AROUND THE HORN
Dodgers:
Mookie Betts is hoping that his latest stint of the injured list only lasts a couple weeks. The Dodgers star outfielder is sidelined due to a cracked right rib. It his his third stint on the IL the last two seasons. “It’s sore but it is what it is,” Betts said Sunday before the Dodgers hosted the Guardians. “I thought it was a little bruise or something and played through it. It got worse over the next couple days and now we’re sitting here.” Betts was injured during the first inning of Wednesday night’s game against the Angels when he collided with Cody Bellinger in the outfield on a fly ball. Betts played the rest of that game but was scratched from the lineup Friday and Saturday. Betts said he didn’t think he further aggravated the injury when he made a leaping dive on a line drive by Shohei Ohtani in the ninth inning to try and preserve Tyler Anderson’s no-hitter. Betts wasn’t able to get to it in time and it resulted in a double. The 2018 AL MVP while with the Red Sox and Dodgers’ leadoff hitter entered Sunday tied for third in the majors with 53 runs scored and he has 17 home runs, which was tied for fourth in the NL. The 29-yearold Betts missed 22 games last season due to right hip inflammation. He will not do any baseball activities for a week before beginning to work his way back.
Padres: All-Star 3B Manny Machado sprained his left ankle while taking a tumble at first base trying to beat out a grounder during the Padres’ road game against the Rockies. Machado exited the game, and the Padres said X-rays were negative. The 29-yearold Machado entered the game batting .329 with 12 HRs and 46 RBIs. He homered Saturday night in a loss to the Rockies and has helped to anchor the Padres’ infield defense while providing a steady leadership presence in the clubhouse.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. launched his fifth career grand slam, Teoscar Hernández hit a go-ahead, three-run HR and the Blue Jays rallied to stop the Yankees’ nine-game winning streak with a 10-9 victory. Josh Donaldson, Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres, Kyle Higashioka and Marwin Gonzalez each hit HRs for the visiting Yankees, who led 8-3 in the sixth. The Yankees lost for just the second time in 18 games. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 17th HR and George Springer also connected for the Jays, who got all of their runs on HRs and are the first Yankees opponent to score in double digits this season.
Red Sox: Nick Pivetta pitched seven dominant innings with 10 strikeouts, Christian Vázquez hit a three-run HR and the Red Sox held off the visiting Cardinals 6-4 to win their fifth straight series. Trevor Story added a solo shot and Jackie Bradley Jr. had a go-ahead single for the Red Sox, who rebounded after getting blown out 11-2 on Saturday night for their 13th victory in 17 games. Pivetta (7-5) continued his hot stretch, giving up just one run and four hits, with four walks. He’s 7-1 with a 1.77 ERA in his last nine starts.
Extra innings: Victor Caratini and Hunter Renfroe hit two-run HRs as the Brewers beat the host Reds 6-3 for their fourth straight win. The Brewers swept the three-game series and have won seven of their last nine . ... Major League Baseball is moving forward with its oft-delayed plan for a 13-pitcher limit on active rosters. The move could affect the game in a variety of ways, from more position players taking the mound to a few more trips to the minors for pitchers with options. The 13-pitcher limit originally was announced by MLB before the 2020 season. But the limit has been pushed back repeatedly because of the COVID19 pandemic.