Braves’ mighty mite delivers
Albies HR sparks win over Cubs
Nobody expected 5-foot9 Ozzie Albies to be among the major league home run leaders. Same with the Atlanta Braves’ rise to the top of the National League East.
They’ve made a believer of Cubs manager Joe Maddon.
Albies hit a leadoff drive for his 13th homer, Jose Bautista connected for a three-run shot and the Braves held off host Chicago, 6-5, yesterday.
Julio Teheran (4-1) pitched six innings and Tyler Flowers hit his first homer this season as NL-leading Atlanta (25-15) won for the sixth time in seven games. The Braves moved 10 games over .500 for the first time since July 28, 2014.
“It’s one of those things because the names aren’t big; they’re going to be big names in a couple years,” Maddon said. “They’ll be more easily identifiable. They have some really great talent there. I’m a big fan.”
A.J. Minter worked a shaky ninth inning for his second save in the makeup of an April 15 rainout. Minter hit Ian Happ to force in a run with two out, but Kris Bryant lined out to left to end the game.
Chicago closed out a 5-2 homestand with its second straight loss. Bryant and Albert Almora Jr. each hit a two-run homer, but Jose Quintana (4-3) allowed all three Atlanta homers after pitching six sparkling innings against Miami in his previous start.
The 21-year-old Albies drove Quintana’s second pitch the opposite way into the bleachers in right for his fourth career leadoff homer. The rookie second baseman tied Manny Machado, Mookie Betts and Bryce Harper for the major league lead in homers. He also doubled and singled.
American League
Tigers 6, Indians 3 — Niko Goodrum homered twice and drove in five runs, and injuryplagued Detroit beat Carlos Carrasco and visiting Cleveland.
Goodrum hit a two-run shot in the fourth inning and a three-run homer in the eighth, and for the second straight day, the Tigers won despite fielding a patchwork lineup against a tough opposing pitcher. Miguel Cabrera is on the disabled list, and Detroit has also been without Nicholas Castellanos and Jeimer Candelario.
Jose Ramirez hit his 13th homer of the season for Cleveland, but the AL Central-leading Indians fell back to .500 and are only two games ahead of Detroit.
Rays 2, Royals 1 — Adeiny Hechavarria danced around catcher Salvador Perez with an inventive slide at home plate to score the go-ahead run, and Tampa Bay beat host Kansas City.
Hechavarria dashed home on Matt Duffy’s single to right field in the sixth inning, sidestepped Perez to the right, then dove back toward the plate. Hechavarria faked toward the dish with his right hand, then jabbed his left hand just past Perez’s outstretched glove to tag the plate. Umpire Rob Drake immediately signaled him safe.
Ryan Yarbrough (3-2) allowed one run over five innings for Tampa Bay, and Duffy had three hits and drove in both runs.
Elsewhere in baseball — Major League Baseball has extended the administrative leave of Toronto closer Roberto Osuna by seven days through May 21 as the commissioner’s office investigates a charge of assault filed against the All-Star . ...
Minnesota catcher Jason Castro will have surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He could miss 4-6 weeks . . . .
Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre will get his aggravated left hamstring further evaluated, and the injury could put the active career hits leader back on the disabled list . . . .
The San Francisco Giants placed infielder Alen Hanson on the 10-day DL with a left hamstring strain . . . .
The Seattle Mariners say they will have a better idea on the projected length of Robinson Cano’s recovery time after the second baseman is examined by a hand specialist in Philadelphia.