Latest news with #2022WorldSeries
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Astros pitcher Lance McCullers receives death threats after loss to Reds
Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers says he and his family were subjected to death threats after he gave up seven runs in the first inning of Saturday night's 13-9 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. A team spokesperson said the Astros have notified the Houston Police Department and Major League Baseball security about the comments made on social media. Advertisement "I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with," McCullers said after Saturday's game. He and his wife, Kara, have two young daughters. "I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them or next time they see us in public they're going to stab my kids to death, things like that, it's tough to hear as a dad." McCullers, a 2018 All-Star who has battled a number of injuries over the past few years, finally returned to the Astros active roster on May 4, pitching for the first time since the 2022 World Series. Advertisement Saturday's game was only his second start since returning. In the Reds' 10-run first inning, McCullers allowed a three-run homer to Elly De La Cruz and RBI hits from Tyler Stephenson and Will Benson before he was removed after getting only one out. In just his second appearance since the 2022 World Series, Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. allowed three hits, three walks and seven earned runs in 1/3 of an inning on May 10 against the Cincinnati Reds. Astros manager Joe Espada was visibly upset as he addressed the media after Saturday's game. "There are people who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance," Espada said. "It is very unfortunate that we have to deal with this. After all he's done for this city, for his team, the fact that we have to talk about that in my office – I got kids too, and it really drives me nuts that we have to deal with this. Very sad. Very, very sad. Advertisement "Listen, he hasn't pitched in 2½ years. ... It's going to take a little bit of time to get him going. And that's fine. But this can't happen. I'm really upset that this can happen to athletes." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lance McCullers Jr. gets death threats after poor start vs. Reds
New York Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Bryce Harper leaves game after getting hit in surgically repaired elbow
Bryce Harper left Tuesday's game against the Braves in the first inning, leaving Phillies fans holding their breath. The Phillies star was hunched over in pain after he got hit on his right elbow by Braves starter Spencer Strider on an 0-1 pitch with two outs. Harper underwent X-rays, which came back negative, and initial reports indicate he's dealing with a right elbow contusion. The pitch drilled him square on the elbow, despite Harper's best effort to get out of the way of the 96.5 mph fastball, and sent him running out of the batter's box in pain. Harper walked back to the on-deck circle before kneeling in pain as the crowd reacted to the hit by pitch. A Phillies trainer came rushing out to check on Harper, and he was taken out of the game. Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies is hit by a pitch in the bottom of the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on May 27, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images Harper appeared to still be in an immense amount of pain as he got up to walk into the Phillies' dugout and down into the clubhouse. Harper had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow after the 2022 World Series to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament. Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies leaves the game after being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on May 27, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images Edmundo Sosa entered the game as a pinch-runner for Harper and was put at third base in the next inning as Alex Bohm moved over to first base to take the two-time MVP's position. The Phillies scored their first run of the game an inning later when they took a 1-0 lead.
Fox Sports
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. returns to mound after online threats that followed his previous start
Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. allowed two unearned runs over four innings against the Texas Rangers on Friday, five nights after the right-hander failed to get out of the first inning in a game that he said was followed by online threats. McCullers, who is making a comeback after missing two full seasons with injuries, allowed seven runs while getting only one out in Houston's 13-9 loss last Saturday, then said afterward that he had received online death threats directed at his children. The Astros said Houston police and Major League Baseball security were alerted to the threats. The 31-year-old right-hander on Friday made only his third start for the Astros since the 2022 World Series. He got a no-decision. McCullers needed 83 pitches to get through his four innings and he threw 53 strikes. He struck out two, walked one and gave up four singles. The only runs against McCullers came when Jonah Heim had a two-run single with two outs in the second inning. That was three batters after shortstop Jeremy Pena was charged with an error when he failed to catch a throw from McCullers, who was trying to get the lead runner at second base after fielding a comebacker. Jake Burger, whose homer was the only run in the Rangers' 1-0 win in the series opener Thursday night, then had an infield popout before Heim's hit into the right field corner. Astros manager Joe Espada said before Friday's game that McCullers mentally was 'in a good spot. Physically, he's fine. He just needs to go out there and just have some confidence and pitch, be aggressive in the zone and we have his back.' McCullers had surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur, and was rehabbing last June when he had a setback during a bullpen session that shut him down for the rest of the season. He made four starts in the minor leagues this year before rejoining the Astros rotation on May 4. 'We all have confidence he can do it. He just needs to go out there and do his thing,' Espada said. 'It's going to happen.' McCullers is 49-33 and 3.53 ERA in 133 games (130 starts) for the Astros since his big league debut with them in 2015. An All-Star in 2017, McCullers went 10-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 25 games in 2018 before Tommy John surgery. He was 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 28 starts in 2021, then signed an $85 million, five-year contract that goes through 2026. ___ AP MLB: recommended
San Francisco Chronicle
12-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Houston pitcher McCullers receives death threats directed at his children after tough start
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. said he received online death threats directed at his children after his tough start Saturday night against the Cincinnati Reds. McCullers, who was making just his second start since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series, allowed seven runs while getting just one out in Houston's 13-9 loss. 'I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with,' he said. 'So just as a father I think there have been many, many threats over the years aimed at me mostly, and I think actually one or two people from other issues around baseball actually had to go to jail for things like that. But I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them or next time they see us in public, they're gonna stab my kids to death, things like that, it's tough to hear as a dad.' The Astros said that the Houston Police Department and MLB security had been alerted to the threats. McCullers and his wife Kara have two young daughters. A visibly upset manager Joe Espada addressed the threats at his postgame news conference and added that they were also threatening the pitcher's life. 'There are people who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance,' Espada said. 'It is very unfortunate that we have to deal with this. After all he's done for this city, for his team, the fact that we have to talk about that in my office — I got kids too and it really drives me nuts that we have to deal with this. Very sad, very, very sad.' McCullers, who has had numerous injuries that have kept him off the field in the last couple of seasons, said it's difficult to have to deal with threats on top of trying to return to form on the mound. 'If you fail you fail on a very large stage (with) a lot of eyes and there's nowhere to hide,' he said. 'At the end of the day, I just want to do my job. I just want to be a good pitcher for the Astros and I believe I'll get there, but like I said I just think that having to worry about that, worry about leaving town and leaving them and things like that or dropping her off at school, I just think … there should be some type of decency.'
Edmonton Journal
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Houston Astros' Lance McCullers receives death threats directed at his children after tough start
Article content Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. said he received online death threats directed at his children after his tough start Saturday night against the Cincinnati Reds. Article content McCullers, who was making just his second start since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series, allowed seven runs while getting just one out in Houston's 13-9 loss. Afterward, McCullers said he had received the threats on social media. Article content 'I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with,' he said. 'So just as a father I think there have been many, many threats over the years aimed at me mostly, and I think actually one or two people from other issues around baseball actually had to go to jail for things like that. But I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them or next time they see us in public, they're gonna stab my kids to death, things like that, it's tough to hear as a dad.' The Astros said that the Houston Police Department and MLB security had been alerted to the threats. McCullers and his wife Kara have two young daughters. A visibly upset manager Joe Espada addressed the threats at his postgame news conference and added that they were also threatening the pitcher's life. 'There are people who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance,' Espada said. 'It is very unfortunate that we have to deal with this. After all he's done for this city, for his team, the fact that we have to talk about that in my office — I got kids too and it really drives me nuts that we have to deal with this. Very sad, very, very sad.' Article content McCullers, who has had numerous injuries that have kept him off the field in the last couple of seasons, said it's difficult to have to deal with threats on top of trying to return to form on the mound. 'If you fail you fail on a very large stage (with) a lot of eyes and there's nowhere to hide,' he said. 'At the end of the day, I just want to do my job. I just want to be a good pitcher for the Astros and I believe I'll get there, but like I said I just think that having to worry about that, worry about leaving town and leaving them and things like that or dropping her off at school, I just think … there should be some type of decency.' Article content Latest National Stories
