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Walls 2 doubles in debut, Rays beat Jays for 9th win in row

By
The Associated Press
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DUNEDIN, Fla. — Taylor Walls hit a pair of doubles in his major league debut and the Tampa Bay Rays won their ninth straight game, 3-1 over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night.

Manuel Margot hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning and Mike Zunino homered for the Rays. Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier left in the fifth inning with left eye irritation.

Walls is a 24-year-old shortstop who had never played above Double-A until this season. He was called up from the minors after shortstop Willy Adames was traded to Milwaukee on Friday.

Walls doubled in the ninth and later scored on a wild pitch and an errant throw to third by catcher Danny Jansen.

After scoring 72 runs during the first eight wins, Tampa Bay generated just enough offense. Five Rays combined on a six-hitter to send Toronto to its fourth straight loss.

Rays starter Shane McClanahan allowed one run and four hits in five innings. Andrew Kittredge (4-0) threw a scoreless seventh and Diego Castillo worked the ninth to get his eighth save.

Toronto’s Robbie Ray gave up one run, five hits and struck out seven in seven innings. The lefty has fanned 49 and walked just one over his six starts.

After Anthony Castro (0-1) intentionally walked Brandon Lowe with a runner on second and one out in the eighth, Margot singled to put the Rays up 2-1.

Castro was reinstated from the 10-day injured list before the game after being sidelined by a right forearm strain.

Zunino tied it at 1 in the fifth on his 11th homer.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drew a two-out walk off McClanahan in the first and scored on Teoscar Hernández’s double. Hernández has 20 RBIs in 21 games since returning from the COVID-related IL.

Tampa Bay had a streak of scoring seven runs or more in six straight games end. The Rays had also had hit three or more homers in five consecutive games, which was one away from the longest streak in major league history of six set by the 1987 Baltimore Orioles.

NEW ARRIVALS

Walls was recalled from Triple-A Durham. “The past 12 hours has felt like five days,” Walls said. “The events, they’re happening so fast. There’s no way all this could happen in just 12 hours.” … RHP J.P. Feyereisen, also acquired from the Brewers, worked a scoreless sixth.

LONG TOSS

When Rays 1B Ji-Man Choi struck out swinging in the fifth, he lost control of his bat and it wound up in shallow right field.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: RHP Michael Wacha (right hamstring tightness) could be back in the next couple days.

Blue Jays: 3B Cavan Biggio was placed on the 10-day IL with a cervical spine ligament sprain. … CF George Springer (right quadriceps strain) is running sprints at 50-60 percent.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (4-2) will start on Sunday. Tampa Bay has not announced its starter

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Mikolas hurt in return, Molina homers, Cards top Cubs 2-1

By
The Associated Press
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ST. LOUIS — Four pitchers combined for five innings of scoreless, two-hit relief after Miles Mikolas appeared to get injured in his delayed season debut, and Yadier Molina hit a tiebreaking home run that lifted the St. Louis Cardinals over the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on Saturday night.

Molina broke a 1-1 tie when led off the seventh inning with his seventh home run this season, connecting on a slider with an 0-2 count from Adbert Alzolay (2-4).

Mikolas, a 32-year-old right-hander who won 18 games in 2018, was activated Saturday for his first major league start since the 2019 NL Championship Series. He missed last season after flexor tendon surgery, then hurt his pitching shoulder in his first bullpen session of 2021.

He allowed three hits in four innings, struck out three and walked one, falling behind in the first after he bounced a breaking ball off Joc Pederson’s back foot with his second pitch. Willson Contreras hit a one-out single and Javier Javier Báez a two-out RBI single.

Mikolas was warming up to start the fifth, pitching to backup catcher Andrew Knizner while Molina was putting on his catcher’s gear after making the last out of the fourth, when the ptitcher grabbed his right elbow then looked toward the Cardinals dugout. An athletic trainer, pitching coach Mike Maddux and then manager Mike Shildt came out. Mikolas. who had thrown 59 pitches. left with what the team called right forearm tightness.

Daniel Ponce deLeon retired five batters around a walk, Genesis Cabrera (1-1) struck out three of his four batters, Giovanny Gallegos gave up a one-out single and a walk in the eighth and Alex Reyes finished a five-hitter to remain perfect in 14 save chances, one behind the major league-leading total of San Diego’s Mark Melancon.

Nick Hoerner had a two-out squib up the third-base line and Nick Martini flied out on a 2-0 fastball.

Adbert Alzolay gave up two runs and five hits over seven innings in his first start at Busch Stadium. He struck out six and walked none.

Edmundo Sosa hit a two-out triple down the right field line in the fifth and scored on Lane Thomas’ single.

MOVING UP

Molina has 225 hits against the Cubs, the most among active Cardinals and tying Ozzie Smith for ninth-most, Molina’s 111 RBIs against the Cubs moved past Hall of Famer Ted Simmons into sole possession of eighth place.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Cubs INF Eric Sogard turned 35 Saturday. He pinch hit in the ninth and grounded out.

ROSTER MOVE

Cardinals RHP Seth Elledge was optioned to Triple-A Memphis. Elledge has made four major-league appearances this season, allowing four runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. He allowed all six inherited runners to score.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Alec Mills (lower back strain) will make a rehab start Sunday and RHP Trevor Megill (right forearm strain) will throw batting practice Sunday with Triple-A Iowa. … Manager David Ross said relief pitcher Jason Adam underwent surgery Friday on a dislocated left ankle. Adam, playing with the Triple-A Iowa, left batting practice Friday in an ambulance after Adam jumped for a ball and came down awkwardly on his ankle. … Jason Heyward (left hamstring strain) did light agility work.

Cardinals: LF Dylan Carlson (back tightness) was scratched from the starting lineup. Thomas took his spot in right field. … SS Paul DeJong (fractured rib) won’t be activated from the 10-day injured list when eligible on Sunday,. Manager Mike Shildt said that DeJong hasn’t been cleared for baseball activities. … LHP Andrew Miller (blister on toe of right foot) will pitch for Triple-A Memphis on a rehabilitation assignment Tuesday or Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Cubs RHP Zach Davies (2-2, 5.28) starts Sunday night against RHP Adam Wainwright (2-4, 4.63) in the series finale. Davis is scheduled to make his team-high 10th start of the season and his 11th career start against the Cardinals. Wainwright leads active pitchers against the Cubs in wins (17), losses (13), starts (42), innings (262 1/3) and strikeouts (230).

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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Muncy HR, Dodgers beat Kazmir, Giants for 7th straight win

By
The Associated Press
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SAN FRANCISCO — Max Muncy hit another memorable home run into McCovey Cove, connecting off Scott Kazmir in the lefty’s first big league game since 2016, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 6-3 Saturday for their seventh straight win.

Walker Buehler (3-0) pitched seven innings and Austin Barnes also homered for the Dodgers.

The 37-year-old Kazmir (0-1) allowed just one run — on Muncy’s homer — and two hits in four innings. Now sporting shoulder-length shaggy hair, the three-time All-Star struck out two, walked none and threw 55 pitches,

Muncy stood at home plate and watched as his towering drive off Kazmir in the first inning easily cleared the landing beyond the right-field brick wall and landed in the water.

It was reminiscent of Muncy’s splash shot off former Giants ace Madison Bumgarner in 2019 when he lingered near home plate for several moments watching as the ball went out. That display angered Bumgarner, who yelled as Muncy rounded the bases.

Afterward, Muncy quipped, “If you don’t want me to watch the ball you can go in the ocean and get it.”

Buster Posey homered for San Francisco. The Giants have lost two straight to their division rivals after a season-best five-game winning streak.

Buehler allowed one run and six hits with five strikeouts. He got help from the Dodgers defense with double plays in the first and fourth, then struck out Mauricio Dubon and pinch-hitter Darin Ruff with two on in the seventh.

Alex Vesia retired three batters and gave up Posey’s home run in the eighth. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 11th save.

Barnes homered off Jarlin Garcia in the fifth.

Matt Beaty and DJ Peters drove in runs in the seventh to make it 4-0.

Albert Pujols had an RBI single in the eighth and has had a hit or an RBI in all six games since making his Dodgers debut on Monday.

EXTRA BASES

Buehler improved to 5-0 in eight career appearances against the Giants. All five wins have come at Oracle Park.

ROSTER MOVES

The Giants optioned LHP Sam Selman to Triple-A Sacramento. OF Braden Bishop was designated for assignment.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: RHP Tony Gonsolin will make a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. Gonsolin has not pitched in the majors this seasons due to right shoulder inflammation. … Cody Bellinger was rested one day after beginning a rehab assignment with Oklahoma City as he works his way back from a fractured left fibula.

UP NEXT

Dodgers LHP Julio Urias (6-1, 3.04 ERA) pitches Sunday and has never defeated the Giants in nine previous career starts. San Francisco counters with RHP Anthony DeSclafani (4-1, 2.03). DeSclafani has each of his past two starts.

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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Revs beat 10-man Red Bulls 3-1, stay atop Eastern Conference

By
The Associated Press
-

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Gustavo Bou had a goal and an assist on Saturday night, and the New England Revolution beat the 10-man New York Red Bulls 3-1 to stay atop the Eastern Conference standings on Saturday night.

Bou tied it 1-1 in the 36th minute, splitting a pair of defenders on a run created by Arnór Ingvi Traustason’s through ball and finishing into the right corner.

Tajon Buchanan gave the Revolution (4-1-2) a 2-1 lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time with an acute angle finish, also assisted by Traustason.

Adam Buksa capped the scoring in the 82nd minute with a close-range finish of Bou’s cross.

The Red Bulls (2-4-0) led when Andrés Reyes headed home Frankie Amaya’s corner in the seventh minute. Reyes was sent off with his second yellow card in the 38th minute.

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Maple Leafs beat Canadiens 5-1 in Game 2 to tie series

By
The Associated Press
-

TORONTO — Auston Matthews broke a tie early in the second period and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 in Game 2 on Saturday night to even the first-round playoff series.

Matthews also had assists, William Nylander added goal and an assist, and Jason Spezza, Rasmus Sandin and Alexander Kerfoot, into an empty net, also scored. Jack Campbell stopped 22 shots, and Mitch Marner had two assists.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored for Montreal, and Carey Price stopped 29 shots.

The best-of-seven matchup between the Original Six rivals shifts to the Bell Centre for games Monday and Tuesday nights. The Canadiens won the opener 2-1.

The Maple Leafs were without captain John Tavares after he sustained a concussion and knee injury on a scary collision 10 minutes into Game 1.

Toronto took its first lead of the series at 5:15 of the second period when Matthews — the NHL goals champion this season with 41 in 52 regular-season games — buried Justin Holl’s rebound on an odd-man rush to make it 2-1.

Zelarayán scores 2 goals, Columbus rallies to beat NYCFC 2-1

By
The Associated Press
-

HARRISON, N.J. — Lucas Zelarayán scored two goals, including the winner in stoppage time, and the Columbus Crew rallied to beat New York City FC 2-1 on Saturday night.

Eloy Room had three saves, including a diving stop of a shot by Jesús Medina from near the penalty spot, for Columbus (2-2-2).

Zelarayán blasted a rising free kick that froze goalkeeper Sean Johnson under the crossbar to make it 1-all in the 81st minute. He scored on another free kick — placed perfectly in the top corner of the net — in the fifth minute of injury time

Ismael Tajouri-Shradi side-footed a roller that slipped inside the post to give NYCFC (2-2-2) a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. Valentín Castellanos flipped a pass to Tajouri-Shradi, whose first-timer deflected off defender Josh Williams into the net.

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Benintendi 3 RBIs, KC holds on, ends Tigers’ win streak at 4

By
The Associated Press
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Andrew Benintendi drove in three runs, Josh Staumount escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat Detroit 7-5 Saturday, stopping the Tigers’ four-game winning streak.

The Tigers trailed 7-3 going into the ninth before Robbie Grossman hit a two-run homer.

Detroit then loaded the bases with one out. Staumont struck out Jonathan Schoop and Willi Castro to end it, finishing with a 100 mph fastball.

The Tigers went 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position. Miguel Cabrera struck out with the bases loaded to end the seventh with Detroit down 6-3.

Benintendi gave the Royals an early lead with a two-run, bases-loaded single in the first and made it 5-3 with an RBI single in the fifth.

Brady Singer (2-3) gave up three runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out six.

Akil Baddoo had the first three-hit game of his career, including a two-run single in the Detroit second. Harold Castro added an RBI single in the fifth.

Matthew Boyd (2-5) allowed five runs on eight hits and thee walks in five innings.

The Royals took a 4-2 lead in the fourth on an RBI double by Michael A. Taylor and a sacrifice fly by Nicky Lopez.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Jesse Hahn (right shoulder impingement) was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Hahn was placed on the 10-day IL. … 3B Hunter Dozier was sent to Triple-A Omaha on a rehab assignment following a stint on the seven-day IL with a concussion.

ROSTER MOVES

Royals: Kansas City acquired RHP Domingo Tapia from Seattle for cash and optioned him to Triple A Omaha.

UP NEXT

Casey Mize (3-3, 3.69 ERA) will start the series finale for Detroit on Sunday. Kris Bubic (0-0, 0.96 ERA) will make his second start of the season for Kansas City.

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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Akindele, Gallese help Orlando City beat Toronto FC 1-0

By
The Associated Press
-

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tesho Akindele scored in the 12th minute and Orlando City beat Toronto FC 1-0 on Saturday night.

Orlando City (3-0-3), which extended its season-opening unbeaten streak to a franchise-best six games, has allowed just two goals and has four shutouts this season.

On the counter-attack, Kyle Smith’s long pass led Silvester van der Water down the right side. The 24-year-old, who made his first MLS start, cut back to evade a defender and played a lob into the area that Akindele put away from point-blank range.

Toronto (1-3-2) defender Omar González left the game with an apparent leg injury in the 81st minute.

Pedro Gallese had five saves, including back-to-back stops in the closing moments, for Orlando City. Gallese made a diving parry of a shot by Nick DeLeon that bounced to Toronto’s Yeferson Soteldo just outside the area. Soteldo side-stepped and ripped a rising right-footer that Gallese punched over the crossbar in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Biles makes history in return to competition at US Classic

By
The Associated Press
-

Simone Biles and her ever-expanding array of signature skills sure look ready for the Tokyo Olympics.

The reigning world and Olympic champion returned to competition for the first time in more than 18 months by cruising to victory at the U.S. Classic in Indianapolis on Saturday night.

The 24-year-old continued her quest to push the boundaries of what’s possible by a female gymnast in the process.

Biles’ all-around score of 58.400 — easily the best of the night in a crowded field of seniors trying to join Biles on the U.S. Olympic team this summer — was almost beside the point.

The Yurchenko double pike vault has historically only been done by men. Not anymore. Biles sprinted down the runway, did a roundoff onto the springboard followed by a back handspring onto the vault, finishing with two backflips with her legs ramrod straight and her hands seemingly magnetized to her hamstrings. Biles had so much momentum when she landed that she hopped back a step or two.

No matter. Her score of 16.100 was higher than either of her gold medal-winning vaults at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. And that was with the judges dinging her for the extra steps.

The rest of her night was steady, if not spectacular. She sailed off the uneven bars on her final event on an element that she has struggled with in practice. The miscue was merely a speedbump on a night when she showcased what separates her from every other gymnast in the sport’s long history.

Wearing a white leotard with a rhinestone goat — a nod to her status as the Greatest of All-Time — on the back, Biles posted the highest scores of the night on balance beam, floor exercise and vault.

So much for being rusty after the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the Olympics back a year.

The miscue on bars will give Biles something to focus on before the national championships in Fort Worth, Texas, next month.

Behind her, however, the picture for who will join her in Japan in July remains unclear.

Jordan Chiles, a friend and teammate of Biles, is moving closer to being a favorite for one of the remaining spots available. The 20-year-old proved her victory in the Winter Cup in February was no fluke. Chiles finished second in the all-around (57.100) to Biles and ranked in the top four in each of the four events.

Kayla DiCello came in third, buoyed by a victory on bars.

Chellsie Memmel clenched her fists in joy after landing her vault in her first competitive meet in more than nine years. The 2005 world all-around champion and 2008 Olympic silver medalist’s score of 13.750 didn’t matter. Neither did a nervous beam routine that finished with an 11.800. Saturday was about simply arriving at the moment itself.

“I was just overwhelmingly happy that it went OK today,” Memmel said. “Obviously, beam I would have to have it gone better, but I’m still happy with everything that I did and happy that I was out on the floor, that I put myself out there to even get to this point, to try this again, to, you know, to put on a and to register for a competition.”

Memmel is petitioning for a spot in next month’s national championships, one that women’s national team coordinator Tom Forster said will be accepted.

Two-time Olympic medalist Laurie Hernandez fell off beam — the event she won silver on in Rio de Janeiro — and scored just 13.250 on vault. Hernandez competed on a tender ankle after suffering an injury in training last month that limited her preparation. Like Memmel, Hernandez is petitioning for a bid to nationals.

That hasn’t been an issue for Biles since she won the first of her six national titles in 2013. She’s poised to collect a seventh in two weeks, the next step of what will likely be a gold medal-laden farewell (for now at least) tour.

More AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/olympic-games and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Mariners reinstate Dugger, Misiewicz from COVID injured list

By
The Associated Press
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SAN DIEGO — Right-hander Robert Dugger and left-hander Anthony Misiewicz were reinstated by the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, one day after they and two other relievers were placed on the COVID-19 injured list when the team reported a positive case in its traveling party.

“We’re fortunate to get those guys back in our bullpen. We’ll probably need them tonight,” manager Scott Servais said before Saturday’s game against the San Diego Padres. The Mariners lost the series opener 16-1 on Friday night.

“Obviously with the COVID issues we had yesterday, those guys have received vaccinations so they had to be out a day to make sure they were good. That test came back negative so they’re good to go and join our club.

“Again, every situation is a little bit different on the contact tracing and where guys are at, if they’ve been vaccinated or not. We were hoping they would be OK and we’re lucky to have them back.”

Servais said the whole team was tested Friday and again Saturday and hasn’t had any more positives.

“Right now we’re in as good a shape as we can be. We’re still missing a couple of guys but no more additional positive tests.”

The Mariners did not identify who tested positive.

Right-handers Will Vest and Drew Steckenrider remain on the COVID IL.

Also Saturday, the Mariners claimed left-hander Daniel Zamora from the New York Mets and assigned him to Tacoma.

Zamora made four appearances, including one start, with Triple-A Syracuse this season, going 0-2.

In his big league career he is 1-1 with a 4.08 ERA in 33 relief appearances with the Mets in 2018 and 2019.

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