The New York Yankees had three home runs in their big 14-2 home win against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, but Aaron Judge had to settle for a pair of doubles as he finished two-for-four with a walk.
Judge remains one home run away from tying the Yankees and American League all-time record of 61, set 61 years ago in 1961 by Roger Maris.
While fans in attendance missed out on that history-making moment, they were treated to some early fireworks as the Yankees loaded the bases in the first inning, setting up Oswaldo Cabrera for a grand slam.
Cabrera would end up with five RBIs after another double in the eighth inning, and he would be one of two Yankees players to tally five RBIs in the game as Gleyber Torres joined him.
Torres finished three-for-five at the plate with two home runs – and incredibly, both home runs came in the eighth inning – becoming the sixth Yankee to ever hit two homers in the same inning.
On the mound, Luis Severino was credited with the win after allowing one run in his five innings, striking out six batters.
With the win, the Yankees are now 90-58 with 14 games to go, leading the AL East by six-and-a-half games from the Toronto Blue Jays.
McKenzie strikes out 13 in Guardians win
Cleveland Guardians rising star Triston McKenzie dominated in his side's 8-2 win against the Chicago White Sox, striking out 13 batters.
McKenzie pitched eight full innings in the win, giving up six hits and no walks in an even 100 pitches. With this performance, the six-foot-five 25-year-old now boasts an ERA of 3.04, and the sixth-best WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) in the majors at 0.96.
With the bat, rookie Steven Kwan was three-for-five with a home run, and Josh Naylor also chipped in with a two-run homer.
Marlins waste a great Luzardo start
Miami Marlins pitcher Jesus Luzardo struck out 11 batters, but it was not enough as his team went down 4-3 against the Chicago Cubs.
Luzardo departed the game in the seventh inning, having pitched six-and-two-thirds for one earned run with 11 strikeouts and his team leading 3-1, but the bullpen could not finish the job.
Steven Okert was saddled with the loss after failing to record an out from the three batters he faced, resulting in two walks and an error as he tried to field a sacrifice bunt, but ended up throwing it away.
Diamondbacks give manager Torey Lovullo contract extension through 2024
The first-place Arizona Diamondbacks have given manager Torey Lovullo a contract extension through the 2024 season.
The deal, which was announced Sunday, is the third straight one-year extension for Lovullo.
A year after finishing in fourth place in the NL West and two years removed from a 110-loss season, the Diamondbacks enter play Sunday with a 35-24 mark to tie the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the league.
It’s the first time Arizona has 35 wins through 59 games since 2007, when the team won the NL West with a 90-72 record and reached the National League championship series.
With their 5-4 walkoff win over the Rockies today, the Diamondbacks ended a streak of 69 consecutive home series of four or more games without a sweep.
That was the longest such streak by an NL team since the Boston Braves (also 69, 1937-1946). pic.twitter.com/nOi9XpTlul
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) June 1, 2023
New York Yankees designate struggling OF Aaron Hicks for assignment
The New York Yankees have decided to cut ties with struggling outfielder Aaron Hicks.
The Yankees designated Hicks for assignment on Saturday before their game against the Cincinnati Reds.
Through 28 games this season, Hicks is slashing just .188/.263/.261 with one home run, two doubles and five RBIS.
Among the 315 major league hitters with at least 75 plate appearances, Hicks' .524 OPS ranks 299th.
It is a costly decision for the Yankees, as Hicks' contract runs through 2025 and the team will be forced to eat nearly $30million remaining on the seven-year, $70m contract he signed in 2019.
The sides agreed to that deal after Hicks enjoyed a career year in 2018, when he hit 27 homers and drove in 79.
In almost four-and-a-half seasons since then, however, the 33-year-old Hicks has managed just 31 home runs while batting .218.
In a corresponding move Saturday, the Yankees selected the contract of outfielder Greg Allen from the minors.
The 30-year-old Allen was acquired in a trade from the Boston Red Sox on Friday and is beginning his second stint with the Yankees after appearing in 15 games for them in 2021.
Astros activate star 2B Altuve for season debut
Jose Altuve will return to the Houston Astros’ lineup for Friday’s game against the Oakland Athletics after the team activated the 2017 American League Most Valuable Player from the injured list.
Altuve has yet to play this season due to a fractured right thumb he sustained while playing for his native Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic on March 19. He underwent surgery on March 22 and was given an eight-week timeline to return.
The eight-time All-Star prepped for his 2023 debut by playing five minor league rehab games over the past week, though he went just 2 for 22 at the plate.
Altuve finished fifth in voting for last season’s AL MVP after finishing with a .300 average, 28 home runs, 103 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 141 games for the World Series champion Astros.
The 33-year-old’s career .307 batting average ranks third among active players with at least 1,000 plate appearances, trailing only 2022 AL batting champ Luis Arraez and fellow Venezuelan Miguel Cabrera.
Altuve will be counted on to provide a spark to a Houston offense that’s averaging just 4.44 runs per game, 15th in the majors. The Astros currently stand two games behind division-leading Texas in the AL West with a 24-19 record.
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