MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2017 SPORTS Twins pitcher Nik Turley finally gets chance at MLB debut SAN FRANCISCO: Nik Turley never con- he has a chance to help the Twins to a Turley’s parents were set to fly in from that point, but he put himself in a posi- years in the minor leagues sidered it might be time to walk away three -game sweep. “That’s everyone’s the Los Angeles area for what is expect- tion by going out there and doing what or independent ball and something from his major league dreams for good. goal that picks up a baseball and a mitt ed to be more than a one-start stay in he needs to do.” clicks,” Samardzija said. “That’s why this Nobody would have blamed him if he when they’re a kid,” Turley said. the big leagues. Molitor planned to talk to Turley and game’s such a great game. It just takes a did, given his long, “bumpy” baseball “The journey, it’s been a long one, it “I think everybody that’s around the remind him not to put added pressure little bit of confidence and a little adjust- journey that included 2016 stints in the feels like, it’s been pretty bumpy, too. It’s game enjoys those stories when they on himself, mentioning “the old Hoosiers ment here or there and you can see a Dominican Winter League and inde- special, everything about it. I wouldn’t come up,” Minnesota manager Paul moment,” a reference to the basketball guy’s career take off.” Turley understood pendent ball.”I never thought that was change too much about it. I just Molitor said. “For a guy to be drafted in a movie about a small-town Indiana team why he didn’t get his chance to come up it,” he said, matter-of-factly, while set- believed in myself.” round that is now non-existent and to winning the state basketball champi- with the Giants in 2015, when he pitched tling into his space in the Twins club- The big left-hander and former 50th- find his way onto a map with a couple of onship. Giants starter Jeff Samardzija, at Triple-A Sacramento and Class A San house Saturday. It will be Turley’s time at round draft pick by the Yankees will face clubs, including 40-man stints, and then who took a 3-2 loss to Minnesota on Jose. He still knows some players with last on Sunday, his major league debut his former San Francisco organization having to go through some things and Saturday, credited Turley’s perseverance. San Francisco and has fond memories of for Minnesota at age 27 and in his 10th with family and friends flying in to watch fight his way back through independent “That’s really impressive. Resiliency in that year, his first time pitching in his professional season - right at home in him pitch at AT&T Park. Turley was ball, it was a good find for us, obviously.” this game is a very important attribute home state since high school.”Their rota- his native California, too. signed as a minor league free agent last The Twins discussed depth way back and I think as long as you know and tion was pretty stacked,” Turley said. While he would be thrilled to be October and has pitched between in spring training and Molitor had the have confidence in yourself that you “They had a whole lot of talent. We had a pitching in any ballpark for this long- Triple-A and Double-A this season, chance to say a quick hello to Turley have the skills to do it and you just need lot of good players on our team, too. The awaited moment, this is about as ideal a going 1-3 with a 2.05 ERA over 12 out- then. Yet the manager noted, “I don’t the time and need the practice, a lot of opportunities didn’t happen. Sometimes scenario as he could have scripted. And ings with 84 strikeouts and 15 walks. think he was really on anybody’s radar at time these guys go and play a handful of that happens.” — AP CHICAGO: Mark Reynolds #12 of the Colorado Rockies hits a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning on Saturday at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. — AFP BASEBALL Rockies beat Cubs for 7th straight win CHICAGO: Mark Reynolds and Charlie begin the first before Judge’s homer began a second straight late-inning win over the ties a franchise record set in 2000. first shutout of his career. Martinez’s 101st Blackmon homered, rookie Jeff Hoffman six-run burst. Tigers. The Red Sox have won 13 of 19. Sale (8- pitch of the game was a 100 mph fastball that pitched neatly into the seventh inning and the 2) pitched seven solid innings, giving up three RAYS 6, ATHLETICS 5, GAME 1 struck out Howie Kendrick for the second out Colorado Rockies won their seventh straight METS 6, BRAVES 1, GAME 1 runs on nine hits, striking out seven without ATHLETICS 7, RAYS 2, GAME 2 in the ninth. Nick Pivetta (1-3), making his game, beating the Chicago Cubs 9-1 Saturday. METS 8, BRAVES 1, GAME 2 issuing a walk. Verlander was gone with high Sean Manaea won his fifth consecutive sixth career start, allowed four runs and four The Cubs lost their fourth in a row, dropping Steven Matz pitched seven impressive pitch count after five, allowing three runs and start to help Oakland split a rare scheduled hits in five innings, with four walks and two the World Series champions to 30-31. innings in his season debut, Jay Bruce hit a four walks with three strikeouts after leaving doubleheader with Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay strikeouts. Reynolds had four hits, including his 17th three-run homer and New York beat Atlanta to his previous start following two innings with a won the opener on Evan Longoria’s RBI single homer, and Nolan Arenado had a three-run sweep a doubleheader. Yoenis Cespedes made tight right groin. Detroit has lost four of five. in the 10th inning that completed a 3-hour, DIAMONDBACKS 3, BREWERS 2 double during a five-run ninth inning. The a smashing return in the first game, hitting a With runners on first and second, Moreland 56-minute game. The split came in the majors’ Zack Godley allowed two hits over 6 2/3 Rockies, who have the best record in the NL, grand slam to celebrate his return to the line- doubled off the Green Monster against first scheduled doubleheader since 2011. innings, Brandon Drury hit the go-ahead two- improved to 24-10 on the road. One of four up following a six-week stint on the disabled Warwick Saupold (1-1). Josh Rutledge added Manaea (6-3) allowed two runs and six hits run home run and Arizona beat Milwaukee. rookies in the Rockies’ rotation, the 24-year- list. Matz (1-0), appearing in a big league game an RBI single. over seven innings. He was supported by Rey Fuentes tripled and scored for the old Hoffman (4-0) allowed one run and struck for first time since last Aug. 14, gave up five home runs from Josh Phegley, Ryon Healy and Diamondbacks, who had their nine-game out eight in 6 1/3 innings. Four Colorado hits, one run and one walk. The left-hander DODGERS 5, REDS 4 Chad Pinder. Austin Pruitt (5-1) won in relief home winning streak snapped in a loss to the relievers kept Chicago scoreless the rest of the struck out two, holding the Braves scoreless Corey Seager delivered a run-scoring dou- and Liam Hendriks (2-1) took the loss in the Brewers on Friday. Godley (2-1) allowed two way. Cubs starter Eddie Butler (3-2) pitched until the seventh. Matt Wilser (0-1) gave up six ble in the bottom of the ninth to allow Los opener. Rays Game 2 starter Matt Andriese runs, struck out four, walked one and hit a bat- five innings and gave up three runs on six hits hits, four runs and three walks in six innings in Angeles to overcome a three-run homer from lasted one inning before departing with a ter. Fernando Rodney earned his 16th save in in his first outing against his former team. the second game. He struck out seven in mak- Devin Mesoraco and earn a victory over groin strain, the same injury that put him on 19 tries. Junior Guerra (1-1) permitted three ing his first start of the season. Robert Cincinnati. It was Seager’s second double and the 10-day disabled list May 31. Chih-Wei Hu runs and five hits in six innings in a strong out- YANKEES 16, ORIOLES 3 Gsellman (5-3) won his third straight start. He it made a loser of reliever Drew Storen (1-2), (0-1) replaced Andriese and gave up one run - ing for Milwaukee. Rookie Aaron Judge hit his major league- gave up three hits, two walks and struck out who allowed two one-out singles in the Phegley’s shot in the second - over four leading 19th home run and New York connect- four in 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Sean Newcomb ninth. Kenley Jansen (4-0) pitched a scoreless innings. PIRATES 7, MARLINS 6 ed five times in all, battering Chris Tillman and (0-1) lost in his major league debut despite ninth for the victory.