Fraley, Flexen lead Mariners to victory over Rays
Jake Fraley had a two-run single during a fiverun third, Chris Flexen went 6 2/3 solid innings, and the Seattle Mariners beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 on Monday night.
Fraley, who was activated before the game after being on the COVID-19 injured list since July 18, also made a diving catch in left field on Brandon Lowe’s liner in the third. He went 2 for 4 with a walk and stole a base.
Flexen (10-5) gave up two runs and seven hits, helping the Mariners move within three games of The A’s, who currently holds the second AL wild card. The right-hander struck out six and walked two.
MARLINS 6, METS 3 >> Lewis Brinson connected for a first-inning grand slam to back Jesús Luzardo in his Miami debut, Miguel Rojas had two hits and scored twice for the Marlins. INDIANS 5, BLUE JAYS 2 (10 INNINGS) >> Jose Ramirez homered to cap a three-run 10th inning as Cleveland Indians snapped Toronto’s four-game winning streak. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 34th home run for the Blue Jays. YANKEES ACE COLE TESTS POSITIVE >> Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not make his scheduled start today. In his second season with the Yankees, the 30-yearold right-hander is 10-6 with a 3.11 ERA in 21 starts.
BREWERS CLOSER HADER ON COVID-19 LIST >> AllStar closer Josh Hader has joined the growing collection of Milwaukee Brewers on the COVID-19 injured list. Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Hader reported contact with someone experiencing “COVID-like symptoms.”
“So we tested him, and it came back positive,” Counsell said before the Brewers’ Monday game with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pirates were also facing virus-related issues. Pittsburgh placed pitcher Chad Kuhl on the COVID-19 list after a positive test and recalled pitcher Shea Spitzbarth from Triple-A Indianapolis.
The positive tests mean Hader and Kuhl must sit out 10 days.
PITCHER AXFORD BACK IN MILWAUKEE >> Reliever John Axford’s comeback attempt is taking a detour from Toronto to Milwaukee, where the veteran right-hander started his major league career and had his greatest success.
Milwaukee acquired the 38-year-old Axford from the Blue Jays for $1.
Axford hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2018 and began this season as a studio analyst on the Blue Jays’ television broadcast crew.