Baseball  

Adell homers in return to majors as Angels beat Cubs 3-1 to complete series sweep

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — This night was definitely a long time coming for Jo Adell and Reid Detmers.

Adell homered in his first game back in the majors, Detmers finally posted his first win of the season and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Thursday to complete their third series sweep of the year.

“It feels good. I’d be lying if I told you guys I wasn’t thinking about it. It’s been on my mind for a long time,” Detmers said. “I think I’ve been pressing a little bit too much.”

Adell, who led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with 18 homers before being called up, tied the game 1-all in the second inning when he hammered a sinker from Drew Smyly (5-4) a projected 455 feet down the left-field line. According to Statcast, it was the longest homer by an Angels player at home this season.

“It was real exciting to put up that type of swing,” said Adell, who was 1 for 3 and reached base twice. “I know I squared it up pretty well. I got a pitch to drive and didn't miss it.”

The 117.2 mph exit velocity also made it the sixth-hardest-hit ball in the majors this season.

“You don’t see many come close to that second deck and that’s as close as I’ve seen,” Los Angeles manager Phil Nevin said.

It is the first time the Angels, who have won four straight, have swept the Cubs in a three-game series.

Trey Mancini had an RBI double for Chicago, swept for the fourth time this year. The Cubs have dropped four in a row and 10 of 14.

Detmers (1-5) went 5 2/3 innings, lasting that long for only the third time in 11 starts this year. The left-hander struck out eight and walked two.

Carlos Estevez earned his 16th save.

Adell, the 10th overall pick in the 2017 amateur draft, had a .215 major league batting average in three seasons (2020-22). The 24-year-old outfielder got off to a great start this year at Salt Lake, setting a club record with homers in six straight games, but needed to continue to show consistency at the plate and on defense before coming back to the big leagues.

He was promoted Wednesday when outfielder Hunter Renfroe went on the paternity list. Renfroe is expected back Saturday.

Even with Adell's home run, he appears to be the odd man out when Renfroe comes back Saturday. Nevin, though, is trying to make sure Adell continues to remain confident.

“I’m not going to say he’s leaving tomorrow or the next day. Certainly that home run tonight was a big shot in the arm for everybody and really was our only damage for a long time,” Nevin said.

The Cubs managed five hits against four Angels pitchers and have scored in only three of their last 42 innings. Miguel Amaya singled with two outs in the second, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Mancini's double.

“We have to find a way to produce runs,” manager David Ross said. “When guys are struggling, the best thing we can do is try to help them find their way, whether it’s mechanical or mental.”

The Halos got three hits to start the second. Adell's leadoff homer was followed by base hits from Luis Rengifo and Chad Wallach. Los Angeles had runners at the corners with one out when Taylor Ward's sacrifice fly brought home Rengifo.

The Angels tacked on a run in the sixth when Zach Neto and Ward successfully executed a double steal. Neto stole third and scored when catcher Yan Gomes' throw to second trying to get Ward was wide of the bag.

Smyly allowed three runs (two earned) and struck out four in six innings. Chicago had runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth, but Chris Devenski came in and got Amaya to ground out.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: OF Cody Bellinger (bruised left knee) and RHP Brad Boxberger (right forearm strain) are heading to the team's complex in Arizona to continue workouts before going on rehab assignments.

Angels: 3B Anthony Rendon got the night off. He is 0 for 6 in two games since missing 21 due to a left groin strain.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Marcus Stroman (6-4, 2.39 ERA) has not allowed an earned run in 20 straight innings going into the start of a three-game set at San Francisco.

Angels: RHP Shohei Ohtani (5-2, 3.30 ERA) makes his seventh home start of the season when Los Angeles opens a weekend series against Seattle.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

In this youth baseball league, fans who mistreat umpires are sentenced to do the job themselves

DEPTFORD, N.J. (AP) — The April Facebook post hardly seemed like national news at the time for Deptford Little League president Don Bozzuffi. He’d lost patience when two umpires resigned in the wake of persistent spectator abuse. So he wrote an updated code of conduct.

It specified: Any spectator deemed in violation would be banned from the complex until three umpiring assignments were completed. If not, the person would be barred from any Deptford youth sports facilities for a year.

In G-rated terms (unlike the ones that will get you tossed), the mandate just wants helicopter parents to calm the heck down. No 9-year-old will remember, as an adult, being safe or out on a bang-bang play at first. But how deep would be the cut of watching dad get tossed out of the game and banished for bad behavior?

The league doesn’t want to find out. “So far, it’s working like I’d hoped and just been a deterrent,” the 68-year-old Bozzuffi said.

The problem, though, isn’t limited to Deptford and its handful of unruly parents. Outbursts of bad behavior at sporting events for young people have had frightening consequences for officials at all youth levels. Pick a town, any town, and there are adults assaulting referees or chasing umpires into parking lots looking for a fight, all available on the social feed of your choice.

The videos pop up almost weekly: inane instances of aggressive behavior toward officials. Like in January, when a Florida basketball referee was punched in the face after one game. Or last month, when an enraged youth baseball coach stormed a baseball field in Alabama and wrestled an umpire to the ground. Other adults and kids tried to break up the melee that took place in a game — at an 11-and-under tournament.

Jim McDevitt has worked as a volunteer Deptford umpire for 20 years. But he turns 66 this month and won’t call games much longer. He wonders where the next generation of officials will come from, especially when the job description includes little pay and lots of crap.

Youth officiating is in crisis. According to a 2017 survey of by the National Association of Sports Officials, nearly 17,500 referees surveyed said parents caused the most problems with sportsmanship at 39%. Coaches came in at 29% and fans at 18%.

Barry Mano founded the association four decades ago to advocate for youth officials. Mano, whose brother Mark was an NBA referee, has watched fan conduct become “far worse” than he could have imagined.

“Sports is simply life with the volume turned up,” Mano says. “We’ve become louder and brasher. We always want a second opinion on things. That’s where the culture has gone. I don’t think we’re as civil as we used to be toward each other, and it plays out in the sporting venues.”

In Deptford, things seem to be working — at least in attracting non-mandatory umps. Bozzuffi says that since his rule grabbed national headlines, three umpires have joined the league and more volunteers want to be trained.

And those who might get sentenced to umping? McDevitt puts it less delicately. “We’ll see how their sphincter feels when they have to make a tight call and the parents are all screaming and hollering at them.”

The Deptford Little League playoffs, a time when tensions rise, are under way, and Bozzuffi has urged his umps to show restraint. Bozzuffi, who has served as league president for 14 years and been connected to the league for 40, doesn’t want any fan to get ejected. He just wants to get them thinking.

For many, every “safe!” when the tag is missed, every called strike on a pitch below the knees is one more reason to blow a fuse in a youth sports culture full of hefty fees for league play and travel teams that have already heightened the financial and emotional attachment and encouraged a sense of parents as constituents who have a right to be heeded.

And it’s getting attention all the way up the youth baseball chain. Little League President Stephen D. Keener had this to say: “We applaud the volunteers at Deptford Township Little League for coming up with a creative, fun solution to shine a light on the importance of treating everyone with respect, on and off the Little League field.”

OK. But here’s the fine print.

Beyond the headlines that suggest Fuming Father No. 1 is going to get the call from the bleachers and suddenly start ringing up strike three, there’s this: It’s too much effort. The risks! The potential safety problems! The insurance!

Bozzuffi and the town’s mayor teach a three-hour safety certification class each offender must complete before receiving an umpire assignment. Rookie umps must pass a background check and complete an online concussion course. After all that, a real, qualified umpire would be stationed next to the replacement ump to ensure accuracy and fairness.

It hasn’t happened — yet.

“The first person that we have to do this to, nobody is else is going to challenge this,” Bozzuffi said. “Nobody wants to go through all this.”

So for now, at least on a recent weeknight in Deptford, parents, grandparents and friends, were on their best behavior. Parent Dawn Nacke found it unfair that the town was labeled as “obnoxious parents when we’re just caring about our kids.”

“We know that they ump for free, but sometimes bad calls are made and they cost us the game,” she said.

Has she ever been guilty of popping off too much?

“Mouthy, yes. But we all have to bite our tongues over here because of the new rule,” she said. “I just have to keep my mouth shut more. Scared me straight. I’m more angry that they call us obnoxious parents. That really upset me when I read it in the news. But this is their rule and I’m going to follow it.”

Just the way Deptford drew it up.

___

Follow Philadelphia-based AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston on Twitter at http://twitter.com/apgelston

In this youth baseball league, fans who mistreat umpires are sentenced to do the job themselves

DEPTFORD, N.J. (AP) — Back in Mudville, when mighty Casey took an unheeded pitch for a strike, there went up a muffled roar: “`Kill him! Kill the umpire!' shouted someone on the stand."

Even in 1888, well before pitch clocks, $17 beers and instant replay, a common thread for the fans in baseball's most epic poem was how much they loved to threaten umpires.

These days, 135 or so years after writer Ernest Lawrence Thayer's renowned verse, one Little League in New Jersey is taking a hands-on approach. Its target: those watching 10- and 11-year-olds play baseball who curse at the volunteers behind the plate.

You want some of this? they're saying. Well, come get some. In Deptford, the umpire recruiting slogan sign may as well read: If you can’t berate them, join them.

___

The April Facebook post hardly seemed like national news at the time for league president Don Bozzuffi. He'd lost patience when two umpires resigned after persistent spectator abuse. So he wrote an updated code of conduct.

It specified: Any spectator deemed in violation would be banned from the complex until three umpiring assignments were completed. If not, the person would be barred from any Deptford youth sports facilities for a year.

In G-rated terms (unlike the ones that will get you tossed), the mandate just wants helicopter parents to calm the heck down. No 9-year-old will remember, as an adult, being safe or out on a bang-bang play at first. But how deep would be the cut of watching dad get tossed out of the game and banished for bad behavior?

The league doesn’t want to find out. “So far, it’s working like I’d hoped and just been a deterrent,” the 68-year-old Bozzuffi said.

The problem, though, isn't limited to Deptford and its handful of unruly parents.

Outbursts of bad behavior at sporting events for young people have had frightening consequences for officials at all youth levels. Pick a town, any town, and there are adults assaulting referees or chasing umpires into parking lots looking for a fight, all available on the social feed of your choice.

The videos pop up almost weekly: inane instances of aggressive behavior toward officials. Like in January, when a Florida basketball referee was punched in the face after one game. Or last month, when an enraged youth baseball coach stormed a baseball field in Alabama and wrestled an umpire to the ground. Other adults and kids tried to break up the melee that took place in a game — at an 11-and-under tournament.

Jim McDevitt has worked as a volunteer Deptford umpire for 20 years. But he turns 66 this month and won’t call games much longer. He wonders where the next generation of officials will come from, especially when the job description includes little pay and lots of crap.

Youth officiating is in crisis. According to a 2017 survey of by the National Association of Sports Officials, nearly 17,500 referees surveyed said parents caused the most problems with sportsmanship at 39%. Coaches came in at 29% and fans at 18%.

Barry Mano founded the association four decades ago to advocate for youth officials. Mano, whose brother Mark was an NBA referee, has watched fan conduct become “far worse” than he could have imagined.

“Sports is simply life with the volume turned up,” Mano says. “We've become louder and brasher. We always want a second opinion on things. That's where the culture has gone. I don't think we're as civil as we used to be toward each other, and it plays out in the sporting venues.”

___

In Deptford, things seem to be working — at least in attracting non-mandatory umps. Bozzuffi says that since his rule grabbed national headlines, three umpires have joined the league. More volunteers want to be trained.

And those who might get sentenced to umping? McDevitt puts it less delicately. “We’ll see how their sphincter feels when they have to make a tight call and the parents are all screaming and hollering at them."

The Deptford Little League playoffs, a time when tensions rise, are under way, and Bozzuffi has urged his umps to show restraint. Bozzuffi, who has served as league president for 14 years and been connected to the league for 40, doesn’t want any fan to get ejected. He just wants to get them thinking.

Because in a culture where violence visits schools, churches, movie theaters, clubs and many social gathering spots, the irate fan pressed against the fence spewing four-lettered tirades at the ump could easily escalate.

“People are just a little bit more sensitive to it,” said Sherrie Spencer, a lifelong Deptford resident who had two sons and grandsons play. She has noticed an uptick in abusive language to umpires through the years. “Now," she says, "you have things that are going on in our world that people are more fearful when you see someone getting upset like that.”

Part of the problem is this: Thanks to technological advances, perfection in baseball can sometimes seem more attainable than ever.

In the major leagues, computers and their precision have become a vital part of baseball’s fabric. Gone are the days when a manager like Billy Martin or Earl Weaver would burst out of the dugout and kick up a cloud of dirt, curse a blue streak and maybe even walk away with a base or chuck one into the outfield over a missed call.

Blow one now? The manager barely reacts, asking for a replay review while a command center makes the dispassionate final call. Oh, and robo umps are coming. They’re already calling the shots in the minor leagues, with computerized strike zones that leave no room for argument. Where’s the messiness, the fallibility, the human emotion steeped in baseball tradition? Where’s the fun of baseball in umpire perfection?

That's not the way some parents see it. For many, every “safe!” when the tag is missed, every called strike on a pitch below the knees is another reason to blow a fuse in a youth sports culture full of hefty fees and travel teams that have already heightened financial and emotional attachment and encouraged a sense of parents as constituents who have a right to be heeded.

That’s why Deptford is experimenting with its attempt at preventative medicine. This is interdicting the parents before the kids get older. This is, at its core, potential assault prevention.

It's getting attention all the way up the youth baseball chain. Little League President Stephen D. Keener had this to say: “We applaud the volunteers at Deptford Township Little League for coming up with a creative, fun solution to shine a light on the importance of treating everyone with respect, on and off the Little League field."

___

OK. But here’s the fine print.

Beyond the headlines that suggest Fuming Father No. 1 is going to get the call from the bleachers and suddenly start ringing up strike three, there's this: It’s too much effort. The risks! The potential safety problems! The insurance!

Bozzuffi and the town's mayor teach a three-hour safety certification class each offender must complete before receiving an assignment. Rookie umps must pass a background check and complete an online concussion course. After all that, a qualified umpire would be stationed next to the replacement ump to ensure accuracy and fairness.

It hasn't happened — yet.

“The first person that we have to do this to, nobody is else is going to challenge this," Bozzuffi said. “Nobody wants to go through all this.”

So for now, at least on a recent weeknight in Deptford, parents, grandparents and friends, were on their best behavior. They cheered. They clapped. They caught up with neighbors.

They groused a bit, too. While other Little League officials across America reached out to Bozzuffi for input into their own policies, some fans in Deptford are sick of the perception that’s it’s a town full of baseball bullies.

One fan waved off an interview request because he “didn't want to hear anymore about how bad we all are." Parent Dawn Nacke found it unfair that the town was labeled as “obnoxious parents when we’re just caring about our kids.”

“We know that they ump for free," she said, “but sometimes bad calls are made and they cost us the game.”

Has she ever been guilty of popping off too much?

“Mouthy, yes. But we all have to bite our tongues over here because of the new rule,” she said. “I just have to keep my mouth shut more. Scared me straight. I’m more angry that they call us obnoxious parents. That really upset me when I read it in the news. But this is their rule and I’m going to follow it.”

Just the way Deptford drew it up.

___

Follow Philadelphia-based AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston on Twitter at http://twitter.com/apgelston

Albies hits 3-run homer in 10th, Braves rally to beat reeling Mets 13-10 for 3-game sweep

ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies' walk-off homer for the Braves did more than just complete their three-game sweep of the NL East-rival New York Mets.

The win also made Atlanta comeback history.

Albies lined a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and the Braves rallied to beat the reeling Mets 13-10 on Thursday night.

The Braves trailed 9-5 and 10-7 after erasing three-run deficits in each of the first two games of the series. It marked the first time since moving to Atlanta in 1966 that the team won three straight games after trailing by three or more.

What did it mean for that to come against the $355 million Mets?

“I don't have to say,” a smiling Albies said in the clubhouse.

“I think the best thing we do is don't give up,” he added. “Yes, we expect to win. That's the way we play.”

It also marked the first time in Mets history (since 1962) they lost three consecutive games they led by at least three runs.

Orlando Arcia hit a tying solo homer off Mets closer David Robertson in the ninth to help the NL East leaders win their fifth straight.

“We're going to continue to fight and battle,” Arcia said. “That's who we are.”

New York, which has dropped six in a row for the first time since August 2019, had won 122 consecutive games when leading after eight innings — dating to a defeat at Washington on Sept. 6, 2021.

The franchise-record streak had been the longest active run for any team in the majors.

The Mets wasted two home runs from rookie Francisco Álvarez and an early grand slam from Brandon Nimmo as three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander was ineffective.

New York (30-33) matched a season low at three games under .500, falling 8 1/2 games behind the first-place Braves. The fourth-place Mets have lost seven straight and nine of 10 in Atlanta.

But manager Buck Showalter sought consolation in his team scoring eight runs off Spencer Strider.

“Guys came in here and competed as good as you want to see,” Showalter said. “They came in here tonight against one of the best pitchers in the league and I’m real proud of them. There were a lot of opportunities there to fold the tent and these guys aren’t going to do that.”

Albies homered off Tommy Hunter (0-1) to drive in pinch-runner Sam Hilliard, who entered as the automatic runner at second base, and Travis d'Arnaud, who walked. Albies' homer, his 14th, sent Braves players spilling out of their dugout for an on-field celebration capped by a shower at the plate.

New York led 10-7 entering the eighth before d'Arnaud hit a two-run homer off Drew Smith. Robertson was summoned to try to get a five-out save but gave up Arcia's one-out homer in the ninth. It was his second blown save in 12 chances.

Nimmo's grand slam in the second gave New York a 5-3 lead and Álvarez drove in three runs with his two homers. The Mets had 14 hits, including three by Starling Marte, but it wasn't enough as Atlanta launched four homers.

Braves closer Raisel Iglesias (2-2) struck out Álvarez and Jeff McNeil in a perfect 10th.

Strider was given a 3-0 lead in the first, when Austin Riley hit a two-run homer, his first of four hits. Strider gave up the lead in the Mets' five-run second and allowed a career-high eight runs in four innings.

Despite the absence of slugger Pete Alonso, scoring was not the problem for the Mets. Alonso returned to New York for further tests after his left wrist was hit by a 96 mph fastball from Charlie Morton in the first inning of Atlanta’s 7-5 win Wednesday night. The team said Alonso had a bruise, and X-rays revealed no broken bones.

Strider was touched up for five runs on five hits in the second. Nimmo hit a 96 mph fastball over the middle of the plate into the right-field seats for his first career slam.

Strider's struggles continued in the fourth when Álvarez hit a two-run homer. He added a solo shot in the sixth.

Atlanta's Marcell Ozuna hit his 12th homer in the fifth.

STRUGGLES FOR VERLANDER

The 40-year-old Verlander lasted only three innings, allowing five runs — four earned. He issued four walks in his first career outing at Truist Park, the 34th stadium in which he has started.

“Not many first-pitch strikes,” Showalter said. “That’s not like him.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves RHP Michael Tomkin (strained neck) allowed two runs over two innings in relief of Strider after he was recalled from his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett. RHP Roddery Muñoz was optioned to Gwinnett.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (5-3, 4.40 ERA) will face Pirates LHP Rich Hill (5-5, 4.41) in Friday night's series opener at Pittsburgh.

Braves: Rookie RHP AJ Smith-Shawver makes his first career start against Washington LHP MacKenzie Gore (3-4, 3.66). The 20-year-old Smith-Shawver will be Atlanta’s 12th starting pitcher this season. Gore allowed three hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 4-1 home win against the Braves on April 2.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Kershaw strikes out 9 in 7 innings, Dodgers blank Reds to stop 4-game slide

CINCINNATI (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched seven sharp innings, Chris Taylor hit his 10th home run and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-0 on Thursday.

Kershaw (8-4) scattered five hits, struck out nine and walked two to help Los Angeles snap its four-game losing streak and avoid a three-game sweep against the Reds, who won the previous two games in walk-off fashion.

Los Angeles improved to 10-3 against Cincinnati dating to September 2021.

The Dodgers scored three runs in the third against starter Graham Ashcraft (3-5).

GUARDIANS 10, RED SOX 3

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez homered in his first three at-bats — and from both sides of the plate — to power Cleveland past Boston.

Ramírez connected for a solo shot in the first inning off Matt Dermody (0-1), belted a two-run shot — his 200th career homer — in the third and added another solo drive in the sixth when the Guardians hit for the cycle, had eight straight hits and scored five times.

Ramírez came up a second time in the sixth bidding for a rare four-homer game, but struck out swinging. The four-time All-Star third baseman had another chance in the eighth, but grounded to third.

There have only been 16 four-homer games in the majors since 1901.

Will Brennan added a home run as the Guardians won the series and handed the Red Sox their fifth loss in six games.

Aaron Civale (2-1) had his second solid outing for Cleveland after spending 46 games on the injured list with an oblique strain.

BRAVES 13, METS 10, 10 INNINGS

ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies lined a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and Atlanta rallied to beat reeling New York for a three-game sweep.

Orlando Arcia hit a tying solo homer off Mets closer David Robertson in the ninth to help the NL East leaders win their fifth straight.

New York, which has dropped six in a row for the first time since August 2019, had won a franchise-record 122 consecutive games when leading after eight innings — the longest active streak in the majors.

The Mets (30-33) wasted two home runs from rookie Francisco Álvarez and an early grand slam from Brandon Nimmo as three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander struggled.

Atlanta erased deficits of 9-5 and 10-7 and came back from at least three runs down to win all three games in the series. It marked the first time in Mets history they lost three consecutive games they led by three runs or more.

Albies homered off Tommy Hunter (0-1). Travis d'Arnaud hit a two-run shot against Drew Smith in the eighth to cut it to 10-9. Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna also went deep for the Braves.

Raisel Iglesias (2-2) struck out Álvarez and Jeff McNeil in a perfect 10th.

RAYS 4, TWINS 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yonny Chirinos pitched well into the sixth inning, Harold Ramírez homered during a three-run fourth and the MLB-best Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of AL Central-leading Minnesota.

Chirinos (3-1), recalled from Triple-A Durham before the game, allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings in his first big league appearance since April 29. Jason Adam, the third Rays reliever, worked the ninth for his 10th save.

Tampa Bay (46-19) is 29-6 at home and has won six in a row overall.

Carlos Correa and Michael A. Taylor homered for the Twins (31-32), who have lost a season-high five consecutive games. They have totaled seven runs in the past six games.

Bailey Ober (3-3) retired his first 11 batters, including six straight strikeouts, before losing his perfect game and the lead in a span of three batters.

PHILLIES 3, TIGERS 2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, Kody Clemens came through with a game-ending single and Philadelphia rallied past Detroit for its fifth victory in a row.

Brandon Marsh tied it in the ninth with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly for the defending NL champion Phillies (30-32).

Nick Maton hit a go-ahead single in the top of the ninth after Tyler Nevin broke up Wheeler’s no-hit bid on a single with one out in the eighth for the Tigers, who lost their sixth straight and eighth in the last nine.

Bryce Harper's leadoff double in the ninth against Alex Lange (3-2) sparked Philadelphia's rally. Craig Kimbrel (4-1) got the win.

The game originally was scheduled for Wednesday night but was postponed due to poor air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires.

ORIOLES 6, BREWERS 3

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to put Baltimore ahead for good and the Orioles rallied from a three-run deficit to beat Milwaukee.

The Brewers took a 3-0 lead in the first and were in control for much of the game until the Orioles scored six runs over the final three innings against Milwaukee's bullpen. The comeback enabled the Orioles to avoid a three-game sweep.

Anthony Santander’s one-out RBI double off Peter Strzelecki (3-5) cut the Brewers’ lead to 3-2 in the eighth.

Adam Frazier had a two-run double in the ninth for Baltimore. Ramón Urías started the comeback by hitting a two-out homer off Joel Payamps in the seventh.

Bryan Baker, Keegan Akin (2-1), Yennier Cano and Félix Bautista combined for four innings of scoreless relief. Bautista earned his 16th save in 20 opportunities.

BLUE JAYS 3, ASTROS 2

TORONTO (AP) — Brandon Belt had a tiebreaking single, José Berríos pitched six steady innings to win his third straight decision and Toronto defeated Houston.

Alejandro Kirk added an RBI double as the Blue Jays took three of four from the defending World Series champions and won the season series 4-3.

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez left after one at-bat because of a sore right oblique.

Berríos (6-4) allowed two runs and four hits. Jordan Romano finished for his 17th save in 20 chances.

Houston left-hander Framber Valdez (6-5) gave up three runs in five innings.

WHITE SOX 6, YANKEES 5, GAME 1

YANKEES 3, WHITE SOX 0, GAME 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Randy Vásquez pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning for his first major league win, Billy McKinney hit his first home run with the Yankees and New York blanked Chicago for a doubleheader split.

McKinney was called up from the minors Wednesday when star slugger Aaron Judge went on the injured list with a sprained and bruised right big toe.

The White Sox extended their winning streak to a season-high five games with a 6-5 victory in the opener, when Eloy Jiménez hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh off Michael King (1-2).

Jake Burger had a two-run shot off Yankees starter Luis Severino before Luis Robert Jr. and Yoán Moncada also went deep against the right-hander.

After Wednesday’s game was postponed by Major League Baseball because of hazardous air quality from Canadian wildfires, conditions in the Bronx had improved by Thursday’s first pitch.

In the second game, Gleyber Torres hit a two-run homer off starter Mike Clevinger (3-4).

Making his second big league start, Vásquez (1-1) retired 15 straight hitters and was pulled with two outs in the sixth. Ron Marinaccio worked 2 2/3 innings and Clay Holmes got his seventh save as the Yankees avoided a three-game sweep.

Willie Calhoun homered and drove in three runs for the Yankees in the opener.

Gregory Santos (2-0) pitched a 1-2-3 sixth for the win. Kendall Graveman earned his sixth save by getting Anthony Rizzo to ground into a game-ending double play with two on.

GIANTS 6, ROCKIES 4

DENVER (AP) — Brandon Crawford had a pinch-hit RBI double to spark a three-run ninth inning and San Francisco beat Colorado for the 11th straight time.

Michael Conforto and Thairo Estrada homered to help the Giants sweep their seventh straight series from Colorado. Scott Alexander (5-0) won in relief and Camilo Doval finished for his 16th save.

Nolan Jones had three hits for the Rockies, who have lost four straight.

San Francisco is 16-3 at Coors Field dating to Sept. 6, 2021, and has won eight straight in Denver. That streak was in jeopardy until a late rally against closer Pierce Johnson (0-3).

ANGELS 3, CUBS 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jo Adell homered in his first game back in the majors, Reid Detmers posted his first win of the season and Los Angeles defeated Chicago to complete its third series sweep of the season.

It is the first time the Angels, who have won four straight, have swept the Cubs in a three-game series.

Trey Mancini had an RBI double for Chicago, swept for the fourth time this year. The Cubs have dropped four in a row and 10 of 14.

Adell, who led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with 18 homers before being called up, tied it 1-all in the second inning when he hammered a sinker from Drew Smyly (5-4).

Detmers (1-5) struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings. Carlos Estevez got his 16th save.

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Berrios makes quality start as Blue Jays edge Astros 3-2 for third straight win

TORONTO — After an inconsistent year in his first full season with Toronto, Jose Berrios is playing like the reliable starter that the Blue Jays traded for in 2021 and later signed to a long-term deal.

The right-hander made his seventh quality start of the season Thursday night, tossing six innings of four-hit ball in a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros.

"I think it's execution, confidence and really being convicted with a plan," said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. "His stuff has always been good. It just comes down to executing."

Berrios, who had a lofty 5.23 earned-run average last season, has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his last seven outings. 

He's 6-2 with a 2.53 earned-run average over his last 11 starts.

"I remember those last seven outings from 2021 with the Blue Jays," Berrios said, recalling his strong finish to that season. "I feel the same way (now)."

The Blue Jays (36-28) scored all of their runs in the fifth inning and it held up for a third straight win.

Brandon Belt drove in Matt Chapman with a single for the go-ahead run against Houston starter Framber Valdez (6-5). Toronto has won nine of its last 11 games.

"Starting pitching, pretty good defence and good at-bats up and down," Schneider said.

Berrios (6-4) allowed two earned runs, two walks and had two strikeouts. Yimi Garcia, Erik Swanson and Jordan Romano each threw a scoreless inning.

Romano, from Markham, Ont., closed with a 1-2-3 ninth for his 17th save. 

Astros cleanup hitter Alex Bregman opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo shot, his ninth home run of the season. Berrios gave up a walk and two singles to load the bases but kept the damage to a minimum with a run-scoring double-play and groundout.

Toronto centre-fielder Kevin Kiermaier was hit by a pitch in the bottom half of the frame. He was pulled from the game in the fourth inning and replaced by Daulton Varsho.

The Blue Jays said precautionary X-rays were negative and that Kiermaier had a left wrist contusion. Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez (right oblique discomfort) also left the game early.  

Valdez issued three walks in the fifth inning and it proved costly. Chapman grounded into a forceout with the bases loaded to bring Varsho home. 

Alejandro Kirk followed with a ground-rule double that scored Bo Bichette. Belt's RBI single broke the tie before Kirk was thrown out at the plate. 

Valdez allowed three earned runs and four hits over five innings. He had five strikeouts but walked four batters.

Houston reliever Phil Maton put two runners in scoring position in the sixth inning but escaped thanks to a slick defensive play by Bregman. The third baseman bare-handed a slow roller by Bichette and threw him out to save a run.

Garcia gave up back-to-back singles to open the seventh but Houston (36-27) couldn't take advantage. Kirk helped stifle the momentum by catching Jose Abreu leaning too far off the bag at second base.

The Blue Jays catcher faked a throw to first before firing to second baseman Santiago Espinal, who threw to Chapman at third for the tag. Garcia then fanned Martin Maldonado to keep the one-run lead intact.

"I obviously take full responsibility for the mistake I made there," Abreu said. "We lost because of me tonight. I take full responsibility."

Announced attendance was 28,284 and the game took two hours 34 minutes to play. 

ROOF CLOSED

Rogers Centre's retractable roof was closed again due to lingering wildfire smoke from forest fires burning in parts of Ontario and Quebec.

COMING UP

The Blue Jays will continue their seven-game homestand on Friday with the opener of a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins.

Toronto left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (6-2, 4.40 ERA) was scheduled to start against right-hander Sonny Gray (4-1, 2.15). The Astros will head to Cleveland for a weekend series against the Guardians.

MANOAH SPOT

The rotation spot vacated after the demotion of Toronto right-hander Alek Manoah has yet to be filled. 

The Twins plan to start right-hander Joe Ryan (7-3, 2.76) on Saturday but the Blue Jays say their starter is 'to be announced.' 

Manoah was a Cy Young finalist last year but has just one win this season. He was sent to the minors Tuesday after lasting one-third of an inning in the opener of the four-game series.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2023. 

Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter.

José Ramírez hits 3 homers to power Guardians to 10-3 win over slumping Red Sox

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez's only misses came on swings for history.

Ramírez homered in his first three at-bats — and from both sides of the plate — to power the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night.

Ramírez connected for a solo shot in the first inning off Matt Dermody (0-1), belted a two-run shot — his 200th career homer — in the third and added another solo blast in the sixth when the Guardians hit for the cycle, had eight straight hits and scored five times.

Ramírez came up a second time in the sixth bidding for a rare four-homer game, but struck out swinging. The four-time All-Star third baseman had another chance in the eighth, and grounded to third.

“My last two at-bats I was swinging away,” Ramírez admitted.

There have only been 16 four-homer games in the majors since 1901. The last to do it was Arizona's J.D. Martinez in 2017. Cleveland got one from Rocky Colavito on June 10, 1959.

“Everyone in (the clubhouse) would say the same thing, he’s the best player in the game," said Cleveland starter Aaron Civale (2-1), who had his second straight solid start. "He plays the game the best way every single night.

“He might not be on paper the most talented. He might not be considered the best. But when he plays the game the way he plays it, he’s the best in the game.”

Ramírez also showed off some of his defensive prowess in the sixth by backhanding Justin Turner's hard shot and throwing off balance across the diamond to get Boston's third baseman while backpedaling in foul territory.

“If that was back in the day like Brooks Robinson, that play would be shown over and over and over,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said said.

Will Brennan added a homer as the Guardians won the series and handed the Red Sox their fifth loss in six games. Boston is under .500 for the first time since April 28.

“It's not the type of baseball we want to play,” said manager Alex Cora. “But here we are.”

Triston Casas chased Civale in the sixth with his seventh homer to pull Boston within 3-2.

But Cleveland, whose offense has awakened after a slow start, pounded former teammate Corey Kluber in the sixth. After Ramírez homered, Andrés Giménez hit a two-run double, Myles Straw hit an RBI triple and Brennan singled home a run as the Guardians opened an 8-2 lead.

Kluber, who was recently demoted to the bullpen, was tagged for seven runs and 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings. When manager Alex Cora pulled him, Kluber, a two-time Cy Young winner with Cleveland, made a slow walk from the mound where he had so much success to Boston's dugout.

“It's really tough,” Cora said about seeing Kluber hit so hard. “He couldn't buy a break.”

Dermody's first major league start came with some controversy.

The left-hander posted a homophobic tweet in 2021, and since deleted it, that the Red Sox were not aware of when they signed Dermody in January. He participated in the team's mandatory anti-discrimination and harassment prevention training in March.

The team called Dermodys' post “hurtful” and Cora praised the club's handling of the matter.

“You have to say it like it is, and be transparent,” Cora said.

Dermody will be designated for assignment Friday when outfielder Adam Duvall is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list. Duvall has been out for two months with a broken left wrist sustained while making a diving catch in Detroit.

HAVE A SEAT

Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo was not in the starting lineup after being benched for not hustling in Wednesday's loss.

With Boston trailing 5-2 in the seventh inning, Verdugo slowed up between first and second base on a ball hit by Masataka Yoshida. Cora felt like Verdugo should have been running harder and immediately pulled him.

Before the series finale, Cora explained Verdugo was being disciplined.

“We just felt like on that play his reaction wasn’t a great one, not hustling his behind to second,” Cora said. "I don’t know if he was out or safe, but I didn’t like it. ... I felt like it wasn't acceptable, and he knows it.”

Cora said he spoke to Verdugo, who has been having a solid season. He'll play tomorrow in New York.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: INF Yu Chang (left hamate fracture) will continue his rehab assignment at Triple-A Worcester this weekend and rejoin Boston's roster on Monday. ... LHP Richard Bleier (shoulder inflammation) is not recovering as quickly as the team expected. He recently began playing catch for the first time since going on the IL on May 22.

NEXT UP

Red Sox: RHP Garrett Whitlock (2-2, 5.16 ERA) starts the series opener in New York against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (7-0, 2.82).

Guardians: Rookie LHP Logan Allen (3-2, 2.76), who tossed seven scoreless innings in his last start, goes against Houston RHP Christian Javier (7-1, 2.84) in the opener of a three-game set.

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Wheeler, Clemens lead Phillies past Tigers 3-2 for 5th straight win

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, Kody Clemens came through with a game-ending single and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied past the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Thursday night for their fifth victory in a row.

Brandon Marsh tied it in the ninth with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly for the defending NL champion Phillies (30-32).

“These guys never quit,” Wheeler said.

Nick Maton hit a go-ahead single in the top of the ninth after Tyler Nevin broke up Wheeler’s no-hit bid with one out in the eighth for the Tigers, who lost their sixth straight and eighth in the last nine.

Bryce Harper led off the bottom of the ninth with a double off Alex Lange (3-2), and Trea Turner walked. After J.T. Realmuto struck out, Bryson Stott loaded the bases with an infield single. Marsh tied it on a liner to deep left field before Clemens laced a 96 mph sinker into right to score Turner from second.

“It was amazing,” Clemens said. “Got a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it.”

Clemens’ dad, Roger, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner, watched from the stands. Afterward, he tweeted: “Yes sir!” He added a flex and fire emoji.

“He was probably as locked into the game as much as I was,” Kody Clemens said.

The game originally was scheduled for Wednesday night but was postponed due to poor air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires. The smoky smell that was present the previous two days in Philadelphia dissipated, and the sky became more clear as the game went on.

Wheeler retired Akil Baddoo on a grounder to begin the eighth. Jonathan Schoop then hit a chopper to third baseman Josh Harrison, and Clemens couldn’t hold onto Harrison’s one-hop throw to first that would’ve had Schoop. Harrison was charged with a throwing error.

“I have to make that play,” Clemens said.

Nevin then lined a sharp single to right field, moving pinch-runner Jake Marisnick to third and ending Wheeler’s night after 108 pitches. He struck out eight, walked one and hit a batter.

“Pace was good, pitches were working,” Wheeler said.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he would've let Wheeler throw 120 pitches at most if the no-hitter was still intact.

“He was really good, really efficient,” Thomson said.

Detroit tied it 1-all on Zack Short’s bunt single that caromed high to reliever Seranthony Dominguez. It appeared Dominguez had enough time to get Marisnick racing home, but Dominguez pivoted toward first base. Clemens was charging toward the plate and Stott was late covering the bag from second as Marisnick scored and Short was safe.

Javier Báez led off the ninth with a single against Craig Kimbrel (4-1) and went to second when the closer made a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. Maton gave the Tigers the lead by driving a single into right field.

“Hurts all around,” Short said. “Just got to figure something out one way or another.”

CHEERS FOR CABRERA

The Phillies honored retiring Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera before the game. Phillies president David Dombrowski presented the two-time MVP and 12-time All-Star with a photo collage. Dombrowski was general manager of the Marlins when the club signed Cabrera and was the Tigers’ GM when Detroit acquired him prior to the 2008 season. In addition, former Phillies slugger Ryan Howard and current Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos presented Cabrera the Tigers’ “DET” sign from the out-of-town scoreboard that was signed by Dombrowski and several members of the Phillies.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: RHP Beau Brieske (right upper arm discomfort) tossed one perfect inning, with two strikeouts, in his first rehab start at Class A West Michigan on Wednesday night. … OF Kerry Carpenter (right shoulder sprain) had a hit and an RBI on Wednesday during a rehab game at Triple-A Toledo.

Phillies: LHP José Alvarado (left elbow inflammation) will be activated before Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alvarado has been out since May 8.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Detroit begins a six-game homestand by hosting Arizona on Friday night. Tigers RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-2, 3.21 ERA) is scheduled to face Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (7-3, 2.80).

Phillies: Philadelphia completes its six-game homestand with a three-game set against the Dodgers that begins Friday night. Phillies LHP Ranger Suárez (1-2, 5.47 ERA) opposes Los Angeles RHP Michael Grove (0-2, 8.14).

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Guardians' José Ramírez homers in first 3 at-bats against Red Sox

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez homered in his first three at-bats on Thursday night against the Boston Red Sox.

Ramírez connected for a solo shot in the first, a two-run homer — the 200th of his career — in the third and added another solo homer in the sixth.

The switch-hitter hit two of the homers right-handed, and the other from the left side of the plate.

Ramírez's homer in the sixth came off former teammate Corey Kluber and gave the All-Star nine this season and moved him past Travis Hafner for ninth place on the club's career homer list with 201.

Ramírez came up again in the sixth as the Guardians sent 10 men to the plate and struck out to end the inning.

His three-homer game is the fourth in the majors this season, following Texas' Adolis García on April 22, St. Louis' Paul Goldschmidt on May 7 and Oakland's Jordan Diaz on May 9.

Cleveland has one four-homer game, by Rocky Colavito on June 10, 1959. The last four-homer game in the majors came from Arizona's J.D. Martinez on Sept. 4, 2017.

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Red Sox comfortable with handling of pitcher Matt Dermody after learning of 2021 homophobic tweet

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Boston Red Sox believe they took the proper steps after learning about a homophobic tweet made by pitcher Matt Dermody two years ago.

Dermody, who was brought up from Triple-A Worcester to make his first major league start Thursday night against the Guardians, made the social media post in 2021. It has since been deleted, but captured screenshots continue to circulate.

The Red Sox said they were unaware of Dermody's tweet when the 32-year-old signed with the club in January. Once they learned of it, team officials met with Dermody, who went through mandatory anti-discrimination and harassment training in March.

"What Matt posted in 2021 was hurtful — and we addressed this with him when we learned about it after he joined the Red Sox in 2023," team president and CEO Sam Kennedy said in a statement. "We cannot dictate the religious beliefs or political views of our players and employees, but we do require they treat people in our organization and ballpark with respect and professionalism.”

Red Sox manager Alex Cora echoed Kennedy's stance.

“Obviously, as an organization we made this decision and done a lot of stuff to educate our players on the subject,” Cora said sitting in the dugout at Progressive Field before the series finale. “I don’t know how many organizations do it with their employees and their players as far as educating them about being inclusive, and obviously accepting everyone in your clubhouse and your working environment.”

Dermody gave up two of José Ramírez's three home runs and took the loss as the Red Sox were thumped 10-3 by the Guardians.

Afterward, Dermody expressed some remorse for his actions.

“I do regret the tweet in the sense that it came out hurtful and it hurt a lot of people,” he said. "That’s the last thing I want to do is hurt people. A lot of people think that I’m against a certain group of people or whatnot. But I’m for everybody making it to heaven.”

Dermody is expected to be designated for assignment Friday as one of several roster moves by the Red Sox.

Cora said it's not his place to have an opinion on Dermody's beliefs.

“Obviously, not too many people agree with the tweet of Matt’s,” Cora said. "I’m not here to tell him what to say or to do. But one thing for sure, when you put this uniform on, what we want is for people to be inclusive.

“I think the clubhouse is a reflection of the world. We’ve got people from different race, different beliefs, not just religious beliefs but also politics.”

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Wheeler's no-hit bid for Phillies broken up in 8th on Nevin's one-out single

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler's bid for a no-hitter was broken up Thursday night when Tyler Nevin singled for the Detroit Tigers with one out in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies right-hander.

Jonathan Schoop reached on a throwing error by Phillies third baseman Josh Harrison, and Nevin followed with a clean single to right field that put runners at the corners.

Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson then removed Wheeler, who threw 75 of his 108 pitches for strikes. He struck out eight, walked one and hit a batter with a pitch.

Detroit tied it 1-all on Zack Short's bunt single against reliever Seranthony Domínguez.

Philadelphia took a 1-0 lead on Bryce Harper's sacrifice fly in the sixth.

The game originally was scheduled for Wednesday night but was postponed due to poor air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires. The smoky smell that was present the previous two days in Philadelphia dissipated, and the sky became more clear as the game went on.

The 33-year-old Wheeler struck out four of his first six batters. He is in the third season of a $118 million, five-year contract with the Phillies.

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Vásquez gets 1st career win, Yanks blank White Sox 3-0 for doubleheader split

NEW YORK (AP) — Randy Vásquez pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning for his first major league win, Billy McKinney hit his first home run with the Yankees and New York beat the Chicago White Sox 3-0 on Thursday night for a doubleheader split.

Chicago extended its winning streak to a season-high five games with a 6-5 victory in the opener, when Eloy Jiménez hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh off Michael King. Jake Burger had a two-run shot off Yankees starter Luis Severino before Luis Robert Jr. and Yoán Moncada also went deep against the right-hander.

After Wednesday’s game was postponed by Major League Baseball because of hazardous air quality from Canadian wildfires, conditions in the Bronx had improved by Thursday’s first pitch. According to the website IQAir, the air quality was graded 142 before the doubleheader began and was at 135 shortly after the nightcap started. An AQI ranging from 101-150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

In the second game, Gleyber Torres hit a two-run homer off Chicago starter Mike Clevinger (3-4) in the fourth. Torres missed a game-winning three-run homer off Kendall Graveman by a few feet down the right-field line in the opener.

McKinney was called up from the minors Wednesday when star slugger Aaron Judge went on the 10-day injured list with a sprained and bruised right big toe. The 28-year-old outfielder tripled in the opener and homered into the right-field bleachers in the fifth inning of Game 2 to make it 3-0.

McKinney played his first home games for the Yankees. He was a minor league prospect when he was acquired with Torres from the Chicago Cubs in 2016 but was injured in the opening series of the 2018 season and the Yankees traded him to Toronto for J.A. Happ later that year. They re-signed McKinney to a minor league contract last December.

“It’s pretty cool,” McKinney said. “Gleyber and I were talking about that earlier. We’ve played against each other in the big leagues but we’ve never played together in the big leagues.”

Making his second major league start, Vásquez (1-1) allowed a single to Jiménez that put runners at first and second in the first. The rookie retired the next 15 hitters until Gavin Sheets singled, and was lifted after plunking Robert in the back to put two on with two outs in the sixth.

“I thought his stuff was really good,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He had life on his four-seamer and a sinker that set up the other stuff, but he had power behind everything which I thought really served him well.”

The right-hander, who was 1-6 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, struck out three, walked one and got eight outs on groundballs.

“It was pretty fun to watch, especially seeing him down in Scranton how hard he’s worked,” McKinney said. “I’m a big Randy Vásquez fan.”

Ron Marinaccio whiffed Jiménez to end the sixth and pitched 2 2/3 innings. Clay Holmes got three outs for his seventh save as the Yankees avoided a three-game sweep.

After the game, Vásquez was sent back to Triple-A. He had been added to the roster as the 27th man for the doubleheader.

Jiménez exited in the ninth after appearing to tweak his leg running to first base. He is day-to-day with a lower left leg injury and will be evaluated Friday.

Clevinger allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He retired his first nine hitters before Willie Calhoun doubled and Torres followed with his 10th homer to snap an 0-for-20 skid.

Robert, who entered in an 8-for-40 skid, had three hits in the opener. He doubled in the seventh before Jiménez drove the next pitch from King (1-2) for a two-run shot that gave Chicago a 6-5 lead.

It was only the second home run allowed by King this year.

The White Sox tied a season high by going deep four times and matched their most homers at Yankee Stadium.

“Anytime you win two out of three, it’s a good series — after it’s done,” Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said. “We come in and win the first two, you want to win the third one, too.”

Calhoun homered and drove in three runs for the Yankees in the opener.

Gregory Santos (2-0) pitched a 1-2-3 sixth for the win. Graveman earned his sixth save by getting Anthony Rizzo to ground into a game-ending double play with two on.

CHARITABLE

Before the doubleheader, the Yankees made a $10,000 donation in Liam Hendriks’ name to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Boone and general manager Brian Cashman presented the White Sox closer with a giant check, and Hendriks will match the donation.

“That shows the class of the organization,” Hendriks said. “I will be forever grateful and it’s something they didn’t have to do but it is very much appreciated.”

Hendriks returned to the mound May 29 from stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He got his first win on Sunday, which coincided with National Cancer Survivors Day in the United States, and earned his first save of the season Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: Judge said the swelling in his toe is decreasing and he opted against using a walking boot. … LHP Nestor Cortes (rotator cuff strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 5. LHP Matt Krook was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

UP NEXT

White Sox RHP Dylan Cease (3-3, 4.63 ERA) opposes Miami rookie Eury Pérez (3-1, 2.25) on Friday in Chicago.

Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (7-0, 2.82 ERA) faces Boston RHP Garrett Whitlock (2-2, 5.61) in the opener of a three-game series Friday.

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