Bryant helps Cubs topple Pirates
CHICAGO — Kris Bryant had three hits and scored a run while batting leadoff for the first time in his career, Ian Happ made a spectacular diving catch near the leftfield corner to end the game and the surging Chicago Cubs beat the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Friday.
Bryant seemed comfortable at the top of the order after manager Joe Maddon decided to put his superstar in a “different seat for the day” because he hasn’t been driving the ball with his usual force. He singled in his first three at-bats and scored in a two-run first inning, helping the Cubs win for the 10th time in 12 games.
Ian Happ sprawled out to grab Josh Harrison’s drive toward the corner against Pedro Strop with a runner on third and two out in the ninth. He also possibly saved a run in the third when he made a tumbling catch on Corey Dickerson’s shallow fly with runners on first and second. Happ made another neat grab in the sixth when he raced back and lunged to snag Colin Moran’s smash.
YANKEES 4, METS 1: Brett Gardner hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Jacob deGrom on an eighthinning changeup, and the Yankees beat the Mets after losing Masahiro Tanaka to a hamstring problem when the pitcher sprinted home to score his first major league run. WHITE SOX 1, RED SOX 0: Trayce Thompson had an RBI single in the seventh inning off Chris Sale, Dylan Covey pitched six innings as part of a three-hitter and Chicago beat Boston. Covey (2-1) more than kept pace with former White Sox ace Sale (5-4), who lost his third straight start despite striking out 10 in eight innings. ANGELS’ OHTANI PLACED ON DL: Shohei Ohtani will be placed on the Los Angeles Angels’ disabled list with a sprained elbow ligament. The Angels are unsure about the severity of Ohtani’s injury, but the Japanese right-hander and designated hitter won’t throw another ball before doctors re-evaluate him in three weeks. The Angels said Ohtani’s ulnar collateral ligament has a Grade 2 sprain, which typically indicates some degree of damage, but not a complete tear. PADRES’ TORRES SUSPENDED FOR SEASON: San Diego Padres pitcher Jose Torres has accepted a suspension without pay for the rest of the year by Major League Baseball after his December arrest on domestic violence charges. Commissioner Rob Manfred said the penalty is retroactive to June 5 and covers 100 games.