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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bo Bichette's pinch-hit blast in ninth lifts low-scoring Jays to improbable series win over host Texas
If a 0-0 tie were even permitted in baseball, the Blue Jays and Rangers were certainly more than qualified to produce such an outcome. Neither team can hit, nor has shown any penchant for consistently putting up runs recently, and yet one team had to take Wednesday's series rubber match in Arlington because the rules dictate a winner must be established. In a weird way, these two offensively challenged teams did create some drama the deeper the night went and the longer the game remained scoreless. The dramatics only intensified when Bo Bichette — who was not in the Jays' starting lineup because of back tightness and was labelled day-to-day by manager John Schneider — came off the bench as a surprise pinch-hitter in the ninth inning with two out and Ernie Clement on second base. Bichette looked at a called first strike, then launched right-hander Jacob Webb's changeup deep to left field to account for all of the scoring and helped the Jays salvage something from a 2-4 road trip that saw them produce all of six runs in six games, including two shutout losses. The night's other compelling story involved the Jays' pitching, a combined bullpen effort that yielded only one hit — a single by Josh Smith leading off the first inning.. Three takeaways as the Jays took two of three in Texas: Since he hit his most recent homer on May 11 in Seattle as the Jays capped off a series sweep of the Mariners, George Springer has recorded three extra-base hits, including one in Tuesday's loss at Globe Life Field. No one was expecting the veteran to sustain his early-season revival, but something more needs to be extracted from Springer, who isn't the only player on the roster in need of an offensive bump. In manager John Schneider's re-imagined lineup, Springer batted cleanup in the series finale, an order that had Daulton Varsho leading off in place of Bichette, Anthony Santander batting second followed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the No. 3 hole. Vladdy was the lone hitter in the Jays' top of the order to produce a hit, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. The remaining members combined for six strikeouts. A tip of the hat for those who had the battery of Paxton Schultz and Ali Sanchez on their scorecard — ever — when the season began. No one could have envisioned such an improbable pitcher-catcher tandem and yet there was the right-hander Schultz making his first big-league start, while Sanchez was making his second-career start after making his debut during Sunday's bloodbath in Tampa. Schultz began his outing by yielding the leadoff single to Smith. Credit to Schultz in how he attacks hitters and pitches with a certain swagger by wasting so little time between pitches. He struck out Corey Seager, a two-time World Series MVP who had just been reinstated by Texas following the shortstop's second stint on the injured list because of a right hamstring strain, and ended the first inning by striking out Josh Jung. Schultz did require 22 pitches to retire the side in the first, and began the second with his third K in a row. And once he got through the order once, retiring No. 9 hitter Kyle Higashioka, his night ended. In total, Schultz retired eight in a row and provided the Jays with precisely what they needed as an opener. Lefty Eric Lauer then did his part in matching Schultz by retiring eight batters in a row. The very definition of a leadoff hitter is to get on base and set an early tempo. Bichette has filled the role this season, even though his aggressive style isn't conducive to the role. Varsho might be the antithesis of a leadoff hitter given his woeful on-base percentage. Paradoxically, though, he drew a walk to lead off the game — his fourth base on balls this season — but then proceeded to strike out in each of his next three at-bats. To recap, he doesn't get on base with any frequency and he strikes out far too frequently, exactly what is required from the leadoff spot. The relocated Athletics come to town for a four-game series beginning Thursday night … The Sacramento-based A's have dropped 12 of their past 13 games and at 23-33 sit last in the AL West, but sport a .500 road record (14-14) … RHP Jose Berrios (1-2, 4.22 ERA) gets the start for the Jays. He is coming off a loss in Tampa following seven successive no-decisions. His most recent win came way back on April 7.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Freddie Freeman, wife Chelsea make big donation to OC hospital that treated their son
ORANGE, Calif. - Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman and his wife Chelsea are making a big donation to the Orange County hospital that treated their son Maximus when he became suddenly ill last year. The Freemans have announced that they're donating $1 million to Children's Hospital Orange County, after being inspired by the doctors' care for their son. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Freddie Freeman reveals his 3-year-old son Max is battling rare neurological disorder The backstory The couple's 3-year-old son, Maximus, was hospitalized at Children's Hospital Orange County last July after suffering from paralysis. At the time, Chelsea Freeman said Maximus was unable to walk, sit or stand for days, and had difficulty breathing. Doctors eventually put Maximus on a ventilator. Freeman took time away from the Dodgers to be with his family while Maximus was in the hospital. Doctors diagnosed Maximus with Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that can result in paralysis. They treated the 3-year-old for days, and Maximus was eventually able to have the ventilator removed and go home with his family. What they're saying Freddie Freeman said that the family's time in the hospital moved them. He told ESPN's Jeff Passan that "Seeing every room full in the PICU each and every day impacted Chelsea and I deeply," adding that doctors "saved Maximus' life." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Freddie Freeman in tears discussing 3-year-old son's battle with Guillain-Barré syndrome On his Instagram story on Wednesday, the Dodger first baseman said simply "Thank you for everything," then tagged the hospital's account. Months later, the Dodgers went on to win the franchise's eighth World Series title. Freeman was named World Series MVP. The Source Information in this story is from Freddie Freeman's Instagram page, Chelsea Freeman's X account, and an X post from ESPN's Jeff Passan.
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Corey Seager is reinstated by Texas Rangers after shortstop's second IL stint this season
Robert Garcia picked up his third save of the season, and Eric Samulski discusses why the left-handed pitcher seems to be the "most trusted" reliever in the Texas Rangers bullpen. ARLINGTON, Texas — Two-time World Series MVP shortstop Corey Seager was reinstated by the Texas Rangers on Wednesday after his second stint on the injured list this season because of a right hamstring strain. The Rangers activated Seager before their series finale against Toronto. Seager hadn't played since hitting two home runs on May 10 at Detroit. He missed 28 of their previous 33 games going into Wednesday night. Seager was out 16 games while on the IL for the second time, but that didn't count the two games he didn't play before his two-homer game against the Tigers. He missed 10 games while out the minimum 10 days for his previous IL stint from April 23-May 2, then played only five games after being reinstated before being getting sidelined again. Infielder Blaine Crim was sent back to Triple-A Round Rock after not playing in either of the two games he had been back with the Rangers since getting called up Monday to fill an open spot on their 26-man roster. He appeared in five games in his first major league stint last month, going 0 for 11 with a walk. Seager, a five-time All-Star, is in the fourth season of his $325 million, 10-year contract with the Rangers. He went into the finale against the Blue Jays hitting .300 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 26 games this season, and 102 homers in his 419 games with Texas. Seager missed the end of last season after his second hernia surgery in less than eight months. That operation in September was a right sports hernia repair, on the opposite side of his abdomen from a procedure the previous January. He dealt with the left hernia issue at the end of 2023, when he still hit .318 with six homers, 12 RBIs and 15 walks in 17 postseason games as the Rangers won their first World Series title. He was on the IL twice that season (left hamstring issue and right thumb sprain).
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Rangers activate SS Corey Seager (hamstring) from IL
May 28 - The Texas Rangers activated star shortstop Corey Seager from the 10-day injured list prior to Wednesday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Seager has missed the past 16 games due to a right hamstring injury sustained on May 10 against the Detroit Tigers. The Rangers were 8-8 during his latest absence. Seager is batting third and serving as the designated hitter on Wednesday. The 31-year-old Seager has served two stints on the IL this season due to the same injury and has appeared in only five of the past 33 games. Seager is batting .300 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 26 games this season. The five-time All-Star is in his fourth season with the Rangers. He is batting .281 with 102 homers and 265 RBIs during his Texas tenure. Seager was named World Series MVP for the second time in his career when he led the Rangers to the 2023 title. He finished second in American League MVP balloting that season after batting .327 with 33 homers and 96 RBIs Texas optioned infielder Blaine Crim to Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move. Crim, 27, is hitless in 11 at-bats over five games for the Rangers this season. --Field Level Media
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Corey Seager is reinstated by Texas Rangers after shortstop's second IL stint this season
Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Two-time World Series MVP shortstop Corey Seager was reinstated by the Texas Rangers on Wednesday after his second stint on the injured list this season because of a right hamstring strain. The Rangers activated Seager before their series finale against Toronto. Seager hadn't played since hitting two home runs on May 10 at Detroit. He missed 28 of their previous 33 games going into Wednesday night. Seager was out 16 games while on the IL for the second time, but that didn't count the two games he didn't play before his two-homer game against the Tigers. He missed 10 games while out the minimum 10 days for his previous IL stint from April 23-May 2, then played only five games after being reinstated before being getting sidelined again. Infielder Blaine Crim was sent back to Triple-A Round Rock after not playing in either of the two games he had been back with the Rangers since getting called up Monday to fill an open spot on their 26-man roster. He appeared in five games in his first major league stint last month, going 0 for 11 with a walk. Seager, a five-time All-Star, is in the fourth season of his $325 million, 10-year contract with the Rangers. He went into the finale against the Blue Jays hitting .300 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 26 games this season, and 102 homers in his 419 games with Texas. Seager missed the end of last season after his second hernia surgery in less than eight months. That operation in September was a right sports hernia repair, on the opposite side of his abdomen from a procedure the previous January. He dealt with the left hernia issue at the end of 2023, when he still hit .318 with six homers, 12 RBIs and 15 walks in 17 postseason games as the Rangers won their first World Series title. He was on the IL twice that season (left hamstring issue and right thumb sprain). ___ AP MLB: recommended in this topic
