Bauer heaves ball over wall
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Back in the clubhouse, Trevor Bauer calmly read from a prepared statement and profusely apologized. It was quite the contrast from his emotional outburst earlier in the game.
In a startling scene, Bauer suddenly heaved the ball from just past the mound over the center field wall while being taken out of the game Sunday in the Indians’ 9-6 loss to the Royals.
“I’m an intense competitor and that fire is what drives me,” Bauer read before answering questions. “Today it completely consumed me and took over. I just wanted to say I’m sorry for how I behaved. It won’t happen again.”
It wasn’t clear at the time whether Bauer was upset with his performance or that manager Terry Francona was pulling him. An All-Star last year, Bauer (9-8) had just allowed a two-run single to Nicky Lopez that gave the Royals a 7-5 lead with one out in the fifth inning.
When Francona emerged from the dugout, Bauer turned, took a couple steps and fired the ball over the 410-foot mark.
“Nothing really broke my way,” Bauer said. “Even when I felt like I executed good pitches, they were capped off the end of the bat. So, the frustration built up.
“I’m just focused on the negative impact I’ve had on our culture, and our team and organization, and trying to make reparations to the people in this clubhouse and our organization. We’ll handle whatever else comes down the line.”
Bauer said he spoke to his teammates, but wasn’t sure how they would take his apology.
“It’s hard to tell right now,” he said.
Cubs: Kyle Schwarber hit a grand slam and a three-run HR to power the Cubs past the Brewers 11-4 in Milwaukee, averting a three-game sweep in a matchup of NL Central contenders. Schwarber crushed a first-pitch slam deep into the second deck in right field off starter Zach Davies (8-4) with one out in the second for his 23rd HR of the season. The slugger took Davies deep again in the fourth with an opposite-field shot to make it 7-0.
Astros: George Springer led off the game with a HR, Jose Altuve and rookie Yordan Alvarez also connected and the Astros beat the Cardinals 6-2 in St. Louis. The Astros have won nine of 11, including two of three in this interleague matchup of division leaders. Paul Goldschmidt’s team record-tying streak of six straight games with a HR ended for the Cards. He singled in five at-bats. The Cards fell back into a tie with the Cubs atop the NL Central. Wade Miley (9-4) gave up five hits in five shutout innings, striking out six and walked two.
Giants: Madison Bumgarner won his final start before the trade deadline and rookie Mike Yastrzemski had four hits, two RBIs and scored the go-ahead run to lead the surging Giants to a 7-6 win against the Padres in San Diego. Bumgarner (6-7) had been considered a prime trade target, but the Giants could be inclined to keep the four-time All-Star lefthander after they’ve won 19 of 24 games to jump into the NL wild-card race. The Giants had 16 hits in beating the Padres for the seventh time in eight games since June 11.
Nationals: Stephen Strasburg won his seventh consecutive start, leading the Nationals to an 11-4 rout of the Dodgers in Washington. Brian Dozier and Juan Soto homered, while Anthony Rendon continued to swing a hot bat with three hits and four RBIs that helped the Nats prevent a three-game sweep by the top team in the majors. Strasburg (14-4) took over the major league lead in wins after striking out nine, walking none and limiting a potent Dodgers lineup to one run and two hits in seven innings. He was perfect through 41⁄3 innings . ... Nats ace Max Scherzer will probably miss his next scheduled start Tuesday against the NL East-leading Braves. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has been dealing with back pain since late last month.
Rays: Joey Wendle drove in the tiebreaking run with a bases-loaded groundout in the ninth and the Rays rallied from a seven-run deficit to beat the Blue Jays 10-9 in Toronto. Ji-Man Choi and Guillermo Heredia each hit two-run HRs and Willy Adames added a gametying solo shot in the eighth as the Rays bounced back after blowing a seven-run advantage in Saturday’s 10-9, 12-inning defeat.
Trades: The Mets acquired All-Star RHP Marcus Stroman (6-11, 2.96 ERA) from the Blue Jays in exchange for a pair of pitching prospects . ... The Rays acquired INF Eric Sogard from the Blue Jays for two players to be named. Sogard is hitting .300 with 10 HRs and 30 RBIs.