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GOOD YEAR https://www.redsuniformstore.com/Johnny_Bench_Jersey-15, Ariz. (AP) The Cincinnati Reds begin their search for a center fielder this weekend when they open spring training play. They have some intriguing options to replace Billy Hamilton, including the rare combination of a reliever who also plays the outfield.Hamilton, who was among the NL top defensive center fielders, struggled to hit and has signed with the Royals. Right fielder Scott Schebler is the leading candidate to move to center, where he played 16 games last season, but first-year manager David Bell is exploring some other options. He could try rookie Nick Senzel at the spot, or let newcomers Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp get some time there.He also getting reliever Michael Lorenzen ready to both pitch and play center field during spring training games, an unusual arrangement that has required changing his daily workout routine. Lorenzen was accustomed to it at Cal State Fullerton, where he played center and sometimes closed games. The Reds drafted him as a pitcher in 2013. He has lobbied for a dual role in the major leagues.Just pitching doesnt seem natural to me, Lorenzen said.Bell wants Lorenzen to get ready to pitch during the first half of camp, then will use him in the outfield in the later games and see what happens.We will have him pitch an inning and stay in the game (in the outfield), Bell said. It exciting. I have to slow myself down. I think it cool that he preparing himself the way he is https://www.redsuniformstore.com/Kyle_Farmer_Jersey-67.Instead of doing conditioning work with the other pitchers, Lorenzen will be working out with the outfielders more often.Weve come up with a pretty good plan, Lorenzen said. It them trusting that Im a good enough athlete to maybe not do all the (pitchers) conditioning. Running down balls in the outfield is conditioning.Bell other intriguing option is Senzel, who played third base at Tennessee. The Reds had him work out in the outfield in the offseason, getting the 23-year-old ready to try a new position https://www.redsuniformstore.com/Luis_Castillo_Jersey-31.It is a challenging position, Senzel said Youre covering a lot of ground. You have to cover the gaps.Bell thinks that Senzel speed will give him good range in the outfield. The challenge will be learning the nuances of the position. One of Senzel biggest challenges will be learning to communicate with the other outfielders when the ball in the air, something he never done in his career.Im going to be learning it in the big leagues, he said. I think that puts a more challenging aspect on it.GRAY SCRATCHED Sonny Gray was scratched from his planned start against the Indians on Saturday because of a sore pitching elbow. He expects to resume throwing next week and Tanner Roark, acquired from Washington, will start in his place.It is nothing Im overly worried about. Ive dealt with this in the past, Gray said Friday. Ill start throwing in a couple of days. I wanted to go out there and throw the first game of spring but it was everyone decision not to push it.Gray, a 29-year-old right-hander, was acquired from the New York Yankees last month and agreed to a $38 million, four-year contract with the Reds.
BALTIMORE (AP) There will be plenty of games this season in which the Minnesota Twins use the long ball to win. When that doesnt happen, theyre happy to go with Plan B.Such was the case Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, when Minnesota produced just enough runs without the benefit of a home run and got some clutch pitching from the bullpen in a 4-3 victory that cemented a three-game sweep.After hitting 11 homers in a doubleheader Saturday, the Twins found a different way to score. Nelson Cruz worked his way around the bases after being hit by a pitch, Willians Astudillo drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and a botched popup led to a pair of unearned runs. You never know how you come back after a big offensive night https://www.twinsapparelshop.com/Tyler_Austin_Jersey-43, manager Rocco Baldelli said. Obviously it wasnt like the night we had (Saturday) but it was still good. Guys grinded through it and we scored just enough.Kyle Gibson (1-0) gave up two runs and five hits over six innings, walking none and striking out six. The right-hander retired the last eight batters he faced.I get pretty frustrated when I walk guys or give up homers, Gibson said. If I execute my pitches, Ill keep the ball in the park.Trevor Hildenberger worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth before Taylor Rogers did the same in the ninth.With closer Blake Parker ailing, Rogers gave up an RBI double to Jonathan Villar before issuing an intentional walk to Trey Mancini to load the bases with two outs. After going to 3-0 on pinch-hitter Pedro Severino, Rogers secured his third save with a fly ball to right.It was only the second time this season that the Orioles did not give up a home run. They allowed a major league-high 57 in their first 22 games https://www.twinsapparelshop.com/Trevor_May_Jersey-27.Minnesota slugger Eddie Rosario, who hit five homers in his previous three games, went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts.And still, the Twins won.It took several of our players to come up with big, big efforts, Baldelli said. That was a true team effort.Baltimore starter Dylan Bundy (0-3) allowed four runs, two earned, and seven hits in six innings. Although he lost his third straight start, he kept the ball in the park after allowing seven home runs in his previous four outings.Bundy was good. He gave us six really good innings, kept us in the game, manager Brandon Hyde said. Pitched well against a good lineup.After a 4-1 start, the last-place Orioles have lost 14 of 18 and are 1-9 at home.We were just a run short, Hyde said. We had opportunities in the eighth, didnt cash in, and put together a nice rally in the ninth inning. It just didnt happen.Baltimore woes began on the second pitch of the game, when Jorge Polanco lifted a popup that Dwight Smith Jr. lost in the sun for a three-base error. Astudillo followed with a double and C.J. Cron hit an RBI single.Smith got those unearned runs back with a two-run single in the third, making it 3-2 before Astudillo delivered a sacrifice fly in the fourth.WRIGHT OUTThe Orioles designated right-hander Mike Wright for assignment and recalled Gabriel Ynoa from Triple-A Norfolk. Wright was 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA, and Baltimore needed a fresh arm after Saturday doubleheader Adalberto Mejia Jersey. Hyde said Wright had good stuff but had a lot of misses in the middle of the plate. Wright gave up five homers and 14 runs in 10 appearances this season.TRAINERS ROOMTwins OF Max Kepler and Parker missed the entire series because of a stomach bug. Kepler insisted it was food poisoning, noting, I think it was some fish.Orioles Smith left in the seventh inning with right quadriceps tightness. Honestly, the way I feel I probably could play (Monday), he said. RHP Nate Karns (right forearm strain) lasted only 18 pitches in his rehab assignment Saturday with Norfolk. Hyde said team doctors would check to see if his arm needs more rest.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli really wanted to give Byron Buxton a rest, a day after the center fielder bruised his ribs when he crashed into the wall chasing down Adalberto Mondesi inside-the-park home run.But then the perfect situation arose to insert the speedster Wednesday, and Baldelli made the move. After Nelson Cruz drew a leadoff walk in the ninth, Buxton entered as a pinch-runner.On the next pitch, Buxton swiped second, his 30th straight successful steal. Eddie Rosario followed with a single and Buxton scored the go-ahead run as the Minnesota Twins used a late rally for the second straight day, beating the Kansas City Royals 7-6 https://www.royalsfansapparel.com/Kevin_McCarthy_Jersey-28.That the only thing he was going to be used for today, regardless of what else happened in the game, Baldelli said. He did not waver one bit. He said he was feeling good and he went out there and changed the game again. That the kind of stuff that he can do Mark Gubicza Jersey.Max Kepler hit a tying, two-run single with two outs in the Twins eighth.Willians Astudillo and Mitch Garver each had three hits and scored twice for Minnesota.Whit Merrifield extended his hitting streak to 25 games, tied with George Brett and Mike Sweeney for third longest by a Royals player. Alex Gordon homered and drove in four runs for Kansas City.Mondesi kept up his fast start for the Royals with two more hits, including his third triple of the season. The 23-year-old shortstop also flashed the leather in the field, laying out for a catch in shallow left to leave the bases loaded in the sixth and then starting an inning-ending double play with two runners on in the seventh https://www.royalsfansapparel.com/Kevin_Appier_Jersey-61.Trevor May (1-0) threw 1 2 3 scoreless innings to earn the win and Blake Parker picked up his second save in as many days.The game drew an announced crowd of 10,575. A day earlier, the Twins scored the tying run in the ninth and won 5-4 in the 10th on an RBI single by Cruz that game drew 10,024, the lowest at Kauffman Stadium in eight years.Despite surrendering a run in the first, Twins starter Kyle Gibson cruised through 4 2 3 innings. But after retiring the first two hitters in the fifth, the next seven batters reached base one on an error and he left with the Royals leading 6-3. Albert Mejia threw 2 1 3 innings to keep the Twins in the game.I mean, Mejia did a great job. He came in and gave the offense the break they needed right then and put up a couple zeros and gave our guys a chance to fight back, Gibson said. We got a lot of quality arms done there and the ability to put up zeros quick and give the team a chance to get one run at a time.Three Twins relievers combined for 4 1 3 scoreless innings. The Kansas City bullpen faltered, giving up four runs and six hits over four innings.Whenever youre at home and get a come-from-behind loss like that, it always frustrating, Gordon said. It early. We have to keep running them out there and giving them chances https://www.royalsfansapparel.com/Jake_Diekman_Jersey-58. Hopefully it turns around.Homer Bailey, who was 1-14 with a 6.09 ERA last year with Cincinnati, was solid in his Kansas City debut. He threw five innings, allowing five hits and three runs and striking out eight. But for the second consecutive day, the Royals bullpen couldnt shut down the Twins.He spotted his fastball well. He had a good split, a good breaking ball. He made a couple of mistakes. But all in all, I thought it was a good first outing for him, manager Ned Yost said.GETTING IN A GROOVE After three off days in the first week of the season, Kansas City will play games on 19 consecutive days beginning Saturday at Detroit, something Yost is looking forward to.Im glad we get past Friday and we get to roll for a while, Yost said. Im happy for that.The Twins have five days off in the first 12 days of the season, the most in baseball. Beginning April 12, Minnesota has a game on 13 straight days.ROSTER MOVES Kansas City added Bailey to the roster prior to the game. RHP Chris Ellis, who made his major league debut on Sunday, was designated for assignment.
PHOENIX (AP) The Texas Rangers were only down a run despite being no-hit, so Lance Lynn knew he had to keep them in the game.Lynn did his job well, and the Rangers offense woke up in the later innings. Lynn struck out nine over six solid innings, Hunter Pence homered into Chase Field swimming pool and the Rangers rallied after being no-hit for five innings to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 Wednesday night.Lynn (1-1) pitched four-hit ball to help Texas end a four-game skid. The Rangers overcame an excellent start from Arizona Robbie Ray, who struck out 10 and allowed two hits and a run over five innings https://www.rangersteamfansshop.com/Joey_Gallo_Jersey-14.I was trying to keep it as close as I can, because he (Ray) had really good stuff, Lynn said. We were able to finally get to him there in the sixth and then we were able to scratch a few more, so it was a good team win.Andrew Chafin (0-1) pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth but was charged with a run an inning later.Logan Forsythe drove in two for Texas https://www.rangersteamfansshop.com/Mike_Minor_Jersey-68. The Rangers scored two key runs in the top of the ninth off reliever Matt Andriese.Rangers closer Jose Leclerc, who blew a save chance and a two-run lead Tuesday, loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning, hitting Carson Kelly and Adam Jones with consecutive pitches after walking Ildemaro Vargas. Leclerc walked Jarrod Dyson to make it 5-2, but Kyle Bird worked out of the jam for his first career save.Jose, I wanted to put the ball right back in his hands, Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. Well get it sorted out. He a great kid, and weve got 100 confidence in him. The Rangers thwarted Ray no-hit bid in the sixth with a leadoff single for Delino DeShields. DeShields stole second and took third on a throwing error by Kelly, the catcher. Forsythe singled hard through a drawn-in infield to tie it at 1.Chafin came on with the bases loaded and struck out Joey Gallo, then got Asdrubal Cabrera to bounce into an inning-ending double play.The next inning, Chafin walked Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who took second on a sacrifice. One out later, Archie Bradley relieved Chafin and gave up DeShields run-scoring hit on a 3-1 pitch.Pence first home run of the season gave the Rangers a two-run lead in the eighth. Kiner-Falefa beat the throw home on pinch-hitter Rougned Odors ground ball in the ninth, after the Rangers challenged and the out call was overturned.Odor later scored on Forsythe single.We did a lot of things well, Woodward said. Got a lot of solid at-bats in big spots, good baserunning, obviously Lance had himself a great performance. Just a gritty, gritty game.Ray struck out five Rangers in a row between the second and third innings. He also made the game best defensive play when he hustled off the mound to scoop up DeShields roller and shoveled the ball from his glove to first base for the first out of the fourth inning.The Diamondbacks took the lead in the third inning. Eduardo Escobar scored on a wild pitch from Lynn.Ray allowed only three baserunners through the first five innings, none via a hit. They were Forsythe on catcher interference in the top of the fourth, Cabrera in the fifth on Escobar error at third base and a walk to Kiner-Falefa to put two runners on base in the fifth.Felt like everything was working for me, Ray said. With the strikeouts, the pitch count got a little elevated.They had some tough at-bats. It a credit to them, they kept battling Yohander Mendez Jersey, Ray added.The Diamondbacks got a second run taken off the scoreboard in the fifth when Escobar flyball flew over the fence down the right field line and was originally ruled a home run. After a quick umpire review, the ball was determined to have been hit foul, and Escobar ended up striking out.RAY WAYRay has allowed three or fewer hits in each of his first three starts of the season, the longest such streak in Diamondbacks history. He also has a 1.86 ERA with 56 strikeouts in his last seven starts at home, dating to August. Ray recorded his 17th career game with 10 or more strikeouts.THIRD CATCHER The Diamondbacks called up catcher Caleb Joseph from Triple-A Reno before Wednesday game. Joseph took the place of pitcher Jon Duplantier, who was sent down to Reno to get more work as a starting pitcher.