PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Right-hander Jameson Taillon was quick to
admit that his victory over the Rockies on Aug. 7 at Colorado had more meaning
than becoming the first visiting pitcher to throw a complete game at Coors
Field in more than five years.
The key was that Taillon was facing Rockies right-hander
Chad Bettis. Both spent time on the disabled list last season because of
testicular cancer.
The last visiting pitcher to go the distance in Denver was
the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw on July 2, 2013.
❚ Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, acquired
in a trade with the Rays, will be used as a utility infielder by the Pirates. Jordy
Merceris the starting shortstop.
CHICAGO CUBS
If the Cubs repeat as National League Central champions, one
of the big reasons will be their ability to rally from behind.
David Bote’s dramatic grand slam with two outs
in the ninth inning Aug. 12, which turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 victory over
the Nationals, gave the Cubs their 37th come-from-behind win this season. That
was more than half of their 68 victories.
It also was only the sixth time since 1925 that a
pinch-hitter hit a walk-off slam with his team down by three runs. It was the
Cubs’ first walk-off grand slam when trailing by three runs since 1963.
Bote was hitting .429 (6for-14) with two outs and runners in
scoring position.
❚ The Cubs added a second veteran left-hander to their
bullpen by signing Jorge De La Rosa as a free agent. De La
Rosa had an impressive Cubs debut, pitching 1 1 / 3innings and
striking out four Aug. 11 in Chicago’s loss to the Nationals.
CINCINNATI REDS
The Reds planned to have right-hander Anthony DeSclafani start
on opening day both last year and this year. However, spring training injuries
caused him to miss all of 2017 and begin this season on the disabled list.
DeSclafani showed why the Reds consider him ace material
Aug. 10 when he beat the NL West-leading Diamondbacks. DeSclafani allowed three
hits in seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and no walks.
❚ Right-hander Robert Stephenson took
the loss in his return to the major leagues, allowing three runs (and five
walks) in four innings against the Mets at New York on Aug. 8 after being
recalled from Class AAA Louisville (Kentucky). Long considered a top prospect,
Stephenson pitched in 33 games for the Reds in 2016-17.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The Brewers’ newly fortified bullpen took a hit when two
members were placed on the disabled list.
Right-hander Joakim Soria strained his
right thigh Aug. 9 when he gave up a grand slam to the Padres’ Hunter Renfroe.
Right-hander Matt Albers had gone on the DL
two days earlier, retroactive to Aug. 5, because of a strained left
hamstring.
Soria has a 1.59 ERA in seven games with the Brewers since
being acquired July 26 from the White Sox in a trade.
Albers’ ERA is 6.23 ERA in 29 games.
Right-hander Jordan Lyles took Albers’
roster spot after being claimed off waivers from the Padres but got off to a
rough start with Milwaukee. Lyles gave up three runs in 2 1 / innings Aug.
10 in the Brewers’ loss to 3 the Braves at Atlanta.
❚ Second baseman Jonathan Schoop, acquired
from the Orioles on July 31 in a deadline trade, struggled to make the
transition from the American League to the National League. Schoop hit .154 in
his first 11 games with the Brewers and struck out in 16 of his 40 plate
appearances.
ST. LOUIS
CARDINALS
Right-hander Tyson Ross sat in the bullpen
for a week after being claimed off waivers from the Padres. But when he finally
got a chance to pitch, against the Royals on Aug. 12 at Kansas City, he made
sure the wait was worth it.
Ross gave up one run on three hits with eight strikeouts in
place of right-hander Luke Weaver, who was scratched because
of a freak accident the previous night in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman
Stadium.
Weaver cut his right index finger on a piece of aluminum
foil while trying to open a tray of food. The Cardinals training staff applied
glue to the cut but determined it might not hold for up to 90-100 pitches.
❚ The Cardinals announced that ace right-hander Carlos
Martinez will be in the bullpen for the remainder for the season —
whenever he returns from a sore shoulder, that is. But they stressed that they
simply want to facilitate his return and expect him to be a rotation candidate
again in spring training.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
BEN ZOBRIST, CUBS: The utility player turned 37
in May but continues to be a key player for the Cubs. He was
hitting .308, 42 points above his career average, with eight
home runs through 97 games. Zobrist had started 37 games at second base,
24 in right field, eight in left field and three at first base. He was MVP of
the 2016 World Series when the Cubs won their first title since 1908
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