On a steamy day that proved too daunting for Angels starting pitcher Tyler
Skaggs
Corey
Linsley Jersey , 38-year-old Albert Pujols coolly delivered the game’s
pivotal hit.
Pujols’ RBI double highlighted a five-run eighth inning, and Los Angeles beat the Orioles 6-2 Saturday to extend Baltimore’s latest losing streak to seven
games.
Gametime temperature was 93, and the humidity was unforgiving. Sweating profusely, Skaggs asked out after using 79 pitches to get through five
innings.
”It’s definitely one of the hottest games I’ve thrown in a long time,” Skaggs said. ”I was just tired. I told (manager Mike Scioscia) I rarely come out and
say this, but I’m exhausted.”
Skaggs added: ”I probably could have gone another inning, but there was no point. My team picked me up.”
Playing their 3,000th game under Scioscia, the Angels trailed 2-1 before using three hits, three walks and a hit batter to take control against the
free-falling Orioles.
After Mychal Givens (0-6) issued a pair of one-out walks, Pujols tied it with his 632nd career double , a drive that handcuffed right fielder Danny Valencia.
The hit tied David Ortiz for 10th place on the all-time list – and tied the
game.
An intentional walk followed, and the go-ahead run scored when Chris Young hit into a force play at third base. Tanner Scott hit Martin Maldonado with a
pitch to force in a run, and David Fletcher capped the uprising with a two-run
single.
”It was good clutch-hitting that inning,” Scioscia said. ”I think the biggest hit there was Albert.”
The Angels lost six straight before coming to Baltimore, and now they appear to have their mojo back.
”Whenever you can grind out runs late in the game to come back and win, it’s exciting,” Fletcher said. ”It’s definitely something to give us confidence.”
Justin Anderson (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings to earn the win.
The Orioles’ shoddy play in the eighth inning explains why Baltimore owns the worst record in the majors. Baltimore has five losing streaks of at least six
games, is 0-15 against the AL West and has lost 17 of 18 at home.
Afterward, manager Buck Showalter was straining to find the positive aspect of another dreadful defeat.
”When you only score two runs – again – you’re going to have to pitch real well, which we really did for seven innings,” he said. ”So, I’ll take that out
of it.”
Baltimore’s Andrew Cashner threw 105 pitches. He gave up one run in six innings and left with the
lead
Bryan
Bulaga Jersey , but now has gone six straight starts without a
victory.
”To say I’m not frustrated, I’d be lying, but for me, wins and losses are out of my control,” the right-hander said.
MILESTONE
Scioscia is the sixth manager in major league history to manage 3,000 games with one team.
”You don’t think about it,” Scioscia said about his longevity. ”It’s 3,000, one game at a time.”
TAKE A SEAT
Struggling Orioles 2B Jonathan Schoop (.197) was given the day off, and will likely be rested Sunday before Monday’s off day. Showalter said he wanted the
2017 All-Star to ”reset.”
TRAINING ROOM
Angels: RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani, who has a Grade 2 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament of his right elbow, batted in a simulated game Saturday and
did not experience any setbacks, Scioscia said. The team hopes Ohtani can avoid
Tommy John surgery. . LHP John Lamb has a torn ulnar collateral ligament and
will undergo surgery in Los Angeles. . RHP Jake Jewell will be out at least six
months after undergoing right ankle surgery Friday. . RHP Garrett Richards
(hamstring) allowed five runs over 3 1/3 innings in a rehab start Friday with
High-A Inland Empire. ”He lost some of his command as the outing went on, but
physically he felt great,” Scioscia said.
Orioles: RHP Darren O’Day opted for surgery to repair a left hamstring strain, ending his season. … RHP Chris Tillman (back) was scheduled to make his
third rehab start, this time with Triple-A Norfolk, on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Deck McGuire (0-0, 6.08 ERA) makes his third major league start in the series finale Sunday.
Orioles: RHP Kevin Gausman (3-6, 4.20 ERA) lost his last four decisions and has not completed seven innings in any of his last eight starts.
Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano apologized to his teammates, the organization and
the fans for his 80-game suspension for violating baseball’s drug agreement.
Cano tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic that can be used to mask performance-enhancing drugs.
”I wanted to apologize genuinely to the city of Seattle and to all the fans and the young baseball players in the (United) States and the (Dominican
Republic) and most importantly to my teammates,” Cano said. ”I wanted to show my
face to you guys. I don’t think for me it’s fair to just come back and walk into
the clubhouse.
”I wanted to do this earlier. But I don’t want to be a distraction for the team. So I was waiting for the right time.”
Cano said he couldn’t discuss details of the testing process but maintained the substance was prescribed to him in the Dominican Republic for the treatment
of a medical issue.
”I’ve been getting tested for the last 12 seasons and I’ve never had an issue with MLB
policy
Nick Perry
Jersey ,” he said. ”I was treating for some medical ailments and I was
being supervised by a doctor. But at the same time, I understand that everything
that goes into my body, I’m responsible for that.”
He said the suspension was the most difficult thing he’s dealt with in his life outside of the death of his grandfather.
”I love this game so much,” Cano said. ”For me, baseball is everything. You know I hate to sit in the dugout and have a day off and being away from the game
and not being able to sit in the dugout and cheer for my teammates, that makes
it even harder.”
Mark Texeira, a former first baseman for the New York Yankees and Cano’s teammate, said on a New York radio show that he was ”not surprised” Cano was
suspended for PED use. Yankees G.M. Brian Cashman made comments seemingly
suggesting the same.
”Every time you hear a negative comment, it’s going to hurt anyone,” Cano said of his former colleagues. ”But I don’t really pay attention because what I
really care about (is) those who come out and say positive things like C.C.
(Sabathia) and Mariano (Rivera). Because if you focus on the negative then
you’re always going to live in the past. I’m one who looks ahead. I don’t really
care what they said. They can say whatever they want. I hope none of them or
their family go through a situation like this because it’s easy to go out and
judge anyone.”
Cano has remained close to the team and does workouts at Safeco Field before the team arrives each day. He leaves the stadium before his teammates get to
work and watches all the games from home. He will head to his father’s academy
in the Dominican Republic in the near future to begin ramping up his baseball
work.
Cano was hitting .287 with a .385 on-base percentage, .441 slugging percentage, 10 doubles, four home runs, 23 RBI and 21 walks for the season when
the suspension was handed down in May.
The Mariners would love to get Cano’s bat back in the lineup, but finding a spot for him in the field could be more troublesome. Dee Gordon has excelled
defensively at second base in Cano’s absence after moving back to his old
position from center field. With Cano ineligible for postseason play, Gordon
will need to play second base in the playoffs as well should the Mariners
qualify for the first time since 2001.
Cano said he was open to whatever role the team wants him to play upon his return.
”This is not about myself. This is about us as a team,” Cano said. ”We are playing for the city of Seattle. All of us, the city, my teammates, and myself.
I’m focused on bringing a title to Seattle so I would do whatever it takes to
help this team to win. At the same time I understand I’m not going to be able to
play in the playoffs so you got to give a chance to Dee to go out and play
because when we get to the playoffs he’s going to have to come back and play
second base.”
Cano went on the disabled list on May 14 due to a fractured bone in his right hand with the suspension being handed down the following day. The Mariners have
a 34-16 record in the 50 games Cano has missed. Barring any postponements, Cano
is eligible to return to the Mariners on Aug. 14.
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