Ex-Brewer Braun calls it a career
Ryan Braun, the Brewers’ all-time home-run leader whose production was slowed by injuries during the second half of his 14-year career, announced his retirement Tuesday at 37.
Braun, the National League MVP in 2011, hasn’t played this season after his contract expired in 2020 and said during spring training he was leaning toward retirement. He made it official in a video the Brewers posted on Twitter.
‘‘While it’s impossible to summarize my emotions right now, what I feel most is one simple thing — gratitude,’’ Braun said. ‘‘I have weighed this decision for many months. While I still love this game very much, the time is right for me to retire from my playing days.’’
Braun batted .296 with 352 homers and 1,154 RBI. He ranks second in Brewers history in RBI (1,154), extra-base hits (809), total bases (3,525) and doubles (408) and third in runs scored (1,080), hits (1,963), triples (49), stolen bases (216) and walks (586).
Braun was one of the best hitters in the majors in 2007-12 but was never the same after being suspended in 2013 for using performance-enhancing drugs. He acknowledged he took banned substances while rehabbing an injury and apologized.
On the field
Pinch hitter Andrew Knizner highlighted a three-run 11th inning with a two-run single, and the Cardinals moved into the No. 2 spot in the National League wild-card race by outlasting the host Mets 7-6. Javy Baez forced extra innings with a home run in the ninth inning for the Mets.
Drew Rasmussen and four relievers combined on a three-hitter, Ji-Man Choi and Brandon Lowe homered and the visiting Rays became the first American League team to reach 90 victories by blanking the Blue Jays 2-0. The Blue Jays had scored 52 runs in their previous four games.
Gerrit Cole returned from a hamstring injury to allow one run in five innings, and the Yankees backed him with five homers in a 7-2 victory against the host Orioles that pulled them into a tie with the Blue Jays atop the AL wild-card standings.
Royals promote two in front office
The Royals promoted general manager Dayton Moore to team president and longtime assistant GM for player personnel J.J. Picollo to GM. The two
joined the Royals 2006 and worked together with the Braves before that.
Mariners to get 2023 All-Star Game
Major League Baseball will award the Mariners the 2023 All-Star Game in a news conference Thursday in Seattle. It will be Seattle’s third time hosting the game, with the others coming in 1979 and 2001.