Angels’ Mike Trout singles to end 0-for-26 slide
UNDATED (AP) — Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout singled in his first at-bat against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night, ending a career-worst 0-for-26 drought.
Trout snapped his skid in Los Angeles’ first home game following a six-game trip to the East Coast. His previous worst slide was 0 for 21 in May of 2018. The three-time MVP previously had a hit May 28 at home against the Toronto Blue Jays, when he went 3 for 4 with a home run. During road series last week against the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, he was 0 for 21 in 24 trips to the plate, dropping his average to .274.
His struggles contributed to the Angels’ 11-game losing streak entering Monday. The club record in a season is a 12-game losing streak in 1988.
In other Monday MLB action:
—Bo Bichette hit one of three Toronto home runs and five Blue Jays pitchers combined on a two-hitter in an 8-0 win over the Kansas City Royals. Ross Stripling (2-1) earned the win as he allowed just one hit over five innings, matching his season high. He struck out two and didn’t walk a batter. Stripling pitched more than four innings for just the second time this season. Stripling, who made his sixth start, has been used out of the bullpen eight times. Bichette’s home run was the first Toronto hit of the night after the game was delayed 2:05 because of weather. Daniel Lynch (2-5) took the loss. He allowed six runs on six hits, with two walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
—Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run triple in the ninth inning to complete his first cycle, giving him six RBIs in boosting Carlos Carrasco and the New York Mets to an 11-5 win against the San Diego Padres. Escobar tripled over the head of right fielder Nomar Mazara with two outs in the ninth. He pulled into third base and pumped his fist as teammates cheered in the dugout nearby. Escobar hit a two-run moonshot homer that sailed well over the party deck atop the right field wall off Craig Stammen with no outs in the eighth. It was his fifth.
—Mariners manager Scott Servias was ejected for his role in a benches-clearing scuffle in the ninth inning of Seattle’s 7-4 win over the Houston Astros, a game in which Cal Raleigh had a career-high four RBIs and Julio Rodriguez hit a late two-run shot. With two outs in the ninth, Houston’s Héctor Neris plunked Ty France in the back. Players and coaches on both sides began chirping at each other, and Servais led the way as Seattle’s bench emptied to confront the Astros near home plate. Rodriguez pulled Neris away from the scrum, while Servais and Houston manager Dusty Baker were at the center of the pushing and shoving.
—Hunter Greene allowed a bunt single to begin the game and then faced the minimum through seven innings, retiring his final 20 batters as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-0 in a rain-shortened game. After a total of 46 minutes in delays, the game was called.
— The Cleveland Guardians were postponed by rain at home for the seventh time this season on Monday as their series opener against the Texas Rangers was called 20 minutes before the first scheduled pitch. The teams were rescheduled for a traditional doubleheader on Tuesday, with the first game starting at 3:10
AP Source: Keuchel agrees to minor league deal with D-backs
UNDATED (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a minor league contract with former Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
The person spoke to The Associated Press Thursday on the condition of anonymity because the move has not been announced. The left-hander was recently released by the Chicago White Sox after having a 2-5 record with a 7.88 ERA through eight starts. He was in the final season of a $55 million, three-year deal. The 34-year-old Keuchel won the AL Cy Young Award with the Houston Astros in 2015 and is also a two-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner.
In other MLB news:
— Outfielder Yordan Álvarez and the Houston Astros finalized a $115 million, six-year contract covering 2023-28. Álvarez hit .277 last year and set career highs with 33 homers and 104 RBIs. He s hitting .295 with 16 homers and 34 RBIs this year, all team highs.
—The Minnesota Twins have placed right-hander Bailey Ober on the 15-day injured list with a strained right groin. Ober became the fifth sidelined pitcher for the Twins among the eight who have started three or more games for them this season.
