Former Phillie Bruce retires weeks into 14th season
NEW YORK » Jay Bruce had seen enough. Having made the Yankees’ opening-day roster, he couldn’t stomach his poor start to the season.
So the three-time All-Star outfielder decided to retire Sunday, just 15 days past his 34th birthday.
Bruce informed Yankees manager Aaron Boone of his decision during a 20-minute meeting in the manager’s office on Friday, then made a public announcement before Sunday’s game. He received an ovation when shown on the video board before the eighth inning but did not get in the game.
Sunday’s games
RAYS 4, YANKEES 2 » The lastplace New York Yankees lost their fifth straight game as Yoshi Tsutsugo hit a tiebreaking double off Gerrit Cole in the seventh inning that lifted the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-2 win Sunday and a three-game sweep.
Four pitchers combined on the Rays’ second three-hitter of a series in which New York managed 11 hits in all. PADRES 5, DODGERS 2» Eric Hosmer delivered the tying and go-ahead RBIs in the seventh and eighth innings, helping San Diego beat Los Angeles to avoid a sweep in the first series of the year between the NL West rivals.
INDIANS 6, REDS 3» Shane Bieber kept up his record strikeout run, fanning 13 and pitching Cleveland past Cincinnati.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, NATIONALS 2» Madison Bumgarner had his best outing of the season, allowing a run over five innings as Arizona beat Washington.
GIANTS 1, MARLINS 0 » Alex Wood pitched five innings in his season debut and four relievers completed a three-hitter as San Francisco scored an unearned run to beat Miami and avert a series sweep. METS 2, ROCKIES 1 » Marcus Stroman pitched eight innings of one-run ball and made a dazzling defensive play, catcher James McCann threw out Trevor Story attempting to steal second for the final out and New York beat Colorado. WHITE SOX 3, RED SOX 2, 1ST GAME, WHITE SOX 5, RED SOX 1, 2ND GAME » Yermín Mercedes opened a three-run fourth inning with a long homer, and Chicago swept a doubleheader against Boston.
Nick Madrigal had two hits and drove in two runs for Chicago, which climbed back to .500 at 8-8.
J.D. Martinez had an RBI single for Boston’s lone run in the second game.
ROYALS 2, BLUE JAYS 0 » Salvador Perez tapped his bat twice on the plate to make sure it wasn’t cracked, then sent the next pitch he saw from reliever T.J. Zeuch into the leftfield fountains, breaking open a scoreless game and sending Kansas City past Toronto.
PIRATES 6, BREWERS 5, 10 INNINGS» Colin Moran hit an early three-run homer, then had an RBI double in the 10th inning that sent Pittsburgh past Milwaukee.
RANGERS 1, ORIOLES 0, 10 INNINGS»
Nate Lowe singled with two outs and the bases loaded in the 10th inning, giving Texas the win over Baltimore after a pitcher’s duel between a pair of opening day starters.
ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 2» Matt Olson scored from second base on a fielding error by Detroit third baseman Jeimer Candelario with two outs in the ninth inning, rallying Oakland past Detroit for its eighth straight win.
MARINERS 7, ASTROS 2» Ty France hit a two-run home run and six Seattle pitchers combined on a one-hitter against depleted Houston.