MLB

20

Sep

By Dorothy Brand

MLB

Red Sox try to hold on to fading playoff hopes vs. Twins

In the heat of the American League wild-card race, the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins meet for the first time since May when they begin a three-game weekend series on Friday in Boston. The Twins (80-73) have lost six of their last 10 games and 20 of 30 after finishing a four-game set at Cleveland with consecutive setbacks, including a 3-2, 10-inning contest on Thursday in which they were held to three hits. As a result, Minnesota is in a dead-even tie for the final AL playoff spot with Detroit with nine games to play. “It can be hard.…

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17

Sep

By Dorothy Brand

MLB

Jordan Montgomery returns to starter role for D-backs at Colorado

Jordan Montgomery pitched his way out of Arizona’s rotation and into the bullpen in August after a seven-start stretch in which he posted a 7.88 ERA. Montgomery made four relief appearances for the Diamondbacks after the switch, but with Ryne Nelson landing on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation, he is returning to the rotation on Tuesday night to oppose the Colorado Rockies in Denver. Montgomery (8-6, 6.25 ERA) will make his 20th start of the season while Colorado will send Ryan Feltner (2-10, 4.89 ERA) to the mound to try to win for the second time…

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13

Sep

By Dorothy Brand

MLB

White Sox bring team-record home skid into series opener vs. A’s

The Chicago White Sox are riding a franchise-record 15-game home losing streak, and even more unwelcome historical records are looming in the next few weeks. The White Sox (33-114) will aim for their first home win since Aug. 12 when they begin a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Friday. Oakland (64-83) will finish with its third consecutive losing season, but the team has gone 34-29 since June 27. The Athletics took the first two games against the Houston Astros this week before losing 6-3 on Thursday in the series final. Oakland’s promising young roster includes right fielder Lawrence…

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13

Sep

By Dorothy Brand

MLB

Yankees look to keep the clutch hits going against Red Sox

The New York Yankees have not relied on a prolific offense of late, but rather are doing just enough to eke out wins and widen their lead in the American League East. After game-ending hits by Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Juan Soto, the Yankees seek a third straight win when they host the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. The Yankees (85-62) are 5-2 in their past seven games after dropping six of their previous nine against the Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals. Four of those wins are by three runs or fewer and the Yankees have…

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09

Sep

By Dorothy Brand

MLB

Shohei Ohtani continues 50-50 pursuit as Dodgers face Cubs

The Chicago Cubs will be the next team to get an up-close look at Shohei Ohtani when they open a three-game road series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. Ohtani hit his 46th home run of the season Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians. He also has 46 stolen bases as he closes in on the first 50-50 season in MLB history with 19 regular-season games remaining. Ohtani tied Alfonso Soriano (2006) for the most home runs during a 40-40 season. “Man, you just don’t see guys hitting the ball that far, as hard as he hits it,” Dodgers manager…

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09

Sep

By Dorothy Brand

MLB

Minnesota Twins Begin Crucial 6-Game Homestand vs. Angels

The Minnesota Twins will open a crucial six-game homestand on Monday night when they begin a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels in Minneapolis. Minnesota (76-67) was on the wrong end of a three-game series sweep over the weekend, getting roughed up by Kansas City. The Twins dropped five games below the first-place Cleveland Guardians and 2 1/2 games below the second-place Royals in the American League Central with 19 games to play in the regular season. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli took no questions from reporters after the team’s 2-0 defeat on Sunday. Minnesota was outscored 11-2 in the…

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29

Aug

By Dorothy Brand

Sports, MLB

Royals try to shake off setback ahead of opener at Houston

The Kansas City Royals, back in second place in the American League Central after sharing the top spot for a day, will look to bounce back when they open a four-game road series against the Houston Astros on Thursday. Kansas City won the first three games of a four-game series at Cleveland this week, but the Royals coughed up a late three-run lead en route to a 7-5 loss on Wednesday. The latest result allowed the Guardians to reclaim sole possession of first place in the AL Central. The Royals were 10 games behind Cleveland on June 25, making their…

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29

Aug

By Dorothy Brand

Sports, MLB

After game-saving play, Rangers seek sweep of White Sox

Texas Rangers reserve outfielder Travis Jankowski called his game-saving, home run-stealing catch against Andrew Vaughn of the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday “the highlight of my day, for sure.” A highlight-reel play if ever there was one, the ninth-inning robbery helped secure a 4-3 road victory and put the defending World Series champs in position to earn a sweep of perpetually slumping Chicago on Thursday afternoon. “It’s huge; every win matters at this point,” Jankowski said. “We’re a little far back. We’ve got some work to make up, but I still believe in this team.” Still nine games under .500…

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