The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Baker makes history with his 2,000th career victory
Dusty Baker became the 12th manager in major league history and the first Black man to reach 2,000 wins with the Houston Astros’ 4-0 victory over the visiting Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.
Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve each hit a solo homer and rookie Jeremy Peña had two RBIS for the Astros.
Ten of the 11 other managers who have accumulated at least 2,000 wins are in the Hall of Fame. Bruce Bochy (2,003), who isn’t yet eligible, is the only exception.
The 72-year-old Baker’s career record is 2,000-1,745 and he’s the only manager in major league history to take five different teams to the postseason.
Baker, one of two Black managers in the majors, said being the first to reach the milestone makes it even more meaningful.
“It means extra,” said Baker, who played for the Dodgers from 1976-83. “It means extra to the culture. It means extra to society. It means extra to my race, and it means extra hopefully for others to get an opportunity (so) I’m not the last.”
It’s the latest milestone in Baker’s storied career as a player and manager that has spanned more than 50 years. He’s reached the World Series twice as a manager, last season with the Astros and in 2002 with the Giants. As a player, he went three times with the Dodgers, winning it all as a bighitting left fielder in 1981.
Cristian Javier (2-0) allowed two hits over 5 1/3 innings in his second start after opening the season in the Houston bullpen. METS 5-3, BRAVES 4-0 » Carlos Carrasco dodged trouble for eight innings, Pete Alonso homered against Kyle Wright on an off night for Atlanta’s breakout righthander and New York beat the Braves to complete a doubleheader sweep.
Alonso had two RBI singles in the opener as the Mets pounced early against Charlie Morton, and New York’s bullpen closed out a five-hitter.
Carrasco (2-1) kept Atlanta off the board despite six hits and two walks. He threw 96 pitches and struck out five.
Carrasco became the first Mets pitcher to finish eight innings this season.
Dominic Smith hit a tworun double against Wright (3-1) in the first, building off a four-hit game Sunday.
Alonso slugged a solo drive in the sixth.
Wright came into Tuesday with a 1.13 ERA through four starts. He took a step back at Citi Field, allowing season highs of three runs and nine hits while striking out a season-low three.
YANKEES 9, BLUE JAYS 1 » Aaron Judge homered and drove in three runs, Jameson Taillon allowed one run in six innings, and New York extended its winning streak to 11 games by beating host Toronto.
Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run home run in the ninth. New York leads the MLB with 34 home runs.
Judge’s homer was his ninth, tying teammate Anthony Rizzo for the bigleague lead. Judge has 13 RBIS in his past five games after a two-run double in New York’s six-run seventh.
Taillon (2-1) allowed five hits and walked none.
BREWERS 6, REDS 3 » Brandon Woodruff struck out 12 to tie his career high, Willy Adames hit a three-run homer and Milwaukee won at home against Cincinnati.
The NL Central-leading Brewers have won six of their last seven games. The 12 Ks from Woodruff (3-1) came over 5 2/3 innings, in which he gave up all three runs and no walks.
The Reds have lost seven in a row and have the worst record in the majors at 3-20. The loss tied the Reds’ longest consecutive road-loss streak of 11 games set in 1945.
Cincinnati was without first baseman Joey Votto, who showed symptoms of COVID-19 but hadn’t yet tested positive. The team still put him on the injured list.
TWINS 7, ORIOLES 2 » Ryan Jeffers hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the sixth inning and surging Minnesota defeated host Baltimore for its fourth straight victory and 12th win in its last 13 games.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, MARLINS 4» Christian Walker had a home run, double and three RBIS, and Arizona won at Miami.
Humberto Castellanos (21) pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.
RANGERS 6, PHILLIES 4 » Mitch Garver and Jonah Heim homered and Zach Reks snapped a tie game with a two-run double in the sixth, leading Texas at Philadelphia.
NATIONALS 10, ROCKIES 2 » Erick Fedde pitched seven innings of one-run ball, Josh Bell and Juan Soto homered, and visiting Washington beat Colorado.
Keibert Ruiz had three hits and three RBIS and Yadiel Hernández added three hits and two RBIS for the Nationals, who entered the game averaging a major-league high 6.4 runs on the road this season.