DeGrom healthy, might not return
Mets President Sandy Alderson said pitcher Jacob deGrom’s elbow is healthy but is uncertain if the club’s ace will return this season.
DeGrom has not pitched since July 7 because of a sprained elbow. The 32-year-old righty was 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA and 146 strikeouts before being sidelined.
“At this point the sprain has resolved itself,” Alderson said. “The elbow is perfectly intact based on the MRIs and the clinical evaluations from our doctors. We need to begin to see whether this is more of a chronic issue that relates to mechanics in some way.”
Alderson also said he has had little communication with acting general manager Zack Scott, who was arrested last week on a charge of driving while intoxicated. “We were all caught by surprise, very unfortunate,” Alderson said.
The Mets beat the host Marlins 9-4 on Tuesday. First baseman Pete Alonso hit his 100th career home run in his 347th major-league game, the second-fastest player in history to do so. Former Phillies star Ryan Howard did it in 325 games.
Yankees’ Cole leaves start early
Marcus Semien homered again, Alejandro Kirk went deep twice and the Blue Jays beat the host Yankees 5-1. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (14-7) was pulled in the fourth inning with left hamstring tightness after allowing a sacrifice fly to Reese McGuire that gave the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead. After the throw from center fielder Aaron Judge deflected off his glove, Cole motioned to the dugout and was checked out by trainer Tim Lentych.
“I was sitting out there for a couple of pitches weighing the pros and cons and I just wasn’t quite sure I was going to be able to get through the inning and get some treatment on it to get back out,” Cole said. “So unfortunately, I just had to pull the plug.”
Semien extended his career high with his 38th homer. His previous best was 33 for Oakland in 2019. The Jays won their sixth consecutive game and nine of their last 10. The Yankees lost for the eighth time in 10 games since a 13-game winning streak Aug. 14-27.
Rays 12, Red Sox 7
Nelson Cruz homered twice and, at 41, became the oldest player in major-league history to hit 30 home runs in a season, to lift the visiting Rays. Cruz passed David Ortiz (38 in 2016) and Darrell Evans (34 in 1987), who were both 40 when they hit the mark.
Rays rookie Wander Franco went 0 for 4 with a walk, extending his on-base streak to 37 games and passing Mickey Mantle (1951-52) for the longest by an AL player under 21 years old. The 20-yearold Franco now trails only Frank Robinson, who reached in 43 straight in 1956.