MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson as calls for justice continue

PHOENIX » Major League Baseball observed a Jackie Robinson Day like no other Friday, with teams celebrating a man who broke the sport’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. More than 70 years later, the racial reckoning continued.

Eleven games were postponed this week as some teams joined other leagues like the NBA, WNBA and MLS in protesting social injustice. The Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros took the field Friday night and then left after a moment of silence, draping a Black Lives Matter T-shirt across home plate as they chose not to play. They will play a doubleheader Saturday.

Teams across the league were celebrating the day in various ways. As usual, players, managers, coaches, umpires and other on-field personnel were wearing Robinson’s No. 42.

For Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, Jackie Robinson Day comes at a good time.

“I did find it almost crazy and kind of great, after everything that went down yesterday in baseball and in sports and with our organization as well, that we come right back here today and wear No. 42 and we go out there and celebrate Jackie Robinson and everything that he’s done for our game, and really, for the nation,” Baldelli said.

Yankees place Judge on IL

NEW YORK » The Yankees have placed right fielder Aaron Judge on the 10-day injured with a strained left calf just days after the star slugger returned.

Judge was activated Wednesday but aggravated the injury in a game at Atlanta. He was added back to the IL before the opener of a doubleheader against the Mets.

New York promoted top outfield prospect Estevan Florial to be the 29th man.

METS 6, YANKEES 4 » Dominic Smith hit the go-ahead home run in his first game since tearfully pleading for help combating racial inequality, Pete Alonso also connected and the Mets beat the crosstown Yankees in the opener of a doubleheader.

Smith and his teammates were all smiles after his decisive solo shot against Chad Green in the sixth inning.