Mets’ Wright to return for curtain call
New York Mets captain
David Wright will return for the team's final homestand, making what will probably be his last appearance as a big leaguer.
The Mets said that they plan to activate Wright when they return to Citi Field on Sept. 25 against Atlanta. The 35-year-old is scheduled to start at third base on the second to last day of the regular season against Miami.
It would be his first major league game since May 2016. Wright has worked to return from a litany of neck, back and shoulder injuries that have required surgery.
Although not officially retiring, Wright is not expected to play again after this season.
“The way I feel right now and from everything the doctors have told me, there's not going to be an improvement,” Wright said when asked if he could play beyond 2018. “So, yeah, I don't see that as a possibility.”
Phillies fade from playoff contention
A surprising first half and a surge in early August had the Philadelphia Phillies in prime position to reach the postseason.
Then they fell apart. Since completing a four-game sweep over the Miami Marlins on Aug.
5, the Phillies (74-71) are 11-23 and 0-10-1 in those series. They went from 1½ games ahead of Atlanta in the NL East to 7½ games behind with only 17 games to play.
Philadelphia was only one game behind the Cubs for best record in the National League before the tailspin began. Now, finishing with a winning mark will be a challenge.
Cubs extend NL Central lead
Javier Baez drove in the go ahead run with a bunt single in the 10th inning, and Chicago beat Washington 4-3 in a makeup of a game postponed earlier in the week.
Kris Bryant doubled with one out in the 10th against Sean Doolittle (3-3) and moved to third on ex-National Daniel Murphy's infield single. Baez, who homered in the sixth and drove in three on the day, bunted just to the right of first baseman Ryan Zimmerman to score Bryant.
Baez has 31 homers and leads the NL with 103 RBIs.
Chicago stretched its lead in the NL Central to 1 ½ games over idle Milwaukee.
Mets rally in ninth against Marlins
Michael Conforto and Todd Frazier hit back-to-back homers with two outs in the ninth inning, and the New York Mets stunned the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Kyle Barraclough entered with one out in the ninth and retired pinch-hitter Dominic Smith before Conforto lined a 1-0 changeup into the second deck in right to tie it. Frazier then hit a 1-1 pitch to left center field for his first walk-off homer since June 2015 for Cincinnati.
Barraclough (0-6) blew a save for the seventh time in 17 opportunities.
Rockies down Diamondbacks
Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story homered, Kyle Freeland pitched effectively into the seventh, and Colorado beat Arizona 10-3 on Thursday.
David Dahl had three hits and two RBI for the Rockies. Diamondbacks right-hander Clay Buchholz was scratched from the start because of tightness in his right elbow. Matt Koch (5-5) started in his place and allowed four runs on eight hits in three innings. A.J. Pollock homered for Arizona. The Diamondbacks are 3-12 in September.