Third wild card creates opportunity for another playoff team
Philadelphia clinched its spot after Seattle secured an AL wild card on Friday night for its first playoff berth in 21 years. The other wild-card teams are Toronto and Tampa Bay in the AL, and San Diego and the NL East runner-up in the NL. But there is still valuable positioning at stake for the playoff teams. Looking for more TV revenue, Major League Baseball proposed 14 playoff teams during the recent labor talks. The Orioles would have made a 14-team playoff field, along with the Brewers in the NL.
wftv.comFrance hits 2-run HR, Kirby sharp as Mariners top Angels 2-1
Angels Mariners Baseball Seattle Mariners players celebrate with a group dance in center field after defeating the Los Angeles Angels in the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Caean Couto) (Caean Couto)SEATTLE — (AP) — Ty France hit a two-run homer in the third inning, George Kirby pitched six solid innings and the Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 Saturday to open a doubleheader. The go-ahead blast came one day after France hit a tying single in the ninth during a 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Angels. Barria, making his first start of the season, went 4 2/3 innings while allowing three hits, two earned runs and four walks with three strikeouts. Kirby (3-3) pitched well after a bumpy second inning, allowing six hits, one earned run and no walks with eight strikeouts.
wftv.comMariners win 14th in row, Rodríguez key hit to beat Rangers
APTOPIX Mariners Rangers Baseball The Seattle Mariners dance in a circle after the final out of the baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, July 17, 2022. The Mariners won 6-2. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero)ARLINGTON, Texas — (AP) — The Seattle Mariners won their 14th straight game as rookie All-Star Julio Rodríguez hit a two-run double and Ty France homered after joining him on the AL team to beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 on Sunday. The Mariners moved closer to the team record of 15 consecutive wins during their most recent playoff season in 2001, when they went 116-46. Cal Raleigh's two-run homer put the Mariners ahead for good in the fourth inning as they matched reigning World Series champion Atlanta's June streak for the longest this season.
wftv.comTrout joins Harper on All-Star sidelines, 4 players added
Angels Orioles Baseball Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout heads to the dugout at the end of the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, July 9, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Julio Cortez)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout will miss the All-Star Game because of back spasms, joining Bryce Harper on the sidelines and depriving the showcase of two of baseball's best-known players. Trout, a three-time American League MVP, has not played since Tuesday and was scratched from the Los Angels Angels' lineup against the Dodgers on Saturday night. The 30-year-old Trout is a 10-time All-Star and was elected to start for the ninth time. Houston second baseman Jose Altuve, Astros DH Yordan Álvarez, St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado, Miami second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., Milwaukee closer Josh Hader, Harper and Toronto outfielder George Springer were among those who dropped out, most because of injuries.
wftv.comBenches clear in 9th, Servais tossed as Mariners beat Astros
Mariners Astros Baseball Both dugouts empty and umpires try to keep order after Seattle Mariners batter Ty France was hit by a pitch from Houston Astros relief pitcher Hector Neris during the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 6, 2022, in Houston. Players and coaches on both sides began chirping at each other, and Servais led the way as Seattle's bench emptied to confront the Astros near home palte. Rodríguez hit a two-run homer and J.P. Crawford walked before Neris was ejected after throwing a pitch behind Eugenio Suarez’s head. Raleigh’s three-run homer gave Seattle a 4-1 lead in the second inning, but the Astros scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to tie it. Mariners starter Robbie Ray (5-6) allowed eight hits and four runs — three earned — while walking three in five innings.
wftv.comBenches clear in 9th, Servais tossed as Mariners beat Astros
Mariners manager Scott Servais was ejected for his role in a benches-clearing scuffle in the ninth inning of Seattle’s 7-4 win over the Houston Astros, a game in which Cal Raleigh had a career-high four RBIs and Julio Rodriguez hit a late two-run shot.
Now in Chisox 'pen, Kopech makes debut after 2020 opt-out
TWINS 1, ORIOLES 0 (7 INNINGS)Minnesota ace Kenta Maeda allowed one hit in three innings, striking out four in his second start. Baltimore's Dean Kremer fared better in his second start, allowing a hit and a walk in three scoreless innings. Deivi García pitched three shutout innings in his second start for the Yankees. Nick Pivetta made his second start for Boston, allowing a run on three hits with three strikeouts in three innings. Alex Wood worked two innings in the start for San Francisco and gave up a home run to Omar Narvaez.
Mariners send C Nola to San Diego as part of 7-player trade
SEATTLE Seattle and San Diego completed a seven-player trade Sunday night, with catcher Austin Nola joining the contending Padres and prized outfield prospect Taylor Trammel going to the Mariners as centerpieces of the deal. Seattle sent Nola and right-handed relievers Austin Adams and Dan Altavilla to the Padres, while Trammell led a list of youngsters headed back to the Mariners. This season, Nola has started 23 games behind the plate and two at first base. Altavilla has been part of Seattles bullpen since 2016 but has appeared in more than 22 games only once. Muoz appeared in 22 games last season for the Padres and was regularly clocked above 100 mph with his fastball.
Tatis connects twice for HR lead, Padres rout Rangers 14-4
Texas Rangers catcher Jose Trevino and San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. watch the flight of Tatis's grand slam ball that came off a pitch from Rangers relief pitcher Juan Nicasio in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday Aug. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)ARLINGTON, Texas Fernando Tatis Jr. homered twice, including a grand slam for his major league-leading 11th of the season, and the San Diego Padres routed the Texas Rangers 14-4 on Monday night to stop a five-game losing streak. Austin Hedges connected on his second homer, a solo shot in the fourth, as the Padres set their season high for runs. TINGLER'S HOMECOMINGFirst-year San Diego manager Jayce Tingler capped 13 seasons in the Texas organization with a return to the big league staff when Chris Woodward was hired for the 2019 season. San Diego hadn't announced a starter.
Lamet brilliant as Tatis, Padres pound Bumgarner, Dbacks 9-5
San Diego Padres Dinelson Lamet took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks' during a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in San Diego. Lamet got two more outs before manager Jayce Tingler pulled him in favor of rookie Luis Patio. The Padres remain the only major league team without a no-hitter, having played 8,154 games since 1969 without one. Machado homered with one out in the first and Myers hit a two-run shot with two outs. Padres: RHP Garrett Richards (0-1, 4.60 ERA) starts the opener of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.