Pirates try to keep home win streak alive, host the Marlins
Miami Marlins (24-39, fifth in the NL East) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (26-40, fifth in the NL Central)
Pittsburgh; Monday, 6:40 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Marlins: Eury Perez (0-0); Pirates: Mike Burrows (1-1, 5.27 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 11 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pirates -114, Marlins -105; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Miami Marlins aiming to extend a three-game home winning streak.
Pittsburgh has gone 17-18 in home games and 26-40 overall. The Pirates have the eighth-ranked team ERA in the NL at 3.84.
Miami has a 10-19 record on the road and a 24-39 record overall. The Marlins have a 13-33 record in games when they have given up at least one home run.
The teams meet Monday for the fifth time this season. The Marlins lead the season series 3-1.
TOP PERFORMERS: Oneil Cruz leads the Pirates with 12 home runs while slugging .458. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is 12 for 33 with three doubles and three RBIs over the last 10 games.
Kyle Stowers has eight doubles, two triples and 10 home runs for the Marlins. Jesus Sanchez is 12 for 34 with three doubles and two home runs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pirates: 6-4, .238 batting average, 2.66 ERA, outscored opponents by eight runs
Marlins: 3-7, .243 batting average, 3.94 ERA, outscored by six runs
INJURIES: Pirates: Andrew Heaney: day-to-day (calf), Endy Rodriguez: 10-Day IL (elbow), Joey Bart: 7-Day IL (concussion), Colin Holderman: 15-Day IL (thumb), Enmanuel Valdez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Justin Lawrence: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tim Mayza: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jared Jones: 60-Day IL (elbow), Johan Oviedo: 60-Day IL (elbow), Dauri Moreta: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Marlins: Jesus Tinoco: 15-Day IL (forearm), Max Meyer: 15-Day IL (hip), Derek Hill: 10-Day IL (wrist), Rob Brantly: 60-Day IL (lat), Griffin Conine: 60-Day IL (arm), Andrew Nardi: 60-Day IL (back), Braxton Garrett: 60-Day IL (elbow), Eury Perez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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New York Times
39 minutes ago
- New York Times
Aaron Rodgers film review: What does the QB have left in the tank for the Steelers?
If you can get past the understandable Aaron Rodgers fatigue, you see the quarterback played some good ball down the stretch last season for the New York Jets. He looked more comfortable, mobile and confident than he did in the first half of his first season returning from the Achilles injury he suffered in 2023. Advertisement He threw the ball with zip, got it downfield and even scrambled for yardage. Though his game is diminished and he can't create plays outside of structure, which was a major part of his succeess over the years, Rodgers could give the Steelers the best quarterback play they've had since Ben Roethlisberger before a sharp downturn in 2021, which says something about Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback carousel. With his quick release and accuracy, Rodgers will always be an ace in the quick game. When given a clean pocket, he can still make tight-window throws downfield with the best of them. Where his game has diminished most is in his ability to make plays outside the pocket and effortlessly make difficult throws off-platform. He can still occasionally throw an off-platform dime, but his passes would end up just missing for him most of the time last season. He can't generate enough torque from his hips like in his prime. Rodgers' numbers were ugly last season, but the Jets' pass protection was terrible and the receivers dropped passes at the league's third-highest rate. Week 15, 5:35 remaining in the first quarter, first-and-10 On this play, Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson were lined up opposite each other. The Jaguars defense played Cover 1 (man-to-man with one deep safety). Rodgers looked to Adams first, which caused the free safety to bite in his direction, opening space down the seam for Wilson. Without much of a reset, Rodgers generated enough power to make a strong throw on a line to Wilson 30 yards downfield. Rodgers to Wilson! Jets TD! 📺: #NYJvsJAX on FOX📱: — NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024 Surprisingly, after Week 8, Rodgers ranked 11th in expected points added (EPA) per scramble. He looks like he's running in quicksand, but he's still willing to run when the opportunity presents itself. Rodgers can put together one more good season if he can stay healthy, but he isn't close to the ceiling-raising player he was with the Green Bay Packers. He needs the Steelers to help him. Pittsburgh has a stacked offensive roster but enough pieces to be effective. Advertisement Fortifying the space in front of an aging quarterback is arguably more important than having a surplus of talent at receiver. The Steelers have a formidable interior. Center Zach Frazier is a legitimate star at the position. Left guard Isaac Seumalo hasn't played up to his big free-agent contract, but he's at least a plus starter at the position. And right guard, Mason McCormick had a solid rookie season and has the potential to improve. The ceiling for this offensive line will depend on the tackles. Broderick Jones, the Steelers' first-round pick in 2023, is a physically gifted player who was always seen as something of a project. He has played more on the right side of the line. This season will be the first in which he can focus on the left side, where he says he's more comfortable. Right tackle Troy Fautanu, last year's first-round pick, was injured in preseason and played only 55 snaps before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Both tackles have potential but are big questions heading into the season. Rodgers won't hold on to the ball too long, which will help the line. His 2.79-second average time to throw ranked the 36th among qualifying quarterbacks. For context, Russell Wilson ranked the 10th highest (3.03). Perhaps more important than pass protection for Rodgers at this point in his career is run blocking. The Steelers cannot ask Rodgers to pass at a high rate, not that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith would want to anyway. Last season, the Steelers finished 25th in rushing success rate and yards made before contact. With the investments the Steelers have made to their line, they must run-block better. Third-round pick Kaleb Johnson is a better fit in Smith's outside zone scheme than Najee Harris was. If the Steelers don't finish in the top 10 in rushing success rate, the Rodgers experiment will be yet another failed veteran quarterback venture. Rodgers wants to be able to throw with anticipation. He wants to stay a step ahead of the defense and adjust routes and ball locations based on what the defense is doing. The problem is finding a receiver who thinks the way he does, which is why he prefers those he's played with, like Allen Lazard or Randall Cobb. However, it's hard to always be on the same page as Rodgers. Even Adams, with whom he had arguably more chemistry than any other receiver he played with in Green Bay, struggled to get back on the same page as him in New York after spending a couple of years apart. Week 17, 14:43 remaining in the third quarter, second-and-9 Here, the Buffalo Bills showed a blitz to Rodgers' right just before the snap. Adams was lined up in the slot to Rodgers' left. However, after the snap, the Bills' defensive end and linebacker to Rodgers' right backed into coverage and blitzed the linebacker to Rodgers' left, which caused him to throw hot. However, he didn't need to throw hot against a four-man rush and the protection sliding toward the blitz. Adams didn't expect a hot throw to the side the protection slid to and didn't get his head around right away. The pass fell incomplete. Surprisingly, there were many instances when Rodgers and Adams weren't on the same page last season. His No. 1 receiver is now DK Metcalf. In addition to being one of the best deep threats in the league, his ability to win on short routes and create after the catch fits exactly what Rodgers is seeking. However, Metcalf can ad-lib sometimes and get sloppy with his route running, and he isn't always where his quarterback expects. Ask Geno Smith. If Metcalf takes his route a step or two too deep and Rodgers lets go of the ball early and throws an incomplete pass, we'll see some ugly body language from both players. Metcalf is a physical freak, but he doesn't have the natural feel for the game like Jordy Nelson or Adams. Advertisement Rodgers and Metcalf will make some spectacular plays together, but I can see them driving each other crazy on other plays. We'll see how much chemistry they can develop in their time together in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have sought a No. 2 receiver for years. They had a strong duo with George Pickens and Metcalf but decided that parting ways with Pickens, whose effort on the field was inconsistent, would be a net positive. There aren't many options to add through free agency or trade at this point. As mentioned, Rodgers needs a receiver he can trust to win in the short and intermediate parts of the field, with Metcalf lifting coverage. Tight end Pat Freiermuth should put up some strong numbers with Rodgers, but the Steelers need a more explosive option to emerge. Calvin Austin became a solid option for the Steelers last season, catching 36 passes for 548 yards. The team has high hopes for Roman Wilson, whom it picked in the third round last season. Wilson suffered a high ankle sprain, which made him a nonfactor last season, but he has reportedly been impressive in OTAs. The team can also sign Keenan Allen, who is slow at this point in his career but can still be productive underneath. He could at least give Rodgers someone he can trust to be where he needs to be. Right now, the No. 2 receiver is a huge question mark. Even when Rodgers had his career resuscitated playing in Matt LaFleur's system in Green Bay, he was complaining about how much motion was in the offense and pined for more control. After one of the worst seasons of his career, will Rodgers be humble and allow himself to become a point-and-shoot quarterback, rather than one who needs to have full control? Rodgers wants to play in a spread-out, static system in which he can read defenses and make checks at the line of scrimmage, and Smith wants to use a lot of heavy personnel, run the ball at a high rate and throw deep shots off play action. Of course, there will be collaboration and give-and-take from Smith and Rodgers, but if the Steelers can't find a dependable No. 2 receiver, then expect to see them use a lot of multiple tight end sets again — second in 13 personnel (three tight ends usage last season) — which would limit what they do in the passing game. Also, Smith wants to attack the middle of the field on play action. Rodgers was never a middle-of-the-field merchant, but he should be more willing to do so than Wilson, who's been allergic to it his entire career. At this point in his career, Rodgers should know that relying on a strong running game is his best bet to survive an entire season and produce, but we'll see if he can check his ego. There is a narrow pathway for Rodgers to put together a top-10 season in which we see the glimpse of the old Rodgers before he rides off into the sunset, but that would require the Steelers' offensive line to play like a top-10 unit, Rodgers to stay healthy for the entire season, the chemistry between Metcalf and Rodgers to hit the ground running and a legitimate breakout from one of their young receivers. That's a lot that needs to happen at the same time. A more likely optimistic scenario is if the Steelers can be a borderline top-10 rushing attack, allowing them to scheme up throws for Rodgers and finish as a top-15 offense. That would be enough to win if their expensive defense can hold up. There's also potential for the whole thing to blow up like it did in New York, but coach Mike Tomlin has a knack for avoiding disaster. The bottom line is Rodgers is the best quarterback Tomlin has had in years. Their ceiling is higher now, but will it be enough for them to win at least one playoff game in the AFC? Unlikely. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Mike Stobe, Emilee Chinn / Getty Image)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'The worst refereed game I ever saw ': Don Cherry blasts Game 2 refs in Oilers vs Panthers
An excellent episode of The Don Cherry's Grapevine Podcast is out, with legendary hockey coach and commentator Don Cherry and his co-host son Tim going over the history of NHL crease crashers and goalie abusers, from Gary Dornhoefer of the Broad Street Bullies and Wayne Cashman of the Big, Bad Bruins from the truculent 1970s to their modern day incarnation, Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers. Cherry, an elder statesman of NHL commentary having played, watched, coached and commented on hockey for almost all of his 91 years, offered up that in all his years he'd never seen refereeing so poor as in Game 2 of the Edmonton Oilers-Florida Panthers series. 'That was the worst refereed game I think I ever saw,' Cherry said, 'It was that one. It was unbelievable.' Chris Rooney and Jean Hebert were the referees in the game. Cherry's son and co-host Tim pointed to two missed calls in particular that contributed to goals against the Oilers, the first and last goals of the game. On the first, Oilers d-man Mattias Ekholm lost his stick blocking a shot, then Bennett kicked it away from Ekholm, before the Panthers aggressor taking a pass to score. It was an obvious no-brainer of an interference penalty on Ekholm that went uncalled. Three minutes before the final goal in the second overtime period, Edmonton's Viktor Arvidsson broke in on what might have developed into a Grade A scoring chance but was stopped by the sixth Florida man on the ice, again an obvious no-brainer of a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty, and one with major consequences in the flow of play. 'There should have been a power play,' Don Cherry said. 'I think Florida should have won that game, but the two goals they got (the first and the last) shouldn't have counted, I don't think,' Tim Cherry said, with his father agreeing. Both Don and Tim Cherry also agreed that Rooney and Hebert got one call right, the interference call on Sam Bennett for falling on Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner. Florida commentators that the Oilers and Skinner had a plan for Skinner to flop and play hurt if Bennett made any contact. But Don Cherry framed Bennett's flop on Skinner as a textbook tactic from a net-front attacker. 'Bennett did fall on him,' Cherry said. Added Tim, 'You always said when you were watching Bennett, you said that's nothing new because that's what Cash (Wayne Cashman) and Gary Dornhoefer used to do.' Said Cherry: 'Cashman, no matter no matter what happened, he'd fall on you.' They then played a clip of Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame goalie Ken Dryden talking about Dornhoefer's tactics. 'Dornhofer, he got me madder than anybody,' Dryden said. 'And the thing of it was that he had a terrific routine. I mean, he would always stand outside of the crease. The crease is so small, there's no room to stand inside it anyway. So he was within his rights to stand where he was. But the remarkable thing about him is that it didn't matter which direction you pushed him in. You could push him from behind, and he would still fall backwards into the goalie. And so long as the referee saw him falling or being pushed, it didn't matter where and which direction he was being pushed. If he fell on the goalie, you know, there was no problem so far as the referee was concerned.' 1. Dryden is as smart an observer of hockey as there's ever been, and it's hilarious how he nailed the tactics of these expert goalie bashers, from Dornhoefer to Bennett. If you watch Bennett, it's hard to tell if he's mashing the goalies on purpose, but in the penalized Game 2 play it's worth noting that Oilers d-man Ekholm pushes him one way, but Bennett somehow collapses in another direction, as if by miracle right on top of Skinner. Bennett is an obvious master of this dark art. His problem now is that NHL referees will are on to him. 2. For all the Panthers fans and pundits who will immediately trot out that Cherry is obviously a big-time homer with it comes to the Oilers, that's not at all the case. He's a big time homer for sure, but his preoccupation in life has been with two teams, his home province Toronto Maple Leafs and his old team, the Boston Bruins, where Cashman used to play. Cherry is also a huge fan of rock 'em, sock 'em hockey. He loves the rough stuff. He just knows what players like Bennett do and how they think. He's giving us a description here, a dose of reality. Well done, Grapes. Rooney and Hebert, no so much. They need to rethink their approach to letting go obvious penalties that would be called 99 per cent of the time in the regular season, if not the early rounds of the playoffs. Why choke on their whistles now?
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
C. Notes: Christian Encarnacion-Strand leads Reds' sweep of Diamondbacks
CINCINNATI — Before Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds utilityman Spencer Steer marveled at his teammate Christian Encarnacion-Strand. 'You just look at him,' Steer said, pointing across the clubhouse where the 25-year-old Encarnacion-Strand stood at his locker. 'He's a strong guy; he's going to hit the ball hard.' Advertisement A teammate walked by and made a comment about Encarnacion-Strand's physique, and Steer noted: 'Yeah, he's got a thick lower half. That's going to help him.' Beyond the physical traits, Encarnacion-Strand can not only put the bat on the ball regardless of where it's thrown, but also do damage on pitches other players can't. Sunday, Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen said he thought his fourth-inning 3-2 knuckle curve to Encarnacion-Strand was a 'pretty good pitch.' It was. The pitch was just below the strike zone on the outer third of the plate. Encarnacion-Strand went down to get the pitch and launched it 403 feet into the stands in left field for his third homer in as many games since coming off the injured list. 'He hits some balls where you go, 'How did you hit that one out?'' said Reds second baseman Matt McLain, whose two-run home run in the seventh inning gave the Reds a 4-2 victory over the Diamondbacks to complete the series sweep. McLain didn't even pick the pitch from Gallen as one of those, instead noting Encarnacion-Strand's homer Friday night when he hit a slider on the outside corner to straightaway center field for the tying home run. YUP CES IS STILL BACK — Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 8, 2025 Both Friday night's home run and Sunday's home run were on the edge of the strike zone. Since the Reds acquired Encarnacion-Strand (and Steer) from the Minnesota Twins at the 2022 trade deadline, the book on him is that he can hit just about any ball out of the park, but he needs to limit his swings to pitches in the zone. 'That can get him in trouble at times because he can hit those balls out, and he expands the zone a little too much at times,' Steer said. Reds manager Terry Francona has repeatedly said that when Encarnacion-Strand swings at strikes, he can be an integral part of the Reds lineup. Advertisement While the Reds had been dealing with offensive inconsistencies, the front office was patient in waiting for Encarnacion-Strand to be ready before bringing him back. It was tough not only for the front office, but also Encarnacion-Strand, who missed the vast majority of the 2024 season with injuries. But after going on the IL on April 17 with low back inflammation, Encarnacion-Strand started his rehab assignment on May 15 in Arizona and then went to Triple-A Louisville three days later. In all, he played 10 games with the Bats and got a total of 43 plate appearances. That, he said, was vital to the success he's had in his three games back, where he hit a home run in each game and went 7-for-13 in the three-game series against Arizona. 'It made it easier knowing that I'm starting to settle in, and when they call me up (to the big leagues), I'll be ready,' Encarnacion-Strand said. One of the reasons Terry Francona is so appreciated by those who have played for him is that he cares about his players as people, not just for what they can do for him professionally. Francona has spoken glowingly about backup catcher Austin Wynns since this spring, complimenting myriad qualities that made the 34-year-old catcher a valuable member of the Reds, from his preparation to his play to his attitude. When the Reds activated Encarnacion-Strand on Friday, the team designated Wynns for assignment. Wynns started 12 games when Tyler Stephenson was on the injured list but hadn't started a game since Stephenson was activated May 2. Before Friday's game, Francona was asked if he hoped Wynns would clear waivers and the Reds could keep him in the organization. He quickly answered, 'No.' Not because he didn't think he'd help the Reds, but because that's what was best for Wynns. Advertisement 'I'm not even comfortable saying 'fingers crossed' because the guy deserves to be in the major leagues,' Francona said. 'He handled a really (crappy) thing really well. He is (a pro). He was and is and will be.' The Reds were sure Wynns would be claimed, and while he was on waivers, he was traded to the Athletics for cash considerations. It was the second instance during the week that the Reds put a player's best interest over their own. Wade Miley opted out of his contract, and Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall told him that the team wanted him, but at the time, there was no place in the rotation for him. He told Miley that if there wasn't a starting job out there that he wanted, the Reds would sign him to a big-league deal and he'd go to the bullpen. The way Miley was treated — not just this week but also following the 2021 season when his option wasn't picked up — with honesty and respect was a big reason he wanted to return to Cincinnati, he said. Miley's first start in more than a year will be at a place he has had success before, Cleveland's Progressive Field. Miley, who threw a no-hitter for the Reds against Francona's Guardians in 2021, will start for the Reds on Monday. The 38-year-old Miley had a hybrid Tommy John surgery in May 2024. Miley was signed to a big-league deal Wednesday and appeared in that night's game against his old team, the Milwaukee Brewers. Against the Brewers, Miley gave up four runs on six hits in just two innings. Miley said getting on the mound in a big-league game was such a big accomplishment that he wasn't really thinking as much about pitching as he was being in the game. 'I was appreciative of getting that opportunity to go back out there,' Miley said Sunday. 'It was a little more chucking and ducking than pitching, but I kind of forgot to pitch. I was just like, 'I'm out here throwing balls.'' Advertisement Even when Miley was younger, his success came from pitching, rather than overpowering hitters. If Miley isn't pitching, his 90 mph fastball isn't going to overpower big-league hitters. 'Now I can focus on pitching moving forward,' Miley said. As for his no-hitter in Cleveland in 2021, Miley said he doesn't think much about it. 'It was definitely a cool moment that happened,' Miley said. 'You can't get caught up in that too much, since it can be a slippery slope.' Nicolle Suárez, the daughter of Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez, got a chance to see her dad play against her favorite team this weekend. Nicolle, her sister and mother accompanied the former Red to the series at Great American Ball Park. Nicolle, 7, got to see three Reds victories and two home runs by her dad. Perhaps more importantly, she was reunited with the Reds' mascots, Rosie, Mr. Redlegs, Mr. Red and Gapper, whom her dad said she was the most excited to see. An All-Star — Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 8, 2025 Nicolle was born in Cincinnati in September 2017 when her dad was a member of the Reds. Suárez was traded to the Seattle Mariners before the 2022 season and then to the Diamondbacks following the 2023 season. Originally signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur in 2008, the Reds acquired him in a trade following the 2014 season. Suárez was with the Reds in 2017 when Scooter Gennett hit four home runs in a game, and earlier this season, he joined Gennett in the exclusive four-homer club. The two former teammates traded texts, which was not surprising considering they were two of the most friendly players in the history of the home clubhouse at GABP. 'I like Scooter a lot, he was one of my best teammates — he was always happy, always enjoyable,' Suárez said Friday, the anniversary of Gennett's four-homer game. 'He congratulated me and it was awesome. I never thought I'd hit four homers in a big-league game.' Advertisement Suárez's four-homer game came the day after former Reds general manager Walt Jocketty, who brought Suárez to Cincinnati, died. 'For me, Jocketty was a lot — he had a part of my heart because he was the guy who trusted in Eugenio Suárez,' he said. 'Not only that, he gave me the opportunity to build my career. He was the guy who asked for me from the Detroit Tigers. He asked the Detroit Tigers for me because he thought I was going to be a good player.' Saturday, Suárez hit his 100th home run at Great American Ball Park, and Sunday, he hit the 294th of his career, which tied him with Magglio Ordóñez for third most by a player born in Venezuela. Súarez trails only Miguel Cabrera (511) and Andrés Galarraga (399) on that list. It was walk-off week for the Reds, with TJ Friedl closing Tuesday night's game with a robbery of a tying homer, and then Saturday, Encarnacion-Strand singled in the winning run in the continuation of Friday night's game against the Diamondbacks for the Reds' first walk-off hit of the season and the fourth of his young career. The Reds' sweep of the Diamondbacks helped get them back to .500 (33-33) and gave them a winning week after dropping two of three to the Brewers. The Reds take a 3-0 lead into Cleveland for the conclusion of the Ohio Cup. There is a trophy, and the Reds haven't won it since 2014, Francona's second year at the helm in Cleveland. For those betting on the Frank Robinson Most Outstanding Player, former Guardian Will Benson is the favorite to claim one of baseball's highest honors after hitting four home runs in the Reds' three-game sweep of the Guardians in May. After the conclusion of that series, the Reds will stay in the American League Central, traveling to Detroit to face the Tigers for three games. • IF Jeimer Candelario (lumbar spine sprain) began his rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville on Thursday after a pair of games in Arizona. He had at least one hit in each of his first three games with the Bats before going 0-for-3 in Sunday's second game of a doubleheader. With the Bats, he has gone 4-for-15 with a double, while striking out six times. • RHP Hunter Greene (right groin strain) went on the IL on June 4. An MRI showed no new injury. Advertisement • 3B Noelvi Marte (left oblique strain) started hitting drills in Arizona on Friday. • RHP Carson Spiers (right shoulder impingement) threw off the mound for the first time on Friday in Arizona. • Triple-A Louisville (26-36): The Bats snapped a nine-game losing streak on Saturday when RHP Chase Petty went six innings and allowed just one run, a home run to the second hitter of the game, on four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. In a seven-inning game as part of a makeup doubleheader, Candelario hit a walk-off single to give the Bats a 2-1 victory. RHP Connor Phillips earned the win with a scoreless inning. The second game was postponed by rain and made up as a doubleheader Sunday. The Bats split that doubleheader with the Norfolk Tides. • Double-A Chattanooga (28-25): OF Hector Rodríguez hit his seventh home run of the season Saturday. The 21-year-old is hitting .277/.346/.456 in 217 plate appearances for the Lookouts this season. He has 29 strikeouts and 20 walks to go along with 10 doubles and a pair of triples. • High-A Dayton (18-39): IF Cam Collier's rehab assignment was transferred from Arizona to Dayton this week, and he had hits in four of the five games he played with the Dragons. Collier, who had surgery to repair a thumb injury suffered in spring training in March, played 10 games in Arizona before going to Dayton. In his five games with the Dragons, he's 5-for-17 with a double, four strikeouts and three walks. • Class-A Daytona (25-32): SS Sammy Stafura tripled in three straight games this weekend and has five on the season. The 20-year-old is hitting .259/.374/.416 with 12 doubles and three home runs. He also has 16 stolen bases. Over 240 plate appearances, he has 61 strikeouts and 33 walks.
