Pujols breaks homer record
Slugger’s 610th HR passes Sosa, moves to 8th on career list.
Angels slugger Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer in Tuesday night’s 10-1 win over Texas, the 610th of his career, snapping his tie for eighth on the career list with Sammy Sosa to become baseball’s all-time leader for home runs by a player born outside the U.S.
“It’s pretty special,” Pujols said after his 19th homer of the season.
“Obviously, all the great players from the Dominican Republic, Latin America, Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, they’ve gone through the big leagues and to be able to accomplish something like this is very humbling.”
Orioles: Zach Britton’s AL-record run of converting 60 consecutive saves ended in the ninth inning Wednesday against Oakland. The closer blew a 7-5 lead by giving up two runs on three hits, a walk and a wild pitch before being removed with score tied. Baltimore won 8-7 in 12. Britton had not blown a save since Sept. 20, 2015, at Tampa Bay. The left-hander finished well short of the major league record of 84 straight converted saves, set by the Dodgers’ Eric Gagne from 2002-04.
Red Sox: Outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. will have his sprained left thumb in a splint for five to seven days after being injured Tuesday night while reaching for home plate during a slide. Tests showed no tears or fractures for Bradley, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list. Bradley was batting .262 with 14 homers and 54 RBIs this season, hitting .400 in his last seven games. Infielder Deven Marrero was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Indians: Second baseman Jason Kipnis is out indefinitely after being placed on the disabled list again with a strained right hamstring. Kipnis returned recently after missing a month with the same injury. An MRI showed he aggravated the injury Tuesday.
Rangers: Infielder/outfielder Joey Gallo was placed on the seven-day concussion list. Gallo suffered the injury and a broken nose in a collision with pitcher Matt Bush chasing a pop-up Sunday.
Cardinals: Closer Trevor Rosenthal’s right elbow injury will require Tommy John surgery.
Cubs: With Kris Bryant hurt, first baseman Anthony Rizzo didn’t hesitate when manager Joe Maddon asked if he’d finish Tuesday’s game at third base, a position he’d never played in his career. “I said ‘Yeah, I can play,’ ” said Rizzo, who didn’t get any balls hit his way in his role as only the third lefthanded third baseman in Cubs history. George Decker and Jimmy Ryan also played there in the 1800s.
Noteworthy: Commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB plans to issue a policy on fan behavior for all ballparks next season.