walked two and allowed two home runs.
The A's trailed 8-4 through five innings but cut Miami's lead to 8-6 in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Lowrie and Khris Davis and an RBI single by Stephen Vogt.
Bour made it 9-6 with a leadoff home run in the seventh, and the Marlins added two run in the ninth.
Miami scored one run in the first inning, three in the second and three in the third.
Gordon led off the game with a bunt single, stole second, moved to third when Vogt's throw went into center field for an error and scored on Stanton's single.
In the second, Miami had five hits off Hahn, including an RBI triple by Gordon, a double by Riddle and a two-run single by Suzuki.
Oakland answered with a run in the bottom of the second when Alonso hit a leadoff home run.
In the third, Miami had four more hits, including RBI doubles by Ozuna and Bour and a run-scoring single by Dietrich off reliever Bobby Wahl.
Oakland cut Miami's lead to 7-4 in the fourth when Healy lined a three-run shot, his eighth homer of the season, over the 400-foot sign in center field.
The Marlins responded with three more hits and a run in the fifth, making it 8-4 on Dietrich's RBI single.
NOTES: Marlins CF Christian Yelich left the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with a hip flexor injury and is day-to-day. ... Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton hit second in the order for the second time in his career. .. Marlins RHP David Phelps was placed on the bereavement list Tuesday because of a death in his family. He will rejoin the team for a Friday home game against the Los Angeles Angels. ... Marlin RHP Drew Steckenrider was called up from Triple-A New Orleans and began his first career major league stint. ... A's OF Mark Canha made his third career start in center field, all this season.
The Marlins' hitters were just warming up.
Miami pounded out a season-high 19 hits in an 11-9 victory against the A's, and the red-hot Justin Bour led the way.
Bour went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and four runs in the opener of a two-game interleague series.
"It's very easy to become complacent if you go out there and score a lot of runs (early), but the team did a great job," Bour said. "Everybody, one through nine, continued to take good at-bats, getting on base for everyone, and it worked out well for us."
Dee Gordon and Giancarlo Stanton each had three hits for the Marlins, who won for just the sixth time in their past 26 games. Derek Dietrich, J.T. Realmuto and JT Riddle each had two hits. Dietrich, Gordon and Ichiro Suzuki had two RBIs apiece.
Bour hit his team-high 12th home run of the season, a solo shot in the seventh. He has homered in eight of his past 12 games.
"I think he's just feeling good," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "When he was struggling, it didn't look good, but we also talked about water finding its level, and guys that can hit eventually get there."
A's right-hander Jesse Hahn (1-4) left the game in the third inning with a right triceps strain. Hahn gave up five runs on seven hits over two-plus innings, striking out two without issuing a walk.
The velocity on Hahn's fastball in the third had a decided drop, from its regular 93-95 mph to 90. He gave up a single to Christian Yelich and fell behind 2-1 in the count to Marcell Ozuna. At that point, trainer Nick Paparesta and manager Bob Melvin came to the mound, and Hahn left the game.
"I wasn't feeling anything out there," Hahn said of pain. "It was kind of weird. I was trying to throw the ball as hard as I can and look up and see 89 (mph) on the board. I know something isn't right."
Oakland's Yonder Alonso hit his 13th home run of the season, a leadoff shot in the second, tying Khris Davis for the team lead. Alonso was hit by a pitch by left-hander Jarlin Garcia in his right hand in the sixth. He finished the sixth inning, then left the game with contusions on his right hand and wrist.
X-rays were negative.
"It's a little sore, but it's good," said Alonso, who returned to the lineup after missing four games with a strained left knee. "I got to see how I feel during the night. I think we got very lucky. Lucky there were no breaks."
Ryon Healy hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning for the A's, and Rajai Davis added a two-run blast in the ninth when Oakland scored three times off AJ Ramos and closed within two runs. Jed Lowrie went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs.
"It was a good win," Mattingly said. "I don't care how you get it at this point. We need to get them. It's not exactly the way you would want to do it, but these guys, they hit the home run, they get back in the game with it, but we were able to keep tacking on, which is obviously good for us. We pretty much needed all of it."
Marlins right-hander Jose Urena (2-2) gave up six runs on four hits over five innings in his fourth start of the season. He struck out three, walked two and allowed two home runs.
The A's trailed 8-4 through five innings but cut Miami's lead to 8-6 in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Lowrie and Khris Davis and an RBI single by Stephen Vogt.
Bour made it 9-6 with a leadoff home run in the seventh, and the Marlins added two run in the ninth.
Miami scored one run in the first inning, three in the second and three in the third.
Gordon led off the game with a bunt single, stole second, moved to third when Vogt's throw went into center field for an error and scored on Stanton's single.
In the second, Miami had five hits off Hahn, including an RBI triple by Gordon, a double by Riddle and a two-run single by Suzuki.
Oakland answered with a run in the bottom of the second when Alonso hit a leadoff home run.
In the third, Miami had four more hits, including RBI doubles by Ozuna and Bour and a run-scoring single by Dietrich off reliever Bobby Wahl.
Oakland cut Miami's lead to 7-4 in the fourth when Healy lined a three-run shot, his eighth homer of the season, over the 400-foot sign in center field.
The Marlins responded with three more hits and a run in the fifth, making it 8-4 on Dietrich's RBI single.
NOTES: Marlins CF Christian Yelich left the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with a hip flexor injury and is day-to-day. ... Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton hit second in the order for the second time in his career. .. Marlins RHP David Phelps was placed on the bereavement list Tuesday because of a death in his family. He will rejoin the team for a Friday home game against the Los Angeles Angels. ... Marlin RHP Drew Steckenrider was called up from Triple-A New Orleans and began his first career major league stint. ... A's OF Mark Canha made his third career start in center field, all this season.
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Ramirez pitches Angels past Rays
(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Angels starter JC Ramirez continued his first-inning struggles on Monday night, but he also continued to be a strong pitcher after the first inning, shutting down the Tampa Bay Rays in a 3-2 win at Tropicana Field.
Ramirez (4-3) has allowed 10 of his 20 runs this season in the first inning, and he followed suit Monday, giving up solo home runs to Corey Dickerson and Logan Morrison as the Rays jumped on top 2-1.
He didn't allow another run, however, and the Angels scored the winning run on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the seventh inning.
Ramirez gave up six hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
"I thought he made some good adjustments, and for him to get into the seventh is big for us," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We played good defense behind him. I thought considering his start, he pitched well."
The Angels (24-23) won a battle of .500 teams, with their bullpen holding up better than that of Tampa Bay, which couldn't maintain an early lead for starter Jake Odorizzi in the opener of a four-game series.
Odorizzi held the Angels to two runs in six innings, but the bullpen let the first batter it faced score the go-ahead run in the seventh.
Reliever Jumbo Diaz (0-3) walked Jefry Marte to lead off the seventh, and Marte took second on a wild pitch and third on a flyout. Diaz then walked Cameron Maybin. Reliever Ryne Stanek intentionally walked Mike Trout to load the bases with one out.
With Albert Pujols at the plate, Stanek threw a wild pitch that allowed Marte to score for a 3-2 lead. Stanek intentionally walked Pujols, and with the bases loaded, got Luis Valbuena to foul out to end the inning.
"Can't walk him. We walked Maybin. That's a bad strategy. They know that, and in those games, they're crucial, adding baserunners," said Rays manager Kevin Cash, who didn't have his top relief options available after a close three-game series with the Yankees.
The Rays (23-24) had a chance to tie the score in the eighth. Steven Souza Jr. walked to lead off, and Evan Longoria got a two-out single to put two on. The Angels turned to closer Bud Norris, who struck out Logan Morrison to end the inning.
Norris also pitched the ninth for his ninth save of the season.
"He's maintained some length and he's capable of pitching in the 35-40 (pitch) range," Scioscia said. "You can't use that card often, but it's good to have when you need to have that four- or five-out save."
The Rays effectively pitched around the Angels' two best bats, with Trout and Pujols going a combined 0-for-6 with three walks and three strikeouts.
The Angels jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, only to trail 2-1 after two solo home runs in the bottom of the inning.
Los Angeles got a leadoff single from Maybin off Odorizzi's foot, and Maybin stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Derek Norris.
With runners at first and third with one out, Odorizzi got Pujols to pop out, but Andrelton Simmons hit a sacrifice fly to center for a 1-0 lead. Odorizzi got out of the inning by striking out Kole Calhoun, avoiding further damage.
The Rays tied the score quickly on a solo home run by red-hot Corey Dickerson, who hit his 12th homer of the season and his sixth in the last six games.
"He's performing well leading off the game, in the fifth, sixth, whenever. He's swinging the bat really well right now," Cash said.
Dickerson had the team lead for only a few minutes, as Logan Morrison added another solo shot, his 12th of the season, for a 2-1 lead against Ramirez.
The Rays had three hits in the first inning, then just one in the next four, as Ramirez settled in and kept the Rays in check until Maybin tied the score in the fifth with a home run off the catwalks high above the playing field to make it 2-2.
The ball initially dropped into the field of play, but the Tropicana Field ground rules call for a home run when the "C" catwalk is hit by a fair ball.
Odorizzi struck out eight while yielding five hits and three walks.
NOTES: The Rays had Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie O.J. Howard, a tight end from Alabama and the team's first-round pick, throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Howard also took batting practice before the game, and a group of 20-plus Bucs rookies watched the game. ... The Angels have eight pitchers on the disabled list. Los Angeles ranks second in the majors with 21 pitchers already used during the 2017 season. Only Seattle, with 25, has used more. ... Los Angeles DH Albert Pujols returned to the lineup after missing three games with soreness in his right hamstring. Pujols batted third and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
Ramirez (4-3) has allowed 10 of his 20 runs this season in the first inning, and he followed suit Monday, giving up solo home runs to Corey Dickerson and Logan Morrison as the Rays jumped on top 2-1.
He didn't allow another run, however, and the Angels scored the winning run on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the seventh inning.
Ramirez gave up six hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
"I thought he made some good adjustments, and for him to get into the seventh is big for us," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We played good defense behind him. I thought considering his start, he pitched well."
The Angels (24-23) won a battle of .500 teams, with their bullpen holding up better than that of Tampa Bay, which couldn't maintain an early lead for starter Jake Odorizzi in the opener of a four-game series.
Odorizzi held the Angels to two runs in six innings, but the bullpen let the first batter it faced score the go-ahead run in the seventh.
Reliever Jumbo Diaz (0-3) walked Jefry Marte to lead off the seventh, and Marte took second on a wild pitch and third on a flyout. Diaz then walked Cameron Maybin. Reliever Ryne Stanek intentionally walked Mike Trout to load the bases with one out.
With Albert Pujols at the plate, Stanek threw a wild pitch that allowed Marte to score for a 3-2 lead. Stanek intentionally walked Pujols, and with the bases loaded, got Luis Valbuena to foul out to end the inning.
"Can't walk him. We walked Maybin. That's a bad strategy. They know that, and in those games, they're crucial, adding baserunners," said Rays manager Kevin Cash, who didn't have his top relief options available after a close three-game series with the Yankees.
The Rays (23-24) had a chance to tie the score in the eighth. Steven Souza Jr. walked to lead off, and Evan Longoria got a two-out single to put two on. The Angels turned to closer Bud Norris, who struck out Logan Morrison to end the inning.
Norris also pitched the ninth for his ninth save of the season.
"He's maintained some length and he's capable of pitching in the 35-40 (pitch) range," Scioscia said. "You can't use that card often, but it's good to have when you need to have that four- or five-out save."
The Rays effectively pitched around the Angels' two best bats, with Trout and Pujols going a combined 0-for-6 with three walks and three strikeouts.
The Angels jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, only to trail 2-1 after two solo home runs in the bottom of the inning.
Los Angeles got a leadoff single from Maybin off Odorizzi's foot, and Maybin stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Derek Norris.
With runners at first and third with one out, Odorizzi got Pujols to pop out, but Andrelton Simmons hit a sacrifice fly to center for a 1-0 lead. Odorizzi got out of the inning by striking out Kole Calhoun, avoiding further damage.
The Rays tied the score quickly on a solo home run by red-hot Corey Dickerson, who hit his 12th homer of the season and his sixth in the last six games.
"He's performing well leading off the game, in the fifth, sixth, whenever. He's swinging the bat really well right now," Cash said.
Dickerson had the team lead for only a few minutes, as Logan Morrison added another solo shot, his 12th of the season, for a 2-1 lead against Ramirez.
The Rays had three hits in the first inning, then just one in the next four, as Ramirez settled in and kept the Rays in check until Maybin tied the score in the fifth with a home run off the catwalks high above the playing field to make it 2-2.
The ball initially dropped into the field of play, but the Tropicana Field ground rules call for a home run when the "C" catwalk is hit by a fair ball.
Odorizzi struck out eight while yielding five hits and three walks.
NOTES: The Rays had Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie O.J. Howard, a tight end from Alabama and the team's first-round pick, throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Howard also took batting practice before the game, and a group of 20-plus Bucs rookies watched the game. ... The Angels have eight pitchers on the disabled list. Los Angeles ranks second in the majors with 21 pitchers already used during the 2017 season. Only Seattle, with 25, has used more. ... Los Angeles DH Albert Pujols returned to the lineup after missing three games with soreness in his right hamstring. Pujols batted third and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
Monday, May 22, 2017
Gonzalez guides Dodgers past sliding Marlins
(TSX / STATS) -- LOS ANGELES -- Opening Day was officially April 3. However, as far as Adrian Gonzalez is concerned, opening day was May 18.
That was when the veteran Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman returned from his first-ever trip to the disabled list, after 1,833 games in his major league career and a Ripken-esque commitment to playing through ailments. Elbow and back injuries ended that streak.
Gonzalez played in two games before Sunday, when he had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Dodgers to a 6-3 win at Dodger Stadium over the Miami Marlins.
He turned on a high fastball in the first inning to drive in two runs, doubled again in the third and singled home a run with two outs in the fifth. All three hits came with two outs, the sort of contributions Gonzalez has made routinely in his 14-year career.
Gonzalez hit .255 with no homers and 11 RBIs in 29 games before going on the DL on May 5.
"My season started Thursday," he said. "The first month of the season, my back was sore, which means I didn't have any power in my legs. I'm feeling healthy now. My body is definitely better.
"It was good to contribute and find some holes. The first two games this week I was just trying to get back in rhythm. I don't want to miss opportunities to drive in runs. It's what I've come to expect."
Gonzalez's trip to the DL coincided with the recall of rookie Cody Bellinger, who immediately began hitting as if his name were Gonzalez. Now they can join the same lineup and give the Dodgers even more depth than they had at the beginning of the season.
"As good as Cody has been, we do need Adrian to have his professional at-bats and hits," manager Dave Roberts said. "It doesn't matter where I bat Adrian, he usually comes up with men on base and he usually produces. It's great to have him back."
The Dodgers had 12 hits Sunday, seven of them extra-base hits. Yasmani Grandal went 3-for-4 with two doubles, and Joc Pederson homered.
Los Angeles has scored six runs or more in each of its past five games. That, even with Justin Turner having just gone on the disabled list and Logan Forsythe, due to return soon, having been out for a month.
The Dodgers' pitching was splendid on Sunday, too. Brandon McCarthy (4-1) retired the first 14 batters he faced and threw six innings of one-run ball, needing only 75 pitches to do so.
"I had a little bit of everything working," McCarthy said. "My command was pretty good. There wasn't a lot of second-guessing myself. I got ahead of the hitters and didn't need to do a lot of thinking.
"You always want to pitch deep, but I had no idea where I was (in terms of pitch count). I'm big on trusting my manager. I don't want to campaign to stay in. He had a good idea of the situations."
McCarthy worked out of a two-on, one-out situation in the sixth, getting Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton to ground out.
Miami, meanwhile, struggled to find new synonyms for frustrating.
It was the Marlins' 11th loss in their past 13 games, and they are 5-20 in their past 25. The team ERA ranks 24th in baseball at 4.72.
Miami is on pace to break the major league record for most walks allowed in a season. Sunday's starter, pregame call-up Vance Worley, was the ninth different Marlin to start a game. The bullpen has four saves in 12 opportunities.
The Marlins' proposed sale to one of two group vying for the club has run into a ditch, too.
"There's nothing else to say about it," said Miami right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, who went 0-for-4. "Right now, the frustration is higher than it was for me last year when I struggled. We've got to get out of this or this season will be twice as long as the last few."
Marlins manager Don Mattingly added, "We got the ball up early in the game, and they got a lead. They had a lot of two-out hits. We didn't do much with the chances we had."
McCarthy had a perfect game through 4 2/3 innings before Derek Dietrich doubled, then lost his shutout when A.J. Ellis followed with a RBI single.
The Dodgers led 4-1 before they put the game out of reach with two runs in the sixth. Pederson, who hit his second home run of the season in the fourth, was hit by a pitch, Enrique Hernandez doubled and pinch hitter Brett Eibner stroked a single to left for a 6-1 lead.
The Marlins got a run in the eight to make it 6-2, Ozuna singling home Dee Gordon, and Justin Bour hit his 11th home run of the season in the ninth against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.
NOTES: The Dodgers sent LHP Julio Urias, their 20-year prodigy who has been handled carefully since making his debut last season, to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday morning after his worse effort of his major league career in a 10-6 loss to Miami on Saturday. He allowed seven runs (six earned) in 2 1/3 innings, the shortest start of his career. He is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA. ... The Dodgers recalled RHP Josh Ravin from Oklahoma. Ravin began the season on the disabled list with a groin injury. ... The Dodgers are expected to activate INF Logan Forsythe from the disabled list and a rehab assignment on Tuesday. He will will likely fill in at third base while Justin Turner rehabs from his strained hamstring. ... The Marlins sent RHP Odrisamer Despaigne to the minors and purchased the contract of Sunday's starter, RHP Vance Worley. The Marlins signed Worley after he was released by Washington before the beginning of the season.
That was when the veteran Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman returned from his first-ever trip to the disabled list, after 1,833 games in his major league career and a Ripken-esque commitment to playing through ailments. Elbow and back injuries ended that streak.
Gonzalez played in two games before Sunday, when he had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Dodgers to a 6-3 win at Dodger Stadium over the Miami Marlins.
He turned on a high fastball in the first inning to drive in two runs, doubled again in the third and singled home a run with two outs in the fifth. All three hits came with two outs, the sort of contributions Gonzalez has made routinely in his 14-year career.
Gonzalez hit .255 with no homers and 11 RBIs in 29 games before going on the DL on May 5.
"My season started Thursday," he said. "The first month of the season, my back was sore, which means I didn't have any power in my legs. I'm feeling healthy now. My body is definitely better.
"It was good to contribute and find some holes. The first two games this week I was just trying to get back in rhythm. I don't want to miss opportunities to drive in runs. It's what I've come to expect."
Gonzalez's trip to the DL coincided with the recall of rookie Cody Bellinger, who immediately began hitting as if his name were Gonzalez. Now they can join the same lineup and give the Dodgers even more depth than they had at the beginning of the season.
"As good as Cody has been, we do need Adrian to have his professional at-bats and hits," manager Dave Roberts said. "It doesn't matter where I bat Adrian, he usually comes up with men on base and he usually produces. It's great to have him back."
The Dodgers had 12 hits Sunday, seven of them extra-base hits. Yasmani Grandal went 3-for-4 with two doubles, and Joc Pederson homered.
Los Angeles has scored six runs or more in each of its past five games. That, even with Justin Turner having just gone on the disabled list and Logan Forsythe, due to return soon, having been out for a month.
The Dodgers' pitching was splendid on Sunday, too. Brandon McCarthy (4-1) retired the first 14 batters he faced and threw six innings of one-run ball, needing only 75 pitches to do so.
"I had a little bit of everything working," McCarthy said. "My command was pretty good. There wasn't a lot of second-guessing myself. I got ahead of the hitters and didn't need to do a lot of thinking.
"You always want to pitch deep, but I had no idea where I was (in terms of pitch count). I'm big on trusting my manager. I don't want to campaign to stay in. He had a good idea of the situations."
McCarthy worked out of a two-on, one-out situation in the sixth, getting Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton to ground out.
Miami, meanwhile, struggled to find new synonyms for frustrating.
It was the Marlins' 11th loss in their past 13 games, and they are 5-20 in their past 25. The team ERA ranks 24th in baseball at 4.72.
Miami is on pace to break the major league record for most walks allowed in a season. Sunday's starter, pregame call-up Vance Worley, was the ninth different Marlin to start a game. The bullpen has four saves in 12 opportunities.
The Marlins' proposed sale to one of two group vying for the club has run into a ditch, too.
"There's nothing else to say about it," said Miami right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, who went 0-for-4. "Right now, the frustration is higher than it was for me last year when I struggled. We've got to get out of this or this season will be twice as long as the last few."
Marlins manager Don Mattingly added, "We got the ball up early in the game, and they got a lead. They had a lot of two-out hits. We didn't do much with the chances we had."
McCarthy had a perfect game through 4 2/3 innings before Derek Dietrich doubled, then lost his shutout when A.J. Ellis followed with a RBI single.
The Dodgers led 4-1 before they put the game out of reach with two runs in the sixth. Pederson, who hit his second home run of the season in the fourth, was hit by a pitch, Enrique Hernandez doubled and pinch hitter Brett Eibner stroked a single to left for a 6-1 lead.
The Marlins got a run in the eight to make it 6-2, Ozuna singling home Dee Gordon, and Justin Bour hit his 11th home run of the season in the ninth against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.
NOTES: The Dodgers sent LHP Julio Urias, their 20-year prodigy who has been handled carefully since making his debut last season, to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday morning after his worse effort of his major league career in a 10-6 loss to Miami on Saturday. He allowed seven runs (six earned) in 2 1/3 innings, the shortest start of his career. He is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA. ... The Dodgers recalled RHP Josh Ravin from Oklahoma. Ravin began the season on the disabled list with a groin injury. ... The Dodgers are expected to activate INF Logan Forsythe from the disabled list and a rehab assignment on Tuesday. He will will likely fill in at third base while Justin Turner rehabs from his strained hamstring. ... The Marlins sent RHP Odrisamer Despaigne to the minors and purchased the contract of Sunday's starter, RHP Vance Worley. The Marlins signed Worley after he was released by Washington before the beginning of the season.
Gardner homer, Judge catch lift Yankees over Rays
(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- In a reversal of roles, it was Brett Gardner providing the power and Aaron Judge making the key defensive play to help the New York Yankees snap a three-game losing streak Sunday.
Gardner hit a two-run homer in the top of the second inning, and Judge made a diving catch that saved a run and helped the Yankees avoid a sweep with a 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Judge robbed Rays third baseman Evan Longoria of a run-scoring double in the right-center-field gap in the bottom of the sixth inning. Corey Dickerson, who singled to lead off the inning, was nearly around third base when the right fielder made the catch, and he was easily doubled off at first.
"I thought it was a double for sure," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He laid out. It's an unbelievable play and he saved the game for us."
Judge, who struggled at the plate, going 0-for-4 for four strikeouts, said he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to catch it when the ball came off the bat.
"I just took a couple of steps and I got there," Judge said. "I wasn't doing it on offense, so I had to do something on defense to help the team."
The bullpen of Chad Green, Tyler Clippard and Dellin Betances combined for four no-hit innings to preserve the slim lead for the Yankees (25-16). Betances got the final four outs for the save.
In the second, Gardner took the first offering from Rays starter Chris Archer and sent the pitch over the right field wall to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead. Didi Gregorius tied the game earlier in the inning with a single that scored Jacoby Ellsbury.
The three-run inning ruined an otherwise strong day from Archer (3-3), who struck out 12 and gave up six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He threw 108 pitches, 72 for strikes.
"There were maybe two or three pitches I didn't execute how I wanted to and they capitalized," Archer said. "That's what good baseball players do. Today was a pitchers' duel. (New York's CC) Sabathia came with it. He gave up one earned run, and their bullpen did a good job of coming in and locking it down."
Tampa Bay (23-23) got Archer early run support in the first inning when Dickerson scored from second on a throwing error by Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez.
Yankees starter CC Sabathia was otherwise able to avoid trouble for most of his outing. He made Gardner's homer stand up despite giving up a solo home run to Rays catcher Derek Norris in the fifth inning that made the score 3-2.
"I think we had some opportunities to win against the first-place team," Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. said. "They had been on a roll when they were here. We wanted the sweep, but we were able to win the series."
Sabathia (4-2) went five-plus innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out six, walked one and threw 95 pitches, 67 strikes.
"I just think my stuff was a little bit crisper today," Sabathia said. "Sanchez did a great job behind the plate again. We got two-strike counts, and even though they fouled a lot of pitches and ran my pitch count up a little, we were able to finish when we needed to."
Gregorius was 4-for-4 while the Yankees' 3-4-5 hitters, Matt Holliday, Starlin Castro and Judge, combined to go 0-for-12 with 11 strikeouts.
NOTES: Rays manager Kevin Cash shuffled his lineup with a left-handed pitcher on the mound. He moved DH Corey Dickerson to the second spot and CF Kevin Kiermaier down to sixth while SS Tim Beckham was moved to leadoff. ... Yankees RHP Bryan Mitchell was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barres prior to the game. He arrived at the park during the contest but did not pitch. RHP Giovanny Gallegos was sent down in a corresponding move. ... Rays SS Matt Duffy (heel surgery) said he will begin a running program Monday in hopes of playing rehab games before next weekend.
Gardner hit a two-run homer in the top of the second inning, and Judge made a diving catch that saved a run and helped the Yankees avoid a sweep with a 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Judge robbed Rays third baseman Evan Longoria of a run-scoring double in the right-center-field gap in the bottom of the sixth inning. Corey Dickerson, who singled to lead off the inning, was nearly around third base when the right fielder made the catch, and he was easily doubled off at first.
"I thought it was a double for sure," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He laid out. It's an unbelievable play and he saved the game for us."
Judge, who struggled at the plate, going 0-for-4 for four strikeouts, said he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to catch it when the ball came off the bat.
"I just took a couple of steps and I got there," Judge said. "I wasn't doing it on offense, so I had to do something on defense to help the team."
The bullpen of Chad Green, Tyler Clippard and Dellin Betances combined for four no-hit innings to preserve the slim lead for the Yankees (25-16). Betances got the final four outs for the save.
In the second, Gardner took the first offering from Rays starter Chris Archer and sent the pitch over the right field wall to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead. Didi Gregorius tied the game earlier in the inning with a single that scored Jacoby Ellsbury.
The three-run inning ruined an otherwise strong day from Archer (3-3), who struck out 12 and gave up six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He threw 108 pitches, 72 for strikes.
"There were maybe two or three pitches I didn't execute how I wanted to and they capitalized," Archer said. "That's what good baseball players do. Today was a pitchers' duel. (New York's CC) Sabathia came with it. He gave up one earned run, and their bullpen did a good job of coming in and locking it down."
Tampa Bay (23-23) got Archer early run support in the first inning when Dickerson scored from second on a throwing error by Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez.
Yankees starter CC Sabathia was otherwise able to avoid trouble for most of his outing. He made Gardner's homer stand up despite giving up a solo home run to Rays catcher Derek Norris in the fifth inning that made the score 3-2.
"I think we had some opportunities to win against the first-place team," Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. said. "They had been on a roll when they were here. We wanted the sweep, but we were able to win the series."
Sabathia (4-2) went five-plus innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out six, walked one and threw 95 pitches, 67 strikes.
"I just think my stuff was a little bit crisper today," Sabathia said. "Sanchez did a great job behind the plate again. We got two-strike counts, and even though they fouled a lot of pitches and ran my pitch count up a little, we were able to finish when we needed to."
Gregorius was 4-for-4 while the Yankees' 3-4-5 hitters, Matt Holliday, Starlin Castro and Judge, combined to go 0-for-12 with 11 strikeouts.
NOTES: Rays manager Kevin Cash shuffled his lineup with a left-handed pitcher on the mound. He moved DH Corey Dickerson to the second spot and CF Kevin Kiermaier down to sixth while SS Tim Beckham was moved to leadoff. ... Yankees RHP Bryan Mitchell was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barres prior to the game. He arrived at the park during the contest but did not pitch. RHP Giovanny Gallegos was sent down in a corresponding move. ... Rays SS Matt Duffy (heel surgery) said he will begin a running program Monday in hopes of playing rehab games before next weekend.
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Dodgers can't solve Riddle as Marlins roll
(TSX / STATS) -- LOS ANGELES -- Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton said a Friday confrontation with the Dodgers as well as the Marlins' recent poor play provided a spark in a Saturday win over Los Angeles.
"It was good. A little wake-up (call). Hello," Stanton said. "For all us and how we've been playing."
J.T. Riddle homered and fell a triple shy of the cycle, helping the Marlins end a five-game skid with a 10-6 victory at Dodger Stadium.
Riddle went 3-for-5 with a career-high four RBIs. The three hits tied his best as a major-leaguer. Stanton finished 3-for-5 with a career-high three doubles and three RBIs to help the Marlins win for only the second time in 12 games.
The Marlins (15-27) used the bench-clearing incident in the ninth inning Friday as motivation Saturday. Miami scored in each of the first five innings and rolled to a 10-0 lead before Los Angeles registered a hit.
"Just fight," said Stanton, the Los Angeles-area native who continued his sizzling hitting at Dodger Stadium, where he has posted a .324 career batting average with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs in 37 games. "Obviously, we all want to win, we're all playing hard, but it's a different world when you're not playing well and things aren't going right."
Marlins starter Dan Straily (2-3) didn't allow a hit until Enrique Hernandez launched a solo home run with two outs in the fifth. Straily fanned eight, walked three and allowed three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.
"I was really happy with the first five (innings), and I was very frustrated with myself in that sixth inning," said Straily, who has held the opposition to .164 batting average in nine starts. "I gave up some hits there late and kind of gave them some maximum momentum as I exited. Overall, I felt pretty good about (my start)."
Hernandez, Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger homered for the Dodgers (25-19), who got a run in the fifth, two in the sixth and three more in the seventh. Seager and Bellinger accounted for the production in the seventh with back-to-back homers that sliced the deficit to 10-6.
"One-hundred sixty-two games, it's not always going to be pretty," said Bellinger, who has the team lead in homers with nine. He became the fastest Dodger in franchise history to collect nine long balls, doing so in 24 games. He eclipsed the mark set by Yasiel Puig, nine homers in 44 games in 2013.
"We fought back and put together good at-bats down 10-0," Bellinger added. "That's all you can ask for. If we had a couple of more balls go our way, it could have been exciting."
Dodgers starter Julio Urias got knocked around for the second straight start, giving up a career-worst seven runs (six earned) on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. Urias walked three and did not record a strikeout.
The Saturday debacle came on the heels of Urias being tagged for six runs on seven hits in the Dodgers' 9-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies on May 14.
"With Julio, I'm not sure if it's mechanical or what it is, but we've got to figure that out," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who didn't rule out Urias being optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Stanton's fielder's choice with the bases loaded in the first inning scored Dee Gordon for a 1-0 Miami lead.
Run-scoring singles by Riddle and Gordon in the second boosted the Marlins to a 3-0 advantage.
Miami tacked on four runs in the third. Stanton's RBI double and a base hit by Justin Bour produced two runs for a five-run edge. Riddle added a two-run double.
Another RBI double by Stanton and a run-scoring single by J.T. Realmuto made it 9-0 in the fourth.
Riddle belted a solo homer in the fifth for a 10-0 lead. For Riddle, it was his second home run of the season.
Hernandez had the Dodgers' first hit off Straily with a solo homer to left-center field with two outs in the fifth. It was the utility man's third homer of the season.
NOTES: Los Angeles Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda, 89, was resting comfortably in an area hospital from an unknown ailment, according to the Dodgers. ... Dodgers RF Yasiel Puig (lower/mid back tightness), who injured himself in Friday's game, was held out of the game for precautionary reasons. ... Marlins manager Don Mattingly and Dodgers bench coach Bob Geren, who were ejected and in the middle of Friday's confrontation, brought out the lineup cards. ... The Marlins called up RHP Vance Worley and optioned RHP Odrisamer Despaigne to Triple-A New Orleans. Worley will make his season debut Sunday when he opposes Dodgers RHP Brandon McCarthy (3-1, 4.15 ERA) in the series finale.
"It was good. A little wake-up (call). Hello," Stanton said. "For all us and how we've been playing."
J.T. Riddle homered and fell a triple shy of the cycle, helping the Marlins end a five-game skid with a 10-6 victory at Dodger Stadium.
Riddle went 3-for-5 with a career-high four RBIs. The three hits tied his best as a major-leaguer. Stanton finished 3-for-5 with a career-high three doubles and three RBIs to help the Marlins win for only the second time in 12 games.
The Marlins (15-27) used the bench-clearing incident in the ninth inning Friday as motivation Saturday. Miami scored in each of the first five innings and rolled to a 10-0 lead before Los Angeles registered a hit.
"Just fight," said Stanton, the Los Angeles-area native who continued his sizzling hitting at Dodger Stadium, where he has posted a .324 career batting average with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs in 37 games. "Obviously, we all want to win, we're all playing hard, but it's a different world when you're not playing well and things aren't going right."
Marlins starter Dan Straily (2-3) didn't allow a hit until Enrique Hernandez launched a solo home run with two outs in the fifth. Straily fanned eight, walked three and allowed three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.
"I was really happy with the first five (innings), and I was very frustrated with myself in that sixth inning," said Straily, who has held the opposition to .164 batting average in nine starts. "I gave up some hits there late and kind of gave them some maximum momentum as I exited. Overall, I felt pretty good about (my start)."
Hernandez, Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger homered for the Dodgers (25-19), who got a run in the fifth, two in the sixth and three more in the seventh. Seager and Bellinger accounted for the production in the seventh with back-to-back homers that sliced the deficit to 10-6.
"One-hundred sixty-two games, it's not always going to be pretty," said Bellinger, who has the team lead in homers with nine. He became the fastest Dodger in franchise history to collect nine long balls, doing so in 24 games. He eclipsed the mark set by Yasiel Puig, nine homers in 44 games in 2013.
"We fought back and put together good at-bats down 10-0," Bellinger added. "That's all you can ask for. If we had a couple of more balls go our way, it could have been exciting."
Dodgers starter Julio Urias got knocked around for the second straight start, giving up a career-worst seven runs (six earned) on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. Urias walked three and did not record a strikeout.
The Saturday debacle came on the heels of Urias being tagged for six runs on seven hits in the Dodgers' 9-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies on May 14.
"With Julio, I'm not sure if it's mechanical or what it is, but we've got to figure that out," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who didn't rule out Urias being optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Stanton's fielder's choice with the bases loaded in the first inning scored Dee Gordon for a 1-0 Miami lead.
Run-scoring singles by Riddle and Gordon in the second boosted the Marlins to a 3-0 advantage.
Miami tacked on four runs in the third. Stanton's RBI double and a base hit by Justin Bour produced two runs for a five-run edge. Riddle added a two-run double.
Another RBI double by Stanton and a run-scoring single by J.T. Realmuto made it 9-0 in the fourth.
Riddle belted a solo homer in the fifth for a 10-0 lead. For Riddle, it was his second home run of the season.
Hernandez had the Dodgers' first hit off Straily with a solo homer to left-center field with two outs in the fifth. It was the utility man's third homer of the season.
NOTES: Los Angeles Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda, 89, was resting comfortably in an area hospital from an unknown ailment, according to the Dodgers. ... Dodgers RF Yasiel Puig (lower/mid back tightness), who injured himself in Friday's game, was held out of the game for precautionary reasons. ... Marlins manager Don Mattingly and Dodgers bench coach Bob Geren, who were ejected and in the middle of Friday's confrontation, brought out the lineup cards. ... The Marlins called up RHP Vance Worley and optioned RHP Odrisamer Despaigne to Triple-A New Orleans. Worley will make his season debut Sunday when he opposes Dodgers RHP Brandon McCarthy (3-1, 4.15 ERA) in the series finale.
Dickerson powers Rays to 9-5 win over Yankees
(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Corey Dickerson didn't expect to get hit by a pitch Saturday, but the New York Yankees appeared to be willing to do anything they could to take the bat out of his hand.
Dickerson hit two home runs, drove in four runs and took an 87 mph fastball between the shoulder blades in the Tampa Bay Rays' 9-5 win over New York at Tropicana Field.
The Rays (23-22) have taken the first two games in the three-game series from their American League East rivals.
Dickerson led a powerful Tampa Bay show of offense. Evan Longoria also homered against Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka (5-3), who is 0-2 against Tampa Bay this season.
"This team is really impressive on the offensive side," Dickerson said. "We've got a lot of guys on this team that can swing the bat and have good track records."
The Yankees (24-16) got home runs from Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, but the Rays scored in each of the first five innings to put the game out of reach early.
Tampa Bay starter Matt Andriese (4-2) was ejected for hitting Judge with a pitch in the top of the sixth inning in apparent retaliation for Dickerson getting hit in the bottom of the fifth. However, Andriese still got the win, giving up five runs and six hits in five-plus innings.
"Just trying to go inside, that's it," Andriese said of his pitch that hit Judge in the ribcage. "I was pretty surprised to be ejected."
Tanaka, who gave up seven runs in his previous start, was unable to turn things around. He allowed six runs and nine hits in three-plus innings. It was the third time this season he yielded five or more runs and failed to last more than three innings.
"Obviously, it's my responsibility that I've been giving up those home runs," Tanaka said through his translator. "I don't like it, but it is what it is. I just have to be better."
Dickerson led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. Judge answered with an opposite-field shot in the top of the second to tie the score.
Jesus Sucre had an RBI double that scored Colby Rasmus in the second inning, and Longoria hit a solo homer to left field in the bottom of the third to make the score 3-1.
The Yankees tied the score in the top of the fourth on a two-run double by Chase Headley that scored Starlin Castro and Judge.
The Rays continued to pile onto Tanaka in the bottom of the fourth inning when Daniel Robertson led off the inning with a double and Sucre reached base on a dropped third strike. Dickerson followed with his second home run of the game to give Tampa Bay a 6-3 lead.
The next two batters Tanaka faced also reached base before he was taken out of the game.
"We have to get (Tanaka) right," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He made some mistakes with his fastball. He's not making the pitches he was last year."
Yankees reliever Tommy Layne walked Logan Morrison to load the bases with no outs, but Steven Souza Jr. was retired on a lineout to the shortstop and Rasmus hit a soft liner to second base.
Layne escaped further damage when Tim Beckham grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
The Yankees were able to get one back when Sanchez hit a solo homer to left-center off Andriese in the top of the fifth to make the score 6-4.
Tampa Bay, however, continued to extend its lead as Morrison hit a two-run single to key a three-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 9-4.
"A lot of guys played a role in the offense today," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Winning helps a lot. We are playing really complete baseball and winning games."
NOTES: Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who missed the Friday game to watch his oldest daughter graduate from high school, was ejected in the fifth inning by plate umpire Scott Barry after Barry ejected pitching coach Larry Rothschild. "I didn't like the way he threw Larry out," Girardi said. "No one knew what Larry said to him. He wasn't showing him up." ... Yankees starter Matt Andriese also hit Yankees 1B Matt Holliday with a pitch in the top of the fourth inning. ... Rays RHP Tommy Hunter (calf strain) threw a bullpen session, but he has not begun running yet. There is no timetable for his return from the disabled list.
Dickerson hit two home runs, drove in four runs and took an 87 mph fastball between the shoulder blades in the Tampa Bay Rays' 9-5 win over New York at Tropicana Field.
The Rays (23-22) have taken the first two games in the three-game series from their American League East rivals.
Dickerson led a powerful Tampa Bay show of offense. Evan Longoria also homered against Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka (5-3), who is 0-2 against Tampa Bay this season.
"This team is really impressive on the offensive side," Dickerson said. "We've got a lot of guys on this team that can swing the bat and have good track records."
The Yankees (24-16) got home runs from Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, but the Rays scored in each of the first five innings to put the game out of reach early.
Tampa Bay starter Matt Andriese (4-2) was ejected for hitting Judge with a pitch in the top of the sixth inning in apparent retaliation for Dickerson getting hit in the bottom of the fifth. However, Andriese still got the win, giving up five runs and six hits in five-plus innings.
"Just trying to go inside, that's it," Andriese said of his pitch that hit Judge in the ribcage. "I was pretty surprised to be ejected."
Tanaka, who gave up seven runs in his previous start, was unable to turn things around. He allowed six runs and nine hits in three-plus innings. It was the third time this season he yielded five or more runs and failed to last more than three innings.
"Obviously, it's my responsibility that I've been giving up those home runs," Tanaka said through his translator. "I don't like it, but it is what it is. I just have to be better."
Dickerson led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. Judge answered with an opposite-field shot in the top of the second to tie the score.
Jesus Sucre had an RBI double that scored Colby Rasmus in the second inning, and Longoria hit a solo homer to left field in the bottom of the third to make the score 3-1.
The Yankees tied the score in the top of the fourth on a two-run double by Chase Headley that scored Starlin Castro and Judge.
The Rays continued to pile onto Tanaka in the bottom of the fourth inning when Daniel Robertson led off the inning with a double and Sucre reached base on a dropped third strike. Dickerson followed with his second home run of the game to give Tampa Bay a 6-3 lead.
The next two batters Tanaka faced also reached base before he was taken out of the game.
"We have to get (Tanaka) right," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He made some mistakes with his fastball. He's not making the pitches he was last year."
Yankees reliever Tommy Layne walked Logan Morrison to load the bases with no outs, but Steven Souza Jr. was retired on a lineout to the shortstop and Rasmus hit a soft liner to second base.
Layne escaped further damage when Tim Beckham grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
The Yankees were able to get one back when Sanchez hit a solo homer to left-center off Andriese in the top of the fifth to make the score 6-4.
Tampa Bay, however, continued to extend its lead as Morrison hit a two-run single to key a three-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 9-4.
"A lot of guys played a role in the offense today," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Winning helps a lot. We are playing really complete baseball and winning games."
NOTES: Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who missed the Friday game to watch his oldest daughter graduate from high school, was ejected in the fifth inning by plate umpire Scott Barry after Barry ejected pitching coach Larry Rothschild. "I didn't like the way he threw Larry out," Girardi said. "No one knew what Larry said to him. He wasn't showing him up." ... Yankees starter Matt Andriese also hit Yankees 1B Matt Holliday with a pitch in the top of the fourth inning. ... Rays RHP Tommy Hunter (calf strain) threw a bullpen session, but he has not begun running yet. There is no timetable for his return from the disabled list.
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