Ex-outfielder Jesús Alou dies
Jesús Alou, the former MLB outfielder who played for the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s, died Friday at age 80, both teams confirmed.
Alou, with older brothers Felipe and Matty, made MLB history when they played in the same outfield with the Giants on Sept 15, 1963. They remain the only three-brother outfield to play in the majors.
Jesús Alou debuted that season and spent the first six of his 15 MLB seasons with the Giants. He also played for the Astros, A’s and Mets and was part of A’s teams that won World Series in 1973 and ’74.
Alou played in 1,380 games and hit .280 for his MLB career. He later worked as a scout for the Boston Red Sox helping to lead their Dominican Republic academy.
The Dominican-born Alou brothers each played 15 or more MLB seasons and combined for 5,094 hits. Their historic moment came in Pittsburgh, in a Giants win over the Pirates at Forbes Field.
Felipe, later the Giants’ manager from 2003-06, started the game in right field. Matty, who died at age 72 in 2011, and Jesús replaced Willie Mays and Willie McCovey, respectively, in the lineup mid-game.
“Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go to the Alou family, his friends and all those whose lives he touched,” the Giants said in a statement.
Bader is latest Yankee injured
Injuries continue to pile up for the New York Yankees as they get ready to begin their AL East title defense.
Manager Aaron Boone told reporters Friday that outfielder Harrison Bader has an oblique issue. The injury puts Bader’s availability for opening day in doubt.
The Yankees already had said pitchers Carlos Rodón, Frankie Montas, Tommy Kahle and Lou Trivino wouldn’t be ready for the March 30 opener against San Francisco.
Montas, who was obtained from the A’s last season, is recovering from shoulder surgery and won’t begin throwing until at least late May. Kahle (biceps) and Trivno (elbow) are expected to be part of the bullpen.
Odds and ends
Justin Verlander, the three-time Cy Young Award winner who left Houston to sign an $86.7 million, two-year contract with the Mets, struck out five and allowed one run and three hits over 31⁄3 innings against his former team. Mets outfielder Starling Marte played his first exhbition game and went 2of-2 with a homer and a double in a 7-2 victory. Marte said he isn't at full strength yet but expects to get there by the start of the season. … Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz left the Rays’ exhibition game after a pitch from Atlanta’s Ian Anderson hit him on the left hand. …
Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter has a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow. Painter is expected to rest for four weeks from the date of the injury before beginning a light throwing program. … Infielders Yuli Gurriel and José Iglesias agreed to minor league contracts with the Marlins. The 38-year-old Gurriel won his second World Series with the Astros last year after hitting .242 with 40 doubles, eight home runs and 53 RBIs last year.