AL EAST
News and notes by Maureen Mullen
Baltimore Orioles
Shortstop J.J. Hardy, who missed 42 games this season because of a broken left foot, had missed only two games since the All-Star break through Sunday. His recent results have shown the Orioles why they missed him so much.
In his last 12 games through Sunday, Hardy was hitting .436 with four doubles, 11 RBI and a 1.115 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS). In that stretch he raised his average from .255 to .275 and his OPS from .692 to .739.
Hardy’s .988 fielding percentage was third among qualified shortstops.
“I think he’s feeling, knock on wood, as healthy as he’s felt in a while, and we’re seeing the benefits of that,” manager Buck Sho
walter told masnsports.com. “It’s also a reminder of what we’ve missed when he wasn’t here. It seemed like forever.
“What was that movie with Tom Cruise and Renee Zellweger about completing somebody? (It was Jerry Maguire.) He kind of completes our infield and kind of makes everything work.” uCloser Zach Britton was the active majors leader with 47 consecutive saves, including 45 this season, through Sunday. His 0.59 ERA led all relievers.
Boston Red Sox
Hanley Ramirez has made his horrid first season in Boston a distant memory.
He hit two home runs Sunday to complete the Red Sox’s fourgame sweep of the New York Yankees. That gave him 28 for the season, his highest total since he hit a career-high 33 in 2008. His 106 RBI equaled his career best.
In a recent 31-game stretch, Ramirez led the majors with 40 RBI and hit .417 with a 1.417 OPS with runners in scoring position. He has played respectably in his first season at first base.
“I think there was on his part the understanding and maybe the recognition that he needed to be a little bit more approachable, be a little bit more engaging as a person,” manager John Farrell said. “And you know what? To his credit, he’s doing all that.”
uRamirez, David Ortiz and
Mookie Betts are the 13th trio in team history to drive in 100 or more runs each. The last time it happened was 2003, when Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra accomplished the feat.
uThe Red Sox’s walk-off win Sept. 15 was only the second time in history they beat the Yankees after trailing by three or more runs with two outs in the ninth inning. The other was June 2, 1908.
New York Yankees
Right-hander Masahiro Ta
naka is 13-4 and leads the league with a 2.97 ERA. Could he be a candidate for the American League Cy Young Award?
“He’s going to have to be on a pretty good run these last few weeks to be in that conversation, because there’s a couple of guys that are having really good years,” pitching coach Larry Roth
schild told ESPN.com. “I’m sure it’s a little bit old school, but in my mind wins matter a lot.”
In his last eight starts, Tanaka is 6-0 with a 1.86 ERA. In 15 road starts he is 6-3 with a 2.11 ERA, the second-lowest mark in the AL this season behind Boston’s Steven Wright (2.09).
Tanaka has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 21 of his 30 starts this season, best in the AL. In three starts against the Red Sox, he is 1-0 with a 1.83 ERA and a .181 opponents’ average. Boston leads the majors in average and runs scored. uCatcher Gary Sanchez
became one of five major league hitters since 1913 with at least 15 homers in his first 42 games, then hit No. 16 Sunday.
uSecond baseman Starlin Castro is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after straining his right hamstring Saturday while running the bases. He could be back for the playoffs if the Yankees qualify.
Tampa Bay Rays
Despite his 18 losses, righthander Chris Archer has done some good things this season. He is among the league leaders in starts (31) and strikeouts (221).
But he also has given up 28 home runs, which is tied for sixth most in the league.
“If you really pull apart his numbers a little bit, he’s done some elite things this year,” manager Kevin Cash said. “It ultimately comes down to the home run ball.”
Cash has said he won’t pull Archer from the rotation if his loss total reaches 19, which would put him in position to become the
first 20-game loser since Mike Maroth of the Detroit Tigers lost 21 in 2003.
But maybe Cash won’t have to make that decision. Archer avoided No. 19, which would be a franchise record, when he got a no-decision Sept. 16 against Baltimore in a game the Rays eventually lost.
Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan is the only pitcher to lead the majors in strikeouts and losses in the same season.
uKevin Kiermaier had stolen 18 consecutive bases through Sunday, the majors’ second-longest streak this season behind the Cleveland Indian’s Rajai Davis, who had 26 in a row.
Kiermaier had a career-high 20 stolen bases overall and had been caught twice. His 90.9% success rate was best in the majors and second in team history, behind Desmond Jennings’ 93.9% in 2012.
uThe Rays are the first team since the 2009 Blue Jays to have 200 or more homers and a losing record.
Toronto Blue Jays
Third baseman Josh Don
aldson said he had to tweak his swing because of a hip injury that kept him out for three games last week.
“One thing it’s made me focus on is staying under control and not really taking too big of a swing, too aggressive of a swing to where I’m going to put myself in somewhat of a vulnerable position,” he told Sportsnet.ca.
An MRI showed wear and tear but no structural damage, according to the website. The reigning AL MVP returned Sept. 15 and ended a 0-for-23 slide by going 3-for-5 with two doubles in the opener of a four-game series at the Los Angeles Angels. He had one more hit the rest of the weekend, however.
The Blue Jays lost two of three to the last-place Rays during Donaldson’s absence.
uDevon Travis’ career-best hitting streak was at 15 games through Sunday. In that stretch he hit .406 with six doubles and eight RBI and raised his average from .289 to .310.
“Personally, it’s been a nice year to be able to go out and accomplish that. But like I always say, it doesn’t really mean anything when you’re not going to the playoffs.”