Category: Major League Baseball (MLB)

J.D. Martinez belted a three-run homer and rookie Bobby Miller scattered three hits over six innings to lift the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers to a 9-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.

Martinez’s blast capped a six-run seventh inning for the Dodgers, who have won two of their last three contests following a season-high four-game losing skid. The homer was Martinez’s 16th of the season and seventh in the last 12 games.

David Peralta launched a solo shot in the fourth inning for his third homer of the season and first since May 1 when he hit a three-run blast in Los Angeles’ 13-4 romp over Philadelphia.

Mookie Betts had a pair of RBI singles and joined James Outman in scoring twice. Freddie Freeman also had an RBI single.

The offense was more than enough for Miller (3-0), who struck out seven batters during his 104-pitch performance. The 24-year-old has permitted two runs on 12 hits with 23 strikeouts in 23.0 innings this season.

Andre Jackson struck out three batters in three innings to secure his second save of the season.

Bryson Stott recorded three of the six hits by the Phillies, who saw their season-high winning streak halted at six games.

Los Angeles benefited from a two-out rally to open the scoring in the third inning. Outman doubled to center field off Aaron Nola (5-5) and came around to score on Betts’ single to left. Betts moved up to second on the throw home and scored on Freeman’s single to left field to stake the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

Los Angeles tacked on another run with two outs in the fourth inning after Peralta deposited a 1-0 sinker from Nola over the wall in right-center field.

Betts plated Chris Taylor an RBI single in the seventh inning to extend the Dodgers’ advantage to 4-0. That ended the afternoon for Nola, who was charged with six runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Jeff Hoffman relieved Nola and promptly hit Freeman with a pitch and allowed two quick runs before Martinez sent a 2-1 fastball over the wall in left field.

–Field Level Media

Carlos Correa hit his second career grand slam in a seven-run eighth inning as the visiting Minnesota Twins rallied to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays, 9-4 on Saturday afternoon.

Max Kepler added a three-run homer for the Twins in the eighth. Trevor Larnach hit a solo shot in the seventh for the Twins, who have won the first two games of the three-game series.

Adam Cimber (0-2) took the loss after getting tagged for six runs on five hits and recording just one out in the eighth.

Minnesota starter Joe Ryan allowed three runs, six hits and one walk while striking out four in six innings. Jorge Lopez (2-2) earned the win in relief.

Trailing 3-1, Michael A. Taylor led off the Minnesota eighth with a bunt single against Cimber. Edouard Julien and Donovan Solano followed with singles to load the bases. With one out, Correa hit a blast to left-center for his eighth home run of the season and Minnesota led 5-3. After a single and a hit batter, Cimber was replaced by Mitch White, who allowed Kepler’s seventh homer of the season.

Matt Chapman led off the Toronto second with a walk, took second on a groundout and scored on Whit Merrifield’s single.

Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the third when Brandon Belt doubled and scored on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s single.

George Springer led off the Toronto fifth with a double, took third on a flyout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nathan Lukes, batting for Belt, who felt hamstring tightness when scoring in the third.

Larnach hit his sixth home run of the season, a drive to center on the first pitch of the seventh inning off Bowden Francis, to get the Twins on the board.

Minnesota added a run in the ninth on doubles by Solano and Alex Kirilloff.

Jose De Leon allowed a single, a walk and Santiago Espinal’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth before being replaced by Brock Stewart, who induced the game-ending double play.

Toronto right-hander Trevor Richards, a reliever used as an opener, allowed no runs, one hit and one walk while striking out seven in three innings.

–Field Level Media

Manny Machado had three hits, Fernando Tatis Jr. had two hits and drove in a pair of runs and the San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 in Denver on Saturday.

Drew Carlton (2-0) tossed two innings of relief and Josh Hader earned his 15th save for the Padres, who have won three straight and four out of five.

Nolan Jones homered and Ezequiel Tovar had two hits for Colorado, which has lost six in a row. Rockies catcher Elias Diaz left the game in the eighth inning after being hit on the mask with a foul ball off the bat of Trent Grisham.

San Diego starter Ryan Weathers left after giving up a run on three hits in three innings.

The Padres jumped ahead against starter Kyle Freeland in the first inning on a hustle play by Machado, who had reached on a two-out single.

Machado broke for second on a pitch to Gary Sanchez, who drove a single to left-center field. Machado kept running and beat the throw home to put San Diego in front 1-0.

Colorado got even in the second when Jones hit an opposite-field homer to the seats in left. It was his third of the season.

Both teams had potential rallies snuffed out in the third. Machado singled with one out but was caught stealing to end the top of the frame, and Randal Grichuk had a two-out single but was picked off by Weathers.

The Rockies took the lead in the fifth against Carlton. Tovar singled with one out, took second when Grisham misplayed the ball in center and went to third on a wild pitch.

Alan Trejo grounded to second on a drawn-in infield, but Ha-Seong Kim’s throw home was offline and Tovar slid in safely to make it 2-1.

Jake Bird (1-1) relieved Freeland — who allowed a run on six hits in five innings — and gave up the lead in the sixth. Xander Bogaerts singled and a pair of walks loaded the bases. Tatis then singled to right to drive in two runs and give San Diego the lead.

–Field Level Media

Rookie Andrew Abbott blanked the St. Louis Cardinals for 5 2/3 innings as the visiting Cincinnati Reds rolled to an 8-4 victory Saturday.

Abbott (2-0), who allowed five hits and three walks, has started his big-league career with 11 2/3 scoreless innings.

Luke Maile and Spencer Steer each drove in three runs for the Reds, who won for the fourth time in their last six games.

Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (4-3) allowed five runs on seven hits in six innings.

Dylan Carlson went 3-for-3 with two walks and a two-run homer to pace the St. Louis offense.

Abbott needed 33 pitches to get out of the first inning unscathed. Paul Goldschmidt hit a one-out single, Nolan Arenado walked and Carlson drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Paul DeJong worked the count full before flying out to end the inning.

From there, Abbott cruised into the sixth inning.

The Reds surged ahead 3-0 with a two-out rally in the second inning. Singles by Tyler Stephenson, Will Benson and Stuart Fairchild loaded the bases before Maile’s double cleared them.

Cincinnati kept attacking in the third. Matt McClain tripled, Jonathan India was hit by a pitch, Elly De La Cruz hit an RBI single and Steer lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0.

The Reds increased their lead to 7-0 in the seventh inning off reliever Drew VerHagen. India hit a one-out double, De La Cruz reached on a fielder’s choice and Steer ripped a two-run double.

The Cardinals got on the board in their half of the inning on Goldschmidt’s two-out RBI double off Kevin Herget. They cut their deficit to 7-3 in the eighth inning when Luken Baker singled and Carlson followed with his homer.

Stephenson’s RBI single in the ninth inning pushed the Reds’ lead to 8-3, then Arenado’s homer in the bottom of the inning cut the margin to 8-4.

–Field Level Media

Jean Segura ripped a two-run double as part of a five-run rally in the ninth inning that lifted the visiting Miami Marlins to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday afternoon.

Miami’s offense had been held in check, but it finally broke through against right-hander Joe Kelly (1-3) in the ninth.

Garrett Cooper and Luis Arraez led off the inning with singles before Jorge Soler walked to load the bases with no outs. Bryan De La Cruz reached on a fielding error by shortstop Tim Anderson, plating the tying run in the process.

Jesus Sanchez then walked with the bases loaded, Yuli Gurriel chased Kelly and brought home another run with a groundout, and Segura capped the rally with his double that put the game out of reach.

Left-hander A.J. Puk worked around Yoan Moncada’s double in the ninth to put the finishing touches on the victory. Steven Okert (3-0) earned the win.

Soler had three hits and Arraez added two for the Marlins, who have won seven of their last eight games.

Andrew Vaughn homered for Chicago, which totaled five hits.

Miami’s rally spoiled a strong start from White Sox starter Michel Kopech, who scattered five hits across five scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out six.

Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara also earned a no-decision after giving up just one run on three hits in seven innings. He issued two walks and fanned four.

Miami threatened in the second, putting runners on first and second with one out. However, Jon Berti grounded into a double play, snuffing the potential rally. The Marlins also left a pair of runners in scoring position in the third when Gurriel popped out.

Vaughn capitalized on Miami’s inability to push across a run with a drive to right center to lead off the fourth, giving the White Sox a 1-0 lead. It was Vaughn’s eighth homer of the season.

Although they managed to pull off the win, the Marlins went 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left 12 on base.

–Field Level Media

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned from an injury to hit a three-run homer and four pitchers combined on a six-hit shutout as the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks handed the Detroit Tigers their eighth consecutive loss, 5-0, on Saturday afternoon.

Gurriel had missed the previous four games due to a groin injury. Nick Ahmed added a two-run homer for Arizona.

Ryne Nelson (3-3) allowed four hits in 5 2/3 innings while notching four strikeouts. Austin Adams had two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. Kyle Nelson got two outs and Jose Ruiz finished off the shutout for the Diamondbacks, who have won four straight and 10 of their last 12 games.

Matthew Boyd (3-5), Detroit’s starter, gave up all five runs and six hits in five innings. Kerry Carpenter had three hits and Miguel Cabrera had a pair of doubles but the Tigers were blanked for the eighth time this season and third time during the current slide.

Boyd set down the first five batters he faced. Pavin Smith then singled and Ahmed followed with his second homer this season to left center.

Arizona threatened to score more runs as Gabriel Moreno singled and Jake McCarthy drew a walk. Ketel Marte then singled to left but Moreno was thrown out at the plate.

Cabrera had a two-out double in the bottom of the inning but was left stranded as Jake Rogers struck out.

Detroit also failed to bring in a runner in scoring position in the third. Jake Marisnick led off with a single and advanced on a sacrifice and a groundout. Carpenter then fouled.out.

The Diamondbacks made it 5-0 in the fifth. Moreno led off with a double and Marte drew a one-out walk. With two down, Gurriel blasted a Boyd curveball over the left-center field wall.

Detroit got another two-out threat going in the bottom of the sixth. Carpenter doubled and Spencer Torkelson and Nick Maton walked to load the bases. Nelson was replaced by Austin Adams, who retired Zack Short on a flyout.

The Tigers also stranded two runners in the ninth.

–Field Level Media

Mired in a seven-game losing skid, the New York Mets made a series of roster moves on Saturday that included designating right-handed reliever Tommy Hunter for assignment.

Hunter, 36, pitched in Thursday’s 13-10 loss to the Atlanta Braves and Friday’s 14-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits with three home runs in 2 2/3 innings over the two games. Over 14 games this season, Hunter is 0-1 with a 6.85 ERA.

The team also optioned left-hander Zach Muckenhirn to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled right-hander John Curtiss and left-hander Josh Walker from Syracuse.

Muckenhirn, 28, also appeared in Friday’s loss in Pittsburgh, giving up three runs on six hits over 2 1/3 innings. He has a 6.00 ERA through six appearances this season.

Curtiss, 30, missed the entire 2022 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He pitched in 11 games for the Mets in April and May, posting a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings.

Walker, 28, walked two batters in one scoreless inning during his major league debut on May 16 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He is 2-1 with a 1.45 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 18.2 innings at Syracuse.

–Field Level Media

The Cincinnati Reds reinstated TJ Friedl on Saturday, with fellow outfielder Jake Fraley taking his place on the 10-day injured list.

In corresponding moves, the Reds recalled Kevin Herget from Triple-A Louisville and optioned fellow right-handed reliever Joel Kuhnel to the same location.

Friedl, 27, has not played since May 30 due to a left hamstring strain. He is batting .326 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 42 games this season.

Fraley, 28, is dealing with a right wrist contusion after being hit by a pitch during Tuesday’s 9-8 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is hitting .262 with seven homers and a team-high 38 RBIs in 55 games.

Herget, 32, is 1-2 with one save and a 4.79 ERA in 12 relief appearances this season for Cincinnati.

Kuhnel, 28, has pitched in two games for the Reds with no decisions and an 8.10 ERA in 3 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

Minnesota Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco returned to the 10-day injured list Saturday due to his troublesome left hamstring.

Polanco, 29, was reinstated from the IL on June 1 after missing 12 games with the same injury.

He is batting .250 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 30 games in his 10th season with the Twins. The 2019 All-Star is a lifetime .270 hitter with 103 homers and 415 RBIs in 782 games.

Minnesota recalled infielder Edouard Julien from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move. He made his MLB debut on April 12 and is batting .226 with four homers and eight RBIs in 19 games with the Twins.

–Field Level Media

The Detroit Tigers placed outfielder Akil Baddoo on the 10-day injured list Saturday and recalled utilityman Nick Solak from Triple-A Toledo.

Baddoo, 24, sustained a right quad strain during the fourth inning of the Tigers’ 11-6 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.

He is batting .231 with three homers and 16 RBIs in 50 games this season.

Solak was claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on Friday. He was then optioned to Toledo after Detroit cleared room on the 40-man roster by transferring right-hander Spencer Turnbull to the 60-day injured list.

Solak, 28, was designated for assignment Tuesday after appearing in just one game for Atlanta. He is a career .252 hitter with 21 homers and 93 RBIs in 254 games with the Texas Rangers (2019-22) and Braves.

–Field Level Media