MLB ROUNDUP: RYAN WALDSCHMIDT’S WALK-OFF HR LIFTS D-BACKS OVER DODGERS
Ryan Waldschmidt hit a walk-off two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 4-3 in Phoenix on Friday, sending Los Angeles to its seventh consecutive loss.
Max Kepler walked to open the ninth off Edwin Diaz (1-1). Pinch runner Jorge Barrosa stole second with one out before Waldschmidt lined a 411-foot homer to left center. It was the rookie’s second homer, his first to end a game.
Nolan Arenado homered and Geraldo Perdomo had a double, a triple and an RBI for the D-backs. Tommy Edman had two hits and an RBI for the Dodgers.
Arizona starter Merrill Kelly no-hit the Dodgers for five innings before removing himself with a right leg cramp after giving up two hits, two walks and a run in the sixth. Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki gave up two runs and four hits in six innings.MLB news
Red Sox 13, Athletics 1
Payton Tolle recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts and Jarren Duran homered to help Boston extend its winning streak to nine games by beating the visiting Athletics.
Duran’s third home run in the past five games came against Jack Perkins (2-8) and ignited a five-run second inning. Tolle (7-6) didn’t allow a baserunner until Tyler Soderstrom led off the fifth with a homer. He was pulled after six innings, having yielded one run on two hits and no walks.
The Athletics were limited to two hits in their ninth consecutive loss. Perkins gave up five runs on five hits in three innings.
Yankees 3, Braves 2 (10 innings)
Ryan McMahon notched a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and host New York rallied for a victory over Atlanta after a lengthy rain delay before the first pitch.
McMahon gave the Yankees just their second win in 10 extra-inning games this season when he followed two walks by lifting a fly ball to right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. off Tyler Kinley (6-5), Acuna’s throw was offline and automatic runner Luis Garcia Jr. easily scored.
David Bednar (5-3) tossed a scoreless top of the 10th. Austin Riley homered in the eighth off New York’s Fernando Cruz, and Matt Olson went deep in the ninth off Tim Hill for the Braves, who had their eight-game winning streak end.
Mets 6, Pirates 4
Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer and Carson Benge drove in two runs to lead New York to a win over host Pittsburgh.
The Mets matched their season high with a fourth consecutive victory. Semien’s homer highlighted a four-run third inning for New York, which jumped out to a 6-0 lead and held off a late Pirates rally in the ninth. Zac Thornton (3-2) threw five shutout innings.
A.J. Ewing finished with three hits to lead the Mets. Bryan Reynolds, Jared Triolo, Ronny Simon and Nick Gonzales each had two hits for the Pirates. Carmen Mlodzinski (6-4) yielded five runs on seven hits in three innings.
Guardians 8, White Sox 2
Angel Martinez hit a grand slam during a five-run fifth inning and finished with a career-high six RBIs for visiting Cleveland, which rolled to a win over Chicago.
Martinez opened the scoring with a two-run single in the first. Guardians starter Parker Messick (9-6) fanned eight while permitting two runs on four hits in seven innings.
White Sox starter Noah Schultz lasted just one out before being pulled because manager Will Venable visited him shortly after pitching coach Zach Bove visited the mound. Schultz (3-9) was charged with two runs on three hits with one strikeout.
Twins 8, Brewers 6
Josh Bell went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs as visiting Minnesota outlasted Milwaukee.
Kaelen Culpepper hit a solo home run in his big-league debut for the Twins. Royce Lewis went 2-for-5 with an RBI double. Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews (5-8) allowed six runs, three earned, on seven hits in five innings.
Brice Turang went 2-for-4 with a two-RBI double for the Brewers, and Jackson Chourio socked his third homer in four games. Antonio Senzatela (9-3) gave up two runs on three hits in one inning of relief.
Angels 4, Marlins 3
Nolan Schanuel slugged a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning, lifting Los Angeles to a win at Miami.
Mike Trout homered on his 35th birthday for the Angels. Los Angeles reliever Shaun Anderson (2-0) got one out, and Jose Fermin pitched a one-run ninth to earn his first career save.
Kyle Stowers went 4-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs for the Marlins. Reliever Josh Ekness (0-1) served up Schanuel’s homer. Miami nearly tied the score in the ninth, but Los Angeles got the final out on left fielder Jose Siri’s throw to nail Leo Jimenez at the plate.
Nationals 5, Reds 3
Daylen Lile hit a three-run homer and Harry Ford added a two-run shot as host Washington beat Cincinnati.
Nationals starter Cade Cavalli (9-5) allowed seven hits and three runs in six-plus innings. He struck out eight and walked two. Clayton Beeter threw a perfect ninth inning for his 12th save.
With ace Hunter Greene going down for the season this week, the Reds were forced to go with a bullpen game. Reliever Julian Garcia (2-3) gave up two runs in 2 1/3 innings. Cincinnati got solo home runs from Eugenio Suarez, Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz.
Cubs 6, Royals 4
Kevin Gausman allowed two runs over seven solid innings in his Cubs debut and Pedro Ramirez homered and singled as Chicago won its fifth straight, defeating host Kansas City.
Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays last weekend, Gausman (6-10) found a rhythm following a hectic first inning. He yielded just four hits and a walk while striking out four on 96 pitches as the Cubs improved to 19-6 in their past 25 road games.
Carter Jensen homered and Jac Caglianone had two hits for the Royals, who took their sixth loss in eight games. Royals opener Daniel Lynch IV (4-3) was charged with four runs on three hits over 1 2/3 innings.
Astros 6, Padres 3
Cam Smith homered twice and visiting Houston made it 13 wins in 16 games by downing San Diego.
Smith and Isaac Paredes each had three hits for the Astros. Houston reliever Bryan Abreu (4-3) threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Josh Hader threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 16th save in as many chances.
Robbie Ray (10-7) lost in his first San Diego start, breaking a 12-start undefeated streak. The left-hander gave up seven hits and four runs in five innings. Fernando Tatis Jr. homered and singled.
Rangers 2, Orioles 1
Joc Pederson homered in the sixth inning and Brandon Nimmo made a game-saving throw from right field in the ninth for Texas, which earned its third consecutive win by defeating Baltimore in Arlington, Texas.
The Rangers won despite mustering just three hits and a walk. It marked the fewest hits for Texas in a victory this season. Reliever Tyler Alexander (3-2) got two outs, and Jacob Latz fired two scoreless innings for his 22nd save.
Orioles starter Shane Baz (4-11) tied his career high with eight innings and tossed his first career complete game, albeit in a losing effort. He permitted two runs on three hits and a walk with nine strikeouts.
Cardinals 3, Rockies 2
Ivan Herrera hit a solo home run and Kyle Leahy fanned eight in five effective innings as St. Louis defeated visiting Colorado.
The Cardinals recorded just four hits yet won for the fourth time in five games to get back to .500. Leahy (8-4) allowed two runs on eight hits and no walks. Riley O’Brien got the final three outs for his 28th save.
Troy Johnston drove in both runs for the Rockies on groundouts. Ryan Feltner (4-6) gave up four hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Blue Jays 5, Phillies 4
Josh Smith collected three hits, including a homer, and scored three runs as visiting Toronto held on to nip Philadelphia.
Philadelphia scored twice in the ninth inning and had the bases loaded with one out before Blue Jays reliever Tyler Rogers got the final two outs — including covering first on a bang-bang play to end it. Lazaro Estrada (1-0) worked 1 1/3 frames for his first major league win, and Rogers picked up his fourth save.
Andres Gimenez hit an early home run for Toronto, and Alejandro Kirk provided a pair of sacrifice flies. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler (10-3) issued five walks in 5 1/3 innings while giving up four runs and seven hits. Bryce Harper had two hits and two RBIs.
Rays 2, Mariners 1
Drew Rasmussen pitched seven scoreless innings as Tampa Bay defeated host Seattle Mariners.
Jonny DeLuca and Jonathan Aranda homered for the Rays, who have won 13 of their past 17 games. Rasmussen (11-5) allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out eight.
The Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez homered with two outs in the ninth off Bryan Baker, who then fanned Josh Naylor to complete his major-league-leading 33rd save. Seattle starter Logan Gilbert (8-7) gave up two runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Giants 5, Tigers 2
Rafael Devers and Willy Adames hit home runs, Adrian Houser threw five innings of effective relief and San Francisco opened a three-game home series with a victory over Detroit.
Devers opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the first before Jung Hoo Lee chipped in with a two-run single as the Giants retook the lead for good in the second. Houser (3-7) allowed a game-tying run on an RBI single by Zach McKinstry, the only run he surrendered.
Detroit starter Keider Montero (8-7) surrendered five runs on five hits in six innings. Kevin McGonigle and Spencer Torkelson collected three hits apiece, and McKinstry had two for the Tigers. Detroit stranded 12 on base, going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
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TARIK SKUBAL SAYS HE ‘WOULD LOVE TO RETURN’ TO TIGERS
Former Detroit ace Tarik Skubal’s time with the Tigers may not be over after all.
The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner said he “would love to return” to Detroit in a podcast released on Friday, less than a week after he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I would love to play my whole career in Detroit. And hopefully those negotiations can pick back up in November once the playoffs are done,” the left-hander said in an episode of “Pardon My Take.”
“Hopefully (the Tigers) are involved with everything. I would love to return. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the city of Detroit.”
Skubal, 29, will be one of the most coveted free agents on the market after the 2026 season. Despite the sentiments Skubal expressed in the podcast, the potentially record-setting salary figures he is likely to command may be too rich for the Tigers’ blood.
There is a precedent, however. After trading right-hander Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline, the Tigers re-signed him in free agency to a two-year, $35 million deal.
Skubal said he broke down in tears when saying goodbye to his teammates in Detroit, where he made his major league debut in 2020.
“I hate crying, I don’t cry a lot,” he said on the podcast. “When my wife walked down the aisle I didn’t cry because I was so nervous, and I’m crying in a clubhouse with a bunch of other grown men saying bye to everybody and giving everybody a hug.”
After going 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts this season with the Tigers, Skubal dropped his debut with the Dodgers on Tuesday. He allowed two runs on four hits in six innings in a 5-1 loss to the host Chicago Cubs.
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REPORT: TWINS TO PROMOTE NO. 2 PROSPECT IN SEARCH OF OFFENSIVE BOOST
Back in the playoff race, the Minnesota Twins are calling up Kaelen Culpepper, their No. 2 prospect, in hopes he will provide increased offense at shortstop, The Athletic reported Friday.
He is expected to be available for the weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers, per the report.
Culpepper, 23, has appeared in 74 games at Triple-A St. Paul and is hitting .271 with 14 home runs, 46 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He has 39 walks, 64 strikeouts and an .845 OPS.
In 116 games, Twins’ shortstops have combined for 11 home runs, 67 RBIs, 21 walks and 91 strikeouts while batting .235 with a .652 OPS.
Culpepper’s defense also has saved runs for the Saints.
“He’s taken it really seriously and worked very hard at it,” Twins assistant GM Alex Hassan said, per The Athletic. “He’s got a lot of physical tools to do it, and especially his arm is incredible. There’s a lot of good attributes on defense. It’s getting as many reps as possible and learning as many situations as possible.”
Culpepper was selected by the Twins in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Kansas State.
He is baseball’s No. 29 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
The Twins (57-59) were eight games under .500 and seven games behind in the American League Central on June 13 and have slowly worked themselves back into postseason contention.
They enter the series in Milwaukee tied with the Cleveland Guardians in the Central, three games behind the Chicago White Sox and a half-game out of the final AL wild-card spot.
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ATHLETICS, GM DAVID FORST MUTUALLY AGREE TO PART WAYS
The Athletics and general manager David Forst have mutually agreed to part ways, ending his 27-year tenure with the organization, the team announced Friday.
Assistant general manager Dan Feinstein will serve as interim GM for the remainder of the season while the Athletics search for a permanent replacement.
Forst, 50, joined the organization as a scout in 2000 and became Billy Beane’s assistant general manager four years later. He took over as GM after the 2015 season and spent the next decade overseeing a franchise that repeatedly cycled between contention and rebuilding.
“It was truly an honor to spend the last 27 years with the A’s, especially the last 11 as the GM,” Forst said. “This organization is full of incredibly talented, devoted and good people and I am lucky to have worked alongside them for so long.”
The Athletics reached the postseason in three consecutive seasons from 2018-20, winning the American League West during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. That stretch was followed by another teardown that included trades involving Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Sean Murphy, Chris Bassitt and others.
This season has brought another step backward. The Athletics entered Friday 45-70 and on pace for a fifth straight losing season despite the emergence of young players such as Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson and Lawrence Butler.
“David has been an integral part of the A’s and our success for nearly three decades,” owner John Fisher said. “His leadership, dedication and commitment to this team have helped shape our baseball operations department and position us for the future. We are grateful for everything David has done for our organization.”
Forst’s departure comes during a transitional period for the franchise, which is playing in Sacramento while preparing for its planned move to Las Vegas in two years.
Manager Mark Kotsay informed players of the decision during a team meeting before Friday’s game at Boston.
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REPORT: GIANTS 3B MATT CHAPMAN (ABDOMEN) NEEDS SEASON-ENDING SURGERY
Giants third baseman Matt Chapman is ticketed for season-ending surgery to fix a hernia and a muscle tear in his abdomen, according to the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday.
Chapman becomes the third San Francisco hitter in eight days to be declared out for the year due to an injury.
Infielder Casey Schmitt underwent surgery on July 31 to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee. Outfielder Harrison Bader, already on the injured list with a foot injury, further injured himself in a scooter accident and Giants manager Tony Vitello announced recently that he’s not expected back this season.
Chapman, 33, has endured the worst season of his 10-year career in home runs (seven) and OPS (.692). He posted a .235/.324/.368 slash line with 42 RBIs in 84 games. He has not played since June 30.
Second-year infielder Christian Koss has been handling third base lately for the Giants. In 23 games this season, he’s hitting .167 with one RBI.
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