Chicago’s Mills tosses no- hitter vs. Brewers
From college walk- on to major league starter, Chicago Cubs righthander Alec Mills had to earn most every break he got.
On the brink of big league history, he was happy to welcome this bit of luck: expecting to see two- time batting champion Christian Yelich in the on- deck circle, Mills looked over and saw his backup instead.
“That kind of surprised me,” he said.
Mills cruised through baseball’s second no- hitter this season in just the 15th start of his career, completing the gem in a 12- 0 romp Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Mills got Jace Peterson — who replaced Yelich, the 2018 NL MVP, on defense late in the blowout — to hit a routine grounder to shortstop Javier Baez with two outs in the ninth. Baez completed the play, and the Cubs swarmed around Mills, tearing off his cap and pulling at the smiling right- hander’s uniform after his first career complete game.
“It just hasn’t really hit me yet,” the 28- year- old said.
“It’s kind of crazy, I didn’t even know how to celebrate. Just something that all came together today. Obviously a memory I’ll have forever.”
Angels
Albert Pujols hit the 660th home run of his career in the eighth inning of a 5- 3 win against Colorado at Coors Field, a tworun shot that tied him with Willie Mays for fifth place on the home run list behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Alex Rodriguez. “When he’s all said and done, [ Pujols] is a firstballot Hall of Famer. Probably it should be unanimous,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said.
Reds
Pitcher Sonny Gray was placed on the 10- day injured list by Cincinnati because a strain in the right side of his mid- back, a move retroactive to Friday. Gray allowed five runs, six hits and three walks over 3⅓ innings at the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.
Twins
Minnesota, which clinched at least a .500 season by winning its 30th game by beating the Cleveland Indians, remains one game behind the White Sox for the division crown. The teams will play four games in Chicago beginning Monday, which could clarify that race entering the final 10 days of the season.
Marlins
Miami is in the thick of a playoff race, well positioned to make the postseason for the first time since 2003, and placed one of the most important days of their season in the hands of two rookie starting pitchers. Sixto Sanchez threw his first complete game against the Phillies for a 2- 1 win in Game 1, and Braxton Garrett, their No. 4 pitching prospect, pitched five innings for an 8- 1 win in Game 2.
Diamondbacks
Arizona, with a 17- 31 record, assured itself of a losing season in 2020 with 12 games left. It’s the first one under general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo, who both arrived before the start of the 2017 season.