Lopez thrives in fill-in role as Braves roll past Yankees
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 the host Braves beat the Yankees, 11-3, on Monday 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.
Fried (4-1) gave up eight hits in six-plus innings in his first home start since May 5. He returned from the 60-day injured list on Aug. 4 after missing 70 games with a left forearm strain and allowed a combined four runs in two road starts.
Lopez has a combined eight RBIs in his last two starts. He had a two-run single in the second off Clarke Schmidt (8-7) before driving in another run with a single in Atlanta’s four-run third.
Lopez had four hits, including a homer, and drove in five runs while also pitching a scoreless inning in relief in Atlanta’s 21-3 win at the Mets in the first game of a doubleheader sweep on Saturday.
Eddie Rosario capped Atlanta’s scoring by hitting a two-run homer off Albert Abreu in the eighth.
More Monday games
Marlins 5, Astros 1: Jorge Soler, Luis Arraez and Josh Bell hit consecutive homers in the eighth inning for the host Marlins.
Houston starter Framber Valdez (9-8) limited the Marlins to four hits and two runs – one earned – through 72⁄3 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.
It was just the second time in franchise history – the first was in 1998 – the Marlins hit three consecutive home runs.
Marlins starter Braxton Garrett (7-3) threw five scoreless innings and was lifted after 75 pitches. The left-hander gave up four hits, walked two and struck out one.
Mets 7, Pirates 2: Francisco Lindor became the first Met to reach 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases since 2008 as host Mets won consecutive games for the first time in over two weeks.
Jonathan Araúz hit a two-run homer while Daniel Vogelbach and Brandon Nimmo added solo homers as the Mets scored in each of the first six innings in a home game for the first time since June 25, 1987, against the Cubs. Pete Alonso added an RBI double.
The Mets won consecutive games for the first time since July 27-28, right before they traded veterans Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander along with several others ahead of the trade deadline.
Lindor singled off rookie Quinn Priester (2-2) in the third, doubled in the fifth and scored each time.
Lindor became the first Met to join the 20-20 club since Carlos Beltrán finished with 27 homers and 25 stolen bases in New York’s final season at Shea Stadium. Lindor reached the 20-20 club for the third time in his career after achieving the feat in 2018 and 2019 with Cleveland.
Angels All-Star Trout (hand) making progress, but no date set for return
ARLINGTON, Texas – Los Angeles Angels star outfielder Mike Trout said Monday 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.
“I know that it’s just a pain tolerance thing,” Trout said before the Angels’ game against the Texas Rangers. “Once it gets to a point where it’s bearable, I’ll be out there.”
The three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star began taking swings against a hitting machine last Friday before the club’s three-game series in Houston. He said he hasn’t yet faced the machine at top velocity.
Angels manager Phil Nevin said the next step for Trout will be to face live pitching, which could happen in a few days.
Trout has played in 81 games, hitting .263 with 18 home runs and 44 RBIs.