New York Yankees Ichiro Suzuki bats against Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Samuel Deduno during the first inning of their American League MLB baseball game in Minneapolis on Tuesday. (Reuters)
Agencies/Los Angeles
The Cleveland Indians recorded their fifth straight victory with a 6-5 triumph over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday to maintain a slim advantaged at the top of the American League Central division.
Cleveland blew a 4-0 lead when the Royals put up four runs in the fifth inning to tie the contest but the visitors recovered their composure to emerge with the win. Catcher Carlos Santana hit a go-ahead sacrifice-fly in the seventh, in which Jason Giambi also had an RBI, and the Indians held on down the stretch. The victory kept them half a game ahead of Detroit in the division race after the Tigers won 7-6 in Toronto.
Miguel Cabrera smashed a three-run home run for Detroit, his 26th of the season, while Toronto’s Colby Rasmus had a homer and four RBIs.
In Pittsburgh, Philadelphia prevailed 3-1 over the Major League-leading Pirates to snap their nine-game winning streak. St Louis remained two games behind the Pirates in the NL Central, however, after they lost 5-1 to the Angels in Los Angeles. Albert Pujols faced the Cardinals for the first time since leaving to sign with the Angels after the 2011 season and went 0-for-3, though Los Angeles still won their seventh straight game.
In Oakland, the Athletics defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-7 to take over first place in the AL West. With his team trailing 7-5 in the eighth, Derek Norris slugged a three-run homer to provide the difference for the A’s and Texas lost 9-2 to Seattle to fall half a game behind.
It was a busy day for the Chicago Cubs, who made a pair of trades that sent pitchers to team’s trying to push for the playoffs. The Baltimore Orioles acquired starter Scott Feldman along with backup catcher Steve Clevenger from the Cubs in exchange for reliever Pedro Strop, starter Jake Arrieta and financial considerations.
Elsewhere, Cincinnati pitcher Homer Bailey threw the second no-hitter of his career as the Reds blanked the San Francisco Giants 3-0 at Great American Ball Park. The 27-year-old Bailey’s other no-hitter was the last of the 2012 Major League Baseball season and the right-handed pitcher followed that up Tuesday with the first of this season.
“Every dog has his day twice,” Bailey said. He got Giants’ batter Gregor Blanco to ground out to third for the final out of the game. His teammates mobbed Bailey and soaked him in Gatorade in a wild celebration at the pitcher’s mound. “To be able to share it with all of these guys is a big thrill for me. It really makes me feel good,” Bailey added.
Bailey had a perfect game heading into the seventh inning until walking Blanco for the lone Giant baserunner of the contest. Bailey said he first started to think about the no-hitter after completing the seventh inning. “Going into eighth I just said ‘Why the hell not? Here we go again.’”
This marks the 16th no-hitter in franchise history and the second one thrown by Bailey in a 20-start span. His other no-hitter came on September 28 at Pittsburgh. Bailey tied a team record with his two no-hitters, joining Jim Maloney and Johnny Vander Meer.
“He was dealing. He had a dynamite fastball and showed great control,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “What a game. I can’t quit smiling. I’m so glad for Homer.” The last player to pitch the final no-hitter of a season and the first of the following one was hall-of-famer Nolan Ryan who did it in 1974 and 1975. Warren Spahn accomplished a similar feat for the Milwaukee Braves in 1960-61. There were seven no-hitters in 2012. Bailey improved to 5-6 on the year as he threw 109 total pitches, including 74 for strikes.
Blanco led off the seventh inning with a walk. He went to second on Marco Scutaro’s groundout and then tried to go to third when Buster Posey hit a soft one to first. Reds’ Joey Votto snagged the ball on the bounce and fired to third, where Blanco was tagged out. Giants’ Pablo Sandoval then struck out swinging to keep the no-hitter bid alive.
“To be here in front of this crowd meant a lot,” Bailey said. “Any time a ball is put in play in those situations, you get nervous.” Bailey disappeared from the dugout and into the tunnel when it was the Reds’ turn to bat. “By going into the tunnel it clears my mind and keeps me centred,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers acquired struggling reliever Carlos Marmol from the Cubs in a deal that saw Los Angeles send over reliever Matt Guerrier. Marmol had fallen out of favour with Chicago and was designated for assignment last month. Los Angeles also receive financial considerations in the deal.
