The Toronto Blue Jays put on a clinic against the Boston Red Sox in a doubleheader on Wednesday, sweeping both games with a score of 4-2.
In the first game, the Blue Jays wasted no time in taking the lead, scoring three runs in the second inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a powerful two-run double and Randal Grichuk contributed an RBI single.
The Red Sox tried to mount a comeback, scoring two runs in the third inning, but the Blue Jays were able to hold on and secure the win.
Vlad Jr. leads the charge as Blue Jays’ pitching dominates Red Sox in doubleheader sweep
The second game saw the Blue Jays take an early lead once again, thanks to a massive two-run homer by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Red Sox were able to score a run in the fourth inning, but it was not enough as the Blue Jays added two more runs in the fifth inning to solidify their victory.
The Blue Jays‘ starting pitchers, Robbie Ray and Steven Matz, both delivered excellent performances and earned their team the wins. Ray struck out an impressive nine batters over six innings in the first game, while Matz only allowed one run over five innings in the second game.
The Blue Jays‘ impressive performance brings their season record to 8-3, while the Red Sox now sit at 5-6. It was a tough day for the Red Sox, but the Blue Jays showed that they are a force to be reckoned with and will be a team to watch as the season continues.
Shohei Ohtani continues to prove on each opportunity he has that he’s the best baseball player in the world and at his current pace, he might be among the best in the sport’s history due to his unbelievable skills not only batting, but being an absolute menace for opposite batters when he takes the mound.
During the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday 2-0 win over the Washington Nationals, Shohei Ohtani secured his 10th consecutive pitching start in which he’s allowed two or fewer runs, breaking the tie for the record with legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan, who had nine consecutive starts with two or fewer runs allowed between 1972 and 1973.
The Nationals managed to bat just one hit against the Japanes in seven innings, his ERA over this past 10 starts is just 0.84.
Shohei Ohtani is having an incredible start of the 2023 MLB season
Shohei Ohtani had only allowed one run in 12 innings pitched across his two first starts for the Angels this season, striking out 18 batters and giving out just seven walks entering Tuesday’s game against the Nationals.
Ohtani’s 2023 season ERA so far is just 0.47, which is mind blowing for a pitcher with as many innings pitched as him.
Julio Urias and Max Muncy shined today, with the first baseman hitting a three-run round-tripper and a grand slam, making it his tenth game where he’s had more than one base hit.
Mookie Betts opened the game with a home run to help the Los Angeles Dodgers comfortably beat the San Francisco Giants 9-1 in the third win of the season for Julio Urias.
Max Muncy had quite a night with a three-run homer and a grand slam
Muncy hit his third career grand slam and his first one since July 1, 2021 against Washington Nationals. His seven RBIs were a personal record surpassing the five RBIs he has pushed on three occasions, the last on June 9, 2022.
Julio Uras struck out eight Giants
Meanwhile, Julio Uras (3-0) struck out eight Giants, gave up two walks, and allowed one run and four hits in six innings. The lefty received plenty of support from his offense.
Wilmer Flores connected on a home run to open the fourth inning to put the Giants on the board
Giants ace Logan Webb (0-3) struck out six in six innings but was saddled with his third loss of the season in a difficult start to the year for the Rocklin CA native. This was the first game in which the Giants faced a National League team.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers ended a streak of three consecutive losses in which they allowed 29 runs in the last three four-game series in Arizona.
Freddie Freeman singled in the third for a five-game hitting streak, while Betts added a pair of singles for his second home run of the year.
Los Angeles has won nine of the last 10 National League West Division crowns, including eight in a row before the 107-win Giants overtook the 106-win Dodgers on the final day of the 2021 season.
This Friday, on the second day of activities of the 2023 MLB season, the Houston Astros received their World Series championship rings after winning the 2022 title. In the ceremony, prior to the second game of the series against the Chicago White Sox, manager Dusty Baker was the first to walk to the center of the diamond, but now as the champion manager of the Major League Baseball.
Baker was the first to receive his ring. Behind him paraded the assistant coaches, medical staff and everyone involved with the team’s front office.
In front of a full house at Minute Maid Park, the ceremony was simple and emotional for those present, as several of the honorees were moved to tears. While the fans in the stands enjoyed the conquest of their second title in just half a decade since they were moved to the American League.
“It’s one of those moments in your career that you’ll never forget. Everything that happened in my first year in the Major Leagues is unbelievable. This is a very special group,” said Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the Fall Classic.
Pea was the first player, followed by Jos Altuve, who missed the start of the season with a fractured thumb on his right hand, and the parade of champion players continued, including catcher Jason Castro, who retired after this season.
All received the ring from team owner Jim Crane, his wife and Dusty Baker. The presentation was extended to 2,000 employees, who make up the champion team, as well as to the players who left the organization during the off-season and who will receive their rings in the next few days.
“The Astros have created a legacy in the Major Leagues and it has been incredible to witness their success,” said Chris Poitras, general manager and senior vice president of the Professional Sports Division of Jostens, the designer and manufacturer of the rings. “Jostens is proud to once again celebrate this team with a unique ring that tells the story of their season. This ring is filled with details that bring the Astros championship to life (…).”
While for the fans, the team gave them a miniature replica of the Major League Champions trophy as a souvenir.
How much do the Houston Astros championship rings cost?
The pieces were crafted in 14-karat white and yellow gold with hand-set gems, and contain clever narrative details, depicting the championship season that was 2022.
The top features the traditional letter “H” that is part of the team’s logo, with custom-cut orange sapphires and 11 baguette diamonds, symbolizing their five American League West Division titles, four American League championships and two World Series crowns – their entire record as a franchise. The amount of each piece has not been disclosed at this time.
The star’s yellow gold border is set with 71 round diamonds, referring to the 71 strikeouts accumulated by its pitching staff in the World Series, which became a Major League record.
Around the logo are 117 diamonds, for the number of wins the team had in the regular season and playoffs.
Shohei Ohtani is a superstar unlike any seen before, to the point where many are already calling him the ‘new Babe Ruth‘. And while he still has a long way to go to reach the legendary status of the great Bambino, the truth is that he is currently the most complete baseball player in the world.
Ohtani was a key player in Japan’s 3-2 victory over Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, which the Japanese squad won for the third time in their history. In fact, the Los Angeles Angels star was named MVP of the tournament and has practically everyone at his feet.
But one thing that draws attention to Ohtani is that, despite being in the MLB since 2018, he doesn’t speak English in his interviews, but through a translator. This has generated criticism from ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith, who said that a player who requires an interpreter is not the best representation of baseball in the United States.
The reason is very simple: he doesn’t speak it fluently as he would like.
Ohtani explained in an interview with GQ why he prefers to speak in Japanese during his interviews: “If I could speak English, I would speak English,” he says in Japanese. “Of course, I would want to do that. Obviously, there would be no negatives that would come from that.
“But I came here to play baseball, at the end of the day, and I felt that my game on the field could be my way of communicating with people, with fans. That’s all I really took from it in the end.”
Ohtani learned English in Japan, as it is a mandatory part of the curriculum, but he points out that the way they taught them English was to meet a certain standard, not to become fluent speakers.
Since he doesn’t speak English fluently, he prefers to speak in Japanese and have his words translated by an interpreter.
Shohei Ohtani emerged from the bullpen and fanned Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out in a matchup the whole baseball world wanted to see, leading Japan over the defending champion United States 3-2 Tuesday night for its first World Baseball Classic title since 2009.
Ohtani, the two-way star who has captivated fans across two continents, was voted MVP of the WBC and clutched the award against his chest.
Ohtani beat out an infield single in the seventh inning as a designated hitter before walking down the left-field line to Japan’s bullpen to warm up for his third mound appearance of the tournament.
Ohtani closed the first game of his career, and it was magic
Flashing his 100 mph heat, Ohtani walked big league batting champion Jeff McNeil to begin the ninth before getting Mookie Betts to ground into a double play.
Trout, the U.S. captain and a three-time MVP, then ended the game by striking out on a full-count breaking ball. Ohtani’s only other save was in a Japan postseason playoff game in 2016.
Ohtani batted .435 with one homer, four doubles, eight RBIs and 10 walks as Japan joined the Dominican Republic in 2013 to become the only unbeaten champions of baseball’s premier national team tournament. Ohtani, the 2021 AL MVP was 2-0 with a save and a 1.86 ERA on the mound, striking out 11 in 9 2/3 innings.
Japan went 7-0 and outscored opponents 56-18, reaching the final for the first time since winning the first two WBCs in 2006 and 2009. No other nation has won the title more than once.
Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto homered as Japan built a 3-2 lead.
Trea Turner put the U.S. ahead in the second with his record-tying fifth home run of the tournament and Kyle Schwarber pulled the Americans within a run when he went deep in the eighth off Yu Darvish.
It was the second straight major title for the Japanese, who beat the U.S. 2-0 in Yokohama for the 2021 Olympic gold medal. Japan used top players in that tournament while the U.S. sent released major leaguers and top prospects.
Turner put the U.S. ahead in the second inning with a drive to left against Shota Imanaga (1-0), tying South Korea’s Seung Yuop Lee in 2006 for the most in a WBC. That lit up a sellout crowd of 36,098 – fans were given wristbands with colored lights that flickered.
Murakami, at 23 already a two-time Central League MVP, tied the score on the first pitch of the bottom half when Merrill Kelly (0-1) elevated a fastball. Murakami drove it at 115.1 mph into the right-field upper deck, 432 feet away.
Murakami’s game-ending double lifted Japan over Mexico 6-5 in Monday night’s semifinal and his third-inning homer off Nick Martinez put Japan ahead in the 2021 gold medal game.
Japan loaded the bases in the second on singles by Okamoto and Sosuke Genda, and a walk to Yuhei Nakamura. Lars Nootbaar, the first non-Japanese-born player to appear for the Samurai Warriors, followed with a run-scoring groundout off Aaron Loup for a 2-1 lead.
Okamoto boosted the lead in the fourth when he sent a flat slider from Kyle Freeland over the wall in left-center.
Japan was outhit 9-5 as Imanaga combined with six relievers to hold the U.S. to 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. The 29-year-old left-hander and Shosei Togo pitched two innings each, Hiroto Takahashi, Hiromi Itoh and Taisei Ota got three outs each, with Ota escaping two-on, no-outs trouble by retiring Trout on a flyout and getting Paul Goldschmidt to ground into a double play.
Trout and Ohtani hugged behind the batting cage during pregame workouts, then held their nation’s flag while leading their teams toward home plate in single file during the introductions, Trout down the right-field line and Ohtani in left.
Several thousand fans had arrived hours early to watch Ohtani take batting practice and applauded when he hit a drive off the video board above the second deck in center.
Trout hit .296 in the tournament with one homer, seven RBIs and 12 strikeouts.
MONEY MATTERS
Japan gets $3 million in prize money and the U.S. $1.7 million. Half of each goes to players, the other half to the national baseball federaton.
UP NEXT
MLB openers are March 30, the same day the season starts in Japan.
Mike Trout had three hits and three RBIs as the United States enjoyed a brilliant night from its reserve pitching squad to defeat Colombia 3-2 and advance to the quarterfinals in the World Baseball Classic.
Mexico and the United States finished 3-1 in Pool C to advance to the next round. Mexico finished first after its 11-5 victory over the United States on Sunday.
Trout singled in the third to drive in Mookie Betts to make it 1-0. Colombia rallied quickly and went up 2-1 in the bottom of the third on Gio Urshela’s sacrifice fly and Reynaldo Rodriguez’s RBI double.
Trout put the Americans ahead again in the fifth with a two-run single that drove in runs for Betts and Will Smith.
Merrill Kelly allowed two runs in three innings for the Americans. Kelly then gave way to a series of power pitchers waiting in the bullpen: Kendall Graveman, Daniel Bard, David Bednar, Jason Adam, Devin Williams and Ryan Pressly each pitched a scoreless inning to round out the victory.
Colombia started the tournament with a win over Mexico, but then lost three straight games to Canada, Great Britain and the United States. The South American nation played a fantastic tournament, and was barely edged out by the US in Phoenix.
A crowd of 29,856 people attended the game at Chase Field, and saw the reigning champs qualify to the quarter finals of the WBC for the fifth time in tournament history.
In a stunning upset at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Puerto Rico defeated the heavily favored Dominican Republic team, but the victory came at a cost for New York Mets‘ pitcher Edwin Diaz.
Diaz was carried off the field after celebrating the win with his Puerto Rican teammates, leaving fans and coaches alike concerned about the extent of his injury.
Edwin Diaz appears to have suffered an injury during Puerto Ricos celebration pic.twitter.com/G9Md6SBrEj
The Dominican Republic team, which was favored to win the entire tournament according to DraftKings Sportsbook, has now been eliminated from contention.
For Diaz, this is a devastating setback, especially given that he recently signed a five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets, making him the highest-paid relief pitcher in the league.
Concerns arise for Diaz’s availability for upcoming MLB season
The Mets are considered strong contenders for the 2023 World Series, with odds of +750 on DraftKings Sportsbook, just behind the reigning champions, the Houston Astros.
Here is Edwin Diaz’s brother, Alexis Diaz, in tears after his brother went down.
If Diaz is out for an extended period of time, the Mets will need to rely on other key relief pitchers like Adam Ottavino and David Robertson. Additionally, players such as Brandon Berger, Drew Smith, and John Curtiss will need to step up and account for Diaz’s innings.
Unfortunately, based on the severity of the injury, it is unlikely that Diaz will be ready for the opening day of the 2023 MLB season. This news is a blow to both the Mets and Diaz, but fans are hopeful that the team can still make a strong showing in the upcoming season.
Freddie Freeman, the brightest star in Canada’s World Baseball Classic roster and Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman suffered what appeared to be a hamstring injury during the third inning of their first round game against Colombia.
Freeman exited the game and was replaced by Denzel Clark shortly after, in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Canada’s manager said Freddie Freeman is unlikely to play
Canada will arrive to their fourth game of the tournament holding a 2-1 record just like their last rival, Mexico, who looked really good in their win on Sunday against the United States, and manager Ernie Whitt told reporters that’s unlikely that Freeman takes the field in the crucial game as the winner will secure their spot in the next round.
“He had tightness in his hammy. Of course for precautionary reasons we took him out of the game right away. He felt something on one of his swings in his second at-bat. I don’t foresee Freddie being in for tomorrow. We’re waiting from the doctors to see what they say and also the Dodgers. Again, that’s the most important thing is his health,” Whitt reportedly expressed.
Mexico and Canada cleared the benches during 2013 WBC
Canada and Mexico have a long history at the World Baseball Classic, including an all out brawl that cleared the benches during the 2013 edition of the tournament, after Mexico’s pitchers deliberately threw at Canandian batter’s body.
Mike Trout hit a three-run homer, Lance Lynn threw five impressive innings and the United States used a nine-run first to cruise past Canada 12-1 on Monday night in the World Baseball Classic.
The game was called after seven innings because of the tournament’s 10-run mercy rule.
The U.S. improved to 2-1 and bounced back from an 11-5 loss to Mexico on Sunday with its best offensive performance of the tournament. Canada fell to 1-1 before a crowd of 29,621 at Chase Field.
The Americans sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning. Nolan Arenado had a two-run double to start the scoring and Trout finished it by belting a low fastball into the left-center seats.
Lynn got the win, giving up one run and two hits while saving the bullpen for the team’s final game of pool play against Colombia on Wednesday. United States manager Mark DeRosa had to use eight pitchers on Sunday in the loss to Mexico.
Canada scored its lone run on Jared Young’s homer. Left-hander Mitch Bratt took the loss, giving up six earned runs while getting only one out.
