Arizona’s Rojas hits three homers
Arizona’s Josh Rojas launched his first three long balls of the season and the Diamondbacks powered past the Cubs 10-6 on Friday in a game of home run derby at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.
With a strong wind blowing out on a warm day, the teams combined to clear the walls 11 times — the Diamondbacks connected seven times.
“I’ve had multi-homer games in the minor leagues and multi-hit games in the the minor leagues, but I’ve never done anything like this,” Rojas said. “This is a pretty good feeling, especially coming into the game with zero and leaving with three.”
David Peralta went deep twice and Alek Thomas and Christian Walker added solo shots as the Diamondbacks won their second straight after a six-game slide.
Rojas posted his first three-homer game and third career multi-homer effort. After a flyout in the first inning, he hit a solo homer in the third, a two-run drive in the fifth and another solo home run in the seventh. He struck out looking in the ninth.
“I was definitely trying to hit a fourth homer in the fifth at-bat, especially with a four-run lead,” Rojas said.
Jonathan Villar, Patrick Wisdom, Christopher Morel and Ildemaro Vargas homered for Chicago.
Red Sox 7, Mariners 3: Boston’s Trevor Story hit a grand slam over the Green Monster at Fenway Park — the ball caught in the front row by former A’s and Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes — in the win over visiting Seattle. “I’m going to make Trevor sign it and take it home,” Gomes said. Did he expect to get a home run ball? “Yeah,” Gomes said with a big smile, the ball sitting on the table in front of him. “That’s why I’m up here. These are the best seats in the game.”
Blue Jays 2, Reds 1: Hyun Jin Ryu pitched six shutout innings and host Toronto spoiled Joey Votto’s return from the COVID-19 injured list by beating Cincinnati. Votto, sidelined since May 1, was 1-for-4.
Guardians 6, Tigers 1: Jose Ramirez hit a three-run homer to highlight a four-run sixth inning as host Cleveland prevailed. Detroit starter Tarik Skubal left after five shutout innings after taking a line drive off his left leg. Detroit manager A.J. Hinch missed the game because he wasn’t feeling well, though he tested negative for COVID-19. Cleveland manager Terry Francona missed the game to have a minor surgical procedure.
Cardinals 5, Pirates 3: Adam Wainwright pitched seven innings of one-run ball and batterymate Yadier Molina keyed a four-run sixth inning with a two-run single for visiting St. Louis.
Braves 5, Marlins 3: Marcell Ozuna hit a two-run home run in visiting Atlanta’s three-run first and Dansby Swanson and Travis d’Arnaud added solo homers for the Braves.
Postponements: A winter storm warning postponed the opener of the Mets-Rockies series in Denver. A doubleheader now is scheduled for Saturday, though snow is in the forecast through the morning. ... The White Sox-Yankees game in New York was called off because of a forecast of poor weather and will be played Sunday as part of a doubleheader.
Briefly: Washington third baseman Carter Kieboom, who has been on the injured list since spring training because of a sprained ligament in his right elbow, will have Tommy John surgery and miss the season . ... Ahead of their series in Toronto, the Reds placed pitchers Tyler Mahle and Joel Kuhnel, outfielder Albert Almora and infielder Brandon Drury on the restricted list — an indication the four are not vaccinated against COVID-19.