A look at what’s happening around the majors Thursday:
MIDSUMMER SKID
The Nationals open a series against Miami hoping to end a five-game skid and get back to .500. Washington fell to 42-43 with a loss to Boston on
Wednesday
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Nationals held a players’ only meeting after a 3-0 loss to the Red Sox
highlighted by Adam Eaton’s throwing error and a wild pitch from Ryan Madson.
Jeremy Hellickson (2-1, 2.63) makes his second start since returning from the
DL, while Marlins righty Pablo Lopez (1-0, 3.00) makes his second MLB start.
NOT VERY VERLANDER
Justin Verlander (9-4, 2.12) tries to stop a personal slide when the Astros open a series against the White Sox. Verlander has allowed nine runs in 11 2/3
innings over his past two starts, taking losses to Toronto (four runs) and Tampa
Bay (five runs). Verlander hasn’t allowed four or more earned runs in three
straight starts since June 2014 while with Detroit. Carlos Rodon (1-3, 4.55) is
up for Chicago.
CUETO’S BACK
Johnny Cueto is expected to be reinstated from the disabled list and pitch when the Giants open a four-game series against the Cardinals. Cueto was placed
on the disabled list May 1 with inflammation in his right elbow. A few days
later, he visited Dr. James Andrews
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he joined the team in 2016.
PITCHING IN
Angels rookie Jaime Barria will start against AL West-leading Seattle in place of Tyler Skaggs a day after the left-hander went on the DL with a thigh
strain. Barria is making his 12th start of the season and has given up two
earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. Lefty Marco Gonzales (8-5,
3.77) makes his first start since pitching the first complete game of his career
in a 4-1 win over Kansas City.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Joe Mauer needs one double to give him 415 in his career, which would break a tie with Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett for the Twins’ franchise record. Minnesota
has lost six straight and returns home from a 1-8 trip to play Baltimore, which
has the worst record in the majors at 24-61. More good news for the scuffling
Twins: Two-time All-Star Ervin Santana (right middle finger surgery) is
scheduled to make his next rehab appearance for Class A Fort Myers.
—
Father’s Day was the crowning touch on rookie catcher Jose Trevino’s wild week.
Trevino blooped a two-run single to left-center field, capping a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning that sent the Texas Rangers over the
Colorado Rockies 13-12 on Sunday.
He has been a father for only a week, and a major leaguer for three days.
”It has been one of the craziest weeks of my life,” a teary-eyed Trevino said in a television interview. ”I can’t wait to tell (my son) about it.”
Rockies closer Wade Davis (0-2) retired only one batter while walking four and allowing singles to Rougned Odor and Trevino. He entered his third major
league game in the top of the ninth after starting catcher Robinson Chirinos was
hit on a foot by a foul ball.
Trevino is 2 for 8 for Texas, including a game-tying single in Saturday’s 5-2 victory.
It was the fourth blown save in 24 opportunities for Davis, who threw 23 balls and 15 strikes while tying his season-high 38 pitches. As a
result
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”It looks as though his release point was way off,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. ”We’ll address that.”
Trevino took advantage.
”It’s everything a kid dreams about, except for there was one out instead of two,” he said.
Trevino has impressed manager Jeff Banister.
”Pretty incredible week for the young man. I think he’ll look back on these first few days in the big leagues and think about how special they really
are.”
Colorado took a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning of the seesaw game. The Rangers scored five runs to take a 6-5 lead in the sixth, including Jurickson Profar’s
three-run homer off starter Jon Gray.
The Rockies responded with a five-run seventh to go ahead 10-6. Colorado’s Gerardo Parra drove in four runs, three on a bases-clearing double in the
seventh.
Texas pulled within 10-9 with three runs in the seventh. Trevor Story hit a two-run homer in the Colorado ninth against Jesse Chavez (3-1).
Yovani Gallardo, pitching for his hometown Rangers for the first time since 2015, allowed the Rockies’ first five runs in five-plus innings.
Nomar Mazara drove in three Texas runs with two singles and a groundout.
Story, the National League leader with 54 RBIs
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Gray retired the Rangers’ first 10 batters, striking out seven, before Delino DeShields singled, stole second base and scored on a single by Mazara.
Gray’s only walk of the game led to the five-run sixth.
”You’d like to have your starting pitcher be a good front-runner and attack,” Black said. ”That inning, Jon got behind guys, 2-0 to the first hitter, 2-0 to
the second hitter.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: LHP Mike Dunn (rhomboid strain) and RHP Scott Oberg threw bullpen sessions before the game. ”Both successful,” Black said. ”No timetable on their
returns. I suspect that they’ll throw another bullpen during the next couple
days.”
Rangers: RF Mazara (sore left wrist) and C Robinson Chirinos (body soreness) returned to the lineup after missing two games. Chirinos now may miss more time
with a foot injury. ”Pretty sore
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assignment to Triple-A Round Rock, where he was 0 for 2 with two walks leading
off as the DH. Banister said he expected Andrus to make the trip to Kansas City
for a series beginning on Monday.
LEADING OFF
Rockies 2B DJ LeMahieu hit his second leadoff homer this season and of his career. The Rangers’ leadoff batter, DH Shin-Soo Choo, extended his on-base
streak to 31 games with a sixth-inning single.
MAY JUNE BE WITH YOU
SS Jurickson Profar leads the Rangers with 33 RBIs since May 1. For the season, he has 41 RBIs after totaling only 53 in his first four injury-riddled
seasons.
Profar has five of his career-high eight home runs in his last 11 games. He has four homers in four starts batting fourth in Texas’ lineup this season.
UP NEXT
Rockies: They return home, where they have lost seven in a row, to play the Mets on Monday. LHP Tyler Anderson (4-1, 4.48) will start for Colorado against
New York RHP Jacob deGrom (4-2
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Rangers: RHP Bartolo Colon (3-4, 4.94) will start the series opener on Monday at Kansas City against RHP Ian Kennedy (1-6, 5.13). … Trevino will be making his
first major league road trip. He said, ”It should be some fun.”
.
