JULIO RODRIGUEZ’S RBI DOUBLE LIFTS MARINERS PAST TIGERS TO EVEN SERIES
Julio Rodriguez’s run-scoring double with one out in the bottom of the eighth broke a tie as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Sunday night to even their best-of-five American League Division Series at one game apiece.
Jorge Polanco hit a pair of solo homers for the Mariners, both off Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Game 3 of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Tuesday in Detroit. The Tigers won the series opener 3-2 in 11 innings Saturday in Seattle.
The victory was Seattle’s first in the postseason since 2001.
“We haven’t had a time like this in awhile, so being able to deliver a win like this, for the fans, was really special,” Rodriguez said on the FS1 postgame show. “We know the job is not finished. Got to go out there (to Detroit) and grind and keep going.”
Trailing 2-0, the Tigers tied the score with an unearned run in the eighth off Mariners reliever Matt Brash (1-0). Gleyber Torres drew a leadoff walk and, one out later, Riley Greene reached on first baseman Josh Naylor’s fielding error. Spencer Torkelson hit a liner down the right field line for a double that scored both runners to make it 2-2.
With one out in the bottom of the inning, Cal Raleigh doubled into the right field corner off Kyle Finnegan (1-1). Rodriguez followed with a liner down the left field line to break the tie.
Mariners closer Andres Munoz, who pitched two innings in the opener, worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
Skubal, who is the favorite to win a second consecutive AL Cy Young Award, allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings. The left-hander, who went to Seattle University, walked one and struck out nine.
Polanco broke a scoreless tie with one out in the fourth inning, hitting a 2-0 slider from Skubal into the Mariners’ bullpen in left-center field.
Polanco doubled Seattle’s advantage with two outs in the sixth, lining a 3-2 sinker over the wall in the left field corner.
“It’s that time of year, you’re going to get some good arms,” Raleigh told FS1. “Just needed somebody to step up and (Polanco) did.”
Mariners starter Luis Castillo was effectively wild. He didn’t allow a hit until two outs in the fifth inning when Torres grounded a single through the right side of the infield with second baseman Polanco covering the bag on Parker Meadows’ stolen-base attempt.
That was it for Castillo, as Mariners manager Dan Wilson called upon left-hander Gabe Speier to face Kerry Carpenter, who homered in a similar spot in Game 1. Speier struck out Carpenter with runners at the corners to end the inning.
Castillo gave up one hit over 4 2/3 scoreless innings, with four walks and three strikeouts.
“Obviously it’s a frustrating loss because every loss at this time of year is frustrating, but I’m obviously proud of our group and excited to get home,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said in a postgame news conference.
BLUE JAYS HIT 5 HRS, ROUT YANKEES FOR 2-0 ALDS LEAD
TORONTO — The plan has worked to perfection so far and the Toronto Blue Jays are one win away from disposing of the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.
The Blue Jays decided to start rookie Trey Yesavage at home Sunday in Game 2 of the series and save eight-year veteran Shane Bieber for Game 3 on Tuesday in the hostile environment of New York’s Yankee Stadium.
Yesavage (1-0), making his fourth career major league start, was brilliant in the Blue Jays’ 13-7 victory that gave them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
The right-hander struck out 10 in the first four innings — tying the MLB postseason record for most whiffs in that span — while walking one. He completed 5 1/3 hitless innings with 11 strikeouts to set Jays postseason marks for most whiffs and longest no-hit bid. His only other runner allowed came on an error.
“I was thinking about the comment I made the other day, that I’m built for this,” said Yesavage, who started the season in Class A. “I thought … I’d better back this up.”
Yesavage, 22, pitched for two Single-A teams, Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo this season before reaching the major leagues Sept. 15 for three starts.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays punished Yankees’ pitching for the second game after winning the opener on Saturday 10-1. The 23 runs were a major league record for the first two games of a team’s postseason series.
Daulton Varsho homered twice with two doubles, four runs scored and four RBIs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added three hits, including the first postseason grand slam in team history.
Ernie Clement contributed a two-run homer and three RBIs and George Springer added a solo shot for Toronto.
Cody Bellinger hit a two-run homer for the Yankees and had three RBIs.
New York left-hander Carlos Rodon is scheduled to face righty Bieber on Tuesday.
“We haven’t lost any confidence,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously, they’ve had our number and gotten the better of us so far this year, but I don’t think anyone in our room who doesn’t feel like we can’t go out and beat them.”
Toronto scored twice in the second against Max Fried (0-1). Varsho doubled and continued to third on right fielder Aaron Judge’s error. Clement hit the next pitch to left for his first career postseason home run.
The Blue Jays added three in the third. Davis Schneider walked with one out, took third on Guerrero’s single and scored on Alejandro Kirk’s groundout to first. Varsho stroked an RBI double into the right field corner. Clement followed with an RBI single to left.
In the fourth, Fried allowed an infield hit to Andres Gimenez and walked Myles Straw before Will Warren replaced him and walked Springer to load the bases. Guerrero hit a blast to left on a 2-1 fastball with one out for his second home run in two games.
“He’s our guy,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He’s our dude. I said I want to see him play free and loose but also be locked in. He’s pretty locked in.”
Kirk followed with a single and Varsho hit his first career postseason homer on a blast to right center.
Fried allowed seven runs, eight hits and two walks with one strikeout in three-plus innings.
Springer hit his 20th career postseason homer in the fifth.
Justin Bruihl replaced Yesavage with one out in the sixth and allowed Judge’s infield single and Bellinger’s homer.
The Yankees were glad to see Yesavage leave the game to a resounding ovation.
“That was nasty stuff,” Boone said. “That split is unlike much you ever run into. He got it going, starting it up a lot, breaking it down off the plate, using his fastball enough and slider enough. But we just didn’t have an answer for the split.”
The fans were not happy to see Yesavage leave, however.
“Tough to put into words,” Schneider said. “The kid started in A-ball this year and just did that against that lineup. … What we were looking for were command, poise, all that kind of stuff. That was there. Swings were evident that stuff was good. I know I was getting booed when I went out there, but he wasn’t going to go 120, 130 pitches.”
Varsho hit another homer in the sixth.
Toronto’s Eric Lauer allowed three singles in the seventh to load the bases. Tommy Nance replaced him and yielded Judge’s RBI single, Bellinger’s sacrifice fly, Ben Rice’s RBI double and Giancarlo Stanton’s two-run single.
PHILLIES EAGER TO ‘DUST IT OFF’ IN NLDS GAME 2 VS. DODGERS
There’s no doubt the Los Angeles Dodgers like seeing someone with Hernandez stitched across the back of the jersey walking up to the plate in the postseason.
Two swings of the bat by two players named Hernandez provided all of Los Angeles’ runs in Game 1, and now the Dodgers will look to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five National League Division Series when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday evening.
Enrique Hernandez hit a two-run double on Saturday, and Teoscar Hernandez hit the go-ahead three-run homer for Los Angeles in a 5-3 victory.
Teoscar Hernandez made a misplay in the outfield earlier in the contest to fuel Philadelphia’s three-run second inning. He was happy to make amends with his blast off Phillies left-hander Matt Strahm in the seventh.
“At the end of the day, for me, anything that happened before a big moment like that, it’s in the past,” Teoscar Hernandez said. “I try to put it in the trash and just focus on the things that I need to do in that at-bat and especially in place on defense and just trying to help my team.”
Teoscar Hernandez is 5-for-14 with three homers and nine RBIs in three games this postseason. He has six homers and 21 RBIs in 19 postseason games with Los Angeles.
Enrique Hernandez, meanwhile, delivered his key double with two outs in the sixth inning to get the Dodgers on the board. He is 5-for-12 with three runs and three RBIs this postseason.
Enrique Hernandez has a reputation of upping his level of play when it counts most. He’s batted .285 with 15 homers and 38 RBIs in 89 career postseason contests.
“I think that’s applicable to every postseason,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Enrique Hernandez’s postseason exploits. “I mean, the numbers don’t lie. In the postseason, he just performs. … Once the postseason hits, he just ratchets it up a couple other levels.”
Los Angeles will send Blake Snell (5-4, 2.35 ERA) to the mound on Monday. The Phillies will counter with fellow left-hander Jesus Luzardo (15-7, 3.92).
Philadelphia knows it can’t afford a second straight home loss. But the Phillies aren’t going to panic.
“We’ve just got to dust it off. It’s a five-game series,” said catcher J.T. Realmuto, who delivered a two-run triple on a play in which Teoscar Hernandez didn’t scoot over swiftly enough to keep a single from rolling to the wall. “There’s still plenty of opportunity for us to go out and play good baseball.”
The top three batters in the Phillies’ order — Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper — were a combined 1-for-11 with six strikeouts in Game 1. Schwarber fanned in three of his four at-bats.
“It’s just one game,” Schwarber said. “This is the postseason. This is about the whole team. And now it’s about Monday, you’re back to grinding and feeling like you’re going to put together competitive at-bats for the team.”
Philadelphia outfielder Harrison Bader (groin) left Game 1 and underwent imaging on Sunday. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said there was “no major tear or strain” and that the club will learn Bader’s playing status on Monday.
Luzardo and Snell squared off in Los Angeles on Sept. 17, and the Dodgers won 5-0. Snell gave up two hits and struck out 12 in seven innings, while Luzardo gave up four runs and six hits in seven-plus innings. Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani homered off Luzardo.
Luzardo, 28, is 0-2 with a 6.14 ERA in four career postseason appearances (three starts). This will be his first playoff outing with Philadelphia. He was 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles during the regular season. Overall, he is 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against the Dodgers.
Snell, 32, is 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 13 postseason appearances (11 starts). He defeated the Cincinnati Reds in the wild-card round when he allowed two runs and four hits over seven innings in Los Angeles’ 10-5 victory.
Snell is 1-3 with a 3.41 ERA in seven career outings (all starts) against Philadelphia.
Roberts said the availability of Dodgers catcher Will Smith, who is recovering from a fractured right hand, will be determined Monday.
BREWERS’ JACKSON CHOURIO (HAMSTRING) STATUS FOR GAME 2 IS UNCLEAR
The status of Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio for Monday’s Game 2 remains uncertain after MRI exam results on his right hamstring were inconclusive, manager Pat Murphy said Sunday.
Chourio was injured in the second inning of Saturday’s 9-3 win over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the best-of-five National League Division Series. He was 3-for-3 with three RBI before the early exit.
“I can’t give you a definitive, but I know that we’re going to test some things (Sunday),” Murphy said, adding that the injury is “not a serious hamstring strain.”
Chourio, 21, underwent the MRI on Saturday. Concern was heightened because he missed 29 consecutive games this summer due to a strained right hamstring. He returned to the lineup on Aug. 30.
Chourio was optimistic after leaving Saturday’s game that he wouldn’t have to miss time.
“I feel good right now,” Chourio said through a translator. “Compared to the last time that this happened, I feel like I’m in a very good position.”
Murphy said Isaac Collins would start in left if Chourio wasn’t available. Collins went 0-for-2 after replacing Chourio on Saturday. In the regular season, the 28-year-old rookie batted .263 with nine homers, 54 RBIs and 16 steals in 130 games.
Chourio batted .270 with 21 homers, 78 RBIs and 21 steals in 131 games in the regular season.
Murphy also announced left-hander Aaron Ashby (5-2, 2.16 ERA) will be used as an opener for Monday’s game. In Game 1, Cubs manager Craig Counsell placed left-handed hitters first, third, fifth and seventh in his order. Ashby retired all four Cubs he faced in Game 1, which included lefties Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch.
Shota Imanaga (9-8, 3.73) will start for Chicago. He entered as the second Cubs pitcher in Game 2 of the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres and gave up two runs and three hits in four innings. Chicago lost 3-0, but Imanaga wasn’t involved in the decision.
CUBS HOPE SHOTA IMANAGA CAN HELP THEM AVOID 2-0 NLDS HOLE VS. BREWERS
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers will turn to left-hander Aaron Ashby for a spot start as they look to move one step closer to their first postseason series win since 2018 when they host the Chicago Cubs on Monday night in the second game of the National League Division Series.
Ashby (5-2, 2.16 ERA), who made just one start in a career-high 43 regular-season appearances, will be opposed by Shota Imanaga (9-8, 3.73 ERA) in the first postseason series between the Central Division rivals which are separated by about 90 miles on I-94.
The Brewers took the opener 9-3 on Saturday, chasing Cubs starter Matthew Boyd after just two outs during a six-run first inning. Freddy Peralta, who led the NL with 17 victories, bounced back from a game-opening homer and pitched effectively into the sixth. Chicago got all three runs on solo homers.
“There’s no penalty — it’s one loss. It doesn’t count for more how you lose,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Sunday. “We didn’t lose well, but sometimes — a close game could have cost us some pitching type stuff, too. We lost and you move on, and that’s how the clubhouse felt.”
Milwaukee, which finished five games ahead of the Cubs with a franchise-record 97 victories, has the No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage for the entire postseason. The Brewers are in the playoffs for the seventh time in eight seasons, but have not won a playoff series since the 2018 NLDS against the Colorado Rockies.
Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio was removed in the second inning Saturday with hamstring tightness after legging out an infield single, his third hit of the game, that put Milwaukee in front 9-1.
Chourio, who missed almost all of August with a strained right hamstring, had an MRI exam Saturday, and was scheduled to take part in workouts Sunday.
“I can’t give you a definitive (timeline), but I know that we’re going to test some things today,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Sunday. “I don’t know that he’ll do much, but the MRI came back and it’s inconclusive and it’s not a serious hamstring strain, but it’s not necessarily something that won’t limit him.”
The versatile Ashby pitched in the series opener, retiring all four batters he faced with one strikeout in a 16-pitch outing.
“Whether that’s in the first inning or the fourth, fifth, seventh, whenever it is. I think they’ve made it clear that your job is just to get outs,” Ashby said Sunday. “Going into tomorrow, it’ll be kind of the same situation.”
Ashby, who also had three saves in three chances, did not allow a run over his final seven regular-season outings spanning 10 1/3 innings.
Ashby is 2-1 with a 5.33 ERA in nine career outings vs. the Cubs, including four starts. He allowed four runs in 8 2/3 innings in three relief outings this season against them.
Imanaga struggled down the stretch, going 1-2 with a 6.51 ERA in five September starts.
Imanaga came out of the bullpen in the second game of the wild-card series, a 3-0 loss to the Padres on Wednesday. Imanaga entered in the second, allowing two runs on three hits in four innings, throwing 67 pitches.
Imanaga is 1-3 with a 5.73 ERA in four career starts vs. Milwaukee. He was 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA in three games against the Brewers this season, allowing seven runs in 17 2/3 innings.
“I think all the hitters, they understand what they need to do, and I think that’s the Brewers offense,” Imanaga said Sunday. “Even yesterday, just the next guy was up, the next guy was ready. So, I think, for me, it’s just making sure, take it one out at a time, and then thinking about that one out.”
