Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch named Roberto Osuna the closer for the remainder of the 2018 MLB regular
season."I wanted Hector [Rondon] to know that I'm gonna start to use [him] more
in the seventh and eighth
http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-a.-j.-pollock-jersey , which means that Osuna's going to get the majority of save opportunities," Hinch
said in an interview with MLB Network Radio (h/t ESPN.com). "But I need to use
him in creative ways, too."MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM MLBNetworkRadio#Astros
manager AJ Hinch confirms on quot;Power Alleyquot;: Roberto Osuna is now his
primary closer.#NeverSettle IStKWpfCJARondon has been solid in ninth-inning
duties, collecting a team-high 13 saves while posting a 2.36 ERA. But the Astros
acquired Osuna in July for a reason.The 23-year-old right-hander averaged 32
saves with a 2.69 FIP in his first three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays,
perBaseball Reference.Osuna made 15 appearances for the Blue Jays this year
beforeservinga 75-game suspension for a violation of MLB's domestic violence
policy. Despite the suspension, Osuna would be available to pitch in the
postseason should the Astros clinch a playoff berth.Since arriving in Houston,
Osuna has allowedone earned run and struck out three batters in five innings.
Twice he finished games in non-save situations for the team:an 8-6 defeat to the
Seattle Mariners on Aug. 9 and a 3-4 extra-innings loss to the Mariners three
days later. SEATTLE (AP) — Mitch Haniger hit the deck three times for the
Mariners late in Sunday’s game. The first two put Seattle ahead against the New
York Yankees. The next converted the lead into a victory.Haniger dashed home to
score the go-ahead run on a grounder in the eighth inning, then made a diving
catch for the final out that gave the Mariners a 3-2 win over the
Yankees.Haniger started the eighth with a walk off reliever Dellin Betances
(4-5) before stealing second by reaching in with his right hand at the last
second.“I was just trying to miss the tag
Yasmany Tomas Jersey ,” Haniger said. “I knew if I went in with my left hand it would have been a lot closer.”Haniger reached third on Jean Segura’s
sacrifice bunt. With the infield in, Robinson Cano hit a broken-bat roller up
the middle. Haniger was running on contact and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria made
a quick throw home, but Haniger just got his right hand on the plate before the
tag from catcher Austin Romine.“I just wanted to get as low as possible to avoid
the tag by making the catcher reach as far as possible,” Haniger said. “I take
pride in every facet of the game. I had some great coaches coming up that taught
me how to play the game right.”Edwin Diaz pitched the ninth for his 54th save
and 27th one-run save, both the most in baseball. But it took a diving grab by
Haniger on Giancarlo Stanton’s fly ball to stop a possible New York rally.Andrew
McCutchen was hit by a pitch with two outs before Haniger’s catch off Stanton’s
broken-bat fly to shallow right.“I had to play real deep to respect his power,”
Haniger said. “It kind of blooped in there and hauled over as fast as I could
and made the play. Once I got to full speed, I felt I was going to get
it.”Haniger, an All-Star for the first time this year
http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-shelby-miller-jersey , has 24 homers and 85 RBIs this season.“Mitch is a very good all-around player,”
manager Scott Servais said. “We all know about his power, but his defense and
the way he runs the bases makes him a heck of a player.”The loss kept the
Yankees from sweeping the three-game series and leaves New York only 2 1/2 games
ahead of Oakland for the league’s top wild-card spot.Miguel Andujar’s double
down the left field line gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the first inning after
Stanton hit a towering pop to shallow left that dropped for a double.The
Mariners answered with two runs in the bottom of the first off four consecutive
singles against starter CC Sabathia, with Ryon Healy and Cameron Maybin each
driving in a run.The Yankees loaded the bases with three singles to start the
fourth against starter Erasmo Ramirez, but only score one run off a walk to
McCutchen, tying the game at 2-2.“Disappointing, no question,” Yankees manager
Aaron Boone said. “That fourth inning
Chris Owings Jersey , had them on the ropes there and a chance to do some damage, and just couldn’t get that hit to push us over. It was a chance to have
a great weekend. Obviously, a tough one here.”GARDNER TOSSEDBrett Gardner was
ejected after his at-bat in the ninth inning when he had a heated argument with
plate umpire Jeremie Rehak after he struck out. Garner didn’t like the called
second strike.“I just felt like that was a big pitch. My at-bat went from being
3-0 to being 2-1 against a guy that throws 100,” Gardner said. “I let my
emotions get the best of me and was frustrated a little bit, and obviously, I
said too much.”TRAINER’S ROOMYankees: Andujar was the DH Sunday after leaving
the game Saturday night in the ninth inning when he was hit by a pitch on the
right forearm. … SS Didi Gregorius, who came off the 10-day DL Friday, did not
start after starting Saturday night before leaving the game in the seventh
inning. He pinch hit in the ninth and grounded out. Boone has said they plan to
bring Gregorius back gradually.Mariners: Cano started at second base after
leaving Saturday’s night’s game in the ninth when he was hit by a pitch on the
left foot. … Servais wasn’t sure when RHP Felix Hernandez will make his next
start after leaving Saturday’s game in the fifth inning because of tightness in
his right hamstring. “We’ll see where we slot him back in
Archie Bradley Jersey ,” Servais said. “He might need an extra day. We’ll wait to pencil him in for his next start.”UP NEXTYankees: The road trip
continues with a three-game series at Minnesota. LHP J.A. Happ (14-6, 3.90 ERA)
will make his eighth start with New York on Monday and his 28th of the season.
Happ is 5-0 with a 3.10 ERA in seven starts with the Yankees.Mariners: After a
day off Monday, Seattle ends the homestand with a two-game series against the
Padres that starts Tuesday. LHP Marco Gonzales (12-9, 4.32 ERA) is expected to
come off the 10-day DL (neck strain) and make his 26th start to the season
Tuesday. Gonzales lost four consecutive starts before going on the DL Aug. 27,
allowing 23 earned runs over 20 innings.
