A’s lose Cotton for year

Jharel Cotton hoped to build on a promising rookie campaign for the Oakland Athletics, but he will have to wait another year.

The 26-year-old righty will have elbow surgery and not pitch this year. “It’s tough,” Cotton said on Saturday. “I’m missing the 2018 season with my boys, so it’s hard to take.”

Cotton had a sprain diagnosed, then had a second scan on Friday and was told he needed surgery.

“We felt like he was on the cusp of really coming into his own and it’s going to be delayed a year, unfortunately,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.

Blue Jays (SS) 5 Orioles 2

Newly signed Danny Espinosa had four singles in his Toronto debut and Kevin Pillar had three hits. Adam Jones hit his second homer for Baltimore.

Another split squad of Blue Jays beat the Canadian Junior National Team 11-3. In the lineup for the Blue Jays were five players — Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Dwight Smith Jr. and Kacy Clemens — whose fathers all played in the big leagues. Braden Halladay, the 17-year-old son of the late Roy Halladay, pitched a perfect inning of relief against Toronto.

Mets 9 Nationals 7

Adam Eaton homered in his first game for Washington since a knee injury last April. Bryce Harper had a hit from the leadoff spot. Nationals starter Tanner Roark gave up three runs on four hits and three walks in three innings.

Wilmer Flores had three hits, including his second home run, for New York. Jay Bruce doubled and singled.