Big Papi ties Foxx, but K.C. clubs Sox
Aaron Judge continues to strike out at a high rate in the majors, but Joe Girardi doesn’t seem too concerned about it. Judge, who was called up earlier this month, whiffed on two of his three at-bats in the Yankees’ 5-0 loss to the Orioles. The 24-year-old outfielder has now struck out on 38% of his bigleague plate appearances, albeit over just 13 games.
“It’s part of the maturing process,” Girardi said. “He hit a hard line drive (to left field), he made an adjustment. As I said with Aaron, it’s a big strike zone that he has to cover. He doesn’t know how pitchers are going to approach him. I believe he’s going to make the adjustments.”
“I’m just trying to go out there and stick to my routine,” Judge added. “It’s part of the game.”
TORREYES ON A TEAR
Third baseman Ronald Torreyes remained hot on Sunday, going 2-for-3 with a single and a double. Torreyes is now 14-for-26 in his last seven games that included at least one plate appearance.
“He’s played really, really well, in a situation where he hadn’t been playing a lot and he has made the most of it,” Girardi said. “He’s swung the bat extremely well and played really, really good defense and it’s not easy to do what he’s been doing, especially when you haven’t had consistent atbats all year.”
CONTENT TO CONTEND
Whether the Yankees make the playoffs or not, Girardi said he believes being in contention is good for player development.
“Definitely,” the manager said. “I think when the games have meaning every day, when you’re playing in your division, playing other teams fighting for the playoffs, I think it’s very valuable. Because they are games that, in a sense, have pressure. You can’t just say, ‘Oh, it’s another game.’
“I think the meaning of the games, you get a better evaluation of players and I think that’s important.”
BOSTON— Raul Mondesi hit a bases-loaded triple and Eric Hosmer added a two-run single during an eight-run sixth inning, lifting the surging Kansas City Royals to a 10-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.
Salvador Perez hit his third solo homer in two games for Kansas City, which took two of three at Fenway Park and got its 17th win in 21 games. David Ortiz hit his 534th career homer, a solo shot, for the Red Sox, tying Jimmie Foxx for 18th on the career list. Boston has lost four of five.
BLUE JAYS 9, TWINS 6: Josh Donaldson had his first career three-homer game, Troy Tulowitzki also went deep and host Toronto beat Minnesota to complete a three-game sweep.
WHITE SOX 4, MARINERS 1: Carlos Rodon pitched into the seventh inning, Justin Morneau had a two-run single and Melky Cabrera drove in a run and scored twice for host Chicago.
RANGERS 2, INDIANS 1: Derek Holland allowed one run over six innings, Carlos Gomez made two highlight-reel catches and AL-best Texas beat Cleveland in Arlington.
PADRES 3, MARLINS 1: In Miami, rookie Luis Perdomo benefited from a team-record six double plays and pitched a sixhitter for his first complete game for San Diego.
PIRATES 3, BREWERS 1: Ex-Yankee Ivan Nova threw six sharp innings before leaving because of a hurting left hamstring and Pittsburgh hit three solo homers to rally for its eighth straight road victory.
DODGERS 1, CUBS 0: Brock Stewart and four relievers combined on a four-hitter and Andrew Toles scored on a fielder’s choice in the eighth inning, leading Los Angeles past Jon Lester and Chicago at Chavez Ravine.
ROCKIES 5, NATIONALS 3: Nolan Arenado went 4-for-4, including his 35th home run, for visiting Colorado.
GIANTS 13, BRAVES 4: Joe Panik homered twice to back Madison Bumgarner in San Francisco.
ATHLETICS 7, CARDINALS 4: Rookie Andrew Triggs earned his first win and Stephen Vogt and Khris Davis each homered to lead visiting Oakland. —AP