Kopech shows off arm in Futures Game
Touted White Sox prospect Michael Kopech, acquired in the Chris Sale deal and pitching for Class AA Birmingham, made quite an impression in Team USA’s 7- 6 victory over Team World in the All- Star Futures Game on Sunday in Miami.
Kopech threw nine pitches in a perfect third inning, including a 100.7 mph fastball to strike out fellow Sox minor- leaguer Yoan Moncada to end the inning. He threw seven pitches 99.3mph or faster.
Moncada, who is at Class AAA Charlotte, went 0- for- 2 leading off for TeamWorld, and he made a wild throw from second base that led to an unearned run. Cubs farmhand Eloy Jimenez hit sixth ( 0- for- 2, two strikeouts) and started in right field for TeamWorld, while Sox farmhand Zack Collins entered as a substitute at catcher and went 0- for- 1 for Team USA.
Carlos Correa homered twice and drove in a career- high five runs as the visiting Astros rolled into the break with a 19- 1 win over the Blue Jays. The runaway leaders in the American League West became just the fifth team in the last 40 years to reach 60 wins before the All- Star Game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. They joined the 1998 Yankees, 2001Mariners, 2003 Braves and this year’s Dodgers.
Jose Altuve had three hits for the fifth consecutive game — the ninth player to do so in more than a century, and the first since George Brett’s record- tying six- game streak for the Royals in 1976.
Shortstop Paul DeJong finished 2- for- 4 with a homer to help the Cardinals beat the visiting Mets 6- 0. DeJong became the first rookie ( and first Cardinals player) to have seven extra- base hits ( three homers, four doubles) in a three- game series.
Mike Trout will return to the Angels’ lineup Friday after missing 39 games with an injured thumb. Trout has been out since May 28, when he injured his thumb sliding headfirst into second base.