AROUND THE HORN
MLB: Fired Mets GM Jared Porter was suspended by Major League Baseball through at least the end of the 2022 regular season following an investigation that began after a report that he sent sexually explicit text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 while he was working for the Cubs. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the discipline Wednesday without saying specifically what the investigation had found. “My office has completed its investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct by Jared Porter,” Manfred said in a statement. “Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Porter violated MLB’s policies, and that placement on the ineligible list is warranted.” Porter is eligible to apply for reinstatement after the final game of the 2022 regular season, a timetable that could allow him to apply for front-office openings that October. Porter was fired by the Mets on Jan. 19, about nine hours after ESPN reported that he sent dozens of unanswered texts to the woman, including a picture of “an erect, naked penis.” ESPN said it obtained a copy of the text history, and some of the messages and photos Porter sent were displayed in the report online. Porter was fired by the team for cause, and MLB started its investigation. Former Mets manager Mickey Callaway was suspended on May 26 through the end of the 2022 regular season and was fired from his latest job, pitching coach of the Angels. Manfred cited Callaway for violating MLB policies following an investigation that began when The Athletic reported Feb. 1 that Callaway “aggressively pursued” several women who work in sports media and sent three of them inappropriate photos. The 41-year-old Porter was hired by the Mets on Dec. 13 and given a four-year contract.
Brewers: Highly touted prospect Aaron Ashby got hammered for seven runs in the first inning of his big league debut, but Luis Urias homered twice as the host Brewers rallied to rout the Cubs 15-7 for their eighth straight win. The Brewers swept the three-game series and increased their NL Central lead to six games over the Cubs, who have lost six in a row. Willy Adames hit a grand slam during an eight-run burst in the fourth that put the Brewers ahead 14-7. Called up from Triple A to start, the 23-year-old Ashby was charged with seven runs, four of them earned, on four hits and three walks. Five Brewers relievers combined for 8 scoreless innings.
Cardinals: Kwang Hyun Kim won for the first time in 11 starts, pitching five solid innings and helping himself with a two-run double as the Cardinals beat the visiting Diamondbacks 7-4 for a three-game sweep. Kim (2-5) had lost five straight decisions since his last win on April 23. He stranded six runners through his first four innings, giving up just an RBI single to Asdrúbal Cabrera. Kim retired the last five batters he faced. He struck out five, walked three and allowed three hits as the Cards won for the fourth time in their last five games. Alex Reyes earned his 20th save in as many opportunities. The D’backs lost their fourth in a row. Kim’s opposite-field double to left in the second scored Yadier Molina and Edmundo Sosa to give the Cards a 2-0 lead. The two RBIs were Kim’s first in the majors, and it was also the first extra-base hit for the 32-year-old lefty — he was 1-for-15 in the big leagues before that.