Marlins president of baseball operations Mike Hill didn’t reject the notion of an A-Rod signing, telling Miami reporters on Sunday that his club would “look at everything” in light of the Stanton situation.
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The White Sox finally were on the receiving end Saturday night of one of those stunning moments that always seems to crush them.
He and Justin Morneau both played key roles in an eighth-inning White Sox rally from a second deficit after James Shields blew an early 4-0 lead. That drove in Adeiny Hechavarria, who reached on an infield hit that stood up to a replay challenge by Chicago.
Stanton slid awkwardly into second while trying to stretch a single into a double, but was tagged out to end the game.
When Chris Johnson followed with a single, Miami had runners on the corners with no outs.
“I’ve got to be at home plate for that”, Sale acknowledged. Stanton has the highest walk rate on the team and hits the ball hard almost as often as anyone, as noted in the chart on the right. The hit raised Koehler’s average to.103.
The situation worsened when Ichiro predictably laid down a bunt. 22-year-old Austin Dean is ranked as Miami’s number six overall prospect and number one outfield prospect by MLB.com, but he has not exactly been tearing it up in Double-A Jacksonville this year. A winded Koehler was stranded at second, which he probably appreciated after his exhausting (and successful) efforts to give himself run support. In the 15 games since his return, Gordon is hitting.321 with seven stolen bases. Which kept them in the lead for the 2nd wild card spot in the National League with a 61-56 record. Chris Beck (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for his first career win, and David Robertson earned his 29th save. Sale continued working in the bottom half, pushing a hundred pitches as he took the mound.
The Marlins are contending for their first playoff berth since 2003.
Sale gave up five runs in 6 2/3 innings. Stanton only hit.244, but led the Marlins in HR’s (25) and RBI’s (70).
A-Rod’s playing opportunities grew increasingly scarce shortly after the All-Star break. Saladino’s last stand was a well-hit single to Yelich in left. Ventura asked for a review to see if Mathis blocked the plate, but the call was quickly upheld.
The Sox conclude a nine-game, 10-day road trip with a three-game series against the Indians in Cleveland, starting Tuesday. I think the umps just wanted to go home.
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“Only Alex and the Yankees know what happened or why they [released him]”, said ex-teammate Mariano Rivera, honored Sunday with a plaque in Monument Park.
