Angels reliever retires at 28
Angels reliever Ty Buttrey retired from baseball, saying he had lost his affection for the game.
‘‘I just wanted to prove everyone wrong,’’ Buttrey, 28, posted on social media Saturday. ‘‘As time went on baseball became more of a business and less of a game. I couldn’t help but notice my love and passion for this game started to diminish. I always thought baseball was a cool job. I also knew that same job paid extremely well. What young kid doesn’t want a cool job that pays well?’’
Buttrey was one of the key pieces of the Angels’ bullpen the last three seasons, but he struggled with control problems during spring training and was optioned to their alternate training site.
He was 8-11 with a 4.30 ERA in 115 appearances in 2018-20.
On the field
Right-hander Domingo German was cheered by Yankees fans in his return from a domestic-violence suspension, but he struggled against the visiting Blue Jays, allowing three runs in three innings in the Yankees’ 3-1 loss Sunday.
German, 28, hadn’t pitched in the majors since Sept. 18, 2019, because of an 81-game ban under Major League Baseball’s domestic-violence policy after an alleged incident involving his girlfriend.
He was applauded by fans in right field after he bolted out of the dugout for warmups and got more cheers from the crowd of roughly 10,000 after completing a 12-pitch first inning. But he allowed a solo home run to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a two-run shot to Randal Grichuk in the second, then labored through a scoreless third before being replaced. He allowed four hits, struck out two and walked one.
◆ Nick Castellanos came out swinging — with his bat — a day after being ejected for inciting a benchclearing melee, hitting a three-run homer and a triple to lead the host Reds to a 12-1 rout of the Cardinals.
Castellanos flexed and jawed at Cardinals reliever Jake Woodford after scoring on a wild pitch Saturday. Catcher Yadier Molina took exception to his actions and grabbed Castellanos, and a series of scuffles ensued. Castellanos was ejected.
◆ Tigers rookie outfielder Akil Baddoo, 22, homered on the first pitch of his first major-league atbat in the third inning of the team’s 9-3 loss to the visiting Indians. It was his first game above Class A.
MLB says Nats will begin season Tuesday
Major League Baseball said the Nationals will begin their season at home Tuesday against the Braves after having their first four games — three against the Mets and the series opener Monday against the Braves — postponed by COVID issues.