Shin-Soo Choo’s hit in 10th lifts Tribe over Royals following melee
Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor Kansas City, MO, United States (AHN Sports) – Shin-Soo Choo was part of two of Saturday night’s biggest plays, including the go-ahead two-run double in the top of the 10th that helped the Cleveland Indians top the pesky Kansas City Royals 11-9, in the middle test of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. In the third inning, Choo was plunked on the knee by a Jonathan Sanchez fastball, which led to the first of two bench-clearing get-togethers on the infield, with Indians third baseman Jack Hannahan leading the charge. Choo, who has some history with the Royals starter, took exception to being thrown at and took few steps toward the mound while yelling at Sanchez to “throw it over the plate.” “I know he didn’t hit me on purpose,” Choo, who now has been hit three times already this season, said via MLB.com. “But still, I have a memory of last year.” A fastball from Sanchez, who was then pitching for the Giants in an Interleague game against the Indians last June 24 at San Francisco, broke Choo’s left thumb. It required surgery and caused the Indians slugger to spend nearly two months on the disabled list. “I don’t know how many times Sanchez is going to hit Choo, but the last time he did he has three screws in his thumb,” Hannahan said via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “If we’re going to contend, we need our big boys healthy.” Order was restored and the Indians scored five times in the third for a 5-0 lead, but tempers were still simmering in the bottom half when Cleveland starter Jeanmar Gomez it Mike Moustakas leading off the inning. It once again brought players out of the dugouts, but once the dust settled Gomez, Indians manager Manny Acta and Hannahan were tossed. Acta indicated the situation will be addressed with Gomez, who was making his first start of the year, but he was somewhat displeased with the outcome. “I believe he was trying to protect his teammates, but I think he went overboard a little,” Acta said via the Plain Dealer. “First…
Reds sign infielder Brandon Phillips to 6-year, $72.5M deal
AHN Sports Staff Cincinnati, OH, United States (AHN Sports) – The Cincinnati Reds continued signing their top players Tuesday, inking second baseman Brandon Phillips to a 6-year deal reportedly worth $72.5 million. Although Phillips has no homers or RBI yet on the season, he is 3-for-7 with two runs scored in his last two games. “Brandon is one of the great second basemen in baseball,” Reds CEO Bob Castellini said, according to MLB.com. “He’s also fantastic off the field. He represents the franchise with a big smile all the time. He really relates to the fans and vice versa.” Phillips was emotional about playing in a place he loves for years to come. “I cried about this. This is where I wanted to be,” Phillips said. “I’m still … you know … loss of words right now, for me to play in the city I really love. The fans have embraced me and they love me and I love them back.” Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Mets’ Niese flirts with no-no in first start after signing new pact
Jon Chik – AHN Sports Correspondent Flushing, New York, United States (AHN Sports) – Jon Niese came within nine outs of posting the first no-hitter in Mets history on Easter Sunday at Citi Field during New York’s 7-5 win over Atlanta. Despite missing out on a chance to make history, New York’s 25-year-old southpaw was able to pick up the victory and guide the Mets to a 3-0 start and a sweep of their division rival. Niese had some minor control issues in the top of the first, as he handed out free passes to Martin Prado and Dan Uggla before getting Freddie Freeman to groundout to second baseman Daniel Murphy. “I settled down and got a good feel for the baseball by the third and I just felt good throughout the whole game. The first game of the season and pitching in front of so many fans, it gets you going,” Niese said. “[The starting pitchers] have a friendly competition, and I think that’s a good thing. I think we’re going to surprise some people this year.” The second inning was a different story, as Niese fanned Michael Bourn, Prado and Brian McCann to strikeout the side in order. With a 7-0 lead heading to the top of the seventh, Niese started the inning by walking Uggla, and Freeman broke up the no-hit bid with a hard groundball single to right field. Niese pitched to four batters in the inning but was lifted after he was unable to record an out. Niese was hurt on a fielding error by rightfielder Lucas Duda, but he still received a standing ovation from the Citi Field faithful while heading toward the dugout. Reliever Manny Accosta retired the next three batters to get New York off the field with a 7-4 lead still intact. In six-plus innings, Niese gave up four runs (two earned) on a pair of hits, four free passes and seven strikeouts on 102 pitches. The quality outing came just one day after Niese signed a five-year, $25 million extension with the Mets. The deal also carries club options for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. “The contract more or less settles my mind,” Niese said. “I can just go out there and pitch and not worry about anything else.” “I think Niese is more relaxed [with the new contract],” Collins said. “I think he wanted to go out there today and say ‘hey, I deserved what I got.’ He certainly did that.” Although …
Mets hold off Braves, complete season-opening sweep
Jon Chik – AHN Sports Correspondent NY, NY, United States (AHN Sports) – The New York Mets completed a season-opening three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves by picking up a 7-5 win on Easter Sunday at Citi Field. New York starting pitcher Jon Niese continued the trend of quality solid by New York starters and kept the Braves from registering a base hit until Freddie Freeman singled in the top of the seventh. Niese looked especially sharp in the second inning when he struck out the side (Michael Bourn, Martin Prado and Brian McCann) in order. “I settled down and got a good feel for the baseball by the third and I just felt good throughout the whole game. The first game of the season and pitching in front of so many fans, it gets you going,” Niese said. “[The starting pitchers] have a friendly competition, and I think that’s a good thing. I think we’re going to surprise some people this year.” Ruben Tejada started the bottom of the first inning by lining a double to left-center. Tejada advanced to third base on a groundout by Daniel Murphy and scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by David Wright for a 1-0 lead. In the fourth, Jason Bay made it 2-0 by sending an RBI sacrifice fly to left field, which plated Murphy, who began the inning with a double. In the fifth, Murphy hit a two-run double to score Niese and Tejada to run the Mets’ lead to 4-0. New York continued to pad its lead in the fifth inning when Scott Hairston smacked an RBI double off the left field wall to score Bay for a 5-0 advantage. Next, Tejada sent a two-run double to left to score Lucas Duda and Hairston for a 7-0 lead. Atlanta starting pitcher Mike Minor left the game after five-plus innings. The 24-year-old gave up six runs on six hits, four walks and six strikeouts on 104 pitches. After yielding a leadoff walk to begin the top of the seventh, Niese lost his no-hit bid when Freeman singled on a hard ground ball to right field. Niese was unable to record another out, partly because Duda…
Michael Young rips clutch hit, Rangers edge White Sox in opener
AHN Sports Staff Arlington, TX, United States (AHN Sports) – Michael Young drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as the Texas Rangers escaped with a 3-2 victory in Friday’s opener against the Chicago White Sox at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. After falling short for the second consecutive year in the World Series, the Rangers opened the 2011 MLB season with renewed hope of nailing an elusive World Series crown. Former American League MVP Josh Hamilton drove the first run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield in the first inning. Ian Kinsler doubled the Rangers’ lead with a solo homer in the third. But the White Sox fought back midway through as first baseman Adam Dunn blasted a solo homer and shortstop Alexei Ramirez drove in another run to tie the score at 2-2 in the sixth inning. Young then broke the deadlock with an RBI single in the bottom of the 6th. Sensing the need for a fresh hurler, Rangers manager Ron Washington took out starter Colby Lewis and put in Alexi Ogando in the seventh. Lewis allowed seven hits and two runs with nine strikeouts in six solid innings. Ogando, Mike Adams and Joe Nathan then secured the victory by shutting down the White Sox over the final three innings. White Sox starter John Danks surrendered six hits and three runs over six innings. He also fanned six batters. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Jays rally past Indians in longest opener in MLB history
AHN Sports Staff Cleveland, OH, United States (AHN Sports) – J.P. Arencibia belted a three-run homer in the 16th inning as the Toronto Blue Jays outlasted the Cleveland Indians, 7-4, in Thursday’s historic Opening Day game at Progressive Field. The Blue Jays started the new season in a record-breaking fashion, taking the win in the longest opener in the history of major league baseball. Thursday’s opener between the Blue Jays and the Indians shattered the record set by the Cleveland and Detroit (15 innings on April 19, 1960) and Philadelphia and Washington (15 innings April 13, 1926) for the longest opening day game in baseball history. Indians starter Justin Masterson nearly shut down the Blue Jays prolific batting unit, surrendering two hits, a walk and a run in 8 solid innings. However, closer Chris Perez allowed the Jays to rally after Juan Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion belted homers in the 9th inning. As pressure and fatigue mounted, Arencibia delivered the game-winning hit off Tribe relief pitcher Jairo Asencio to capture the victory. Starter Ricky Romero allowed three hits and four runs over five innings but the Blue Jays bullpen stepped up. Luis Perez recorded three strikeouts in shutting down the Tribe in four extra innings. Sergio Santos put the final nail in the coffin by notching the two final outs of the match. Third baseman Jack Hannahan recorded three RBI for the Indians, who struggled offensively in the preseason. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Magic’s green for Dodgers blue: Johnson group buys team for $2B
AHN Sports Staff Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN Sports) – Ex-Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Magic Johnson and former MLB executive Stan Kasten are part of a group that agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers from Frank McCourt Tuesday night, according to reports. The price tag is a whopping $2 billion, well eclipsing the price for sports franchises like the Premier League’s Manchester United ($1.47 billion) and the NFL’s Miami Dolphins ($1.1 billion). The deal must still be approved by federal bankruptcy court, but it didn’t stop Johnson from celebrating. “I am thrilled to be part of the historic Dodger franchise and intend to build on the fantastic foundation laid by Frank McCourt as we drive the Dodgers back to the front page of the sports section in our wonderful community of Los Angeles,” Johnson said in a statement. McCourt, who oversaw the team’s fall to 82-79 last season while failing to draw 3 million fans for the first time since 1992, said the Dodgers have a bright future. “This agreement with Guggenheim reflects both the strength and future potential of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and assures that the Dodgers will have new ownership with deep local roots, which bodes well for the Dodgers, its fans and the Los Angeles community,” McCourt, who was embroiled in an ugly public divorce with his wife Jaime through much of the season, said in a statement. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Indians have Vladimir Guerrero work out in Dominican Republic
AHN Sports Staff Cleveland, OH, United States (AHN Sports) – In search of some added pop for their lineup the Cleveland Indians had free agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero work out at the team’s baseball academy in the Dominican Republic on Monday. The 37-year-old hit .290 with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs for the Baltimore Orioles in 2011. He is a nine-time All-Star with a .318 career batting average and 449 home runs in 16 major league seasons. Guerrero and Indians manager Manny Acta know each other from their days together in Montreal’s organization. Acta, who is also from the Dominican Republic, was the third base coach for the Expos from 2002-04. It is unclear what role Guerrero would have in Cleveland if he ends up there. Travis Hafner is set to be the DH, but there is an opening in left field. Age and past injuries could keep Guerrero from playing the outfield as he has not appeared in the outfield in any games since the 2010 season. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Stephen Strasburg to start on Opening Day for Nationals
AHN Sports Staff Washington, DC, United States (AHN Sports) – Washington Nationals ace pitcher Stephen Strasburg is the team’s Opening Day starter against the Chicago Cubs on April 5 at Wrigley Field, Nats manager Davey Johnson disclosed Wednesday. Strasburg, the first-overall pick in the 2009 MLB entry draft, will not only be making his debut as an opening day starter but also a maiden appearance at the legendary Wrigley Field. “I think anybody wants to have the opportunity to pitch Opening Day,” Strasburg told ESPN Wednesday. “To be able to say I have that under my belt is awesome. It’s a great feeling and I’m looking forward to it.” Strasburg was winless with a 5.52 ERA in three Spring Training games, but recently came through with a solid performance in a 2-0 loss to the Yankees. The right-handed hurler surrendered one run and two hits in five innings, while throwing 54 of his 85 pitches for strikes. Strasburg went 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in five starts last season after having a sizzling start in his career in 2010 season, where he retired 92 batters in 68 innings. However, the Nats hurler had Tommy John surgery in September of 2010 after hurting his right elbow. Johnson, who will manage the Nationals for the second season, said he made sure his best pitching personnel is on the field to kick start the 2012 season. “I like to put my best foot forward from the get-go,” Johnson told ESPN Wednesday. “This isn’t about Stephen Strasburg. It’s about the Washington Nationals.” Lefthander Gio Gonzalez is expected to become the no.2 starter for the Nats, with Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson, and Chien-Ming Wang rounding up the starting rotation. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
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