|
 3B Adrian Beltre (back strain) is out of the lineup for Game 2 of
the ALDS at Toronto.
Beltre hurt his back sliding into second base in Game 1 on Thursday
and aggravated the injury with a hard single to right-center field,
shuffling to first base without making a full stride before being
removed from the game.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Donaldson, Josh
3B Josh Donaldson was back in the lineup for the Toronto Blue Jays
for Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Friday.
Donaldson left Game 1 following a slide into second base on which he
took a knee to the head from Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor,
who also was limping after the play. The impact resulted in a
visible cut on Donaldson's forehead and wrenched his neck backward.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Bautista, Jose
RF Jose Bautista, who exited Game 1 on Thursday with a hamstring
cramp, is in the lineup for Toronto batting third in Game 2.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Kershaw, Clayton
LHP Clayton Kershaw lost his fifth straight playoff game. Kershaw
(0-1), who is 1-6 in the postseason, was charged with three runs on
four hits with four walks, which tied a season-high, in 6 2/3
innings. Kershaw also lost to the Mets for the first time in 10
career starts.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Greinke, Zack
RHP Zack Greinke, who will start Game 2, said LHP Clayton Kershaw is
a better alternative to pitch on three days rest if the Dodgers
decide to go that option if the series reaches Game 4. "I just
haven't done it good in my career," Greinke said. "So I think that's
kind of why it has been like that in the past. I haven't done good
doing that in the past, and Kershaw is more confident than me doing
it.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Ellis, A.J.
C A.J. Ellis, who went 1-for-3, recorded a fourth-inning single to
extend his postgame hitting streak to a franchise tying-record 11
games. Ellis tied LF Carl Crawford's mark, set in 2014.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Seager, Corey
SS Corey Seager went 1-for-4 in his playoff debut. Seager doubled in
the third inning. At 21, Seager became the youngest Dodger position
player to start a postseason contest.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Kendrick, Howie
2B Howie Kendrick was 2-for-4 with a double for his third multi-hit
playoff game in his career. Kendrick also scored the Dodgers' lone
run, coming home on an RBI single by 1B Adrian Gonzalez in the
eighth inning.
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MLB Note - New York Mets deGrom, Jacob
RHP Jacob deGrom struck out 13 and threw five-hit ball with a walk
(intentional) in seven innings to lead the Mets past the Dodgers on
Friday night in Game 1 of their National League Division Series.
DeGrom's 13 strikeouts tied Tom Seaver's franchise mark for a
postseason performance, which the Hall of Famer set in Game 1 of the
1973 National League Championship Series against the Cincinnati
Reds. "I think just mixing it up on them," said DeGrom, who retired
the final 11 batters he faced, on why he was so successful against
the Dodgers. "My change-up was good tonight, and I threw a few
strikeouts to lefties, but also was locating my fastball pretty
good, too. So I think just trying to keep them off balance and get
ahead." DeGrom and Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw, who struck out 11,
became the first two opposing pitchers to strike out at least 10
hitters apiece in a playoff game. It tied for second all-time in
strikeouts in a postseason game, knotting the 24 fanned by Florida
Marlins right-hander Livan Hernandez (15) and Atlanta Braves ace
Greg Maddux (nine) in the NLDS in 1997. The pair fell one strike out
shy of the record 25 combined by Kevin Brown (16) of the San Diego
Padres and Randy Johnson (nine) of the Houston Astros in the 1998
NLDS. "I think just mixing it up on them," said DeGrom, who retired
the final 11 batters he faced, on why he was so successful against
the Dodgers. "My change-up was good tonight, and I threw a few
strikeouts to lefties, but also was locating my fastball pretty
good, too. So I think just trying to keep them off balance and get
ahead."
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MLB Note - New York Mets Murphy, Daniel
INF Daniel Murphy homered off LHP Clayton Kershaw to give the Mets
an early lead. Murphy drilled a 2-0 fastball by LHP Clayton Kershaw
fastball into the visitor's bullpen in right for a solo blast to
open the fourth inning. "My first at-bat, he chewed me up and spit
me out," said Murphy, who carries a .317 career batting average
against the Dodgers with 14 home runs and 17 RBIs. "The next at-bat
I was able to get my foot down a little earlier. He doesn't make a
lot of mistakes, and I felt really fortunate to put a good swing on
the ball he threw me."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - New York Mets Wright, David
3B David Wright had a two-run single off RHP Pedro Baez, which
turned out to be the difference in the eighth inning. Wright has
eight RBIs in 10 postseason games. "I was able to put a good swing
on it," Wright said. "When a guy is throwing that hard, you allow
him to provide the power and you just try to go nice and easy, and
just make sure you just get to it and beat him to the spot."
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MLB Note - New York Mets Granderson, Curtis
OF Curtis Granderson had a solid outing offensively, going 2-for-3
with a walk. Granderson has reached base safely in 14 of 18 NLDS
contests. He is batting .286 in division series games.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Lester, Jon
LHP Jon Lester pitched well enough to win most nights, but his
teammates couldn't crack the code against John Lackey and turned him
into a loser. Lester gave up just five hits and three runs in 7 1/3
innings, walking one and fanning nine. But Lester yielded a solo
homer to pinch-hitter Tommy Pham and a free pass to Matt Carpenter,
who scored when Pedro Strop fed a gopher ball to Stephen Piscotty,
and that was that.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Hendricks, Kyle
RHP Kyle Hendricks gets the call in Game 2 of the NLDS Saturday. He
threw six shutout innings in each of his last two starts, allowing
just one hit on Oct. 3 in Milwaukee while fanning eight and walking
none in a 1-0 win. Hendricks has pitched decently in four career
starts against St. Louis, going 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA over 22 2/3
innings, and was no-decisioned in his one outing against it back in
May.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Russell, Addison
SS Addison Russell managed the team's first hit with a leadoff
single in the sixth and then stole second for his first postseason
steal. Russell was one of the few Cubs who had good at-bats against
John Lackey, getting denied in the third as Jason Heyward robbed him
of a leadoff hit with a sliding catch in left-center. Russell has
hits in his first two postseason games.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Strop, Pedro
RHP Pedro Strop might be happy if he never sees Cardinals hitting
again. Strop gave up a two-run homer to Scott Piscotty in the
eighth, extending an ignominious streak of futility against St.
Louis. In 2 1/3 innings at Busch Stadium this year, Strop has been
torched for eight earned runs. He also gave up a game-losing two-run
homer to Jhonny Peralta at Wrigley Field in July.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Rizzo, Anthony
1B Anthony Rizzo has struggled against John Lackey in his career and
Friday night was no exception, as he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout
and a double play ball. That makes Rizzo 1-for-15 against Lackey.
But Rizzo figures to be back in the lineup for Game 2 Saturday
against Jaime Garcia, and Chicago will certainly count on him for a
bounce-back performance.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Lackey, John
RHP John Lackey was at his postseason best Friday night, checking
Chicago on two hits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings to capture Game 1
of the NLDS. Lackey mostly stuck with his fastball, which averaged
92.7 mph, the fastest it's been all season. He fanned five and
walked one, taking advantage of an extra-wide strike zone from plate
umpire Phil Cuzzi, and improved to 8-5 in 18 postseason starts.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Garcia, Jaime
LHP Jaime Garcia was an easy call to take the ball for Game 2 of the
NLDS Saturday. Garcia is coming off a 4-0 loss in a tuneup start
Oct. 2 in Atlanta, but enjoyed his best MLB season, going 10-6 with
a 2.43 ERA over 20 starts. Garcia hasn't faced Chicago since April
23, 2012, but is 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA in six career outings (five
starts) against the Cubs. He could neutralize some of Chicago's
dangerous left-handed bats.
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MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Piscotty, Stephen
LF Stephen Piscotty's first postseason game contained no jitters,
just more of the same production that marked his play since his July
21 call-up from Triple-A Memphis. After doubling and scoring in the
first, Piscotty sealed the verdict with a two-run homer in the
eighth, making him the third St. Louis rookie in two years to go
long in his first postseason game.
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MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Pham, Tommy
CF Tommy Pham sparked a three-run eighth inning rally with a
431-foot pinch-homer into the seats in left-center, making him the
first Cardinal to homer in his first postseason at-bat since OF
Randal Grichuk took Clayton Kershaw deep last October. It was the
first pinch-homer in the postseason for St. Louis since Oscar
Taveras victimized San Francisco last October.
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MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Molina, Yadier
C Yadier Molina (left thumb) returned after missing the regular
season's last 13 games and went 0-for-3, but enjoyed a great game
behind the plate, stealing a spate of strikes for pitcher John
Lackey on borderline pitches. Manager Mike Matheny said Molina took
good swings at the plate, although he really didn't hit the ball
with any authority against Jon Lester.
[to top of second column] |
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MLB Note - Houston Astros Rasmus, Colby
LF Colby Rasmus doubled in the first and homered in the third,
becoming the first player in major league history to record an
extra-base hit in his first six postseason games. "I feel blessed,"
Rasmus said. "The Good Lord is with me. It's just one of those
things. I'm just playing and not thinking about no records or none
of that stuff. I'm just loving the game right now and trying to help
these boys win a ball game." Ramus is locked in, homering in three
straight postseason games. "I feel pretty good at the plate," Rasmus
said. "What I've got going is working right now. I'm making
adjustments to the pitches they're throwing and it's working in my
favor."
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MLB Note - Houston Astros Gomez, Carlos
OF Carlos Gomez was used as a pinch runner in the ninth inning, but
RHP Wade Davis picked him off first base. "I call it a mistake,"
Gomez said. "With that pitch, I'm going. I'm not thinking of coming
back. The guy had a really good move. I'm sliding with confidence
and he got me. When I see how fast he is to the plate and he don't
throw much to first, I think I have everything under control. And he
did a side step, threw quick to first and he got me. I'm not really
that far from the base and he made a good move." Said Astros manager
A.J. Hinch, "I don't know if anybody says it's acceptable. To try to
win the game, you have to get to the next base. Piecing together
three hits against Davis, you've heard he's a good reliever. We have
to try to do something to win the game. Part of that is getting to
the next base. You never want to make an out on the base. It's hard
to blame anyone. It's unfortunate. We don't like it. It's not how we
wanted that inning to go."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Houston Astros Kazmir, Scott
LHP Scott Kazmir, who was 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA in six September
starts and an 11.57 ERA in his final three regular season starts,
gave up three runs on five hits, while walking one and striking out
four in 5 1/3 innings. "All my pitches were working," Kazmir said.
"I had my pants up today, so I knew my slider was going to be
better. From the first pitch of the game I felt I had good command
of all my pitches. I was able to give the hitters a different look.
I felt great. I felt I was getting strong as the game was going on."
Kazmir's velocity also increased. "It could be just adrenaline,"
Kazmir said. "Kauffman Stadium was pretty much rocking the entire
today. It's just tough we didn't come out with a win. We're still
confident, but it's a tough loss." Manager A.J. Hinch was pleased
with Kazmir's performance. "He did everything you would expect Scott
Kazmir to do in a game that mattered a lot, and I was proud of his
effort," Hinch said. "I thought his stuff was better than it's been
in his previous starts, velocity was up. I thought his changeup was
better."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Houston Astros Springer, George
RF George Springer loves playing at Kauffman Stadium. In five games
there, he is hitting .500, 9-for-18 with three home runs, two
doubles, six walks, 10 runs and eight RBIs. He drove in two runs
with a single in the second inning.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Zobrist, Ben
2B Ben Zobrist, who drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh inning
single, has two hits in each of the first two ALDS games. It is his
fourth postseason multi-hit game. "Ben Zobrist driving the ball the
opposite way for the game winner was key," Royals manager Ned Yost
said. "The offense took advantage of opportunities when we had them
and found a way to win a baseball game."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Cueto, Johnny
RHP Johnny Cueto allowed four runs -- all in the first three innings
-- and seven hits -- six in the first three innings -- over six
innings. He struck out five and walked three. "He made two mistakes,
really, to Colby Rasmus (who homered and doubled)," Royals manager
Ned Yost said. "They're probably two pitches he would like back. But
the second inning, it was an array of broken bats, jammed shots, a
bunt that we couldn't make a play on and a walk. So I thought he was
throwing the ball fine. He finally really got dialed in after the
third inning and kept us right there through six. Dave (Eiland,
pitching coach) said he pitched good enough to win. I agree."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Perez, Salvador
C Salvador Perez homered in the second, his second postseason home
run. His first was off Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner in the first
game of the 2014 World Series. Perez also drew a four-pitch walk
with the bases loaded in the sixth. "Salvy had a big day -- the big
home run, the walk," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He got Johnny (Cueto)
through that game, got the bullpen guys through that game. So it was
a great offensive day for Salvy and another great defensive game."
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MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Davis, Wade
RHP Wade Davis worked the ninth to log his first postseason save. He
walked a batter, but picked off pinch runner Carlos Gomez. RHP Greg
Holland picked up all seven saves in postseason last year, but had
Tommy John surgery earlier this month. Davis has replaced him as the
closer.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Perez, Martin
LHP Martin Perez will make his first postseason appearance when he
starts Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the
Toronto Blue Jays Sunday at Globe Life Park. The 24-year-old will be
working on eight day's rest after a no-decision in the Rangers' 2-1
loss to the Los Angeles Angels Oct. 2. He was 3-1 with a 4.04 ERA in
six starts at home this season, winning three in a row. He is 9-9
with a 4.10 ERA in 28 career games -- 24 starts -- at Globe Life
Park. He has never faced the Blue Jays.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Texas Rangers Beltre, Adrian
3B Adrian Beltre (lower back strain) did not play Friday in the 6-4
win in 14 innings over the Toronto Blue Jays in the second game of
the American League Division Series. He came out of the game
Thursday after hitting an RBI single. The problem developed from a
slide into second on a first-inning double play on Thursday and he
persevered for two more innings despite back spasms. When asked if
Beltre was available as a pinch-hitter Friday, manager Jeff Banister
said: "You know what, he was moving around, had a bat in his hand
and he was itching. I do know that. Look, I never put anything past
Beltre, what he's capable of doing."
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Alberto, Hanser
INF Hanser Alberto, who is filling in for injured 3B Adrian Beltre,
made a second-inning error that led to two runs Friday but atoned
for it with the go-ahead single in the 14th inning. The Rangers
defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 in 14 innings to take a 2-0 lead
in the American League Division Series. "It's extremely special for
him," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "Really, for a guy who has
sat at the end of the bench for is, an extra player. He had been up
one time before when Adrian had gone down, he played some shortstop
for us, second base, some third base and had gone down to play and
we felt like it was time to get him back up, to get him acclimated
into the major league end of it." Alberto, who came to the plate
0-for-4 with a sacrifice fly, stole a bat from CF Delino DeShields
to get the winning hit. He said he had used it in batting practice.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Texas Rangers Hamels, Cole
LHP Cole Hamels pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and four
runs (two earned) and did not factor in the decision. "That's what
he is, he goes out and competes," manager Jeff Banister said. "We
had the error there that led to a couple of runs but he continued to
pitch and never gave in. That's what a front-line pitcher does."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Texas Rangers Odor, Rougned
2B Rougned Odor has been a catalyst for the Rangers as they opened
up a 2-0 lead in the American Division Series after a 6-4, 14-inning
victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. After scoring three
runs Thursday in the 5-3 win, he scored two more runs, including the
go-head run in the 14th, as he went 1-for-5 with a walk. "There are
times where players just will themselves to score," manager Jeff
Banister said. "Guys like that play hard and will themselves to do
special things."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Texas Rangers Diekman, Jake
LHP Jake Diekman pitched the ninth and 10th innings Friday in the
6-4 win in 14 innings over the Toronto Blue Jays as the Rangers took
a 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series. He retired six
consecutive batters for the second day in a row. Of his 12 outs,
eight were right-handed hitters. He is not just a left-handed
specialist. Diekman has held right-handed hitters to a .082 average
over 49 at-bats.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Estrada, Marco
RHP Marco Estrada will make his fifth career postseason appearance,
but his first start, Sunday in the third game of the American League
Division Series against the Texas Rangers at Arlington. In his four
previous postseason outings, all with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011,
he was 0-0 with a 6.00 ERA over six innings. He made a career-high
28 starts this season after starting in the bullpen, making five
relief appearances. His .203 opponents' batting average was second
in the American League. But opponents hit only .183 against him
after the All-Star break, first in the majors. He is 1-1 with a 1.50
ERA in two career starts against the Rangers.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Donaldson, Josh
3B Josh Donaldson was back in the lineup Friday and hit a
first-inning homer after taking a knee to the head in a slide at
second base in the fourth inning Thursday to break up a double play.
He left for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth. He passed
concussion tests on Thursday and Friday morning. "I think the
protocol is you test him that day and, of course, you've got to test
him again this morning," manager John Gibbons said Friday morning.
"I've heard that to this point everything went well. They were going
to put him on a treadmill, let him run around a little bit, see if
this or that caused anything." Donaldson nearly had a second homer
on Friday when hit a long foul in the 13th inning against RHP Keone
Kela, then the two exchanged words causing both benches to empty.
Order was restored quickly and Donaldson struck out. "We made eye
contact and exchanged a few words," Donaldson said. "He didn't back
down, I didn't back down. Leave it at that."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Bautista, Jose
RF Jose Bautista was in the starting lineup Friday. He left Thursday
after fouling out in the eighth inning because of a hamstring cramp.
It was not considered serious at the time. "Bautista's good, he felt
fine today, so we should be in good shape," manager John Gibbons
said Friday morning. Bautista hit a solo homer Thursday in his first
career postseason game.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Cecil, Brett
LHP Brett Cecil suffered a torn calf muscle Friday in the 6-4 loss
in 14 innings to the Texas Rangers.
He was injured in making the tag of 1B Mike Napoli in a rundown
after a pickoff play at first base to end the eighth inning. "He's
got a pretty significant tear in his calf, so that's not good,"
manager John Gibbons said. LHP Aaron Loup is the only lefty the Blue
Jays have left on their ALDS roster.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Stroman, Marcus
RHP Marcus Stroman did not factor in the decision Friday in the 6-4
loss in 14 innings to the Texas Rangers in the second game of the
American League Division Series. He allowed four runs (three
earned), five hits and two walks in seven-plus innings. He struck
out five in his first postseason start. "I thought Stro was
outstanding today," manager John Gibbons said. "He had those two
runs scored on him in the first but it was a dominating outing for
him."
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