MLB

09

Apr

By Dorothy Brand

MLBMLB, New York Yankees

With rotation in flux, Yankees relying on Max Fried as he prepares to face Tigers

Considering all the rotation injuries they’ve dealt with, the New York Yankees need Max Fried to have a big year. His last outing provided a glimpse of what Fried could do every fifth game. Fried held Pittsburgh to one run in 5 2/3 innings on Friday. He’ll look to at least duplicate that start against streaking Detroit in the finale of a three-game series Wednesday afternoon. The Tigers have won five straight, including a 5-0 shutout on Tuesday. Fried signed a hefty eight-year, $218 million contract as a free agent in mid-December. With ace Gerrit Cole out for the season…

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05

Apr

By Dorothy Brand

MLB

Jose Ramirez’s 3 homers power Guardians past Angels

Jose Ramirez hit three home runs and Brayan Rocchio had two hits and three RBIs to lead the Cleveland Guardians to an 8-6 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night in Anaheim, Calif. Ramirez hit a solo homer in the first inning and a two-run homer in the fifth, both coming off Angels starter Jose Soriano (1-1), who set a career high with nine strikeouts but allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings. Ramirez hit his third homer in the ninth inning off Angels reliever Caden Dana. Rocchio’s two-out single with the bases loaded in the sixth inning…

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04

Apr

By Dorothy Brand

MLBMLB

D-backs bring powerful offense to Washington

Although their three-game winning streak ended Thursday, the Arizona Diamondbacks are rolling on offense as they begin a three-game road series against the Washington Nationals on Friday. The Diamondbacks fell 9-7 to the host New York Yankees on Thursday, while the Nationals had the day off after opening the season 1-5. Arizona led the majors with 886 runs last season and is tied for third at the start of this year with 45 runs through seven games. The Nationals have scored 21 runs, which ranks 23rd. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez is leading the Arizona assault with five homers, including a…

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04

Apr

By Dorothy Brand

MLBMLB, Red Sox

With offense on rise, Red Sox play home opener vs. Cards

Fresh off their first series win of the season in Baltimore, the Boston Red Sox are set for their home opener on Friday, the start of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Red Sox are homeward bound following back-to-back wins over the Orioles, including an 8-4 victory on Thursday in which Alex Bregman, Kristian Campbell and Triston Casas each hit a two-run homer. A night earlier, in a 3-0 victory, Boston third baseman-turned-designated hitter Rafael Devers snapped a 0-for-21 skid with an RBI double before adding a single. “People talk about the decision of (Bregman) playing third…

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01

Apr

By Dorothy Brand

MLBCarson Kelly, MLB

Carson Kelly (cycle), Cubs ruin Athletics’ Sacramento opener

Michael Busch christened Sutter Health Park as a major league stadium with a first-inning home run, Carson Kelly hit for the cycle, and the Chicago Cubs spoiled the Athletics’ debut at their new home in West Sacramento, Calif., with an 18-3 shellacking on Monday. Kelly drove in five runs, Busch four, and Dansby Swanson and Kyle Tucker (both of whom also homered) three apiece for the Cubs. Chicago banged out 21 hits, including 11 for extra-bases. Making his first start of the season, Ben Brown (1-1) benefitted from the big-time offensive support to get the win, limiting the A’s to…

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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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