Jul 27, 2020

Story belts two homers as Rockies take series in Texas

Posted Jul 27, 2020 3:02 PM

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Trevor Story homered twice for Colorado after Corey Kluber left his Texas debut with shoulder tightness, and the Rockies beat the Rangers 5-2. Kluber, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Cleveland, lasted just one inning and 18 pitches in his first start in almost 15 months. The two-time Cy Young Award winner was knocked out of his last start for the Indians on May 1, 2019, after his right forearm was broken by a comeback liner.

Marlins postpone home opener Monday after COVID-19 clubhouse outbreak

The Miami Marlins’ home opener tonight against Baltimore has been postponed as the Marlins deal with a coronavirus outbreak that stranded them in Philadelphia.

The Marlins postponed their flight home Sunday night after their series finale against the Phillies.

Pitcher Jose Urena was scratched from his scheduled start in Sunday’s game, and catcher Jorge Alfaro went on the injured list Friday. No reasons were given for the moves, but manager Don Mattingly said those who tested positive would be quarantined in Philadelphia.

The Marlins’ precarious health raised anew doubts about MLB’s ability to finish the season during a pandemic.

Around the Majors Sunday

- Gleyber Torres had the big hits as the New York Yankees took the rubber match of their three-game series with the defending World Series champs. The Yanks trailed 2-0 until Torres delivered a solo homer and a go-ahead single to lead a 3-2 victory over the Nationals in Washington. Patrick Corbin retired New York’s first 11 batters and 18 of the first 19. But Torres ended the shutout bid with a long home with one out in the seventh to chase Corbin.

— Shohei Ohtani didn’t record an out in the two-way star’s long-awaited return to the mound for the Angels, allowing the first six Oakland batters to reach base in a 6-4 loss to the Athletics. The right-hander from Japan gave up Marcus Semien’s leadoff single and three straight walks before a mound visit and Mark Canha’s two-run single. The Angels wasted a big day by Mike Trout, who hit a three-run homer in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

— The Braves torched the Mets, 14-1 behind Dansby Swanson, who was 3-for-5 with a solo homer and five RBIs. Marcel Ozuna, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies also went deep as Atlanta easily captured the rubber match of the three-game set. Rick Porcello was rocked for six earned runs over just two innings in his Mets debut.

— The Giants gained a split of their four-game series with the Dodgers as Mauricio Dubon poked a tiebreaking, RBI single in the sixth inning of San Francisco's 3-1 win at Los Angeles. Darin Ruf and Donovan Solano each had two hits and an RBI in the Giants' second straight win. Tyler Rogers worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth before Trevor Gott pitched the ninth to get the save.

— Tyler Chatwood pitched three-hit ball over six innings of the Cubs’ 9-1 thumping of the Brewers. Willson Contreras smacked an RBI double in the Cubs’ four-run fourth and a long solo homer in the seventh. Ian Happ added a two-run drive in the eighth and Anthony Rizzo belted a solo shot one out later.

— Colin Moran and Jose Osuna homered as the Pirates got their first win under new manager Derek Shelton, 5-1 versus the Cardinals. Shelton also was involved in the majors’ first socially-distanced umpire argument as he and plate umpire Jordan Baker each wore face coverings while jawing six feet apart. Winning pitcher Mitch Heller allowed a run and three hits over five innings to help Pittsburgh beat St. Louis for just the second time in their last 14 meetings.

— The Mariners finally beat the Astros for the first time in 16 tries as Kyle Lewis hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the eighth inning of Seattle’s 7-6 verdict over Houston. The Mariners trailed by 1 entering the eighth until Shed Long Jr.’s run-scoring single tied it at 5 with one out. Tim Lopes had three hits and scored twice for Seattle, which went 1-18 versus the Astros last year.

— The Twins regained their power stroke as Jake Cave hit a grand slam and Nelson Cruz homered twice in a 14-2 assault on the White Sox. Cruz added two doubles and drove in seven runs for the reigning AL Central champion Twins, who set a major league record for home runs last year. Kenta Maeda allowed two runs and struck out six in five innings to win his Minnesota debut.

— Kevin Kiermaier’s first hit of the season was a two-run triple in the 10th inning that gave the Rays a 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays. The Rays scored twice in the ninth to force extra innings, then fell behind again 5-4 when Blue Jays pinch-runner Santiago Espinal stole third base and scored on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s sacrifice fly. Ji-Man Choi hit a solo homer and worked out a bases-loaded walk in Tampa Bay’s two-run ninth.

— The Orioles earned a 7-4 victory against the Red Sox as Rio Ruiz and Anthony Santander each belted two-run homers. José Iglesias added four hits as the Birds beat the Bosox for the second straight game following a 13-2 loss on opening day. Baltimore’s Wade LeBlanc gave up two home runs but settled down over 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and four hits while striking out four.

— Brian Anderson and Miguel Rojas each hit three-run homers to power the Marlins to an 11-6 rout of the Phillies. Miami rallied from 4-0 and 5-4 holes to rough up embattled Phillies starter Vince Velasquez and four relievers. The Marlins took the rubber match despite the absence of hurler Jose Urena, who was scratched about 90 minutes before the first pitch amid concerns of a team outbreak of the coronavirus.

— The Tigers pulled out a 3-2 win over the Reds on C.J. Cron’s tiebreaking, two-run homer in the ninth inning. Detroit rallied after Cincinnati starter Trevor Bauer matched a career high with 13 strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Spencer Turnbull pitched one-run ball over five innings for the Tigers in his first start since he went 3-17 with a 4.61 ERA last season.

— The Indians were 9-2 winners over the Royals in Carlos Carrasco’s first start since being diagnosed with leukemia over a year ago. Carrasco struck out 10 in six-plus innings, and José Ramírez homered twice in the rubber match of the series. Ramírez hit a three-run homer left-handed in the fourth and added a solo shot from the right side in the sixth.

— The Diamondbacks scored twice in each of their final two at-bats to down the Padres, 4-3. Ketel Marte scored the tying run in the eighth and lifted a sacrifice fly in the ninth to put Arizona ahead. David Peralta’s RBI single capped the Diamondbacks’ scoring.