Blue Jays close disappointing season with loss to Rays

In a year full of disappointment, the Toronto Blue Jays were left to focus on small victories as they closed out a regular season with games that became rather meaningless several weeks ago.

They were resigned to the role of spoiler and nearly put a significant dent in Tampa Bay's post-season hopes on Sunday, with a furious comeback attempt coming just short as the Rays held on for a 7-6 victory.

Tampa Bay locked up a tiebreaker game appearance with the win. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, were packing their lockers after a last-place finish in the American League East.

The Rays jumped out to an early six-run lead but the Blue Jays would not give in. Toronto manager John Gibbons was impressed that his team refused to quit.

"The guys hung in there and we made a run late, they had a shot," he said. "So I'm pretty proud of them for that."

At the start of the day, Tampa Bay (91-71) and the Texas Rangers were one game behind the Cleveland Indians in the race for the two wild-card spots. Cleveland defeated the Minnesota Twins 5-1 to win the first wild card and Texas beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-2.

Decisive game

The Rays will play the Rangers in a tiebreaker game Monday afternoon.

Toronto (74-88) finished last in the A.L. East division and fell to 40-41 on the year at Rogers Centre. It was the first season since 2004 that Toronto had a sub-.500 record at home.

Expectations were high for the Blue Jays in 2013 after an off-season makeover. Injuries and underperformance prevented them from making strides and they barely improved on last season's 73-89 record.

"It was difficult, the last two years actually," said Toronto reliever Darren Oliver, who plans to retire. "But that's why you play this game on the field, not on paper. Hopefully these guys can get it right one of these days because I think the fans are really hungry for a winning team. I mean I know if I was a fan, I would be."

The Blue Jays have not been to the playoffs since winning the World Series in 1993.

"I always look at it any time you're packing your stuff up and not playing in a post-season, it's a wasted year. For me personally, obviously not for the organization," said designated hitter Mark DeRosa. "A lot of good things happened for some young guys.

"But overall the ultimate goal was to win the A.L. East and find a way into the playoffs and we didn't accomplish it so I would say it's a disappointment."

Blue Jays starter Todd Redmond (4-3) struck out David DeJesus to open the game before running into trouble. The Rays put six runs on the board in the inning.

Redmond recorded just two outs in the shortest start of his career.

Tampa Bay starter Matt Moore (17-4) struggled with his command in the first inning. He walked three batters but escaped unscathed by striking out DeRosa with two runners on base.

The Blue Jays chipped away at the lead in the sixth inning. DeRosa energized the crowd of 44,551 with a two-run double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by J.P. Arencibia.

Moore was pulled with one out in the frame. He allowed three earned runs, six hits, three walks and had four strikeouts.

Oliver gets ovation

Oliver received a standing ovation when he came out in the seventh inning. The 42-year-old left-hander retired the Rays in order.

In the bottom half of the frame, Jose Reyes scored on a one-out double by Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C. Gose was held at third base and Joel Peralta relieved Jake McGee.

Peralta walked Moises Sierra to load the bases, drawing a visit by Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon. Home-plate umpire Paul Schrieber came to the mound and Maddon started to argue with him and was ejected.

Pinch-hitter Adam Lind then grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Maddon wouldn't reveal whether he was upset about ball and strike calls, only saying "I had enough." He did say he gave a message to his infielders.

"I said, 'Listen. That's it. I'm out of this game, I know you guys are going to be fine. I'm going to catch the rest of this game with a glass of wine in my hand and we're going to win it."'

Tampa Bay very nearly lost it.

The Blue Jays made it a one-run game in the eighth inning. Reyes drove in Ryan Langerhans with a single off Fernando Rodney and Gose followed with an RBI single of his own that scored Kevin Pillar.

Lawrie drew a two-out walk to load the bases but Moises Sierra followed with a strikeout.

The Blue Jays put a runner on in the ninth but Rodney got Ryan Goins on a lineout to end the game. It was Rodney's 37th save of the year.

Gibbons gave several relievers some work on the final game of the season. Oliver, Wagner, Luis Perez, Chad Jenkins, Jeremy Jeffress, Steve Delabar and Sergio Santos all made appearances.

Now the focus will shift to general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who will likely have another busy off-season ahead. The players remained optimistic that they can bounce back in 2014.

"We had a lot of people that thought we were going to win the World Series," Lawrie said. "But it takes a little bit of time to build chemistry. We had a little bit of trouble keeping some guys healthy, myself included. Reyes went down, the pitching staff went down a little bit. So you know, you've got to have your guys to make that push."

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rangers' Nelson Cruz back for AL wild-card tiebreaker

After 162 regular-season games, the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers need more to decide the second American League wild-card spot.

While the visiting Rays have the benefit of turning to reigning Cy Young Award winner David Price in their biggest game of the year, the Rangers are set to welcome back all-star Nelson Cruz on Monday (8:07 p.m. ET).

The Rays (91-71) held on for a 7-6 win over Toronto and the Rangers (91-71) beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 on Sunday, forcing a one-game showdown for the right to face Cleveland - which overtook both teams and clinched its playoff spot with a season-ending 10-game win streak - in the wild-card game Wednesday.

Texas figures to be more formidable with Cruz back in action. The two-time all-star and 2011 ALCS MVP completed his 50-game suspension for his role in Major League Baseball's Biogenesis investigation and will be activated for this game.

Cruz went 9-for-27 in eight games while playing in the instructional league in Arizona with a homer, five doubles and nine runs batted in. He batted .269 with 27 homers and 76 RBIs in 108 games prior to his ban.

"I'll have a chance [Monday] to be with me teammates and do the thing I love the most, play baseball," he said. "The guys are excited. I'm excited."

'This is a moment that I want to be in. I want to be able to relish this moment and go out there and have fun.'- Rays ace pitcher David Price

Cruz is 9-for-21 with three homers lifetime off Price, including playoffs, and outfielder Alex Rios is 10-for-23 with five extra-base hits.

Price (9-8, 3.39 earned-run average) is 1-7 with a 5.57 ERA in 11 starts against Texas, including the post-season. He will face a Rangers team that won seven straight by a 46-19 margin to keep its playoff hopes alive.

"Hands down my biggest game of this year, night and day bigger than opening day," said Price, who struck out eight over seven innings of two-run ball in Wednesday's 8-3 win at Yankee Stadium. "This is a moment that I want to be in. I want to be able to relish this moment and go out there and have fun."

Texas, which took four of seven from the Rays, beat them in the division series in 2010 and 2011.

"We have something to prove in Texas," said Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, hitting .360 with two homers and nine RBIs in his last six games. "We've left that place too many times with our heads down and disappointed. I feel like now is the time to be able to turn that page."

While Price has struggled against the Rangers, the Rays are confident in their ace. He is 6-2 with a 2.71 ERA in 10 road starts since July 2.

'I just need to relax and take it as another game.'- Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez

"You can't not feel good about it," Longoria said of giving the ball to Price. "He's the guy that I think everybody in this room looks to when we need somebody to go out and give us a great performance."

Texas counters with rookie Martin Perez (10-5, 3.55), who is eager to prove himself with the season on the line.

"I'm excited, but I don't want to put any pressure on myself or get nervous," he told MLB's official website. "I just need to relax and take it as another game."

Perez surrendered three runs and struck out a career high-tying eight over seven innings to beat Houston 7-3 on Wednesday, improving to 1-2 with a 4.13 ERA in his last four starts.

The left-hander allowed two solo homers in five-plus innings of relief in a 6-0 loss at Tampa Bay on Sept. 9, 2012, his only appearance versus the Rays.

"You can't say enough. Just the fight, the character of this team," said outfielder Craig Gentry, who is 17-for-36 (.472) with eight runs and 10 stolen bases in his last 10 games. "From being about as low as we could possibly be and almost everybody probably counting us out, and to come home and play the way we have."

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

J.A. Happ, Blue Jays blast Rays

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ capped a challenging season with one of his best efforts of the year.

It was a performance that leaves him feeling good heading into the off-season. It also significantly raised the pressure on the Tampa Bay Rays in their pursuit of an American League wild-card spot.

Happ retired 11 batters in a row at one point in Toronto's 7-2 victory over the Rays on Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre. He allowed one earned run and five hits over 7 1/3 innings.

"Overall it's a great way to finish for him," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "He can go into the off-season feeling confident and healthy."

Ryan Goins and Kevin Pillar hit two-run homers in Toronto's four-run fifth inning. First baseman Ryan Langerhans scored twice and had two of the Blue Jays' 12 hits.

The Rays' loss made things even tighter in the American League wild-card race. Tampa Bay and Texas were even at 90-71 after the Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-4 earlier in the day.

The Cleveland Indians (90-70) played the Minnesota Twins later Saturday. With a win, the Indians would move one game ahead of the Rays and Rangers while a loss would drop them into a three-way tie heading into the final day.

"We've been here before, we've been in these moments," said Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon. "We never do things seemingly easily so let's just play tomorrow and see what happens."

Todd Redmond (4-2) will get the start Sunday as the Blue Jays go for the three-game sweep.

"We'd like to come back and get one more win tomorrow," Gibbons said. "That's what it's all about. We'd rather be in their position, no doubt about that. But we'll come out tomorrow and play. Hopefully Redmond has a good one and he can finish on a good note and we'll see what happens.

"It's good for baseball, I know that."

Matt Moore (16-4) will get the pressure-packed starting assignment for the Rays.

"It's resiliency to infinity," Maddon said. "You have to come out and be yourselves and go out and play."

Happ finds form

Happ missed three months of action this season after suffering a fractured skull and sprained knee when he was hit in the head by a liner on May 7. He has found his form of late after making a minor change to his delivery.

"I've been working and battling and feeling like I was close," Happ said. "I feel like finally the last several starts I've kind of been putting it together. It feels good to end on a good note, for sure."

Happ settled down after a choppy opening frame.

Tampa Bay's Ben Zobrist opened the game with a double off the centre-field wall. Sean Rodriguez moved him to third with a sacrifice fly and Zobrist scored on a Wil Myers single.

Toronto (74-87) put runners on the corners in the bottom half of the inning but Anthony Gose grounded into a force out to end the threat.

The Blue Jays looked sloppy in the second inning. James Loney hit a sky-high pop fly that dropped to the turf beside the mound.

The crowd of 33,232 groaned at the miscue, which may have been caused by the bright afternoon sunshine and swirling wind. Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C., helped lift the Toronto fans' spirits later in the frame with a nice over-the-shoulder catch in foul territory for the third out.

Jose Reyes reached on an infield single in the third inning and moved to third on a hit-and-run play as Lawrie drove the ball into right field. Designated hitter Adam Lind followed with an RBI single that tied the game.

Archer pulled

With the stakes high for Tampa Bay, Maddon was quick with the hook. He pulled starter Chris Archer with one out in the frame and runners on the corners.

Reliever Alex Torres (4-2) got Gose to hit into a fielder's choice and then struck out Goins with two runners in scoring position to keep the game tied.

Langerhans opened the bottom of the fourth with a nice bunt down the third-base line and moved to second on an infield single by Pillar. Reyes drove a ball to deep left field that Rodriguez tracked down at the warning track for the second out.

That brought Maddon out for another pitching change, with right-hander Jamey Wright getting the nod.

Wright then walked Lawrie to load the bases and Lind stroked a single down the left-field line to score a pair. Moises Sierra struck out to end the rally.

In the fifth, Goins took a 3-2 pitch just over the wall in right field for his second homer of the season. Pillar's drive came on a 2-2 pitch from Brandon Gomes and barely cleared the wall in left field for his third homer of the year.

Happ allowed one walk and had four strikeouts. Archer, meanwhile, allowed one earned run, five hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

Toronto reliever Aaron Loup recorded two outs in the eighth inning. Dustin McGowan gave up a run in the ninth before striking out former Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar to end the game.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pirates to host Reds in NL wild-card game

Now that the NL wild-card matchup is set, the Pittsburgh Pirates are eager to host the first playoff game at PNC Park.

With one day left in the regular season, the AL wild-card picture is way more fuzzy. Still looming, in fact, is the possibility of a three-way tie for two spots.

Saturday's games firmed up a few things:

— Cincinnati will visit Pittsburgh on Tuesday night in the post-season opener to see who advances. Francisco Liriano (16-8) starts for the Pirates against Johnny Cueto (5-2).

— The AL wild-card winner will begin the playoffs at Boston on Friday. Miguel Cabrera and Detroit open at Oakland the same day in the other best-of-five division series.

— Though the NL pairings aren't set yet, St. Louis and Atlanta will open at home, both on Thursday.

Pittsburgh native Neil Walker homered twice and the Pirates won at Cincinnati 8-3 Saturday, beating out the Reds for home field in the one-game NL wild-card playoff.

"The important thing for me is getting the guys home and playing in a park where we won 50 games and giving our fans a taste of post-season baseball," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.

The AL wild-card chase is much more scrambled as Cleveland leads Tampa Bay and Texas by one game.

Cleveland has won nine in a row and finishes at Minnesota, Texas has won six straight and hosts the Angels, and Tampa Bay is at Toronto.

"I'm excited for tomorrow," Rays slugger Evan Longoria said after a 7-2 loss to the Blue Jays. "We like to make it interesting, that's for sure."

If the three teams are tied after Sunday, Cleveland would host Tampa Bay on Monday afternoon, with the winner advancing to the post-season. The loser would play at Texas on Tuesday afternoon for the second wild card.

In the event Sunday ends with a tie for the second wild-card berth, Texas would be home against Tampa Bay in a one-game tiebreaker Monday night.

The AL two wild cards are scheduled to Wednesday night to determine which advances to the division series.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

B.C.-born Jim Adduci part of Rangers' playoff chase

Jim Adduci is 10 minutes late for his scheduled interview and nowhere near a phone. He's working on his swing in the batting cage at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium.

In the heat of a playoff race, every at-bat is crucial, particularly for a player who has waited 10 years to compete at the major league level.

"It's about getting ready to play every day and not trying to take a day off," Adduci, who was born in Burnaby, B.C., said following batting practice.

The Texas Rangers recalled Adduci on Sept. 1 when major league teams were allowed to expand their rosters and he made his major league debut that night against Minnesota, singling to left field off in his first at-bat on the first pitch he saw from the Twins' Kevin Correia.

It was a long time coming for Adduci, who persevered for nine-plus seasons in the minor leagues. The Florida Marlins drafted Adduci in the 42nd round of the 2003 amateur draft and traded him to the Chicago Cubs late in the 2006 season.

Adduci patrolled the outfield for six seasons in the Cubs' system at double-A Tennessee and triple-A Iowa before the Chicago let Adduci walk last Nov. 3 after he hit .306 with 17 RBIs in 147 at-bats with Iowa. Texas signed him to a minor league deal nine days later.

Adduci turned heads at spring training  in March with a .444 batting average and seven RBIs in 19 games but was sent to triple-A Round Rock, where he hit .290 in 127 games with a career-high 16 home runs while his 32 steals topped the Pacific Coast League.

Used primarily as a pinch hitter with the Rangers against right-handed pitchers, the left-handed hitting Adduci did start a stretch of games from Sept. 13-19, but struggled at the plate and is back to pinch-hitting for a Rangers outfit that entered play Friday one game behind Cleveland for the second wild card berth in the American League.

"It's awesome to be part of this. The team, the players, everybody, it's been great," Adduci said. "Definitely being a part of this [playoff race] is a learning experience for me, too."

Adduci talked to CBCSports.ca about his new teammates, settling into a pinch-hitting role in the majors and who was on his mind when he got the call to the big leagues.

1. Which Texas Ranger players have taken you under their wing to help you settle in the major leagues?

Adduci: I've learned so much from the veteran guys here and how they go about their business in the heat of a race. I talk to [veteran first baseman Lance] Berkman a lot. We talk about hitting. His big thing to me, being part of this as a new experience, is just about competing. The game hasn't changed [from playing in the minors].

Another guy I go to a lot is [outfielder] Jeff Baker. I played with him a little bit with the [Chicago] Cubs in spring training. What he's done in his career is unbelievable, the time he has spent coming off the bench. I've kind of learned how to do that, understanding what I need to do [to prepare for that role].

His philosophy and what I've taken from it has been to keep it simple, which I like, and make sure your body and mind is ready.

2. As a reserve player, what is your routine to keep your mind and body prepared if called upon in the late innings?

I like to start stretching in the third inning and start to get my body loose. About the fifth [inning], I go into the [batting] cage and hit and keep stretching. I've been fortunate [where we've played] that [there] have some long tunnels under [the dugout] so I've been running and making sure my legs are ready to go.

Also, for me, the big part is always keeping focused on the game and what the situation is. You don't know every move that [Rangers manager Ron] Washington is going to make, but you try to be one step ahead of him and be ready for the situation when it comes.

3. Who was in your thoughts when you received the call to pack your bags for the major leagues?

Honestly, the one thing I thought about was the road it took to get there. I just thought about the ups and downs in the minor leagues. Nothing takes away from the experience I had there and I think everything happens for a reason. [But] at that point, I was ready [for a promotion].

I was in situations [in the minors] where I did come off the bench to pinch hit or pinch run. I started every day and moved around the outfield. I thought about that more than anything when I got the call. I thought about how long a road it's been for my family, my wife, who's been a part of this for a good time.

I called my parents and thanked them. They've sacrificed a lot for me to be able to be in this situation.

4. Describe the phone call when you told your dad, who played part of four seasons in the majors in the 1980s, that you had made it?

It was pretty special. It was kind of like I was still in shock, so it wasn't too emotional but it was. From him taking me to the field when he was playing and … being around the game for so long, it was a really great accomplishment for us.

In the off-season I still go to him [for advice]. Even during the season we talk all the time. The one thing he always says is 'have fun.'

There's such a small window to do this [play in the major leagues]. You have to enjoy it and embrace it. That's the one thing I've always kept with me the past couple of years as I'm getting older in the game is definitely enjoying it and having fun.

5. You hit a career-best 16 home runs at triple-A this season after hitting only 24 total in your previous nine seasons. Did a change in your batting stance or the way you hold the bat help lead to the spike in homers?

I think the one adjustment I made was getting a pitch to hit and understanding how to get in a good count, good position to be successful. There really wasn't any tinkering with my swing. I took sixteen good swings this year where I got a home run.

There always ups and downs and times when you doubt yourself as a player, but it's always about pushing through that moment. In my head, as I got more confident, I knew that I could contribute to the team up here and bring something to the table.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

R.A. Dickey, Blue Jays end Rays' 7-game win streak

The Toronto Blue Jays want to finish their final series of the year on a strong note as they look ahead to the 2014 season. It could spell trouble for the Tampa Bay Rays as they make their push for the post-season.

Jose Reyes scored twice and R.A. Dickey was effective over 7 1/3 innings as the Blue Jays defeated Tampa Bay 6-3 on Friday night at Rogers Centre. The loss ended Tampa Bay's seven-game winning streak and prevented the Rays from moving closer to locking up a playoff spot.

Tampa Bay (90-70) is tied with Cleveland for the two American League wild-card spots and Texas is a game back. The Indians hammered Minnesota 12-6 and the Rangers kept pace with a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. The Blue Jays (73-87), meanwhile, are last in the A.L. East and have been out of playoff contention for weeks. 

'We're playing hard, we're not going to give games away right now. We have a nice chance to play spoiler here at the end so it's going to be fun.'- Blue Jays 3rd baseman Ryan Goins

"We're playing hard, we're not going to give games away right now," said Toronto second baseman Ryan Goins. "We have a nice chance to play spoiler here at the end so it's going to be fun."

Tampa Bay can still host the wild-card game by beating Toronto in both games on the weekend.

Dickey settled down after giving up early solo homers to Ben Zobrist and Delmon Young. The Blue Jays put up four runs in the fourth and added a pair in the fifth as they improved to 39-40 at Rogers Centre this season.

"It's one of those games," said Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon. "We've been on a pretty good run. (We'll) go get a good night's sleep and come back tomorrow."

Dickey, who won the National League Cy Young Award last season with the New York Mets, started slowly this year but bounced back in the second half. Toronto manager John Gibbons said Dickey deserves credit for his 14-13 record.

"For a team that's below .500, he'll take that," he said. "He finished strong, he made all his starts. Good job."

The veteran knuckleballer felt that the Blue Jays have a lot of positives going for them heading into next year. Dickey, one of several big-name additions in the off-season, feels that having a full season together as a team is important going forward.

"Now we know what to expect out of each other, we know how to challenge each other, we know a little bit more about how to hold each other accountable," he told reporters. "All those things are very important on a team, as you well know.

"That's what they have across the street there (in the Rays' room) and that's what you want, that's what you hope for."

Tampa Bay turned in a rare sloppy defensive effort with three errors on the night. Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson was perfect his first time through the Toronto order but the Blue Jays got the bats going in the fourth inning while taking advantage of some miscues.

Reyes singled to get things started and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Munenori Kawasaki. Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C., reached on an error and Moises Sierra drove in Reyes with a single to right field.

With runners on the corners, Anthony Gose hit a blooper to shallow centre field that dropped in for a hit. Outfielder Sam Fuld's throw to the plate was not in time to catch Lawrie.

Goins followed with a base hit to centre that Fuld misplayed for an error. The ball rolled all the way to the wall, allowing Sierra and Gose to score easily.

"You can't really imagine a worse scenario as an outfielder," Fuld said.

Goins tried to score but was thrown out at the plate for the final out.

Hellickson issued a pair of two-out walks in the fifth inning and both runners came around to score. Lawrie singled home Reyes and Kawasaki came across when Sierra reached on an infield single.

Wesley Wright relieved Hellickson and struck out Gose with runners on the corners. Hellickson (12-10) allowed six runs — three of them earned — along with six hits and two walks. He had five strikeouts.

"The guys have been picking me up all year, offensively and defensively," Hellickson said. "It would have been nice to pick them up for once."

Tampa Bay loaded the bases in the eighth after two Toronto errors and a walk to Zobrist. Sergio Santos relieved Dickey and needed just one pitch to get James Loney to ground into a double play.

Santos gave up a run in the ninth before striking out pinch-hitter Luke Scott. It was his first save of the season.

Dickey's knuckleball was floating nicely and he mixed up his speeds to keep the Tampa hitters guessing. He allowed two earned runs, five hits and a walk over 7 1/3 innings while striking out three.

Zobrist opened the scoring in the first inning by taking a 3-0 pitch over the right-field wall for his 12th home run of the season.

Young followed an inning later with his third homer of the year and 100th of his career. Toronto left-fielder Kevin Pillar helped keep it a one-run inning with a great diving catch on a shallow flare off the bat of former Blue Jay Kelly Johnson.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mariano Rivera bids farewell to Yankee Stadium

He may live on in the dreams of many but The Sandman's famed career at Yankee Stadium can finally be put to bed. 

On Thursday night, Mariano Rivera — the iconic veteran New York Yankees closer — made his final appearance in pin stripes at his home ballpark, and received an ovation fit for a legend. 

The 13-time MLB All-Star's emotions got the best of him as the thunderous applause from the crowd echoed between the bleachers — a small token of appreciation for a storied career.

The 43-year-old began sobbing as teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, who is also retiring after the season, came out to remove him from the game with two outs in the ninth inning. 

Click the above video to see how it all happened.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

MLB commissioner Bud Selig to retire following 2014 season

Bud Selig took over a sport with $1.7 billion in revenue, four teams in each year's post-season, economic disparity among the clubs and a fixation on sticking with traditions that dated to the 19th century.

After a decade of maintaining his departure was imminent, the 79-year-old baseball commissioner put his exit plans in writing Thursday and said in a statement he will retire in January 2015 after 22 years — the second-longest term behind Kenesaw Mountain Landis.

His revolutionary reign produced an $8 billion industry, interleague play, an expanded post-season and two decades of labour peace. But, he also presided over a cancelled World Series and long-running drug scandal.

"He's been the voice of baseball. Some people liked his voice. Some people didn't," Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I have a lot of respect for the guy."

Selig has been a bit of the Boy Who Cried Wolf in the past when it came to his retirement. He said in 2003 that he would step down at the end of 2006 but has repeatedly accepted new contracts. 

'[Selig] has been the voice of baseball. Some people liked his voice. Some people didn't. I have a lot of respect for the guy.'- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire

Some owners — even his wife — had been skeptical in the past that he really would quit, but this marked the first time he issued a formal statement that he will give up the sport's top job. He even gave an exact date: Jan. 24, 2015.

"I look forward to continuing its extraordinary growth and addressing several significant issues during the remainder of my term," he said.

Selig's length of service and impact on his sport matches those of Pete Rozelle, the NFL commissioner from 1960-89, and David Stern, who is stepping down in February after 30 years as NBA commissioner.

Selig said he will soon announce a transition plan that will include a reorganization of central baseball management. Rob Manfred, baseball's chief labour negotiator, has gained increased influence in recent years, but it's not clear whether Selig's successor will come from within the commissioner's office.

Many had speculated Selig wanted to surpass the term of Landis, who served from November 1920 to November 1944.

Perhaps the biggest mark on Selig's tenure was the prevalence of performance-enhancing drugs. Management didn't have a drug agreement with its players from October 1985 until August 2002, and drug testing with penalties didn't start until 2004. Selig has repeatedly defended his record, saying baseball acted as fast as it could in a matter that was subject to bargaining with players.

'He's left his mark on the game'

"The game has grown under him tremendously. He's made every effort to try to clean the game up," New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's left his mark on the game. There's no doubt about it."

Selig's tenure also included splitting each league into three divisions instead of two in 1995, when wild cards and an additional round of playoffs were added. Wild cards doubled to four last year, when the post-season stretched to four rounds.

Expansion teams in Arizona and Tampa Bay started play in 1998, raising the major league total to 30. Interleague play began in 1997 along with revenue sharing, which allowed the smaller-market clubs a better chance to compete. Jackie Robinson's No. 42 was retired by Selig for all of MLB that same year, and other initiatives followed. Major League Baseball Advanced Media launched in 2000, the World Baseball Classic in 2006, limited video review of umpires' calls in 2008 and the Major League Baseball Network in 2009.

Owners have repeatedly praised his financial stewardship, which has led to record franchise values as shown by the $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. The average player salary has tripled under his tenure to more than $3 million.

Selig's critics said he moved cautiously — a characterization even he sometimes agreed with. Running baseball from his longtime home in Milwaukee, he worked to build consensus rather than dictate to owners in the manner of Peter Ueberroth. Selig used a grandfatherly charm to get what he wanted.

"Everything's been a success overall," Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "You're going to have your detractors, that goes without saying."

Selig became a baseball fan when his mother took him to games as a child. Working in the family auto-leasing business, he became a minority investor in the Milwaukee Braves and tried to stop the team's move to Atlanta for the 1966 season.

As a stopgap measure, he arranged for the Chicago White Sox to play nine regular-season games at Milwaukee in 1968 and 11 the following year. Just before the 1970 season, he bought the Seattle Pilots in bankruptcy court, moved the franchise to Milwaukee and renamed it the Brewers.

Mentored by Detroit Tigers owner John Fetzer, Selig became a leading owner by the early 1980s in his role as chairman of the Player Relations Committee, which determined labour policy. He was part of the group that wanted major changes in the sport's lab contract with players and forced the resignation of Fay Vincent, who had been in office for three years. Selig took over as acting commissioner on Sept. 9, 1992, in his role as chairman of the executive council.

While he presided over a 7 ½-month strike in 1994-95 that led to the cancellation of the World Series for the first time in 90 years, following eight straight work stoppages owners and players reached agreements without interruption in 2002, 2006 and 2011.

Planned retirement

Although Selig repeatedly said he would not take the job full time, he was formally elected commissioner July 9, 1998. He turned running the Brewers over to daughter Wendy Selig-Prieb, but the Selig family did not sell the franchise until 2005.

Selig agreed to a new contract as commissioner in 2001. He first announced his planned retirement in 2003, telling a group from Associated Press Sports Editors he would leave in 2006.

"For a guy who took it in Sept. 9, 1992, and I told my wife it was two-to-four months — 14 years later ... I think that will be enough. There's no question, because there are other things I really would like to do."

Asked again if this was his final term, Selig responded; "Oh, there's no question."

He then agreed to new contracts in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Selig has said he wants to write a book. He has taught at the University of Wisconsin and Marquette's law school.

"We look forward to working with the commissioner over the next 15 months," union head Michael Weiner said in a statement. "Then, we hope the commissioner enjoys his retirement and wish him well."

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dodgers' Andre Ethier in playoff limbo

Andre Ethier wants no part of speculation about his playoff status. 

He is still plenty optimistic his troublesome left ankle can heal in time to be part of the postseason roster for the National League West champion Los Angeles Dodgers. 

"I'm not worried about that right now, I'm worried about tomorrow," Ethier said after Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Giants.

"So does the post-season start tomorrow? All right, so we're worried about tomorrow, it's as simple as that.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves too much here and see if we can get the best scoop, all right? So work out tomorrow and that's the scoop I'll give you for that." 

Ethier returned to Southern California earlier Wednesday to have his troublesome left ankle re-examined, then returned to the Bay Area to rejoin his club. 

While the team isn't sure whether he will be available for the NL Division Series starting next week, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said after the game he remains hopeful the outfielder will heal. 

"It's gotten a lot better in 11 days," he said. "I think we're right at the edge of it turning the corner." 

The Dodgers announced during the game with the Giants that Ethier was examined by team orthopedist Dr. Neal ElAttrache and orthopedic foot and ankle specialist Dr. Phillip Kwong. Repeat MRI and CT scans were performed, showing the injured area had improved but not fully healed. 

"Ethier will be cleared to return to competition when he is able to run the bases without pain," the Dodgers said. "Until then, he will continue to hit and throw as before." 

Ethier said his next step would be determined by how he feels when he arrives at AT&T Park on Thursday. 

"Five days ago, I was wearing a boot in Arizona," he said. "Yesterday, I was shagging balls in the outfield.

"So who knows? Maybe I wake up tomorrow and it feels good." 

Despite starter Ricky Nolasco's late-September struggles, Mattingly remains confident he will contribute in October. 

The right-hander (13-11) is 0-2 over his last three outings since getting victories in four consecutive starts and seven straight decisions. 

"Ricky's shown us he can throw the ball really well and he can make good pitches," Mattingly said. "I don't think Ricky has done anything that's going to change our mind." 

Mattingly said before the game he has to prepare for the fact Ethier might not be healthy in time for the playoffs. 

"I think you're always making plans with different scenarios," he said. 

"I'm a little worried about him, just because it didn't look very good yesterday and he wasn't running really very hard when it happened," Mattingly said. "Again, I'd like to be really optimistic.

"Hopefully, it's something that a couple of days maybe. It seemed like we had the same type of thing with Matt [Kemp], where it was a little anxious about turning and the next thing you know two days later he was rolling.

"That'd be great. But we'll just see." 

'Didn't go very good'

Forced to leave a Sept. 13 game against the Giants, Ethier successfully shagged fly balls Tuesday in San Francisco, but tried to test the ankle running bases and quickly encountered problems and ended the session. Ethier was expected back in the Bay Area late Wednesday. 

"He went to run bases yesterday and it didn't go very good," Mattingly said. "Just make sure we're not missing anything.

"I think they said they would rule out there's not something major going on." 

While Mattingly said he and general manager Ned Colletti have yet to sit down and hash out the first-round roster in depth, he expects to go with 25 healthy players. 

Ethier missed his 10th game with the injury Wednesday. He is batting .272 with 12 home runs and 52 runs batted in for the NL West champions. Ethier has had a strong second half and became the first player in Dodgers history to reach 30 doubles in seven consecutive seasons. 

"We have to talk about it," Mattingly said. "It's tough, you want to play healthy

"You don't really want to play short. We'll see when we get there with the roster part of it.

"The main thing now is to be able to find out if he's going to be able to go or not. We may get enough information that it's not even a question one way or the other." 

'My confidence is there'

The Dodgers lost the season series to the Giants for the second straight year, the first time dropping back-to-back season series since 2002-03. 

Nolasco is eager for another chance. 

"My confidence is there," he said. "I'm not walking guys.

"So hopefully, things will turn around as far as catching a couple breaks. I'm not knocking any of their guys, you've got some very good hitters in that lineup.

"I just feel like I'm not catching a couple breaks here and there that could change the game. I still feel good.

"I feel like I'm making good pitches. Just getting burned on some things here and there." 

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Blue Jays 1 of 2 MLB teams with 20-year playoff drought

Only two Major League Baseball teams have failed to make the playoffs since the start of the 1994 strike-shortened season: the Toronto Blue Jays and the Kansas City Royals.

It used to be a list of three teams, until the Pittsburgh Pirates clinched their first playoff berth in more than two decades last night.

Put another way, 28 baseball teams have found a way to make the playoffs at least once since the Jays last won the World Series in 1993.

It's a great story in Pittsburgh at the moment, with the team seeing some long-awaited success after posting 20 consecutive seasons of sub-.500 baseball.

But that makes the failure in Toronto all the more apparent, considering that the Blue Jays had eight winning seasons over the same time period. If you include the .500 finish in 2011, the Jays have had nine seasons in which they broke even or better.

The Royals have only had three seasons where they won more than half their games: 1994, in which the season ended without playoffs because of the strike, as well as 2003 and 2013. Kansas City hasn't made the playoffs since 1985, the year they won the World Series.

There's still more bad news for the Blue Jays.

The Royals still have an outside shot at clinching a wildcard spot this year, with MLB.com putting their odds at doing so at 1.5 per cent.

Still, if the Royals manage to pull off the seemingly impossible feat of landing a wildcard spot, Toronto will become the only team in the majors not to have played meaningful October baseball since Kim Campbell was the prime minister.

The Blue Jays have six games left to play in the regular season and the team sits at the bottom of the American League's East Division.

Toronto had started the season with sky-high expectations, following an off-season in which the team acquired starting pitchers R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, as well as shortstop Jose Reyes and outfielder Melky Cabrera.

But aside from a 11-game winning streak in June, the Blue Jays never managed to put together the type of season they and their fans were hoping for.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Orioles' Manny Machado avoids surgery

The Baltimore Orioles and Manny Machado couldn't have asked for a much better diagnosis on his injured left knee: The third baseman avoided tearing any major ligaments and could be running in six to eight weeks without surgery.

An MRI on Tuesday revealed Machado has a torn medial patellofemoral ligament. He will rest the knee until the swelling subsides and then go through a light rehabilitative program.

"The MCL is fine, the ACL is fine," Orioles head trainer Richie Bancells said. "All those major ligaments are fine. This is a smaller ligament."

The injury occurred Monday during Baltimore's game at Tampa Bay. Machado was running out a single and stepped awkwardly on the inside of the base. He tumbled to the ground and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher.

The Orioles feared Machado tore his ACL, which would have kept him sidelined into the 2014 season. 

'I was relieved because it's a good report. If everything falls into place like we think, this is something he could recover from with rest. Of course, he's out for the rest of the season, but he will be able to come back and play next year.'- Orioles executive V.P. of baseball operations Dan Duquette

"I was relieved because it's a good report," said Dan Duquette, executive vice-president of baseball operations. "If everything falls into place like we think, this is something he could recover from with rest. Of course, he's out for the rest of the season, but he will be able to come back and play next year."

The 21-year-old Machado had played in every game this season and was an integral part of team's success. He's batting .283 with 14 homers, 71 RBIs and 51 doubles.

Machado's teammates were horrified when he fell to the ground Monday.

"To see a kid that young to go through what he went through at the end of such a phenomenal season, my heart broke for him," second baseman Brian Roberts said. "He'll be back 100 per cent, no doubt in my mind. Coming back, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Certainly, he's got age of his side. He's got a lot of great things going for him, and hopefully he comes back better than he's ever been. At the time, though, it was demoralizing for all of us."

The news that the injury was far less severe than expected was met with relief in the clubhouse and throughout the organization. Machado, a former No. 1 draft pick, has been an integral part in the Orioles' high quality of play over the past two seasons.

"It's good news for the clubhouse," manager Buck Showalter said. "As much for the person as what it means. They all have really come to respect Manny and the way he carries himself."

Machado has earned the respect of those from other teams by the way he carries himself on the field.

"A guy like him, everything he does is right," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "The approach to the game, the effort he gives. He's in a different category."

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Orioles' Manny Machado leaves game on stretcher

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has been taken off the field on a stretcher after injuring his left leg running out an infield single.

Machado's leg buckled when he reached the first-base bag in the seventh inning of Monday's game at Tampa Bay.

Machado was in obvious pain while being treated on the infield dirt near first by team trainers and stadium medical officials.

Baltimore manager Buck Showalter patted Machado several times near the shoulder before the stretcher was moved from the playing field.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Is Mariano Rivera the best closer of all time?

He's lived in the dreams of many, and created nightmares in many others. 

But The Sandman, Mariano Rivera, is in reality arguably the greatest relief pitcher of all time. 13 All-Star appearances are just impressive part of his resume. 

But what really sets the New York Yankees closer apart from the rest of his peers? 

The CBC's Shane Foxman explains why he's the best closer the game has ever seen.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Athletics win 2nd straight AL West title

The Oakland Athletics are AL West champions again.

The A's clinched their 16th division title and 25th post-season appearance when Texas lost 4-0 at Kansas City on Sunday. Oakland was hosting the Minnesota Twins.

With the Twins batting in the third, word started to circulate around the Oakland Coliseum of Justin Maxwell's two-out grand slam that beat the Rangers in the 10th inning to seal the division title for the A's. Some players, noticing the high-fives and hollers in the stands, kept glancing at the manual scoreboard in left field.

The ending of the Royals-Rangers game was shown on the video board between innings. There were no noticeable celebrations in the dugout.

It was quite a different scene than a year ago, when the A's won the AL West on the final day of the regular season by beating Texas. This year's run to the post-season is far less surprising but equally remarkable.

The A's had the fourth-lowest opening day payroll at about $65 million. They have a roster full of mostly anonymous and up-and-coming players. And their home is an old, dual-sport stadium where sewage has leaked in the clubhouses and the dugouts in one sickening scene after another this summer.

The A's still emerged as the team to watch this October in the Bay Area with the San Francisco Giants — winners of two of the last three World Series — far out of the post-season picture. Oakland had won three straight, 11 of 12, and 12 of 15 to move a season-high 29 games over .500 entering play Sunday.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Braves, Cardinals clinch playoff spot with Nationals' loss

The Atlanta Braves clinched the NL East title on Sunday, and then rode two homers by Andrelton Simmons to a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

The game was in the sixth inning when Washington lost 4-2 to Miami, giving the Braves their first division crown in eight years. There were a few high-fives in Atlanta's dugout when the Marlins won, and a couple of Braves fans did the tomahawk chop in the stands.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez high-fived a fan as he made his way to the dugout after a lineup change, and the celebration really picked up when Craig Kimbrel finished for his major league-best 49th save. The Braves poured out of the dugout and bullpen and jumped in a circle near the mound before retreating to the cramped visitors' clubhouse at Wrigley Field to continue the party.

"What a great feeling," Gonzalez said. "It really is a great feeling to realize we've played 150-some games to get to this point. We knew early on that the Nationals had lost but we still wanted to be able to celebrate and come out with a win. And we did."

Simmons hit a solo drive in the fourth and a two-run shot in the eighth, giving him 17 homers on the year.

Simmons' second career multihomer game was more than enough run support for Julio Teheran (13-8), who struck out seven over six innings of one-run ball.

The St. Louis Cardinals have clinched a playoff spot for the third straight year.

Washington's 4-2 loss to Miami in a doubleheader opener Sunday assured the Cardinals of at least an NL wild-card berth.

Not that anyone could tell in the Miller Park clubhouse before the Cardinals played Milwaukee on Sunday night. There was no champagne on ice, no victory cigars being lit up.

There's still an NL Central title at stake.

The Reds beat the Pirates earlier Sunday 11-3, leaving both teams 2 1-2 games back of St. Louis going into the Brewers game.

"We're confident. We know we have a good ballclub. Everything's clicking right now," first baseman Matt Adams said. "We're happy but we want to keep taking things day by day and then win the division and then go from there."

Manager Mike Matheny said he learned of the Nationals loss while in the weight room before. There was some chit-chat, and Matheny said he would have a quick conversation about it with his club after Sunday night's game.

The Cardinals clinched the same day Matheny turned 43.

Neither milestone caused much of a stir.

Don't expect the Cardinals to rest their players the final week just because they're in, too.

"Right now, we're nowhere near that," he said. "We've got a lot of baseball to win these next seven games."

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jays' Rasmus hit in face with throw, leaves game vs. Red Sox

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Colby Rasmus left Friday night's game against the Boston Red Sox after he was hit in the face with a ball while jogging out to the field in the middle of the first inning.

Rasmus was replaced by Kevin Pillar in the lineup.

Rasmus was heading to centre field when a ball came from the direction of right fielder Anthony Gose and hit him in the face. A Blue Jays trainer went out to help Rasmus and then led him off the field.

Rasmus was activated from the disabled list last week after spending 29 games on it with a strained muscle in his left side.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jays' Colby Rasmus placed on 15-day DL with eye injury

The Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Colby Rasmus on the 15-day disabled list before Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox because of an injured left eye.

Rasmus was hurt Friday before the bottom of the first while the Blue Jays were warming up and right fielder Anthony Gose hit him with a throw.

Ramus finishes the season with a .276 average, 22 homers and 66 RBIs.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees' Andy Pettitte announces he will retire

Andy Pettitte had no interest in a farewell tour or some big pronouncement regarding his (second) retirement. Anything more than a conference call the day after the season would only feel embarrassing.

"Because I've done this before," said a sheepish Pettitte, who briefly stepped away from baseball two years ago. "I feel awkward doing this right now, to tell you the truth."

Still, the New York Yankees pitcher was having a hard time telling people he wasn't sure if he'd be back next season when he already knew this was it. And he wanted to thank fans for all their support, something he wished he had a chance to do the first time.

So after discussing it with several close friends — including Mariano Rivera over lunch in Toronto — Pettitte chose to formally announce his decision at a Yankee Stadium news conference Friday.

"I'm ready to be home again," Pettitte said. "But the biggest thing is, I'm just done."

In a statement released Friday afternoon, hours before the Yankees began their final homestand, the 41-year-old Pettitte said he has reached the point where he knows he has left everything he has on the field.

The left-hander initially retired after the 2010 season, but sat out only one year before returning to the Yankees.

This time, he means it.

"The time is right. I've exhausted myself, mentally and physically, and that's exactly how I want to leave this game," he said.

In a nice bit of symmetry, Pettitte is scheduled to make two more starts this season — one at Yankee Stadium and the other in his hometown of Houston.

"That is crazy. It really is. It's cool that it's going to work out that way," Pettitte said.

He is set to pitch against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, when the Yankees will honour Rivera in a pregame ceremony. Baseball's career saves leader also is retiring.

Pettitte said one of the things he struggled with in making an announcement was "doing anything to take away from Mariano's day" because of how much Rivera has meant to him and his career.

Saying goodbye

Rivera, however, encouraged Pettitte to say goodbye at Yankee Stadium.

"He thinks it's going to make the day even better," Pettitte said. "I feel like we're connected."

Rivera has saved 72 of Pettitte's 255 career wins, the most for any tandem in major league history.

"It's like brothers. We came up in this organization at the same time. We've been through good times and bad times," Rivera said. "Now we go out together, too."

Asked if he had any regrets, Pettitte mentioned human growth hormone. He has admitted using the banned substance years ago, saying he did it in an effort to recover faster from an injury.

He said he would never want kids to think he tried to cheat.

"I know my heart. I've never tried to cheat this game. Never tried to cheat anything in my life," Pettitte said. "That's the truth."

Pettitte holds MLB records for post-season wins (19) and starts (44), but it would take quite a surge by the Yankees for him to get an opportunity to add to those marks. They began the day 3 ½ games behind Tampa Bay and Texas for the second AL wild card, with three other teams in between.

A three-time All-Star, Pettitte has helped New York to seven AL pennants and five World Series championships during 15 seasons in pinstripes. He was the MVP of the 2001 AL championship series and is the franchise leader in career strikeouts with 2,009.

He joined old buddies Rivera, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada to make up the "Core Four" that has led the Yankees to more than a decade and a half of sustained success.

'My time here is done'

Jeter, limited by injuries to just 17 games this season, will be the only one left next year.

"We've had a great run here," Pettitte said. "I just feel like my time here is done."

Pettitte said the original plan was to come back for just one season, but a broken ankle that sidelined him for almost three months last year changed his mind. He knew coming into 2013 that this would be it, and nothing that's happened since has made him vacillate — including a back injury that wasn't easy to shake.

Pettitte is 10-10 with a 3.93 ERA in 28 starts. After a rough patch, he has pitched particularly well down the stretch with New York desperately chasing a playoff berth.

"Vintage Andy Pettitte. Crunch time, he's always there," manager Joe Girardi said. "It's just who Andy Pettitte is. When the stakes get higher, he gets better."

Asked for his greatest moment, Pettitte mentioned the first championship he won with the Yankees in 1996 — which ended an 18-year drought for the franchise.

His final start is scheduled for next weekend against Houston, the only team for which he has played besides the Yankees. He spent 2004-06 with the Astros, teaming with Roger Clemens to help the club make its only World Series appearance in 2005.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jays' Rasmus hit in face with throw, leaves game vs. Red Sox

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Colby Rasmus left Friday night's game against the Boston Red Sox after he was hit in the face with a ball while jogging out to the field in the middle of the first inning.

Rasmus was replaced by Kevin Pillar in the lineup.

Rasmus was heading to centre field when a ball came from the direction of right fielder Anthony Gose and hit him in the face. A Blue Jays trainer went out to help Rasmus and then led him off the field.

Rasmus was activated from the disabled list last week after spending 29 games on it with a strained muscle in his left side.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dodgers clinch NL West with win over Diamondbacks

The Los Angeles Dodgers soaked everyone in sight with champagne in the clubhouse. Many players raced back out for a celebratory dip in Arizona's Chase Field swimming pool.

From last place to an NL West title in less than three months, they sure let loose.

Burdened by high expectations and a horrible start, the Dodgers relieved their pent-up pressure with a joyful celebration after becoming the first team this year to clinch a playoff spot. Hanley Ramirez homered twice as they rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6 on Thursday. 

'We're a veteran ballclub. We understand it's not how you start, it's how you finish.'- Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez

"I want to keep going," Ramirez said. "I think that we've got a couple of more steps to do. We've got to keep working and stay together all the way through to the end."

Ramirez was back in the lineup after being sidelined five of six games with an irritated nerve in his lower back. He's played 1,090 regular-season games but will be making his first trip to the post-season. Only three active players have played more games without making the playoffs.

Despite an NL-high payroll of $214 million-plus on opening day, the Dodgers got off to an 30-42 start and were last in the division, 9 1/2 games behind the first-place Diamondbacks, before play on June 22. Los Angeles has gone 58-23 since, including an unreal 42-8 run that coincided mostly with dynamic Cuban defector Yasiel Puig's callup to the major leagues.

"I'm a guy that doesn't show a lot of emotion," manager Don Mattingly said. "I really try to keep it kind of even. But this is a great accomplishment for these guys. We put a great team together and a big payroll with huge expectations. A lot of time that falls apart and it had a chance to fall apart during the season, I thought.

"But the coaching staff stuck together. These guys were loyal to me. There was no backbiting or somebody trying to leap over me. They stuck together. ... The players came together, we got healthy, and then we just rolled."

The Dodgers trailed 6-3 in the sixth and A.J. Ellis hit a tiebreaking homer off Josh Collmenter (4-4) leading off the eighth.

J.P. Howell (2-1) got two outs for the victory. Kenley Jansen struck two in the ninth for his 26th save.

Celebration away from home

Clinching on the home field of their nearest, but not very near, rival, the Dodgers charged the mound after Aaron Hill flew out to left field for the final out. They mobbed Jansen and the throng bounced out toward second base in continued celebration. A few Diamondbacks watched from the dugout. Most made their way to the clubhouse.

"That was pretty awesome, man," Jansen said. "It showed that we never quit. We kept playing hard. Even today, they scored six runs, we never quit. That's pretty awesome."

Ramirez, hit a three-run homer in the third inning and a tying solo shot in the seventh. It was his 14th career multihomer game and first since Aug. 18 of last year.

It was fitting he was the star of the clinching win.

"We're a veteran ballclub," Adrian Gonzalez said. "We understand it's not how you start, it's how you finish."

In the ninth, with a sizeable contingent of Dodger fans roaring its approval, Jansen fanned Paul Goldschmidt and Martin Prado before Hill's fly all ended it.

Arizona manager Kirk Gibson, whose team won the division two years ago, appreciated what the Dodgers had accomplished, even if it was difficult to watch them celebrate on the Diamondbacks' turf.

"You just take it in and reflect on some things," Gibson said. "We still have to play hard the rest of the way out. It is disappointing. We fought hard and the guys played good today. We were unable to secure the lead."

Remarkable 2nd half

With a new ownership taking over from Frank McCourt on May 1 last year, the Dodgers stumbled this spring and Mattingly's job appeared to be in jeopardy.

But Los Angeles won 17 of 20 leading into the All-Star break and was 22 games above .500 after a three-game sweep of the Mets on Aug. 17.

Lately, the banged-up team had struggled, losing nine of 12 and five of six entering Thursday's games.

Los Angeles started strong in this one, though.

Arizona starter Wade Miley's troubles in the third began when he walked Dodgers starter Ricky Nolasco to lead off the inning. Puig was forced out at second on a throw from right fielder Gerardo Parra after the base runner held up on Jerry Hairston Jr.'s blooper. That brought up Ramirez and he homered to left to make it 3-0.

Nolasco couldn't hold it.

Arizona started the third with four consecutive hits, including an RBI double from Paul Goldschmidt and two-run triple by Prado to tie it at 3. Miguel Montero singled Prado home with the go-ahead run. After Parra's two-out single, Miley's double to deep left-centre brought the runners in to make it 6-3.

Los Angeles came back.

Consecutive doubles by Juan Uribe and Scott Van Slyke, followed by Ellis' RBI single cut the lead to 6-5 in the sixth, then Ramirez led off the seventh with his 20th home run of the season, on an 0-2 pitch from Chaz Roe, and it was tied 6-all.

Collmenter came on to get Arizona out of trouble in the seventh, but Ellis, the No. 9 hitter in the Dodgers batting order, sent the first pitch of the eighth just over the fence in left and Los Angeles led 7-6.

Miley went five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Nolasco went five innings, giving up six runs on nine hits.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Adam Lind, Anthony Gose power Blue Jays past Yankees

Todd Redmond threw a season-high seven innings and allowed four hits and one earned run as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 6-2 on Thursday night. Anthony Gose hit a solo shot and Adam Lind belted a three-run homer as the Blue Jays (70-82) won the rubber game of the three-game series in front of 32,003 fans at Rogers Centre.

The Yankees (80-73) fell 3 1/2 games behind Texas and Tampa Bay in the race for the two American League wild-card spots.

Redmond (4-2) threw 69 of his 100 pitches for strikes and kept the ball down in the zone throughout the game. A solo shot by Curtis Granderson was his lone hiccup on the evening.

Redmond, 28, has won three straight decisions and has done a solid job since moving from the bullpen in early July to help a rotation that had been plagued by injuries and inconsistency.

"Things just worked out perfectly here for him," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "You know what, with everything we've been through, we've been looking for guys.

Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees is honoured before the game against the Blue Jays on September 19, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

"That's how careers and great stories are made."

After spending parts of eight seasons in the minors, Redmond made his first major-league start last August for the Cincinnati Reds. It was his only appearance for the team and Toronto later claimed him off waivers last March.

He spent some time at triple-A Buffalo and has been a steady presence since being called up by the Blue Jays. Redmond has allowed two earned runs or less in six of his last nine starts.

"He doesn't give in, nothing rattles him," Gibbons said. "He's a lot like [Mark] Buehrle from the right side. They've got the same mental approach. They just compete, good, bad or ugly. They don't back down from anything. They take the ball.

"You need more of those guys in this game if you're going to win anything."

Redmond said he's always been confident, he was just waiting for his shot.

"I just know my ability, I knew I was capable of doing it," he said. "I've gone through the minors and I got the chance and now I'm just trying to go with it and run with it."

His statistics are improving with every outing. Redmond has struck out 16 batters over his last three starts while issuing just one walk and his earned-run average is down to 3.89.

"They claimed me off waivers for a reason," he said. "I guess they saw something in me to actually claim me. After getting claimed by the Orioles [in February 2012] and then claimed here, they saw something and I'm glad they did."

Sergio Santos relieved Redmond and worked a perfect eighth inning. The Yankees loaded the bases in the ninth before Casey Janssen came on for the final two outs to pick up his 32nd save.

The Blue Jays gave Mariano Rivera something to remember Canada by in his final trip north of the border with the New York Yankees.

Rivera was presented with a carving by Inuit sculptor David Ruben Piqtoukun before the game. The carving depicts Kiviuq, a popular hero figure in Inuit legends and stories.

The Blue Jays improved to 5-3 at home against the Yankees this season but were a dismal 0-10 in New York.

"The way the year has gone here, we're looking for some satisfaction and two out of three against them is nice," Gibbons said. "Especially the way they've been beating us like a drum all year long. So we like to inflict our own version of pain somehow."

Hiroki Kuroda (11-12) allowed eight hits and three earned runs over six innings for the Yankees, who are seeing their post-season hopes fade with each defeat.

"There's only so many 'Get 'em tomorrows' left," said third baseman Mark Reynolds. "We're going to keep fighting and see where we are."

Gose, who had three of Toronto's 10 hits, restored the Blue Jays' two-run lead in the sixth inning with his second homer of the year. Lind followed an inning later with a rainbow shot, his 22nd homer of the season, off Joba Chamberlain.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Blue Jays' Edwin Encarnacion to undergo wrist surgery

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion is scheduled to undergo wrist surgery this week and will miss the final two weeks of the regular season.

The all-star slugger will have cartilage damage repaired in his left wrist.

"They said it's a simple procedure to clean it out," manager John Gibbons said before Tuesday's home game against the New York Yankees. "He's been dealing with it all year and just got to the point where his bat launch [letting go of the bat on his swing] became too frequent. You could tell he was battling it."

Gibbons said that left-handed reliever Brett Cecil would also go on the disabled list with a sore elbow. Cecil will have an MRI exam this week.

"He's had some elbow discomfort for a little over a month," Gibbons said. "He hadn't been pitching much. He'll get an MRI in the next few days. They don't think [it is serious] but he will get it checked out."

Encarnacion finishes the season with 36 homers, 104 runs batted in, a .272 batting average and an on-base percentage of .370. He missed four games with soreness in the wrist from Sept. 8-12 and returned last weekend for a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees' 4-run inning enough to sink Blue Jays

J.A. Happ is finding new success at the end of the season. The Toronto Blue Jays haven't shared in his good fortune.

Happ struck out seven over seven-plus innings of work on Wednesday, staking Toronto to a 3-0 lead before the Blue Jays lost to the New York Yankees 4-3.

The left-hander has lowered his arm slot when he throws, giving his fastball more movement and more break to his off-speed pitches. 

'I hung a split to Cano and he got out in front and hit it pretty hard. To Soriano I thought I made a good pitch down and away and he got the head to it and I hung another pitch to Vernon [Wells].'- Jays reliever Steve Delabar

"It obviously feels a lot more than it actually is," said Happ. "Whenever you change that up an inch or two seems like a foot. Today I felt good and for the most part maintained that slot. From a stuff standpoint it was similar but I think I had a little bit of an easier time repeating pitches and kind of using everything. It felt a little more smooth."

Happ gave up four hits, three walks and just one run but earned a no decision as New York scored three runs off the Blue Jays' (69-82) bullpen in the eighth inning for a 4-3 lead.

The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Yankees (80-72), who are now 2 1-2 games out of an American League wild card spot. Toronto, meanwhile, has lost six of its last eight games.

"I thought he was tremendous," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons of Happ. "He was a different guy tonight. Hopefully that's a start. He's got to feel good about that.

"We pissed it away but he's got to feel good about that outing."

Jays bullpen fails

Yankees' starter Phil Hughes allowed four hits, including one home run, and two runs in 3 1-3 innings and has not won since July 2. Left-hander David Huff (3-1) allowed one run in 3 2-3 innings of relief to pick up the win. Mariano Rivera — who is retiring at the end of the season — pitched 1 1-3 innings to earn his 44th save of the season and escaped a ninth-inning jam by striking out J.P. Arencibia with runners at second and third to end the game.

The Blue Jays took their three-run lead into the eighth inning on the strength of home runs in the fourth inning by Colby Rasmus and Ryan Goins, the first of his major-league career.

Happ was replaced by left-hander Aaron Loup after Brendan Ryan led off the eighth with a double.

Curtis Granderson followed up Ryan's hit with a single and right-hander Steve Delabar replaced Loup, immediately striking out Alex Rodriguez. Robinson Cano then singled in a run and Alfonso Soriano doubled in another run.

That set the stage for former Blue Jay Vernon Wells to double in two runs and give the Yankees a 4-3 lead.

"I hung a split to Cano and he got out in front and hit it pretty hard," said Delabar. "To Soriano I thought I made a good pitch down and away and he got the head to it and I hung another pitch to Vernon."

Delabar said he was disappointed for Happ.

"He pitched a great game today," said Delabar. "We're down there trying to give him as much support as we can. Then to come in and not get the job done it's a slap in the face. Couldn't feel worse."

Rivera shuts the door, again

Rivera retired Brett Lawrie on a grounder to end the bottom of the eighth after Rajai Davis singled against David Robertson and stole second.

Adam Lind led off the ninth against Rivera with a single and Kevin Pillar pinch ran for him.

Rasmus followed with a single to move Pillar to second.

Left-handed hitter Munenori Kawasaki batted for Moises Sierra and his attempt at a sacrifice bunt resulted in a force at third. First baseman Lyle Overbay — also a former Blue Jay — got the out by playing in on Kawasaki.

"That was a great play," said Rivera who has allowed only 26 sacrifice bunts in his career, 11 by left-handed hitters.

Gibbons defended the decision to have Kawasaki bunt against Rivera and the Yankees' defence.

"He's a pretty good bunter," said Gibbons. " First and second we wanted to get the tying run to third base. It's tough to get a lot of hits in a row against Rivera. Overbay is more aggressive than most of them. If you get it down the third-base line they give it to you there. It was too much in front of home plate."

New York manager Joe Girardi had faith in his team's ability to handle a sacrifice bunt in a close game.

"I felt confident about it when they put Kawasaki in to bunt, cause (Rivera's) such a great fielder, you figure he'd make something happen," said Girardi.

Goins moved the runners to second and third with a grounder to bring up Arencibia who struck out, extending his hitless slump to 0-for-16.

"Tonight was a big game for us," Rivera said. "Being down 3-0 in the eighth inning and coming back to score four and being able to hold it, it's a huge game, huge.

"Great to see our guys put those kind of at bats together. We were able to put some runs on the board, enough to win the game."

Toronto took a 3-0 lead with one out in the fourth on two homers.

Rasmus hit a 2-1 pitch to right with one out for his fourth homer since returning from the disabled list on Sept. 13. His 22nd homer of the season scored Brett Lawrie who led off with a double.

Huff replaced Hughes and gave up a two-out homer to Goins on a 3-2 pitch.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Blue Jays' Edwin Encarnacion to undergo wrist surgery

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion is scheduled to undergo wrist surgery this week and will miss the final two weeks of the regular season.

The all-star slugger will have cartilage damage repaired in his left wrist.

"They said it's a simple procedure to clean it out," manager John Gibbons said before Tuesday's home game against the New York Yankees. "He's been dealing with it all year and just got to the point where his bat launch [letting go of the bat on his swing] became too frequent. You could tell he was battling it."

Gibbons said that left-handed reliever Brett Cecil would also go on the disabled list with a sore elbow. Cecil will have an MRI exam this week.

"He's had some elbow discomfort for a little over a month," Gibbons said. "He hadn't been pitching much. He'll get an MRI in the next few days. They don't think [it is serious] but he will get it checked out."

Encarnacion finishes the season with 36 homers, 104 runs batted in, a .272 batting average and an on-base percentage of .370. He missed four games with soreness in the wrist from Sept. 8-12 and returned last weekend for a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

R.A. Dickey, Blue Jays put dent in Yankees' playoff chase

R.A. Dickey's knuckleball finally danced like it did last year when he was the best pitcher in the National League.

Dickey baffled the New York Yankees for seven innings and Colby Rasmus and Rajai Davis homered as the Toronto Blue Jays won the opener of a three-game series 2-0 on Tuesday.

"What you saw tonight is what I saw last year for 25 starts," said catcher Josh Thole who accompanied the Cy Young Award winner to Toronto in an off-season trade with the Mets. "It was consistently that every night."

Dickey (13-12) struggled in the first two innings then faced the minimum number of batters for the next five innings. He struck out eight in holding the Yankees to four hits and two walks to win his fourth decision in a row.

'It was probably the latest action I've had on [my knuckleball] here in particular. So it's nice to continue to grow. These are important games for me in particular. We're going to be competing next year so it's important to get it right now'- Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey

"It was probably the latest action I've had on it here in particular," Dickey said. "So it's nice to continue to grow. These are important games for me in particular. We're going to be competing next year so it's important to get it right now."

Rasmus hit his 21st homer of the season — and third in three games since returning from the disabled list — in the fourth inning against left-hander Andy Pettitte (10-10).

Davis hit his sixth of the season against right-hander Shawn Kelley in the seventh.

The Yankees (79-72), who entered Tuesday 2.5 games out of an American League wild-card spot, have lost four in a row. The Blue Jays (69-81) have won only twice in their first seven games of a nine-game home stand.

Sergio Santos took over from Dickey in the eighth. Casey Janssen pitched the ninth for his 31st save of the season.

Pettitte lost for the first time since Aug. 5 as he allowed six hits, two walks and one run while striking out five in 6 2/3 innings. He had three wins and four no decisions in his previous seven starts.

"It's frustrating," Pettitte said. "We're playing terrible and it's not good. It's a bad time to be doing that. If we pitch we got to score some runs. If we score some runs, we've got to pitch. It seems like we haven't been doing a lot of mixing and matching together. Dickey pitched a good game. His knuckleball, he threw it well."

Dickey left the bases loaded in the first when he struck out Mark Reynolds. He left two more runners stranded in the second, and struck out the side in the third before being helped by a fourth-inning double play.

"I didn't get discouraged the first two innings," Dickey said. "I was throwing good knuckleballs. I thought I had a couple of pitches there 3-2 and ended up being balls but outside of that it was moving pretty drastically tonight. Even in the first two innings, I knew I had a pretty good one. I just needed to stay the course with it."

The Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead with one out in the fourth when Rasmus homered to right on a 2-2 hanger. The centre-fielder came off the disabled list on Sept. 13 after not playing since Aug. 11 because of an oblique strain.

"I made a terrible mistake to Rasmus and that was the ball game," Pettitte said. "He got me deep into an at-bat. I kept trying to bounce a cutter off the top of the plate see if I could try and get him to swing. Bad thought process."

Kelley replaced Pettitte with two out in the seventh and Davis homered to left on a 1-0 pitch to extend the lead to 2-0.

The way Dickey's knuckleball was working, that was all the Blue Jays needed. He even tried two sidearm pitches.

"The knuckleball stayed hard for most of the night, it was moving all over the place," Thole said. "In the 'pen it was moving more than I've seen since I've been here. It was definitely a mental grind for seven innings tonight.

"He got stronger as he went on I think. That was the difference. You could see it. His velocity kind of jumped up I think in the third inning, he was throwing the harder consistently and it was all over."

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dodgers activate Matt Kemp from DL

The Los Angeles Dodgers have activated outfielder Matt Kemp from the disabled list for the third time this season.

Kemp isn't in the lineup for the Dodgers' game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.

The 2011 NL MVP runner-up first went on the disabled list on May 30 with a mild right hamstring strain. He was activated on June 25 but lasted only 12 days before heading back to the DL with inflammation in his left shoulder.

Kemp was activated on July 21 and went 3 for 4 with a double a home run and three RBIs before spraining his left ankle in a play at the plate in the ninth inning, sending him back to the DL for the third time.

In 62 games, Kemp is hitting .263 with five home runs and 27 RBIs.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Red Sox's Ryan Dempster set for potential final start

Ryan Dempster and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are two Boston Red Sox who won't let up in the final two weeks of the regular season, despite the team's seemingly comfortable division lead.

Saltalamacchia, Boston's starting catcher, made his feelings known after the club swept a three-game series from the New York Yankees over the weekend as part of its current 17-4 stretch.

The Red Sox entered play Tuesday with a 92-59 record and nine-game lead over second-place Tampa Bay in the American League East.

"We want to win every game," he said. "We never settle for what [the division lead] is. It's 'Go for the next one.'"

'I'm preparing like I normally prepare.'- Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster

Dempster, unlike his teammate, appears to be fighting for his job.

The Gibsons, B.C., native is scheduled to start Tuesday's series opener against the visiting Baltimore Orioles, and it's not a stretch to think it might be Dempster's final appearance of the season in the Red Sox rotation.

"I'm preparing like I normally prepare," the Canadian right-hander told Boston reporters last week. "Nothing has changed."

Dempster has a record of 8-9 in 28 starts this season with a 4.70 earned-run average, but in 11 outings since July 6 his ERA is 5.66 while he's allowed 1.60 walks and hits per innings pitched (WHIP).

Jon Lester, John Lackey, Jake Peavy and a now-healthy Clay Buchholz are locks for the rotation in the post-season, leaving Felix Doubront and Dempster battling for a spot on the playoff roster.

Doubront to face Blue Jays

Boston manager John Farrell skipped Doubront's last turn through the rotation but has said the left-hander will pitch this weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays.

A move to the bullpen wouldn't be a major adjustment for Dempster, who has appeared in 225 major league games in relief while starting 350 contests. Doubront has pitched 21 times out of the bullpen, including once this season.

Having Dempster available in the late innings would provide Farrell with another right-handed set-up man along with Brandon Workman and Junichi Tazawa.

Dempster saved 85 games as the Chicago Cubs' closer from 2005 through 2007.

Against Baltimore, Dempster's 2.01 lifetime ERA is easily his lowest versus any American League opponent. This season, he's 1-1 with a 2.50 against the Orioles.

Dempster has allowed a team-high 25 home runs this season but didn't surrender one in a five-inning, no-decision at Tampa Bay on Sept. 11.

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis leads the majors with 50 home runs and has gone deep once against Dempster this season but has also struck out six times in 11 at-bats.

Boston, which has won nine of Dempster's past 10 starts, faces Baltimore right-hander Scott Feldman (5-4, 3.62 ERA).

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Orioles silence Blue Jays' bats for series win

Mark Buehrle inched a little closer to his 13th consecutive season with 200 innings pitched on Sunday, but for the second start in a row, the left-hander struggled.

The Baltimore Orioles earned a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre as Buehrle lasted five innings, bringing his total to 194 1-3 for the season.

"Obviously with five innings I wasn't very pleased with myself," he said. "I got out of some big jams and kind of gave us a chance there for a bit."

After going through a stretch of nine starts in which he was 6-0, Buehrle (11-9) has lost his past two starts.

Buehrle allowed six hits, three walks and three runs (two earned), an improvement from his last start in which he gave up 12 hits and eight runs in against the Los Angeles Angels.

A two-run double by Danny Valencia in the third and a bases-loaded walk to Chris Davis in the fourth were the keys to his loss.

"It was a battle for him today," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "But he has that knack of hanging around and surviving and keeping you in the game. It's been a long year for him. He kept the game in check without his best stuff."

Adam Lind homered for the Blue Jays as they picked up their fifth loss of their last six games.

The Orioles (79-70), who entered Sunday 3 1-2 games removed from an American League wild card spot won two of three from the Blue Jays (68-81) to take the three-game series.

Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (10-7) was removed from the game after 5 1-3 innings after a visit by manager Buck Showalter and a trainer. He had just struck out Lind to open the sixth and the club reported that it he suffered a right groin strain.

Gonzalez held the Blue Jays to one run on six hits to pick up the win and give him a career high.

"I think we'll have a better idea tomorrow or the next day," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of the extent of the injury to Gonzalez. "He said he felt it two pitches before."

Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his 45th save, despite giving up a leadoff single to Anthony Gose.

Buehrle could not pinpoint the reason for his recent struggles.

"I'm not the top workout guy but I get back there and do enough stuff to try to finish strong and go deep into games late in the season," he said. "I don't know if it's getting a little worn out. The last couple of outings haven't been too good.

"My pitch count was getting high and it's not allowing me to go deep into games. I just need to make better pitches and get early contact."

Lind led off the bottom of the second with his 21st homer of the season to open the scoring.

Valencia doubled in two runs with two out in the third to put the Orioles into a 2-1 lead. The double scored Nick Markakis, who led off the inning with a single and Adam Jones, who walked with two out.

"Any time you get a hit with runners in scoring position it's huge, especially with two outs," Valencia said. "My at-bat before that, I left two on in the same situation, so it was nice to come through and get those runs."

The Orioles added a run in the fourth to go ahead 3-1 when Chris Davis walked with the bases loaded. He forced in Michael Morse who reached first on an error when shortstop Jose Reyes dropped his line drive.

Morse took third on a double by Brian Roberts. After Davis walked, Blue Jays second baseman Ryan Goins ended the inning on a diving play on a ground ball by Jones.

"There were a couple of close calls [on balls and strikes], balls were finding the holes," Buehrle said. "When you're going good those things find your position guys, you're getting strikes called or getting close pitches. It's going your way.

"I've got to do a better job of not walking a guy with the bases loaded. At the same time you know what Chris Davis can do and you don't want to give in to him, a walk is better than a home run. Overall it wasn't the best today but it was alright."

The Blue Jays threatened to cut into the lead in the seventh. Edwin Encarnacion hit a ground-rule double against Francisco Rodriguez and Brett Lawrie, who had singled with two out had to stop at third. After Lind was intentionally walked, Tommy Hunter replaced Rodriguez and struck out Moises Sierra to end the threat.

"They got out of some jams," Gibbons said. "They're a good ball club, they're right in the thick of it. They don't throw a bunch of pitchers at you that can overpower you but they can all pitch.

"They all have the ability to make a key pitch at the right time ... we got our hits but just couldn't get that big one."

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wladimir Balentien breaks Japan's single-season HR record

Former major leaguer Wladimir Balentien hit his 56th and 57th home runs on Sunday, breaking the Japanese single-season record set by legendary slugger Sadaharu Oh 49 years ago.

Balentien hit the record-breaking three-run homer in the first inning of Sunday's game in Tokyo, sending the ball over the left-field wall at Tokyo's Jingu Stadium to give his Yakult Swallows an early lead over the Hanshin Tigers. He then added a solo shot in the third for No. 57 to help the Swallows to a 9-0 win.

Oh set the mark of 55 in 1964. While it was equaled by ex-major leaguers Tuffy Rhodes in 2001 and Alex Cabrera in 2002, many felt Oh used his position as a manager to prevent both players from breaking it.

"I want to thank the fans for all their support," Balentien said. "It was a great feeling. I don't think I will ever feel anything like that again in my life."

The 29-year-old Balentien missed the first 12 games of this season because of a leg injury sustained while playing for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.

Balentien's challenge of Oh's record comes in a season in which there is controversy over attempts to reform the game to make it more exciting. In June, Japanese baseball officials admitted they introduced a new official ball this season without notifying players. The new ball has resulted in a dramatic increase in home runs.

Rhodes and Cabrera tied Oh's record with several games left in the season but were then walked repeatedly by teams managed by Oh, who later denied instructing his pitchers to not challenge either player.

Randy Bass hit 54 homers in 1985 but fell short in the last game of the season when the pitcher from the Yomiuri Giants, then managed by Oh, walked him in his last at-bat, preventing Bass from tying the record.

Oh is a legend in Japan. His 868 career home runs, which surpassed Hank Aaron's then major league record of 755, made him a national hero.

"Oh is the home run king and I have a lot of respect for him," Balentien said. "To be able to tie him and then pass him is something very special for me."

The single-season home run record is also highly regarded, and former New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui wore No. 55 in recognition of it.

The closest Matsui came to breaking Oh's record was 50 homers in 2002, when he played for the Giants.

The 73-year-old Oh is no longer actively involved in Japanese baseball and serves as an honorary chairman of the Softbank Hawks, the team he managed when Rhodes and Cabrera were attempting to break his record.

Oh has often said he has no problem with his record being broken as long as it's done by a wide margin and not just one or two homers. Balentien has 17 games left to add to his tally.

Balentien, a native of Curacao, played for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds before signing with the Swallows in 2011. He hit a Central League-leading 31 homers in each of his first two seasons in Japan.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Colby Rasmus homers again as Blue Jays rally over Orioles

Even in a season filled with potholes, the Toronto Blue Jays have occasionally found their way.

Some may float the blind squirrel explanation but the underachieving American League East team got the job done Saturday.

Colby Rasmus homered for the second day in a row since returning from the disabled list, starter Esmil Rogers handcuffed the hard-hitting Orioles for six innings and the Toronto bullpen did its job in a 4-3 win over Baltimore.

With Toronto trailing 3-2 in the seventh inning, Rasmus drove in Moises Sierra with a majestic shot off the second deck in right field to give the Jays the lead. Baltimore ace Chris Tillman (16-6) had walked Sierra to open the inning.

It was Rasmus' 20th homer of the season and his second in as many games since returning to action Friday after being out since Aug. 11 with an oblique strain.

"I'm just happy to be here. Just glad to be back," Rasmus said in his southern drawl. "And happy to be able to give us a chance to win."

"He looks good," manager John Gibbons said of his centre-fielder. "That doesn't always happen when you're out for that long and you don't get a whole lot of work in."

Rasmus' moonshot off a Tillman change-up also made the Blue Jays the first team in the majors this season to boast five players with 20 homers, as Rasmus joined J.P. Arencibia, Jose Bautista, Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion.

On Friday, Rasmus celebrated his return to action by slamming a fastball into the Baltimore bullpen.

"He's a good player, he's well rounded," said Tillman. "He hit a homer last night on a fastball in, tonight he hit one on a change-up. That goes to show you he's got a good game plan right now. He's swinging the bat well."

Sweet win

The Jays (68-80) snapped a four-game losing streak while the Orioles (78-70) lost their fourth in five outings as their wild-card charge continues to wobble. Baltimore outhit Toronto 8-6.

The win was especially sweet coming against a Baltimore team bristling with big bats, including a MLB-leading 198 homers. And against its ace.

"They may have the best offence in baseball, at least one of the top ones,"' said Gibbons. "So they keep coming at you. It's never easy. They hit home runs. You always feel on edge, especially when they get guys on base because most of those guys in that lineup can pop one on you. So it's never easy facing those guys. And Tillman was great today too. Colby ended up getting to him late but other than that, he was dynamite too."

The late-afternoon game opened in sunlight, 15-degree temperatures and the roof open for the crowd of 29,942. It was a happy Junior Jays Saturday all around with young Jays fans allowed to run the bases after the game.

Toronto Blue Jays' Colby Rasmus, left, hit his 20th homer of the season and his second in as many games since returning to action Friday after being out since Aug. 11 with an oblique strain. (Jon Blacker/Reuters)

Tillman, in his 30th start of the season, gave up two runs in the first inning before settling down. Combined with the Orioles' stingy defence, it made for slim pickings for the Jays until Rasmus found the fence.

Tillman was bidding to become the first Oriole to get 17 wins since Mike Mussina won 18 in 1999. But two swings of the bat — the Rasmus homer and a first-inning two-run double by Sierra — cost him.

Tillman, who gave up four runs on six hits over eight innings, probably deserved better. He struck out four and walked two in the first complete game of his career as his career record at the Rogers Centre dropped to 1-3 in six starts.

"He was solid, just got a couple of change-ups up," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "It's been a big pitch for him all year. Just elevated a couple and they made him pay for it."

Early offence

Rogers matched a career high with seven strikeouts in six innings but made life difficult for himself when he wasn't on point. He gave up three runs on five hits, walked two and threw 101 pitches, including 59 strikes.

Despite a matchup of two hot pitchers, the teams combined for four doubles in the first inning.

Rogers took the mound on the heels of a career-high 15 scoreless innings covering his last three starts. That streak lasted less than an inning as Manny Machado and Chris Davis delivered back-to-back doubles with one out. For Machado, it was his 50th double of the season. Left-fielder Anthony Gose launched himself at Davis' swerving fly ball and got his glove to it but couldn't hang on.

Toronto, 20-50 when the opposition scores first, pulled ahead with two outs in the first when Sierra doubled home Jose Reyes and Lind. It was Sierra's 20th hit of the season and his 14th extra-base hit (including 12 doubles).

Machado made it 2-2 with a two-out solo homer — his 14th of the season — to left field in the third. Rogers had retired seven in a row before being punished on an 0-1 pitch.

Rogers lost the strike zone in the fourth, walking a pair before an RBI single by Matt Wieters gave the visitors a 3-2 lead. But he snuffed out the Orioles charge with two strikeouts, adding two more in the fifth. And the Jays starter escaped another jam in the sixth, leaving men on second and third.

Jeremy Jeffress (1-0) came on in the seventh for Rogers to get the win, followed by Aaron Loup and Neil Wagner in the eighth when they faced the meat of the Baltimore lineup. Wagner stranded runners on first and a third by striking out Wieters.

Casey Janssen, despite giving up a Nate McLouth single with two outs, closed out the ninth for his 30th save of the season. He finished it off with a lunging stab and throw to first base to throw out Machado.

The teams wrap up their series Sunday with Mark Buehrle (11-8) starting for Toronto against Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (9-7).

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mark Buehrle, Blue Jays seek series win against Orioles

With every game critical at this point, the wild-card contending Baltimore Orioles can't afford many self-induced setbacks.

Looking to bounce back from their latest defeat, the Orioles try to avoid losing a fifth straight road series Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Part of the crowded AL wild-card race, Baltimore (78-70) led 3-2 in the seventh inning when Colby Rasmus hit a two-run homer off starter Chris Tillman that ultimately helped Toronto (68-80) snap a four-game slide with Saturday's 4-3 victory.

Losers in five of seven, the Orioles have not won a road series since taking two of three at San Francisco from Aug. 9-11. Things don't get any easier after this set for Baltimore, which travels to AL-leading Boston for three games starting Tuesday, then plays four at fellow wild-card contender Tampa Bay to conclude its final road trip.

"It's not easy to make the playoffs, it sure isn't,'' outfielder Nate McLouth said. "Doing it last year was kind of an eye-opener on exactly how it's got to be done. It's a grind, it's a battle to make the playoffs.''

Manny Machado was 3 for 19 in the previous four games before he homered and recorded his 50th double of the season Saturday, but Baltimore stranded eight and went 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

It was the 11th time in 13 games the Orioles had two or fewer hits in such situations.

"It's hard to do,'' manager Buck Showalter said. "They've done it a lot more times than they haven't. It just gets magnified at this time of year.''

The Orioles might have a good chance to bounce back against Toronto starter Mark Buehrle (11-8, 4.18 ERA), who allowed eight runs on homers to Adam Jones, Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy in six innings of an 8-5 loss at Baltimore on July 12.

Davis is 6 for 12 with two homers and Jones 7 for 19 (.368) versus Buehrle, who was 6-0 with a 2.02 ERA during a nine-start stretch before running into the Los Angeles Angels. The left-hander gave up eight runs and a season-high 12 hits - three homers - in four innings of a 12-6 home loss Tuesday.

"The whole game I wasn't making pitches; everything was up, falling behind in the count," he told the Blue Jays' official website. "I feel like I have been pitching so well for so long that you kind of have a bump in the road once in a while, and (Tuesday) was that day."

Baltimore counters with Miguel Gonzalez (9-7, 4.00), who is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA in three starts against the Blue Jays this season but 0-2 with a 7.48 ERA in his last four road starts overall.

After making two relief appearances in late August, the right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.82 ERA in his last three starts. He allowed three runs and two homers while striking out six in six innings, not getting a decision in a 7-5 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

Rasmus is 1 for 12 with a double and six strikeouts versus Gonzalez, but is batting .458 (11 for 24) with two doubles, three home runs and five RBIs in his last six games against the Orioles.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More