Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Rays beat Red Sox as Boston files protest
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. >> Charlie Morton struck out 11 over seven innings and the Tampa Bay Rays avoided a three- game sweep by beating David Price and Boston 3- 2 inagame that theRedSoxprotested onWednesday.
Confusion reigned in the top of the eighth when a series of defensive changes involving reliever Adam Kolarek prompted Boston manager Alex Cora to protest the game due to the placement of subs into the Rays lineup after the designated hitter was removed.
Kolarek replaced Morton and retired pinch- hitter Sam Travis on a pop fly. The left- hander then shifted to first base when Rays managerKevin Cash brought in reliever Chaz Roe, who got a fly ball from Mookie Betts.
After Kolarek then returned to themound andNate Lowe entered toplayfirst base, Corametwith the umpires, which prompted around a 15- minute stoppage as theumpires discussed the matter.
After the protest was made and the game resumed, Kolarek got a first- pitch grounder from Rafael Devers.
An unhappy Cora again talked with the umpires after the third out, which delayed the start of the bottom on the eighth. CUBS4, GIANTS1>> Javier Báez homered in the first inning, Kris Bryant and Albert Almora Jr. alsowent deep, and Chicago beat San Francisco after starter Jon Lester was scratched with an illness.
Báez hit his 25th homer and Bryant his 21st to help Chicago avoid a three- game sweep. The Cubs bounced back froma 5- 4, 13- inning loss Tuesday night to givemanager Joe Maddon his 442nd win with Chicago, tying Joe McCarthy for fifth in franchise history.
Bryant left in the fifth inning because of soreness in his right knee. ASTROS 4, ATHLETICS 2>> Jose Altuve and George Springer both hit two- run homers to back up another solid start by Justin Verlander and give Houston a win over Oakland.
Verlander ( 13- 4) allowed two singles and one run, which was unearned, while striking out 11 in six innings for his third straight win. BREWERS 5, REDS 4 >> Ryan Braun and Keston Hiura homered, Yasmani Grandal hit a go- ahead single and Josh Hader made a lightsout relief appearance to lift Milwaukee over Cincinnati to avoid a three- game sweep and end a fivegame skid against Cincinnati.
Josh VanMeter hit his second homer and Joey Votto and Scooter Gennett hadRBI hits to helpCincinnati build a 4- 2 lead against starter JhoulysChacin. Braun keptMilwaukee closewith a two- run shot in the first, his 15th homer of the season, and the Brewers ralliedwithGrandal’s two- run hit in the fifth. NATIONALS3, ROCKIES2>> AdamEaton and Anthony Rendon homered, and Washington beat Colorado in the first game of a doubleheader.
Washington has won 22 of 31 home games and improved to 35- 15 overall sinceMay 24, the best record in themajors in that span. Colorado has dropped eight of nine and 15 of 18 to slide seven games under .500 for the first time since April 15. DIAMONDBACKS5, ORIOLES2>> CarsonKellyhit a three- runhomer, Taylor Clarke pitched six effective innings and Arizona beat Baltimore. MARINERS 5, RANGERS 3 >> Mike Leake outpitched Mike Minor in what could be the final start for each before the upcoming trade deadline, Daniel Vogelbach hit a pair of solo home runs, and Seattle beat Texas.
Leake and Minor ( 8- 6) have both been the subject of trade rumors — Minor more than Leake — leading up to next week’s trade deadline. But it was Leake with the better performance in his first start since taking a perfect game into the ninth inning last Friday against the Angels. Leake ( 9- 8) threw seven innings, his only mistake giving up a two- out, two- strike home run to Rougned Odor in the sixth inning.
Yankees’ Sánchez on IL
MINNEAPOLIS>> New York Yankees All- Star catcher Gary Sánchez has gone on the injured list for the second time this season, a day after straining his left groin.
Sánchez was hurt when he stepped on first basewhile grounding out in the eighth inning of a 1412, 10- inning win by the Yankees over Minnesota on Tuesday night.
TheMRI test onWednesday revealed a Grade 1 strain, according tomanagerAaronBoone, themildest form of the injury.
Cubs demote Russell
SAN FRANCISCO >> The Cubs optioned shortstop Addison Russell to Triple- A Iowa, about twomonths after he completed a suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.
The struggling Russell was sent down to make room for All- Star catcher Willson Contreras, who was activated from the 10- day injured list.
The NL Central leaders also scratched left- hander Jon Lester from his scheduled start against San Francisco because of illness. Right- hander Tyler Chatwood started in Lester’s place in a game the Cubs won 4- 1.