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Dodgers Defeat Sox (Again)

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – LA’s Enrique Hernandez had game-tying hits in the ninth and 10th innings, Dodgers catcher Will Smith hit a game-ending RBI single in the 11th and Los Angeles turned multiple rallies into a 7-6 victory Saturday against the visiting Boston Red Sox.

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It marked the second consecutive Dodgers victory over the Sox after the season resumed post All-Star break.

Hernandez tied the game in the ninth with a home run against former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen and added a two-out RBI single in the Los Angeles’ two-run 10th inning after Boston’s Tyler O’Neill hit a two-run homer in the top of the 10th.

Smith’s game-winning hit off Greg Weissert (2-2) came with the bases loaded. Right-hander Blake Treinen (3-2) earned the win with a scoreless 11th inning.

Gavin Lux had a home run and a double as the Dodgers pulled off consecutive comeback victories over the Red Sox after they lost six of seven games before the All-Star break.

O’Neill hit a pair of home runs for the Red Sox, including a two-run shot in the seventh inning for a 4-3 lead.

Jarren Duran hit a two-run double for the Red Sox and has delivered multiple hits in four consecutive games wrapped around a home run and MVP Award in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Jansen’s blown save was his first since April 16. Boston starter Brayan Bello gave up three runs over six innings with seven strikeouts.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Lux’s home run to right field, his fourth of the season. Duran’s two-run double in the fifth inning gave Boston a 2-1 advantage.

The Dodgers went on top 3-2 in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Teoscar Hernandez and a sacrifice fly from Andy Pages.

Duran walked with one out in the seventh and O’Neill hit the first pitch for a 4-3 advantage. Enrique Hernandez’s home run off Jansen, to tie the game 4-4, was his sixth of the season.

O’Neill’s homer in the 10th off right-hander Evan Phillips was his 18th of the season.

–Field Level Media

Magic’s Pat Williams, Dead at 84

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ORLANDO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Pat Williams, Orlando Magic co-founder and basketball Hall of Famer, died on Wednesday. He was 84. Williams died of complications from viral pneumonia, the Magic said in an official team statement.

Along with businessman Jimmy Hewitt, Williams started to work toward getting Orlando an NBA franchise back in 1986. A year later, the NBA Board of Governors gave an expansion franchise to the city, and on Dec. 22, 1988, the Magic sold their 10,000th ticket to officially bring the team to the league.

That was just a sliver of Williams’ NBA career, which lasted 51 years and included over 30 with the Magic.

“Pat Williams simply brought magic to Orlando,” Magic chairman Dan DeVos and CEO Alex Martins said in a joint statement. “His accomplishments will always be remembered. Armed with his ever-present optimism and unparalleled energy, he was an incredible visionary who helped transform the world of sports in multiple ways.

“From bringing the Magic to Orlando, to transforming sports marketing and promotions, he was always ahead of the curve. Pat forever changed the sports landscape in Orlando. He shined a light on what those who called Orlando home already knew — that Central Florida was a fabulous place to live, work and play.”

Skenes, Burnes on Center Stage

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ARLINGTON, (Texas) – (Staff and wire Service Report) – The 2024 All-Star Game isn’t short on storylines.

From Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. returning to his hometown under the lights to former teenage sensation Jurickson Profar of San Diego making his All-Star Game debut at age 31, there’s plenty to talk about going into the 94th Midsummer Classic set for Tuesday night at Globe Life Field, home of the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers.

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But the one player who is generating the most buzz is Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes, who will start for the National League. The right-hander, the top overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, is having a sensational rookie season, going 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 11 starts.

“Pretty dang cool to even be in this position, to be at the All-Star Game in the first place,” Skenes said during a pregame news conference on Monday. “Just super grateful to be given the opportunity to start it.”

NL manager Torey Lovullo, who guided the Diamondbacks to the NL pennant last season, said the decision to give Skenes the starting nod was a “no-brainer.”

“Paul is everything right about this game,” Lovullo said. “You mentioned youthfulness. He just got drafted. Youthfulness of the All-Star Game. Just his ability to balance what he’s had to go through over the past year has been amazing. He does it with humility. He does it very, very well.”

For the American League, manager Bruce Bochy of the Rangers is going with Corbin Burnes, ace of the Baltimore staff. Burnes, who had yet to arrive at the All-Star Game when Monday’s press conference began, is 9-4 with a 2.43 ERA in 19 starts. The right-hander, in his first season with Baltimore after six with the Milwaukee Brewers, is making his fourth straight All-Star appearance and first start.

“What he’s done this year in Baltimore, you know, they’re leading their division. He’s a big reason for that,” Bochy said. “In my mind, it’s just his time. It’s his time to start an All-Star Game. That’s why I chose him.”

As far as the lineups, there is plenty of power and versatility throughout. Both managers kept teammates together in the Nos. 3-4 spots with the AL boasting New York Yankees stars Juan Soto and Aaron Judge back-to-back, while the NL will go with Philadelphia Phillies stars Trea Turner and Bryce Harper.

Just how deep are the lineups in general? Well, left fielder Profar is batting ninth for the NL and Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien is batting ninth for the AL. Profar – who made his major league debut at age 19 with the Rangers in 2012 — has spent most of his time as the Padres’ No. 3 batter this season, while Semien is usually the leadoff man for Bochy.

“The toughest thing about the lineup is picking the last two or three,” said Bochy, who is managing his fifth All-Star team.

For the game itself, both managers understand the importance of getting every player involved in some fashion. This is a glorified exhibition, after all.

The competitive juices, however, will be flowing once the game starts. Skenes said his goal is to throw 100-mph fastballs, just like he does in normal starts. And he would be more than OK matching up against Judge on the All-Star stage.

“Yeah, it will be cool,” Skenes said.

However, Bochy chimed in: “I hope he does. It means one guy got on.”

In the end, the back-and-forth banter is all in good fun. Just like the All-Star Game is meant to be.

“This is an absolute honor to be sitting up here,” Lovullo said. “With this group beside me, I get a chance to sit among the biggest stars in the game. It’s going to be one of the absolute baseball highlights of my life.”

The NL won last year’s game, ending what had been a nine-year winning streak by the AL. Overall, the AL owns the all-time series 47-44-2.

– Field Level Media

Teoscar Hernandez; “In Front” at Derby

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ARLINGTON (Texas)   (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Teoscar Hernandez became the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night at Globe Life Field.

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Hernandez edged Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in the final, clubbing 14 homers to Witt’s 13. It came down to the wire, as Witt nearly tied things up when he sent a deep fly ball to left-center, but it didn’t end up clearing the wall.

Hernandez was the 11th different player in Dodgers history to compete in the event. He advanced out of the opening round with 19 home runs, then defeated the Philadelphia Phillies’ Alec Bohm in a three-swing swing-off in the semifinals.

Bohm and Hernandez had each hit 14 long balls to force the swing-off.

In the final, Hernandez went first and hit 11 home runs during regulation. He added three more in the bonus round.

Witt had 11 home runs in regulation and was down to his final out of the bonus session when he cranked his 12th home run, which traveled 450 feet and bought him an additional out. He added one more homer before his rally fell just short.

–Drew Davison, Field Level Media

Red Sox Take 4th Straight Series

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report). Boston’s Rafael Devers and Dominic Smith each hit a two-run home run to propel the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Kansas City Royals on Sunday in each team’s final game before the All-Star Break.

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Devers hit his 23rd home run of the season to give the Red Sox a 2-1 lead in the first inning, and Smith’s fifth home run increased the lead to 4-1 in the second. Both home runs came against Kansas City starting pitcher Brady Singer (5-6), who gave up four runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Jarren Duran went 4-for-5 for Boston, and David Hamilton added three hits. The Red Sox took two of three games against the Royals and have won their last four series.

Adam Frazier (No. 3 of the year) and Salvador Perez (No. 17) each hit a solo home run for the Royals. Frazier led off the game with a home run against Boston starter Brayan Bello (10-5), and Perez homered against Bello in the sixth.

Bello gave up three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. Kenley Jansen pitched two innings of relief to collect his 19th save. Jansen struck out the side in the eighth, but surrendered a run in the ninth.

After the home runs by Devers and Smith handed Boston a 4-1 advantage, Kansas City cut its deficit by a run in the fourth. Perez scored when MJ Melendez hit into a fielder’s choice. Melendez appeared to injure himself running to first on the play and was replaced in left field by Garrett Hampson the following inning.

The Royals were within 4-3 following the Perez home run in the sixth. Perez and Hunter Renfroe each collected two of Kansas City’s nine hits in the loss.

Smith had an RBI single that drove in Devers to make it 5-3 in the seventh.

Freddy Fermin had an RBI single in the ninth, but Hampson was thrown out at third by Ceddanne Rafaela on the play for the second out of the inning. Fermin was stranded at second.

–Field Level Media

65,000 Watch ARG Defeat Colombia

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MIAMI GARDENS – (Staff and Wire Service Report)  – With star teammate Lionel Messi sidelined by an apparent right ankle injury, substitute Lautaro Martinez led Argentina to a record 16th Copa America title with his goal in extra time for a 1-0 victory over Colombia Sunday night.

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Martinez, who entered the match in the seventh minute of added time, made the best of a brilliant through ball from Giovani Lo Celso to score his tournament-best fifth goal in the 112th minute overall.

Argentina, the 2022 World Cup champion, defended its 2021 Copa America crown while breaking a tie with Uruguay for the most titles at the tournament.

Colombia’s only title came in 2001 as the host nation. The Colombians had a 28-match unbeaten streak (22-0-6) come to an end on Sunday.

The start of the match was delayed 82 minutes from its original 8 p.m. ET kickoff due to ticketless fans breaching the gates, forcing a lockdown of the stadium. Later, because of the swell of people trying to get in, some gates were opened to allow anyone, ticket or not, entry.

The match ended at 12:09am (ET).

Messi, 37, exited the match in the 66th minute. He went down untouched, but after medical attention, he walked off the field with his right shoe in his hand and was shown on the bench in tears.

The injury originally occurred in the 35th minute after a hard challenge about a yard beyond the end line by Colombia’s Santiago Arias, who appeared to clip Messi in the leg before rolling on his right ankle. Messi stayed down for a few minutes before returning to the play.

A sellout crowd of over 65,000 saw Colombia control the first half but come up empty.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was forced to make four saves in the first half and saw a shot by Jhon Cordoba kiss the outside of the left post in the seventh minute.

However, Colombia didn’t have another shot on target for the remainder of the match, finishing with four to Argentina’s six.

Midfielder Angel Di Maria, 36, started in his final match for Argentina, ending his 17-year international career with 145 appearances, tied for third most in club history.

Di Maria was subbed out in the 117th minute.

–Field Level Media

Sox: Cheers to Kutter Sharp

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s starter, Kutter Crawford, tossed seven-plus scoreless innings to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 5-0 victory over the visiting Kansas City Royals on Saturday.

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Crawford (6-7) limited the Royals to two hits, struck out four and walked one. He exited after allowing a leadoff single to Maikel Garcia in the eighth.

The only other hit against him was a double by Garrett Hampson with one out in the third inning.

Crawford also pitched seven scoreless innings in his previous start to help the Red Sox defeat the New York Yankees 3-0 on July 10. He threw 68 pitches (54 strikes) in that game.

Rafael Devers hit his 22nd home run of the season on Saturday and Dominic Smith added two hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who began the day tied with the Royals for the final wild-card spot in the American League.

Devers’ home run was the 194th of his career and moved him past Jason Varitek and into the No. 11 spot for most home runs by a Red Sox player in franchise history. Devers, Jarren Duran and Reese McGuire also collected two hits for the Red Sox.

Kansas City starter Seth Lugo (11-4) began the day with the lowest ERA in the major leagues (2.21), but allowed five runs on 10 hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out six. His ERA rose to 2.48.

The loss ended Kansas City’s four-game winning streak.

Boston struck first when Smith singled and scored on McGuire’s double in the second.

The Red Sox extended their lead to 4-0 by scoring three runs with two outs in the third. Wilyer Abreu made it 2-0 when his double drove in Masataka Yoshida, and Smith followed with a two-run single that scored Devers and Abreu.

Devers’ home run put Boston up 5-0 in the fifth.

Kansas City was held to four hits, two of which came with two outs in the ninth.

KC’s Cole Ragans Shines vs Red Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Kansas City’s Cole Ragans allowed one run in seven innings to help the visiting Kansas City Royals extend their winning streak to four games by beating the Boston Red Sox 6-1 Friday night.

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Ragans (6-6) gave up four hits, struck out seven, walked one and looked great doing it.

Bobby Witt Jr. (No. 16 of the year) and MJ Melendez (No. 11) each hit solo home runs for the Royals, who scored a run in the first inning, three in the second, one in the fourth and one in the eighth.

Witt’s home run came against Boston starting pitcher Cooper Criswell (3-4). Witt will be among the contestants in Monday’s Home Run Derby during All-Star festivities. Criswell was called from Worcester for aq spot start Friday afternoon.

Melendez homered against Greg Weissert. Melendez has eight home runs in 14 career games against the Red Sox.

Witt, Melendez and Adam Frazier each had two hits and an RBI for Kansas City. Melendez and Frazier each scored twice, and veteran catcher Salvador Perez drove in two runs.

Ceddanne Rafaela collected two of Boston’s five hits. The Red Sox struck out 10 times.

Chris Stratton and Nick Anderson both tossed a scoreless inning of relief for the Royals. Stratton struck out three after Boston’s first two batters reached base in the eighth.

Criswell allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings, but only two of the runs he gave up were earned.

Kansas City took a 1-0 lead when Perez hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Frazier in the first. An RBI single by Frazier, a sacrifice fly from Vinnie Pasquantino and an RBI single by Perez increased the lead to 4-0 in the second.

Back-to-back doubles by Jamie Westbrook and Rafaela cut Boston’s deficit to 4-1 in the bottom of the second, but Witt’s 429-foot home run made it 5-1 in the fourth. Melendez capped the scoring when he homered in the eighth.

Rob Refsnyder and Rafael Devers had Boston’s other hits in the loss.

–Field Level Media

Boston Faces KC After Impressive Work vs A’s

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox look to go into the All-Star break on a high note as they begin a three-game home series against the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

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A 7-0 win over Oakland on Thursday moved the Red Sox back to 10 games above the .500 mark, was their eighth win in their last 10 games, and secured their third straight series victory.

Connor Wong, Wilyer Abreu and Masataka Yoshida all socked home runs to highlight the team’s 10-hit attack — and 13th three-homer game of the season — while All-Star righty Tanner Houck threw six shutout, two-hit innings to post his eighth win.

Manager Alex Cora’s club will look to continue their winning ways for one more series before next week’s All-Star Game festivities in Arlington, Texas.

“I think what we need to do is to keep winning,” Cora said. “Obviously there’s a lot of conversation about a lot of stuff, but the main goal here is to keep winning and we’ve done a pretty good job the last month and a half accomplishing that, and we’re going to continue.”

Winning will be especially crucial this weekend against a Kansas City team that sits just a game back of the third and final wild-card spot in the American League postseason race. That spot is currently occupied by the Red Sox.

Yoshida has been on a 14-game tear to help Boston’s surge, hitting .346 with a .928 OPS and 12 RBIs in that span. He was 3-for-4 with four RBIs on Thursday.

“Great teammates, great supporting staff, everybody in the clubhouse working together for the win,” Yoshida said through an interpreter. “I’m really glad to be a part of that. … I knew from the beginning that we had something going on with this team.”

Boston has not announced a starting pitcher for Friday.

All-Star left-hander Cole Ragans (5-6, 3.28 ERA) is due to make the series-opening start for Kansas City, pitching for his first win since June 24 at Miami. He is one of three Royals arms who ranked in the top 15 in American League ERAs as of Wednesday.

The 26-year-old has matched his season high of seven innings pitched last Friday at Colorado, striking out eight and allowing just two runs on five hits in a no-decision.

Ragans will look to keep the Royals hot after they swept a Wednesday doubleheader in St. Louis, giving them a three-game win streak entering this weekend.

Eight players registered at least one RBI between the two games Wednesday. Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez and MJ Melendez drove in at least one in each game, with Perez homering in each contest. Especially key was the outfield, which combined for six runs scored and six RBIs in the sweep.

“It is outfield production, but there are nine guys in the lineup,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We don’t care what position they play, but right now, those guys are producing.”

When Ragans’ start in Boston is over, he will turn his attention to an All-Star Game in the stadium where he made his MLB debut for the Rangers in 2022.

“It’s cool that I have a lot of memories on that mound — my first Opening Day, my first big league start, my first big league win,” Ragans said of Globe Life Field. “It’s pretty cool. Of all places for my first (All-Star Game) to be, it just happens to be back (where) I stepped on a big league mound for the first time. It’s full circle.”

Prior to Wednesday’s sweep, Kansas City had been 5-14 in its last 19 road games.

A’s Even the Series vs Sox

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Red Sox: Big Games in July

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Oakland Athletics take aim at their second straight win and look to claim a series win versus the host Boston Red Sox in the rubber match of their three-game set tonight.

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Oakland, which is 5-3 in its last eight games, snapped a two-game skid Wednesday with a 5-2 win over Boston. Lawrence Butler ripped a two-run double, Max Schuemann also had two hits and left-hander JP Sears pitched scoreless ball over the first five innings.

Butler has recorded multiple RBIs in consecutive games for the first time in his career.

“It builds confidence, for sure,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “Those two balls he hit (on Wednesday) were missiles, and a huge momentum swing in the game.”

The A’s had lost their previous four games against the Red Sox and last four at Fenway Park.

Looking to make the streak a positive one, Oakland’s Luis Medina (2-3, 4.37 ERA) is set to make his eighth start since being reinstated from the 60-day injured list in early June.

The Oakland Athletics take aim at their second straight win and look to claim a series win versus the host Boston Red Sox in the rubber match of their three-game set on Thursday.

Oakland, which is 5-3 in its last eight games, snapped a two-game skid Wednesday with a 5-2 win over Boston. Lawrence Butler ripped a two-run double, Max Schuemann also had two hits and left-hander JP Sears pitched scoreless ball over the first five innings.

Medina posted his second win on Saturday against another American League East foe in Baltimore, dealing five innings of one-run ball in an eventual 19-8 victory. It marked his third outing in the last four allowing just a single run, despite working through a bases-loaded jam in the third inning.

“Good thing that (catcher Shea Langeliers) and I got on the same plan together,” Medina said through interpreter Ramon Hernandez. “I was executing the pitches to get out of that inning, especially with a team like that.”

The right-hander won his only career start against the Red Sox, throwing 5 2/3 shutout innings on July 18, 2023.

The Red Sox have gone 2-2 in their last four games after a five-game win streak. Rob Refsnyder homered and Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran each had multiple hits on Wednesday.

Refsnyder’s long ball in the sixth inning snapped a personal 0-for-12 streak. Wednesday marked the fifth straight game with a homer for a Boston batter.

Overall, though, it wasn’t enough.

“We didn’t do much,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We’ve just got to keep working. … You’ve just got to stay the course.”

Cora’s club is still 7-2 in its last nine games overall.

After allowing 11 runs (eight earned) to San Diego and the New York Yankees over his last two starts, Red Sox righty Tanner Houck (7-6, 2.68) will look to duplicate his first career start against Oakland from earlier this season.

On April 1, Houck struck out 10 Athletics across six innings of shutout, three-hit baseball.

Houck will join fellow homegrown players Rafael Devers (who will sit out to rest an ailing shoulder) and Duran at Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game, but first he must move past lasting just 3 1/3 innings in a no-decision last Friday at Yankee Stadium.

However, the overall body of work for Houck — allowing two earned runs or fewer in 13 of his 18 starts — has put him in the conversation as one of baseball’s best.

“Lot of days of hard work, a lot of hours of having great conversations with people,” Houck said. “It all boils down to having an incredible coaching staff and teammates that stand by you every day and want you to get better and push you to get better. I’m … just trying to soak it all in.”

–Field Level Media