A year ago — well, a year and four-plus months ago — the upstart Clippers pulled off a euphoric comeback to even their first-round Western Conference playoff series against a heavily favored foe. In the heady days after that NBA-record 31-point comeback against Golden State in Game 2 of the series, the Clippers said all…
Clippers hope they can play to their capabilities, quell Mavericks’ momentum — Press Telegram
Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona will miss the club’s three-game series against Minnesota this week while he continues to deal with health issues.
Indians manager Francona to miss 3-game series against Twins — MLB | NBC Sports
Mike Trout’s outfield reads became somewhat of a trending topic among baseball fans and media on Twitter last Friday. Among those who were paying attention: Trout himself. According to MLB’s Statcast technology, Trout’s “jump” on balls hit to the outfield ranks among the bottom 1 percent of outfielders. Statcast divides “jump” into three components: reaction…
Mike Trout is working on his defense, thanks to Twitter — Daily News
The Oakland A’s played their final game of this home stand against the Los Angeles Angels Sunday afternoon despite Cal Fire evacuation warnings Saturday that included parts of parts of Alameda County. With hundreds of wildfires raging around the Bay Area, the air quality hasn’t been ideal at the Oakland Coliseum over the weekend. But,…
Despite evacuation warnings nearby, Oakland A’s play final game of homestand — Times-Standard
The San Francisco Giants cut ties with outfielder Hunter Pence, which ends a second stint with the fan favorite that didn’t go nearly as well as his first.
Giants designate Pence for assignment, get Rays’ Robertson — MLB | NBC Sports
Associated PressAug 23, 2020, 4:52 PM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants cut ties with outfielder Hunter Pence on Sunday, ending a second stint with the fan favorite that didn’t go nearly as well as his first.
Pence, 37, was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for utility man Daniel Robertson, who was acquired earlier in the day from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash or a player to be named later.
Pence was a fiery emotional leader for the Giants from 2012-2018, helping anchor teams that won the World Series in 2012 and 2014.
After making the All-Star team with Texas last season, he returned to San Francisco in February on a one-year, $3 million contract but hit just .096 with two homers and six RBI in 17 games.
Robertson will report to the Giants’ alternate training site in Sacramento. The team also reinstated reliever Sam Coonrod from the 10-day injured list.
It didn’t take long for Hyun-Jin Ryu’s Blue Jays teammates to hurdle whatever language barrier existed between them and the South Korean southpaw. Read More
Ryu start wasted for Blue Jays as Rays walk it off in the 10th — Toronto Sun
TORONTO BLUE JAYS 6, TAMPA BAY RAYS 5
Friday, August 21, 2020 Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Win: Hatch (1-1) Loss: Loup (3-1) Save: Romano (1)
First Pitch: 6:42 p.m. Temps: 72-in, 79-out Attendance: — Time of Game: 3:31
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES
THE WIN—The Blue Jays have won six consecutive games, extending
their season high and their longest streak since July 2-8, 2016 (7)…are a
season-high 2 games over .500, their most since the end of play on May
12, 2018 (21-19)…are 2.5 GB of the Rays and Yankees in the division.
— Improved to 3-4 in extras and 7-3 in 1-run games this season.
— During their 6-game winning streak, the Blue Jays are outscoring
opponents, 38-26, batting .290/.350/.500 and have hit 11 HR…they
have multiple homers in five of their last 6 games and have 27 HR
in their last 10 games (starting with their 7-HR game on Aug 12).
— This was the fourth game in Blue Jays history that both teams had
a least a 5-game winning streak, and the Blue Jays improved to 3-1
in those games (also won on May 16, 2011 and May 1, 1985).
— The Blue Jays won all three series openers against the Rays.
MATT SHOEMAKER—Yielded three 1-out hits and a walk in the 1st inning but escaped with just 1 run allowed and settled in to retire 13 of
his last 14 BF…was the beneficiary of a Lourdes Gurriel Jr. assist to nab
Yandy Díaz attempting to score from 1st base on a Ji-Man Choi double in
the 1st…the exit velocity on his 2 HR allowed were 104.8 mph and 103.3
mph, according to StatCast, while the other 2 hits were registered at 67.3
mph and 69.9 mph…has a 2.56 ERA (38.2-IP, 11-ER) in seven starts against
the Rays…marked his third time this season allowing multiple homers.
VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR.—His 2nd-inning homer left the bat at an
estimated speed of 115.9 mph, according to StatCast…the three-hardest
hit home runs by the Blue Jays in the StatCast era (since 2015) have all
been in the last 10 days: Rowdy Tellez (117.4) on Thurs vs. PHI, Teoscar
Hernández (115.9) on Aug 12 vs. MIA and Guerrero tonight…marked the
hardest-hit homer and the 6th-hardest batted ball of his career.
— The homer had a launch angle of 16°, the lowest on a homer in his
career… .was the lowest on a homer in the majors (excluding inside-the-park) since ARI Ketel Marte on July 29, 2019 at MIA (15°).
TEOSCAR HERNÁNDEZ—His 9 HR through 24 games are the 2nd-most
by a Blue Jay in club history, behind Carlos Delgado (10) in 2001…is batting .357 (10-for-28) with 3 HR against the Rays this season.
CAVAN BIGGIO—Hit a go-ahead RBI double in the 10th inning, his first career extra-innings hit and RBI and only his second career go-ahead RBI
in the 8th inning or later…has recorded a hit in 10 consecutive games
against the Rays, batting .359 (14-for-39) over that stretch.
JORDAN ROMANO—Recorded his first career save.
HOME RUNS
Tm. Batter # Distance Type Field Count Pitcher Inn. Score
TB Brandon Lowe 9 404 ft. solo right field 1-1 Matt Shoemaker 1st 1-0, TB
TOR Teoscar Hernández 9 427 ft. solo left-center 0-1 Ryan Yarbrough 2nd 1-1
TOR Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 4 390 ft. solo left field 1-0 Ryan Yarbrough 2nd 2-1, TOR
TB Yandy Díaz 2 426 ft. solo left-center 2-0 Matt Shoemaker 3rd 4-2, TOR
TOMORROW’S PROBABLE PITCHERS
RH Aaron Slegers (0-0, 11.25) vs. LH Hyun Jin Ryu (2-1, 3.46)
Broadcast: FOX Sports Sun, WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM, WGES 680 AM (Sp.)
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES
THE LOSS—The Rays snapped a 5-game winning streak, which was one
shy of matching their season high…they lost for only the second time in
their last 13 games, and fell to 2-2 in extra-inning games and 5-3 in 1-run
games this season…at 17-10, they are tied with the Yankees (16-9) for 1st
place in the AL East (pct. points behind)…with the loss, the Rays snapped
their best 12-game stretch (11-1) since Aug 29–Sep 10, 2019 (11-1) and failed
to match the best 13-game stretch in club history (last July 6-22, 2013).
— The Rays have allowed 5 runs (or more) seven times in 11 games
since the start of the last road trip…they have allowed 35 HR this
season, their most through the first 27 games since 2007 (37).
— The Rays have allowed 13 HR in 7 games against the Blue Jays.
— The Rays have hit multiple homers in six consecutive games…the
club record is seven straight (2x-last July 27–Aug 4, 2019).
— The Rays began a 7-game homestand and dropped to 8-4 at home
this season and 23-6 (.793) at Tropicana Field since Aug 21, 2019.
— The Rays trailed 4-1 but tied it in the 6th before losing in extras…
failed to record their 10th come-from-behind win this season.
— The Rays lost all three series openers against the Blue Jays.
RYAN YARBROUGH—Matched season-highs with 6.1 IP and 6 SO but extended his career-long winless streak to 14 games, going 0-6 with a 5.03
ERA (73.1-IP, 41-ER) over that stretch…struck out all 3 BF in the 1st inning
but allowed 4 runs on 5 hits, including back-to-back homers, in the 2nd
before settling down to retire 11 of his next 13 BF, including a 5-pitch 4th…
allowed a pair of singles to start the 7th then struck out Santiago Espinal,
his last batter faced…allowed consecutive homers for the second time in
his career, following June 16, 2018 at NYY (5th inning, Giancarlo Stanton
and Gary Sánchez)…remains winless in his last 11 apps (9 starts) at Tropicana Field, going 0-4 with a 5.03 ERA (59-IP, 33-ER) over that stretch.
— Pitched into the 7th inning for the second time this season, following July 30 at ATL (6.1 IP)—no other Rays starter has done so once.
— In the 1st inning, struck out the side for only the third time in his
career and the first time since Aug 20, 2018 vs. KC (4th inning).
— Threw first-pitch strikes to 19 of 27 BF (70.4 pct.) and has thrown
first-pitch strikes to 68.2 pct. (90 of 132) of batters faced this season.
— Allowed nine batted balls with an exit velocity of 95+ mph—entered the game with the 5th-lowest avg. exit velocity in the majors.
BRANDON LOWE—Has 6 HR in his last 9 games (8 starts) and 9 HR in
his last 19 games…has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, batting .386
(17-for-44) with 7 HR and 15 RBI over that stretch…his 9 HR through 27
games are tied for 4th in Rays history and the most since Carlos Peña (11)
in 2009…batting .478 (12-for-27) with 3 HR this season against Toronto.
YANDY DÍAZ—Has homered in consecutive games for the second time
in his career, also doing so July 16-18, 2019 at NYY…is batting .390 (16-for41) with 2 HR and 12 RBI in his last 11 games…reached base in all 5 PA, the
second time in his career he reached five times (or more) without recording an out, following Aug 24, 2017 vs. BOS (with CLE).
JOSÉ MARTÍNEZ—His pinch-hit, 2-run double tied the game in the 6th
inning, his first game-tying or go-ahead RBI since a 2-run double on Sep
25, 2019 at ARI (with STL)…is batting .319 (29-for-91) in his career as a
pinch-hitter, the 3rd-best average in the majors since 2016 (min. 50 AB).
The Phillies jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning in Game 2 but couldn’t hold onto the lead.
Phillies Blow 7-Run Lead, Embarrassed By Blue Jays In Doubleheader Loss — CBS Philly
The evolution and timeline of Randal Grichuk’s rise from overpaid and inconsistent hitter to top of the order force in the Blue Jays offence has been beyond impressive. Grichuk was at it again in a Camden Yards matinee on Wednesday, hitting a pair of home runs to lead the Jays to a 5-2 win and […]
Grichuk continues to sizzle as two-homer day helps Blue Jays sweep Orioles — Toronto Sun
The evolution and timeline of Randal Grichuk’s rise from overpaid and inconsistent hitter to top of the order force in the Blue Jays offence has been beyond impressive.
Grichuk was at it again in a Camden Yards matinee on Wednesday, hitting a pair of home runs to lead the Jays to a 5-2 win and three-game series sweep of the Baltimore Orioles.
In that trio of games, Grichuk had no less than 11 RBI on four home runs. With power to all parts of the field, Grichuk is now second on the team in homers with six, all of them coming in his past six games.
It has been an incredible and welcome run for the Jays, who are now riding a season-best three-game winning streak as they return to Buffalo for a Thursday doubleheader with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Moving up in manager Charlie Montoyo’s batting order after shortstop Bo Bichette was lost for a month, Grichuk has clearly been on fire of late. But it didn’t happen overnight.
The evolution in Grichuk’s offensive game began after the 2019 season in which he led the team with 31 home runs but struggled with consistency at the plate and an ice-cold start. That prompted the Jays highest-paid position player to admit he needed to get improve.
A productive off-season working on his approach took another leap forward at spring training when Grichuk tapped into the sound advice of guest instructor Dante Bichette. With a modified and more disciplined approach at the plate, Grichuk had success in Grapefruit League play, but took some time to fire it up after the COVID-19 shutdown.
Not anymore, it would seem.
“He just looks on time with everything,” said Jays infielder Brandon Drury on a post-game Zoom. “He’s not chasing a lot out of the zone. I feel like he is really sticking to his plan, whatever it is that at bat. He’s on every pitch, whether it’s soft or it’s hard and he’s looking for something and he’s not missing it.”
Far more comfortable at the plate than at any point in his four seasons with the Jays, Grichuk is chasing fewer bad pitches while hitting balls to all parts of all parks that he plays. His two homers on Wednesday — including the two-run shot in the sixth — were well struck and hit in the air, the latter a point of emphasis for Grichuk during spring training.
“He’s driving the ball to all parts of the park,” Drury agreed after watching his teammate hit a solo shot in the second and two-run effort in the sixth. “Hanging breaking balls and changeups he’s hitting to left and fastballs he’s hitting out to centre or right centre. It’s been impressive to watch, that’s for sure.”
Though he had started to heat up in Buffalo, Grichuk’s output at Camden Yards was one of the best over a three-game series in club history. The 11 RBI were the second most in a three-gamer, trailing only the 13 Josh Phelps blasted against Seattle back in 2004.
“His approach was very good in spring training and in summer camp and he’s kept it going,” Montoyo said. “We needed someone to pick up the slack when Bo (Bichette) got hurt and he’s done that.”
The runs weren’t coming at such a prolific pace on Wednesday but as the Jays improved to 10-11 it has been the offence that has carried them. In their past eight games, the Jays have banged out 23 home runs after hitting 15 in their previous 13.
And Grichuk was front and centre, providing his team’s first three RBI and nearly adding more.
“I’m hitting the ball in the air but I’m still driving it,” Grichuk said recently. “Things are working. What I’m working on is heading in the right direction so I’ll try to keep doing that.”https://www.youtube.com/embed/q4lJqB7Ogo8?embed_config={%27relatedChannels%27:%20[],%27autonav%27:true}&autoplay=0&playsinline=1
ROARK TO THE RESCUE?
Prior to Wednesday’s contest, Montoyo was understandably concerned about his bullpen. Not only had the relievers been pushed hard the previous night, the doubleheader in Buffalo was looming.
Montoyo’s hope, then, was that starter Tanner Roark could give him six solid innings. When the Jays acquired the veteran right-hander during the off season, one of the attractions was his ability to eat innings, something that Roark has struggled to do so far this season.
While far from dominating on Wednesday, Roark came close to his manager’s wishes, going five not-always-pretty innings. He allowed just two earned runs on 94 pitches but had to work his way out of a number of jams after allowing nine hits.
“The more I get in synch and the more I get to face hitters, the more consistent I am,” Roark said post-game. “The more I’m attacking hitters – that’s what makes me, me.”
But Roark dug in to leave with a lead handing the ball to Ryan Borucki (1.1 innings), Thomas Hatch (1.2 innings) and finally Rafael Dolis to close it out. Dolis did allow a pair of runners but kept the Orioles off the board to protect the win and earn the save.
TROUBLE WITH TEOSCAR
Beyond the Grichuk home-run trots, a fuming Teoscar Hernandez in the Blue Jays dugout after the fifth inning was the most prominent image coming out of Baltimore.
After his latest outfield follies in the fourth inning, Hernandez was seen fuming in the Jays dugout. An error as he completely misplayed a rolling ball in right field led to the Orioles first run of the game and erased an early Jays lead.
To his credit, Hernandez rebounded with a strike to home place after a Cedric Mullins single, gunning down Pat Valaika for the final out of the inning. That solid play aside, the Hernandez miscues continue to be problematic for Montoyo and the Jays and a stark defensive liability.
And who knows when it may start to affect him offensively? Hernandez was a hapless 0-for-5 on Wednesday.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis has been placed on the 10-day injured list after potentially being exposed to COVID-19.
Braves OF Markakis goes on IL after possible COVID-19 exposure — MLB | NBC Sports
Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona is missing his team’s three-game series against the Pirates.
Indians’ Francona to have surgical procedure, miss series — MLB | NBC Sports
PITTSBURGH — Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona will miss his team’s three-game series with the Pirates, which begins Tuesday night.
General manager Mike Chernoff said Francona will have a “scheduled procedure” to address a gastrointestinal issue. Francona also sat out seven games from Aug. 3-9 because of the ailment.
The Indians are hopeful Francona will be back in the dugout Friday night in Cleveland for the opener of a three-game series against the Tigers.
First base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. will again manage the club in Francona’s absence.
Meanwhile, Gold Glove catcher Roberto Perez has been activated from the injured list and backup catcher Sandy Leon has been placed on family emergency leave.
Perez had been out since July 29 with a strained right shoulder. He was is in the starting lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the Pirates.
Perez has played in just three games during this pandemic-shortened season, going 1 for 10.
“We’re excited to have him back,” Chernoff said. “I’m sure our pitchers are happy to have him back, too.”
Perez won the AL Gold Glove last year. He led all major leaguers with 30 defensive runs saved while batting .239 with 24 home runs in 119 games.
Leon will miss the series with the Pirates.
Cleveland also recalled outfielder Greg Allen from its alternate training site. That came a day after outfielder Oscar Mercado was assigned to the camp in Eastlake, Ohio on Monday.
Mercado hit .111 in 17 games and lost his starting center fielder’s job to Delino DeShields Jr.
For a pitcher known for his sizzle, the hype surrounding Nate Pearson is beginning to fizzle. Read More
Flame-throwing Pearson gets doused, but Jays hang on for win — Toronto Sun
For a pitcher known for his sizzle, the hype surrounding Nate Pearson is beginning to fizzle.
No one is about to throw in the towel on Pearson, but some disconcerting signs are emerging.
Mind you, he has only made four starts with plenty more to follow, but Pearson has yet to pitch with any semblance of consistency or command in any of his appearances.
He couldn’t get out of the fifth inning Tuesday night as Pearson left after surrendering three homers and five runs.
A five-run inning in Toronto’s top half allowed the Jays to fashion a 7-3 lead.
There was an opportunity presented to close the door.
Instead, Pearson allowed it to swing wide open as Baltimore kept fighting by exposing the kid.
Pearson was long gone as the O’s used an intentional walk followed by an infield single when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. couldn’t pick a short hop at first to even the score at 7-7.
The night required extra innings, which haven’t been friendly to the Jays.
It would end, though, with the Jays surviving the baseball marathon by eking out an 8-7 win aided by a Baltimore error and some dubious base running in 10 innings.
A leadoff walk followed by a two run blast and Pearson was suddenly looking like the MLB greenhorn that he is, unable to locate pitches, falling behind hitters and yielding a 2-0 lead to the Orioles in their first at-bat.
Pearson didn’t look comfortable on the mound, an issue that has plagued him the past the two starts following a decent debut.
Once again, Pearson’s much-vaunted fast ball was lit up as Anthony Santander went yard at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Pearson turns 24 Thursday.https://www.youtube.com/embed/q4lJqB7Ogo8?embed_config={%27relatedChannels%27:%20[],%27autonav%27:true}&autoplay=0&playsinline=1
He turned aside the home side in the second despite a single to right by Cedric Mullins, who was left stranded at second after he stole the base.
The Jays picked up their starter in the third when the red hot Randal Grichuk belted a two-run homer off Wade LeBlanc after the O’s starter walked Cavan Biggio with two out.
Pearson gave it back when Santander went back to back against Big Nate, this time connecting on a line drive to centre field for his team-leading ninth homer of the season.
Toronto’s bottom of the order was responsible for having runners at the corner with none out in the fifth.
A Biggio walk would load the bases as LeBlanc was given the hook.
Grichuk, who drove in four runs in the series opener, drove in his third and fourth on the night when his double to right scored Anthony Alford and Santiago Espinal as the Jays took a 4-3 lead.
It would increase when Travis Shaw hit a no doubter off Travis Lakins Sr. for a three-run blast.
In his first three starts, the Jays provided Pearson with one run.
When he took to the mound in Baltimore’s bottom half of the fifth inning, Pearson had a 7-3 advantage.
He promptly walked the No. 9 hitter.
On one swing of the bat, the Orioles cut the Jays’ lead in half when Chance Sisco unloaded on a Pearson slider for a two-run moon shot.
BIGGIO WADES INTO TATIS JR. TATOR
The son of former big leaguer Craig Biggio, Cavan Biggio grew up around baseball and was introduced to the game’s culture at a pretty young age.
Like any sport, baseball has its unwritten rules.
Some argue San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. broke the rule by swinging on a 3-0 pitch late in a one-sided game against the Texas Rangers Monday night.
The 21-year-old would club his second homer of the game, a grand slam no less.
Post game, Texas manager Chris Woodward brought up the unwritten rules in voicing his disapproval. “There’s a lot of unwritten rules that are constantly being challenged in today’s game,” said Woodward.
“I didn’t like it, personally. You’re up by seven in the eighth inning; it’s typically not a good time to swing 3-0. It’s kind of the way we were all raised in the game.
“But, like I said, the norms are being challenged on a daily basis. So just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not right. I don’t think we liked it as a group.”https://www.youtube.com/embed/bDLYH34sct4?embed_config={%27relatedChannels%27:%20[],%27autonav%27:true}&autoplay=0&playsinline=1
Biggio understands the game’s unwritten rules, but he also understands the aggressive approach shown by Tatis Jr.
“As a hitter you never want to give the pitcher anything,’’ said Biggio.
The rule of thumb for any athlete plying his trade in whatever sport is to never show up an opponent.
Biggio doesn’t feel Tatis Jr. was showing up the Rangers.
ROUNDING THE BASES
Manager Charlie Montoyo said the team’s original diagnosis of Bo Bichette (Grade 1 knee sprain) was confirmed by Dr. James Andrews. The skipper added how there’s no timeline for Bo’s return … Rowdy Tellez is feeling better, according to Montoyo, but the 1B/DH remains in concussion protocol after he took an elbow to the head late in Monday night’s win. Depending on how Tellez is feeling Wednesday, there’s the possibility he’ll enter MLB’s seven-day protocol … Injured closer Ken Giles (elbow) engaged in some light catch, while injured RHP Trent Thornton (elbow) has a chance to start Thursday when the Jays play host to a double dip in Buffalo against the Phillies…RHP Jacob Waguespack was added to the taxi squad, paving the way for the team to recall RHP Julian Merryweather.
The view from left field 