Rays’ Franco moved to restricted list
Star shortshop investigated for minor relationship
Authorities in the Dominican Republic are investigating Tampa Bay Rays All- Star shortstop Wander Franco for an alleged relationship with a minor, according to a statement Monday from the office of the attorney general in his native country.
The Rays, meanwhile, placed the 22-year-old on the restricted list, a move that will sideline Franco for at least six games while MLB investigates social media posts involving the player.
The investigations follow reported social media posts suggesting Franco was in a relationship with a minor. The Associated Press has not been able to verify the reported posts. Asked about
Franco’s alleged relationship with the minor, the media office of the attorney general in the Dominican Republic said in a statement “there are investigations regarding that matter.”
It was not immediately clear if Franco had retained an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
The Rays did not detail the nature of the social media posts but said the team and Franco “mutually agreed” he would go on the restricted list. Franco will be paid during his time on the restricted list.
Other games
Marlins 5, Astros 1: Jorge Soler, Luis Arraez and Josh Bell hit consecutive homers in the eighth inning and host Miami beat Houston to extend their winning streak to three.
Houston starter Framber Valdez (9-8) limited the Marlins to four hits and two runs – one earned – through 7 2/3 innings before Soler and Arraez connected with solo shots to make it 4-1 and end the left-hander’s outing.
Hector Neris relieved and allowed Bell’s blast over the wall in right. Bell extended his on base streak to 12 games since he joined the Marlins Aug. 2. Cardinals 7, Athletics 5:
Rookie Jordan Walker hit a bases-loaded triple in the seventh inning, and St. Louis rallied for a victory over visiting Oakland in a matchup of last -place teams.
Walker’s first career triple capped a four-run seventh. Paul Goldschmidt hit a tworun homer in the fifth, his 19th, for St. Louis.
Jo Jo Romero (3-1) worked 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Cardinals, who had lost their previous six meetings with the A’s.
Braves 11, Yankees 3: Max Fried allowed two runs in his first home start in more than three months, Nicky Lopez had three hits and three RBIs in a fill-in role, and Atlanta beat New York to bounce back after losing to the Mets on Sunday night.
Eddie Rosario drove in four runs with three hits, including a two-run homer, in Atlanta’s 15-hit attack. New York, in last place in the AL East, has a three-game losing streak. The Yankees (60-59), who haven’t missed the playoffs since 2016, began the night five games back of the AL’s last wild card berth.
Rangers 12, Angels 0: Max Scherzer allowed only one infield single and one walk while striking out a seasonhigh 11 in seven innings to record his third win in three Rangers starts as host Texas beat Los Angeles in a rout.
Marcus Semien had two hits and a season-high five RBIs, including a three-run home run in the seventh inning. Three batters later, Adolis Garcia increased his ALbest RBI total to 91 with a two-run shot that was his 30th of the season. Scherzer’s strikeouts included his first two career matchups against Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani.
Royals 7, Mariners 6: Brady Singer allows just two hits for two earned runs and host Kansas City secures the come back against Seattle with a Dairion Blanco bunt to send the winning run home from 3rd base.
Rockies 6, Diamondbacks
4: Ezequiel Tovar hit a solo home run in the 6th, Brendan Rogers had a two hit, two RBI night in Colorado’s win against visiting Arizona as the Diamondbacks are now one game under .500.
Notes
• Colorado activated outfielder Charlie Blackmon from the injured list after he missed two months with a fractured right hand.
• The St. Louis Cardinals placed left- handed pitcher Steven Matz on the 15-day injured list with a left lat strain.
• Outfielder Aaron Hicks of the AL-leading Baltimore Orioles was activated after spending three weeks on the injured list with a strained left hamstring.
• Los Angeles Angels star outfielder Mike Trout said he’s improving every day from a fractured left hamate bone that has kept him out of the lineup since July 3, but he said there is no set date for his return.