Others

In a thrilling Friday night matchup at Comerica Park, the Houston Astros rallied from behind to defeat the Detroit Tigers 5-2, snapping a four-game losing streak.Framber Valdez was the catalyst for Houston's victory, pitching seven strong innings while allowing only two runs on six hits. The left-hander has now compiled a remarkable 2.49 ERA in eight career starts against the Tigers.The Astros' offense struggled early against Tigers starter Casey Mize, who allowed just one run on five hits through the first five innings. However, Houston's bats came alive in the eighth inning, sparked by a leadoff single from Jose Altuve. Kyle Tucker followed with a walk, and Yordan Alvarez tied the game with a single down the right-field line.Jason Foley replaced Andrew Chafin on the mound for Detroit, but Jeremy Peña greeted him with an RBI single on his first pitch. A force out by Jon Singleton put runners on the corners, and Alex Bregman's grounder to third went through Matt Vierling's legs for an error, allowing another run to score. Yanier Diaz capped off the rally with a sacrifice fly to give Houston a 5-2 lead.Bryan Abreu pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Astros, and Josh Hader earned his fifth save by closing out the ninth.The Tigers, who debuted their new blue City Connect jerseys, took an early 2-0 lead in the third inning on a double by Vierling. However, Tucker's solo homer in the sixth brought Houston within one run.Detroit's ace, Tarik Skubal, will take the mound on Saturday against Cristian Javier, who is expected to be activated from the injured list for the Astros.

The Arizona Diamondbacks extended the Cincinnati Reds' losing streak to seven games with a 4-3 victory on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park.Jordan Montgomery was the catalyst for the Diamondbacks, allowing just two runs on seven hits over seven innings. The left-hander struck out two and walked two, continuing a trend of strong starting pitching for Arizona.Eugenio Suárez provided the offensive spark for the Diamondbacks, launching a two-out homer in the eighth inning to give his team a 4-2 lead. Christian Walker, Gabriel Moreno, and Pavin Smith also drove in runs for Arizona.Graham Ashcraft started for the Reds and allowed three runs on six hits over five innings. He exited the game with two runners on and no outs in the sixth inning, and Moreno singled home the go-ahead run.TJ Friedl's single in the ninth inning cut Arizona's lead to 4-3, but reliever Joe Mantiply struck out pinch-hitter Will Benson and induced a fly ball from Jonathan India to earn his first save.The Reds' offense struggled to keep pace with the Diamondbacks, with Stuart Fairchild and Jeimer Candelario providing the only RBIs. Cincinnati's bullpen also faltered, allowing two runs in the eighth inning.In other news, the Reds placed first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand on the 10-day disabled list and signed veteran first baseman Mike Ford to take his spot on the roster. Left-handed pitcher Bandon Williamson was also placed on the 60-day disabled list.The Diamondbacks will go for a sweep of the series on Thursday afternoon when they send right-hander Slade Cecconi to the mound against Reds right-hander Hunter Greene.

Cardinals Catcher Willson Contreras Fractures Forearm, Sidelined for Six WeeksSt. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras has suffered a devastating blow to his season, fracturing his left forearm after being struck by a swing during Tuesday night's game against the New York Mets. The three-time All-Star is expected to undergo surgery and miss at least six weeks of action.Contreras was injured in the second inning when Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez swung and connected with his forearm. The impact sent Contreras tumbling to the ground in agony. After being examined by the Cardinals' training staff, he was diagnosed with a left forearm fracture.The injury is a major setback for the Cardinals, who have relied heavily on Contreras's leadership and offensive production. The 31-year-old is hitting .280 with six homers and 12 RBIs this season."He's been doing such a phenomenal job," said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol. "He's an extreme competitor. He brings so much to the club performance-wise, but also with just his competitive nature, so to see him go down is tough."Contreras expressed his disappointment at missing significant time, but vowed to support his teammates from the sidelines."I'm really upset missing," Contreras said. "I know that it's going to be tough for me to watch the games and not out there with the guys, but I'm going to do my best to stay present, pick each other up and cheer for them because that's the best thing I can do."Martinez, who was awarded first base due to catcher's interference, expressed remorse for the incident."I hit meat," Martinez said. "I felt like I hit meat. I didn't hit like just like a glove where you kind of just point back to catcher, it was just solid. I was like, dude, I hit him good. ... I felt terrible."Contreras's injury is a reminder of the inherent risks involved in baseball. Despite the protective gear worn by catchers, they are often vulnerable to being struck by foul tips or wild swings.The Cardinals will now turn to Iván Herrera to fill the void behind the plate. Herrera, a 26-year-old prospect, has limited major league experience but has shown promise in the minors.

Tampa Bay Rays' Zach Eflin delivered a stellar performance on Tuesday night, leading his team to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Eflin's seven-inning outing saw him surrender only one run on six hits, showcasing his dominance on the mound.The Rays' offense provided ample support, with Randy Arozarena and Isaac Paredes contributing home runs. Arozarena's two-run homer in the third inning gave Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead, while Paredes' solo shot in the sixth extended the advantage to 5-0.Eflin's composure under pressure was evident in the fifth inning when he escaped a bases-loaded jam with a flyball from Gavin Sheets. He also retired Sheets on a grounder with two on and two outs in the seventh, further demonstrating his ability to navigate difficult situations.The White Sox, who have struggled throughout the season, were unable to mount a significant challenge against Eflin. Paul DeJong's solo homer in the seventh inning was their only offensive highlight.Michael Soroka, the White Sox starter, allowed four runs on three hits and four walks over five innings. Brad Keller, who relieved Soroka, surrendered Paredes' home run in the sixth.The Rays' victory marked their fifth consecutive win, improving their record to 19-18. The White Sox, on the other hand, dropped to 20 games under .500, equaling their season low.

San Diego Padres have acquired two-time batting champion Luis Arraez from the Miami Marlins in a four-player deal. The Padres will only be responsible for the major league minimum salary, as the Marlins will cover the majority of Arraez's remaining salary.Arraez, 27, won the 2022 AL batting title with the Minnesota Twins and the 2023 NL crown with the Marlins. He is a two-time All-Star and has hit over .300 in four of his five previous major league seasons.In exchange for Arraez, the Padres sent first baseman Nathan Martorella, outfielders Dillon Head and Jakob Marsee, and right-hander Woo-Suk Go to the Marlins.Arraez is expected to be a key addition to the Padres' lineup, which is currently 4 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. He is known for his exceptional contact skills and ability to put the ball in play.The Marlins, on the other hand, are rebuilding and are looking to acquire young talent. Martorella, Head, Marsee, and Go are all considered to be promising prospects.The trade has been met with mixed reactions. The Marlins are disappointed to lose Arraez, who was a popular figure in the clubhouse. However, the Padres are excited to add a player of his caliber to their team.Arraez is expected to make his Padres debut soon. He will be a valuable asset to the team as they look to make a run at the playoffs.

Cole Irvin's impressive scoreless streak continued on Friday night as the Baltimore Orioles shut out the Cincinnati Reds 3-0. Irvin extended his streak to 20 2/3 innings, allowing only two hits and striking out four batters in 6 1/3 innings.The game, delayed by rain for over two hours, saw Irvin dominate the Reds' lineup. After allowing a single to Elly De La Cruz in the first inning, Irvin retired 17 consecutive batters. He induced 11 groundball outs through six innings, showcasing his control and ability to keep the ball on the ground.The Orioles' offense struggled early against Reds starter Hunter Greene, who had thrown 14 scoreless innings coming into the game. However, Baltimore broke through in the seventh inning against reliever Emilio Pagán. Jorge Mateo led off with a single and stole second, setting the stage for Adley Rutschman's double that drove in Mateo. Ryan O'Hearn followed with a two-run homer to give the Orioles a 3-0 lead.Craig Kimbrel closed out the game for the Orioles, striking out the side in the ninth inning to earn his 11th save.The win marked Baltimore's fourth in five games, while the Reds dropped their third straight.

The Miami Marlins secured a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies in the bottom of the 10th inning on Thursday, completing a three-game sweep. Jesús Sánchez emerged as the hero, delivering a game-winning single that drove in Luis Arraez from second base.The Marlins' triumph was their second in extra innings during the series, having previously prevailed 7-6 in the opener. Sánchez's clutch hit came off reliever Jalen Beeks, who had entered the game in the 10th.Miami's offense was led by Arraez, who collected two hits, and Josh Bell, who homered in the third inning. Edward Cabrera started for the Marlins and struck out 16 batters in 4 2/3 innings, but was lifted after loading the bases with walks in the fifth.The Rockies, meanwhile, suffered their fifth consecutive loss and became the first team since 1900 to have trailed at some point in each of their first 31 games. Jacob Stallings provided the early offense for Colorado with a three-run homer in the second inning, but the Marlins responded with a solo blast from Bell in the third.In the fifth inning, the Rockies tied the game at 4-4 on a double play groundout by Ezequiel Tovar. However, Sánchez's heroics in the 10th ultimately sealed the victory for Miami.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Japanese star pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, continues to impress in his first Major League Baseball season. On Wednesday night, Yamamoto threw six scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, leading the Dodgers to an 8-0 victory.Yamamoto, who signed a $325 million, 12-year contract with the Dodgers during the offseason, has been dominant in his past six starts. After a rough outing in his first appearance, he has now lowered his ERA to 2.91. Against the Diamondbacks, he allowed only five hits and two walks while striking out five batters.The Dodgers' offense provided ample support for Yamamoto, scoring five runs in the second inning. Rookie Andy Pages hit a two-run homer, while Austin Barnes and Mookie Betts added RBI doubles and singles, respectively. Will Smith also contributed a solo homer in the third inning.Pages, who is on an eight-game hitting streak, has been a key contributor for the Dodgers since his call-up. He now has 10 RBIs in 14 games. Betts, the reigning National League MVP, had three hits in the game, while Miguel Rojas added two.The Diamondbacks' offense struggled against Yamamoto and the Dodgers' bullpen. Jordan Montgomery, who was pushed back one day after a bee infestation delayed Tuesday's game, gave up six runs on six hits and three walks in three innings. Blake Walston, making his MLB debut, allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings of relief.The Dodgers have now won eight of their past 10 games and took two of three games in the series against the Diamondbacks. They will return home for a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves on Friday, while the Diamondbacks will host the San Diego Padres.

In a pivotal matchup between the top two teams in the AL East, the New York Yankees emerged victorious over the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 on Wednesday night. Luis Gil, the Yankees' starting pitcher, delivered a dominant performance, outdueling Corbin Burnes, the Orioles' ace.Gil, in his longest outing of the season, allowed only two hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five batters and never allowed a runner to advance past first base. His impressive outing helped the Yankees avoid a sweep in the four-game series.The game's lone scoring came in the fifth inning when Oswaldo Cabrera launched a two-run homer over the right-field wall. The homer, which was upheld after a brief review, proved to be the difference in the low-scoring affair.Burnes, who was traded to Baltimore from Milwaukee this offseason, pitched well but was unable to match Gil's dominance. He allowed two runs on four hits over six innings, striking out six and walking one.The Yankees' bullpen, led by closer Clay Holmes, was equally impressive. Holmes pitched the final five outs, striking out Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman with two on to end the eighth inning. He then worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to secure his 10th save in 11 chances.The victory keeps the Yankees and Orioles virtually tied for first place in the AL East, with the Orioles holding a slight percentage point advantage.