MLB notes: Indians’ run ends at 22
CLEVELAND— The Cleveland Indians can return to clinching their division and playoff preparations.
Their historic winning streak is, well, history.
Cleveland had its AL record run stopped at 22 straight games on Friday night as the Indians were beaten 4-3 by the Kansas City Royals, who became the first team to conquer the defending league champions since Aug. 23.
Jason Vargas (16-10) pitched into the sixth and Brandon Moss homered off Trevor Bauer (16-9) as the Royals ended baseball’s longest win streak in 101 years. The Indians set a new league mark and came within four of matching the overall record held by the 1916 New York Giants.
Following a magical, walk-off win in extra innings on Thursday night, the Indians couldn’t muster another late rally and fell for the first time in more than three weeks.
When Francisco Lindor struck out with a runner on first to end it, the packed crowd gave the Indians a prolonged standing ovation. Manager Terry Francona and the Cleveland players came out of the dugout to salute their fans.
SIGN FINE: The Boston Red Sox were fined by Major League Baseball for using electronic equipment to steal signs given by a Yankees catcher this season, and New York has been fined a lesser amount for improper use of a dugout telephone in an earlier year.
The discipline was announced Friday by baseball commissioner Rob Manfred. The fine amounts were not announced. The money will be donated to hurricane relief efforts in Florida.
Manfred found insufficient evidence to support an allegation by Boston that the Yankees made inappropriate use of the YES Network against the Red Sox.
The New York Times reported this month video clips sent to the commissioner’s office by the Yankees showed Boston assistant athletic trainer Jon Jochim looking at an Apple Watch during an August series. Jochim then relayed information to outfielder Brock Holt and second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who was seen passing information to Chris Young. Manfred said Boston’s owners and front office had no advance knowledge of what occurred.
He said the Red Sox violated rules by sending electronic communications from their video replay room to the trainer. He said Boston stopped the conduct when its management became aware of it.
“All 30 clubs have been notified that future violations of this type will be subject to more serious sanctions, including the possible loss of draft picks,” the commissioner said in a statement.
In investigating Boston’s complaint against the Yankees, Manfred said MLB learned of the improper use of the dugout phone. He said the communications that took place over the phone did not violate any rules.
ARRIETA THROWING: Jake Arrieta left his expected return to the Cubs rotation up to reporters. And they started working on scenarios after he threw 25 pitches off the bullpen mound Thursday without discomfort in his right hamstring. Arrieta plans to throw another bullpen session Saturday if the leg feels fine.
Arrieta, who suffered a Grade 1 strain on Sept. 4, was under the belief that Saturday’s session will be treated as a normal bullpen session between starts. That would line him up to return Tuesday at Tampa.