Rookies look to make presence felt in Nationals-Giants clash
Gilbert went 0-for-4 in his big league debut Friday night as a large contingent of family and friends cheered for him from behind the third base dugout at Oracle Park.
The 24-year-old Gilbert, summoned from Triple-A before Friday's contest, became the fourth different right fielder employed by the Giants in seven games since they dealt Mike Yastrzemski to the Kansas City Royals at the trade deadline last week.
Gilbert was promoted after Jerar Encarnacion was forced onto the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring. Encarnacion had taken over for Luis Matos and Grant McCray, who had combined to go 3-for-17 with six strikeouts as Yastrzemski's initial replacements.
Giants manager Bob Melvin noted to reporters after Friday's 5-0 win that he could see Gilbert's excitement in right field, where he made a diving catch on the warning track to provide a highlight on his hitless night.
"He's done mostly center (field), but he can play all three (outfield positions)," Melvin said. "We talked about right field and he's all-in. You can see his pre-pitch routine -- he's jumping around out there and moving on every pitch."
Gilbert is a left-handed hitter who came to the Giants from the New York Mets in the Tyler Rogers trade at the deadline. He likely will get another start Saturday against Nationals rookie right-hander Brad Lord (2-6, 3.42 ERA).
Lord, 25, will make his fourth consecutive start after having begun his big league career with 29 of his first 35 appearances out of the bullpen. One of those relief efforts was a hitless two-inning outing against the Giants in a 3-2 home loss on May 25.
The Giants are expected to counter with another rookie, left-hander Carson Whisenhunt (1-0, 4.35 ERA).
Whisenhunt, 24, recorded his first major league win in his third start last Sunday against the Mets, allowing just one earned run in a 12-4 victory. The Giants lost his only previous home outing, a five-inning effort in a 6-5 defeat on July 28 to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a game he did not get a decision.
Facing Giants rookie Kai-Wei Teng in a bulk-innings role, the Nationals -- who have lost eight of their past nine games -- had two other rookies in the starting lineup in Friday's opener. Third baseman Brady House batted third and went 0-for-4, while Robert Hassell III was slotted sixth and had one of Washington's four hits, a single.
Hassell, acquired from the San Diego Padres in the Juan Soto trade in 2022, has been one of the Nationals' top hitters since a promotion from Triple-A on Aug. 1. He is 7-for-18 (.389) with four doubles, a homer and five RBIs in seven games.
"I watched a lot of videos," Hassell told reporters about his minor league demotion that followed a .218 average in his first 71 games with the Nationals this season. "My last stint up here, I started to get a little bit defensive, and (I was) just worrying about putting the ball in play instead of really hitting it hard. So (I am) just swinging with some intent (now)."
--Field Level Media
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
44 minutes ago
- Reuters
MLB roundup: Isaac Collins' walk-off HR lifts Brewers to 9th straight win
August 11 - Isaac Collins led off the ninth inning with a walk-off homer for the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers, who stormed back from a five-run deficit to stun the reeling New York Mets, 7-6, and sweep their three-game series. The Brewers have won nine straight and 12 of 13 to improve their MLB-leading record to 73-44. The Mets, who squandered leads in all three games this weekend, lost their seventh straight and fell for the 11th time in 12 games as their lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the final National League wild-card spot dropped to 1 1/2 games. The Brewers, who trailed 5-0, began their comeback when William Contreras homered to lead off the fourth before Joey Ortiz laced a two-run single. Pete Alonso had an RBI double in the fifth for the Mets before Contreras added a homer in the fifth, a two-run shot, to cut the lead to 6-5. After the Brewers' Nick Mears (3-3) tossed a hitless ninth, Collins homered just beyond the right-field fence on Edwin Diaz's (5-2) fifth pitch to set off a celebration. The Mets, who scored in each of the first five innings, took their lead thanks to RBI singles by Juan Soto, Jeff McNeil and Ronny Mauricio and homers by Brett Baty and Cedric Mullins. Blue Jays 5, Dodgers 4 Ernie Clement hit the first pitch of the ninth inning over the fence in left and Toronto avoided a three-game sweep with a narrow win in Los Angeles. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger hit back-to-back solo home runs in the eighth inning to erase a one-run deficit for the Blue Jays. Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman homered for the Dodgers, who were trying to sweep a team with a winning record for the first time this season. Los Angeles reliever Blake Treinen took over in the eighth with the Dodgers leading 3-2, but Guerrero homered to left-center field on an 0-2 pitch and Barger went deep to right-center field on another sweeper. Freeman tied the game with his second bases-loaded walk of the game in the bottom of the eighth. Cardinals 3, Cubs 2 Nolan Gorman atoned for a costly throwing error by producing the game-winning RBI as St. Louis edged visiting Chicago. The second-place Cubs fell six games behind the streaking Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. Pedro Pages hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals, who have won three of their last four games. Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray (11-5) allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits in seven innings. Matt Shaw hit a two-run homer for the Cubs, who lost for the fourth time in their last six games. Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (8-5) allowed three runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings. Astros 7, Yankees 1 Jason Alexander took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and pitched six scoreless innings as visiting Houston defeated New York. Making his 15th career start and fourth for Houston, Alexander (3-1) did not allow a hit until Ben Rice lined a one-out single. Alexander had a lead before taking the mound as Jose Altuve homered on the first pitch he saw from Yankees starter Max Fried (12-5). Altuve hammered a fastball into the left-field seats for his 250th career homer. Rookie Cam Smith added a two-strike, two-run double with two outs in the fifth for a 4-0 lead. New York only managed three hits and scored their lone run on a Ryan McMahon sacrifice fly in the seventh. Mariners 6, Rays 3 Cal Raleigh hit his major league-leading 45th home run of the season and Josh Naylor also went deep as Seattle held on to defeat visiting Tampa Bay for a series sweep and the Mariners' seventh straight win. Seattle starter Bryan Woo (10-6) pitched at least six innings for the 23rd straight time to open the season. The right-hander allowed three runs on seven hits, and matched his career high with nine strikeouts. The Rays' Adrian Houser (6-4) overcame a shaky start to go five innings. The righty gave up four runs on six hits. Ha-Seong Kim doubled and homered for the Rays, who dropped their third game in a row. Nationals 8, Giants 0 James Wood had a pair of two-run doubles out of the leadoff spot, MacKenzie Gore combined with three relievers for a three-hitter and Washington spoiled Justin Verlander's strikeout milestone with a thumping of host San Francisco. Making his 546th career start, Verlander (1-9) began the day three strikeouts shy of becoming the 10th player in major league history to reach 3,500 in his career. He did not take long to reach that mark, as he struck out three in the first inning and earned a standing ovation from the big crowd. The rest of the afternoon's highlights belonged to the Nationals, who scored four times in the second inning and never looked back en route to a second win in the three-game series. Wood's first double opened the scoring with two outs, after which CJ Abrams bombed his 15th home run of the season for a 4-0 lead. White Sox 6, Guardians 4 Lenyn Sosa and Colson Montgomery each hit first-inning homers to help Chicago avert a three-game sweep by beating visiting Cleveland. Davis Martin (4-9) allowed three runs over five-plus innings for Chicago, which led 5-0 after three innings and held on to snap its six-game losing streak. Cleveland had its five-game winning streak come to an end despite the efforts of Kyle Manzardo, who hit a pair of solo homers. Twins 5, Royals 3 (11 innings) Luke Keaschall hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Twins to a win over the Royals in Minneapolis. Keaschall provided a dramatic finish with two outs in the 11th, muscling a fastball to right for the second homer of his rookie campaign. Fellow rookie Ryan Fitzgerald hit a two-run homer for his first big-league hit in the third inning. Vinnie Pasquantino hit a two-run homer for Kansas City, which could not hold on to a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. Adam Frazier went 4-for-5 with an RBI, while Maikel Garcia reached base five times with two singles, a double, and a pair of walks. Braves 7, Marlins 1 Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna, and Michael Harris II all homered for the Braves, who defeated the visiting Marlins. All four players contributed to a four-run seventh inning that put the game away and secured the victory for Joey Wentz (3-3). The lefty allowed four hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings. Xavier Edwards logged two of Miami's six hits. Marlins starter Cal Quantrill allowed only three hits and one run across four innings. Athletics 3, Orioles 2 Willie MacIver delivered a two-run double in the ninth inning to lift the Athletics past host Baltimore. Elvis Alvarado (1-0) notched his first major league victory by logging the last 1 2/3 innings without allowing a hit or run. Baltimore starter Cade Povich turned in six strong innings, holding the Athletics to four hits and one run. Jordan Westburg homered and Coby Mayo doubled in a tiebreaking run in the seventh. Keegan Akin (3-2), who gave up a lead-off walk to Darell Hernaiz and a one-out single to Gio Urshela before MacIver's go-ahead double in the ninth, took the loss. Brent Rooker had two of the Athletics' six hits. They used six pitchers a day after ace and scheduled starter Luis Severino went on the injured list. Reds 14, Pirates 8 Spencer Steer, Miguel Andujar and Noelvi Marte all hit homers and combined to drive in 11 runs to help Cincinnati outlast host Pittsburgh and earn a split of the four-game series. Marte followed up his three-double performance on Saturday with three more hits, including a three-run home run off Pirates rookie reliever Cam Sanders with the Reds leading 9-8 in the top of the ninth inning. Cincinnati would add two more runs in the inning. Marte finished with four RBIs, as did Steer, who also went 3-for-5 with a two-run double off Yohan Ramirez (1-1) as part of a three-run sixth inning that put Cincinnati ahead for good. Isiah Kiner-Falefa finished with three hits. Tigers 9, Angels 5 Kerry Carpenter drove in four runs, including a three-run homer, and host Detroit rolled past Los Angeles to take two of three in the series. Riley Greene knocked in three runs, including a two-run homer, while Gleyber Torres reached base three times while scoring twice and driving in another run. Detroit starter Casey Mize (11-4) allowed two runs and three hits in five innings. Nolan Schanuel and Luis Rengifo each hit two-run homers for Los Angeles while Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz (3-10) surrendered seven runs (six earned) and nine hits in three-plus innings. Phillies 4, Rangers 2 Edmundo Sosa hit a solo home run and Bryce Harper had an RBI double as Philadelphia beat slumping Texas to sweep a three-game interleague series in Arlington, Texas. The Phillies' Zach Wheeler (10-5), working with two extra days of rest because of a sore shoulder, allowed two runs on three hits over five innings while striking out seven and won for the first time since July 6. Patrick Corbin (6-8) went 4 1/3 innings, surrendering three runs on four hits and three walks with one strikeout. The loss snapped a streak of four straight no decisions for Corbin. Diamondbacks 13, Rockies 6 Adrian Del Castillo had three hits, including his first homer of season, and Arizona set a franchise record with nine consecutive two-out hits in an eight-run fifth for a series-sweeping victory over visiting Colorado in Phoenix. Every Diamondbacks starter had a hit in the fifth, which began with Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s two-out single off Tanner Gordon (2-5). Ketel Marte had the only extra-base hit, a two-run double that capped the rally. Starter Brandon Pfaadt (12-7) set a career high for victories while giving up three runs and 11 hits in five innings. The teams combined for 33 hits, 11 for extra-bases. Brenton Doyle had two hits and his second homer in as many games and Ezequiel Tovar and Braxton Fulford had three hits for the Rockies, who lost their seventh straight. Padres 6, Red Sox 2 Dylan Cease took a shutout into the seventh inning while Luis Arraez delivered a two-run double to lead host San Diego past Boston. In winning consecutive starts for the first time this year, Cease (5-10) permitted just four hits and two runs. It marked the first time since July 18 that the right-hander had pitched past the fifth inning. Arraez, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Freddy Fermin each collected two hits. Tatis reached base four times. Red Sox starter Brayan Bello (8-6) absorbed the loss as he allowed five runs off six hits in 5 2/3 innings, whiffing seven. All the runs came with two outs, including the pair Arraez knocked in to initiate scoring in the bottom of the third. --Field Level Media
The Guardian
44 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Japan rocked by bullying scandal after team withdraws from high school baseball tournament
One of Japan's most popular sports tournaments is reeling after the sudden withdrawal of a team whose teenage players have been accused of abusing a younger teammate. Koryo high school, which had been representing Hiroshima prefecture in the summer high school baseball championships, announced on Sunday it would no longer take part. The team's withdrawal comes after a public outcry over reports that several of its members had physically abused a junior player earlier this year. The event's organising body issued a severe reprimand to the school in March after its internal investigation found that four students had assaulted a younger boy at a dormitory in January. The revelations sparked a backlash on social media that included calls for the team's expulsion, as well as a bomb threat and incidents in which Koryo students had been chased on their way to and from school. The summer tournament at Koshien stadium near Osaka features 49 teams and is one of the highlights of Japan's sporting calendar, drawing huge attendances and TV audiences in the millions. The event, first held in 1915, has launched the careers of a string of famous Japanese baseball players, including the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. Koryo's principal, Masakazu Hori, told reporters that the school had decided to withdraw to protect students and staff. Describing the assault case as 'deeply regrettable', he added: 'We have decided to pull out, and will swiftly conduct an overhaul of our education method.' The school's investigation found that the unnamed boy had been shoved in the chest and slapped in the face, Japanese media said. He transferred to another school after his assailants apologised. The school reported the incident to the federation, which issued a reprimand but did not initially make it public. Police are reportedly investigating the January incident after the victim filed a complaint, and a third-party body is examining additional allegations made by a former member of the team. The baseball team's head coach, Tetsuyuki Nakai, has been relieved of his duties while the investigation is being carried out. The education minister, Toshiko Abe, voiced 'deep regret' over the 'inexcusable' actions of the students, but warned social media users not to post unfounded allegations against people connected to the school. It is not the first time that the tournament – Japan's biggest amateur sporting event – has found itself at the centre of allegations of abuse, which critics claim lie in its refusal to ditch its regimented approach to sport. In 2015, PL Gakuen high school, one of the tournament's most successful teams, said it would stop recruiting new players after allegations of violence and bullying. In 2023, the coach of another top team was forced to step down after being accused of physical abusing a player. And last month, players competing in a qualifying game for the Koshien tournament were ordered not to smile and wave at supporters during an opening ceremony, and instead march in an orderly fashion. The tournament's organiser, the Japan High School Baseball Federation, said it would 'continue efforts to eradicate violence, bullying and unreasonable hierarchical relationships'. Koryo, which has a tradition of producing professional players, is the first school in the tournament's long history to withdraw after the games have started. The withdrawal means that Koryo will forfeit its second-round game, which had been scheduled for Thursday. In a clip on social media, several members of the team Koryo defeated in their first-round fixture last week refused to observe the custom of shaking hands with their opponents at the end of the game.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Report: Teams monitoring Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill as trade candidate
August 11 - As the Miami Dolphins navigate an injury sidelining Tyreek Hill, ESPN reported on Sunday that other NFL teams are monitoring the situation with the All-Pro wide receiver as a potential trade target. Hill is dealing with an oblique injury, head coach Mike McDaniel revealed on Friday, keeping the receiver out of practices and Sunday's preseason opener at the Chicago Bears, which resulted in a 24-24 tie. The 31-year-old Hill has missed only one game in his first three seasons with Miami, catching 319 passes for 4,468 yards and 26 scores in 50 regular-season starts from 2022-24. However, despite that reliability, after the Dolphins suffered a season-ending loss to the New York Jets last winter, Hill told reporters, "I'm out." In the months since, Hill has said he is focused and training hard for the team, while quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said in July that the pair are "still continuing to rebuild" their relationship. ESPN reported that Hill's injury has made his playing status uncertain. While the Dolphins have said they aren't trading him, that hasn't kept other teams from watching how Miami handles their extremely productive receiver going forward. The five-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl selection has 798 receptions for 11,098 yards and 82 touchdowns in 141 career regular-season games (123 starts) with the Kansas City Chiefs (2016-21) and Dolphins. Hill has another 96 receptions for 1,212 yards and six TDs and 96 yards rushing and one TD in 15 playoff games (14 starts), winning the Super Bowl with the Chiefs in the 2019 season. Kansas City selected Hill in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. --Field Level Media
