SUNDAY, JULY 9, 2017 SPORTS

Pitch clock, limits on mound visits looming for MLB in 2018

NEW YORK: Count CC Sabathia as a fan can get on the same page without hav- the Dodgers, thinks the mound confer- lowed by Kansas City’s Jason Hammel League fell from 2:58 in 2014 to 2:45, who wants to speed up baseball games. ing to take the mound visit. So I like that ences can be vital. “In some games, the and Philadelphia’s Jeremy Hellickson at then rose to 2:48 and 2:53. When the six-time All-Star tunes in at side of it, of both people will have to put catcher doesn’t even go out there. But 26.5 each. Part of the rise may be attributable to home, he quickly changes the channel. their homework in as opposed to one when it’s needed, sometimes you’re out Kansas City’s Jason Vargas is the best an increased number of pitches - and “It’s slow. It’s boring,” the New York kind of walking the other one through there twice in a situation because it’s at 19.8 seconds, with Michael Wacha . In the major leagues, teams Yankees said. “Man, it’s so hard the game.” going to help the execution and the (20.0) and Carlos Martinez (20.2) of St. have added hard-throwing relievers and to watch if you have no interest in it.” The 20-second clock is now in its decision-making process that a pitch- Louis just behind. “If you talk about like subtracted bench players. Teams com- The average time of a nine-inning third season in the high minors. It would er/catcher go through,” he said, “I don’t 20 seconds to release the ball or some- bined to use 8.30 pitchers per game last game this season is a record 3 hours, 5 reset when a pitcher steps off under think anyone abuses it. ... If you have to thing, I don’t like that,” Cobb said. year, up from 7.26 in 2002. This year’s minutes - up from an even 3 hours last MLB’s proposal last offseason, but now go out there and change your signs in a “There’s so much that goes on, thinking average is 8.21 - and it climbs during the year and 2:56 in 2015. Management pro- the league is considering asking that it key situation, you should be able to do as a pitcher. It takes time to weigh your second half, especially after active ros- posed three changes last offseason the merely stop and resume. If a pitch isn’t that.” San Francisco’s Buster Posey, a five- options.” Countdown clocks were ters expand from 25 to 40 on Sept. 1. union didn’t accept, and MLB has the thrown within 20 seconds, a ball would time All-Star who starts at catcher for installed in big league stadiums after Sabathia remembered how frustrat- right to start them next year without be called. If the hitter isn’t in the batter’s the NL on Tuesday in Miami, said his Rob Manfred became commissioner in ed he got when he switched to a Red player approval: restricting catchers to box with 5 seconds remaining, a strike mound trips depend on the individual. 2015, ticking down 2:25 between Sox game on television this year. “I was one trip to the mound per pitcher each would be called. “There might be more later in the game innings (2:45 for nationally televised watching between a commercial break inning, employing a 20-second pitch Catchers head to the mound for a where you’re in a crucial spot of maybe games). Hitters were required to keep at of a basketball game,” he said, “and I clock and raising the bottom of the variety of reasons: discussing what pitch you have a young pitcher on the mound least one foot in the batter’s box, with only saw two pitches.” Others think no strike zone from just beneath the to throw, giving a pitcher a breather and you need to give him some reassur- several exceptions. tinkering is needed. kneecap to its pre-1996 level - at the top during a difficult inning or switching ance or strategize a little bit more,” he The 20-second pitch clocks were “The rhetoric needs to change from, of the kneecap. signals in an era where many are para- said. “Sometimes I’ll run out and make implemented at Triple-A and -A, ‘How do you speed the game up?’ to Union head Tony Clark has said infor- noid about opponents scrutinizing sure we’re on the same page with the where agreement with the players’ asso- ‘Let’s just go back to enjoying the game mation was being gathered from play- high-definition video to steal signs. signals if the runner gets on second. I’ll ciation is not needed. The leagues with for what it is,’” San Francisco pitcher Jeff ers and he expects to discuss the pro- “There are some times we watch, usually do that and be back at the plate the clocks cut 12 minutes from their Samardzija said. “If we can cut out a little posals with management this summer. “I we’re like, man, they just talk. Especially before the batter’s even ready. So I average game time from 2014 to 2015, bit of the commercial break, then so be don’t like the fact of somebody else when it’s happening multiple times dur- wouldn’t even consider that a trip.” double the 6-minute overall drop in the it. Put some ads on the scoreboard on telling me when I can go out and when I ing an at-bat,” said out- Detroit’s Daniel Norris is the slowest- minors. But times have crept back up. the TV in the top left corner, cut a can’t go out, but I understand the point,” fielder Curtis Granderson, a three-time paced in the majors among qualified After dropping from 2:56 in 2014 to 2:40 minute out from commercials and I said Washington catcher Matt Wieters, a All-Star. starters, averaging 27 seconds between in the International League in the first think we’ll be all right. But other than four-time All-Star. “There actually is an manager Mike pitches, according to Fangraphs. Tampa year, the average rose to 2:42 last year that, just buy another beer and enjoy advantage to catchers and pitchers who Scioscia, a two-time All-Star catcher for Bay’s Alex Cobb is second at 26.6, fol- and 2:49 this season. The Pacific Coast the game.” — AP

ST PETERSBURG: Brad Miller #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays can’t make the tag on Tzu-Wei Lin #73 of the Boston Red Sox at second base during the eighth inning at Tropicana Field on Friday in St Petersburg, Florida. —AFP

BASEBALL Immaculate Carrasco leads Indians over Tigers

CLEVELAND: Carlos Carrasco handled Detroit’s ance since May because of a blister on his pitch- Milwaukee an 8-4 advantage. of the year. Seth Smith also homered as he and homer in the fifth broke a 4-4 tie. It was his 11th lineup for the second time in a week - striking ing hand, Sanchez allowed a career-high eight Machado went deep back-to-back to lead off the in 61 career games at Busch Stadium. out a season-high 11 and pulling off a rare nine- runs in 1 2/3 innings. Houston’s Carlos Correa CUBS 6, PIRATES 1 game against Twins rookie Felix Jorge. DeGrom (9-3) gave up four runs, all on solo pitch, three- inning - and Lonnie extended the longest active hitting streak in the Kris Bryant hit two homers and drove in four homers, in seven innings. It was the first time in Chisenhall hit a two-run homer, leading the majors to a career-high 15 with his 18th homer in runs and Anthony Rizzo went deep as Chicago DODGERS 4, ROYALS 1 his career that deGrom gave up four home runs to an 11-2 win over the Detroit the first inning. Evan Gattis added his seventh beat Pittsburgh. Rizzo chased Trevor Williams (3- Yasiel Puig homered and Chase Utley notched in a game, but it was good enough to tie his Tigers in on Friday night. homer in the seventh. The support eased Charlie 4) with a two-run drive in the fourth that made it his 1,000th career RBI as NL West-leading Los career-best winning streak set in 2014. Addison Carrasco (10-3) allowed two runs in seven Morton’s (6-3) return to action. The right-hander, 3-0. Bryant hit a solo shot against Jhan Marinez Angeles beat Kansas City in the opener of the Reed earned his 15th save in 17 chances. innings to win his fifth straight decision. He limit- sidelined since May 24 with a right lat strain, in the sixth that cleared the left-field bleachers Royals’ first visit to Dodger Stadium since 2003. ed the Tigers to one run in seven innings on July gave Houston one-run ball over six innings, sur- and added a two-run drive in the eighth off The Dodgers won their fourth in a row behind RANGERS 10, ANGELS 0 1. The right-hander also recorded an “immaculate rendering four hits to tie his season low. Antonio Bastardo. He also had an RBI triple and Kenta Maeda (7-4). The Japanese right-hander threw 7 2/3 innings and Adrian inning” by striking out the side in the fifth on finished with four hits, helping Chicago start the gave up one run and four hits in five innings, Beltre’s three-run homer highlighted a five-run nine pitches. Carrasco is just the second pitcher BREWERS 9, YANKEES 4 weekend series on a winning note after drop- struck out five and walked two while bouncing second inning as Texas beat Los Angeles. Hamels in Cleveland history to do it, joining Justin Jesus Aguilar homered twice and matched a ping six of nine. Carl Edwards Jr. (3-1) threw 1 2/3 back from a poor outing. Kenley Jansen pitched (4-0) allowed three singles, two to Albert Pujols, Masterson (2014). Chisenhall connected in Brewers record with seven RBIs, including a innings. Pedro Strop gave up an RBI single to the ninth to earn his 21st save in 21 chances. The and one walk. He struck out six, matching his Cleveland’s five-run third off Jordan Zimmerman tiebreaking in the seventh inning Josh Bell in the seventh. But Koji Uehara retired Dodgers improved to a major league-best 37-11 season high, in his third start since returning (5-7), who remains winless since June 3. Michael that sent Milwaukee past skidding New York for the side in the eighth, and Wade Davis worked at home. Puig hit his 16th homer off Jason from the disabled list on June 26. Ricky Nolasco Brantley had four RBIs, Francisco Lindor drove in its fifth straight victory. The surprising NL Central the ninth. Hammel (4-8) in the sixth to make it 3-1. (4-10) was rocked for eight earned runs in 1 2/3 three and rookie Bradley Zimmer homered for leaders overcame a season-high five errors and a innings and gave up back-to back homers to the Indians, who played their fourth straight record-breaking homer by Aaron Judge to win at RED SOX 8, RAYS 3 DIAMONDBACKS 6, REDS 3 Beltre and Rougned Odor. He entered the game game without manager Terry Francona. He Yankee Stadium for the first time in exactly 21 Dustin Pedroia, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Hanley Zack Greinke threw seven scoreless innings with 15 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings that remains in the Cleveland Clinic following a heart years. Back then, the Brewers were still in the Ramirez each homered while Drew Pomeranz and Paul Goldschmidt hit his 20th homer to help included his sixth career shutout. procedure. American League - they switched to the NL in won his third consecutive start as Boston beat Arizona beat Cincinnati. Arizona rebounded from 1998 and had dropped 14 of their last 15 in the Tampa Bay. Pedroia hit a two-run shot during a a crushing 5-4 loss in Los Angeles a night earlier MARINERS 7, ATHLETICS 2 ASTROS 12, BLUE JAYS 2 Bronx, including a 10-game losing streak they four-run third, and Bradley had a fourth-inning when closer Fernando Rodney blew a three-run Nelson Cruz hit his 300th home run and drove George Springer homered twice and tied a snapped in this interleague series opener. Rookie solo drive off Jake Odorizzi (5-4) as Boston took a lead in the ninth. The Dodgers swept the in five while James Paxton allowed two hits over career high with five RBIs as Houston rocked left-hander Josh Hader (1-0) struck out seven 5-0 lead. Pomeranz (9-4) limited Tampa Bay to Diamondbacks, winning all three games by a seven innings as Seattle beat Oakland. Paxton (7- Aaron Sanchez in his return from the disabled over three innings of effective relief for his first two runs over six innings despite allowing six run. Greinke (11-4) allowed four hits, struck out 3) did not allow a hit after Marcus Semien’s two- list, propelling the Astros over Toronto. Springer major league win. The highlight for New York hits and five walks. Steven Souza Jr. hit a solo seven and walked one. The right-hander is 9-0 at run double in the second. The left-hander hit his 26th and 27th homers of the season, was Judge’s major league-leading 30th home homer in the seventh for the Rays, who beat home, and the Diamondbacks are 33-13 - match- matched a season high with nine including a two-run shot off Sanchez (0-2) in the run, which broke Joe DiMaggio’s record for most Chris Sale and the AL East-leading Red Sox 4-1 in ing their victory total from last season. Rodney while walking three and hitting a batter. Sean second inning. The All-Star outfielder had four by a Yankees rookie set in 1936. Struggling reliev- the opener of a four-game series Thursday night. got Tucker Barnhart to ground out to second for Manaea (7-5) gave up three runs and eight hits in hits, and the Astros improved their major league- er Tyler Clippard (1-5) gave up Aguilar’s first The Rays, third in the division, trail Boston by 5 his 22nd save. Joey Votto and Schebler homered seven innings. leading record to 59-28. Making his first appear- career slam on a full-count that gave 1/2 games. in the ninth for Cincinnati. Tim Adleman (5-6) took the loss. MARLINS 6, GIANTS 1 NATIONALS 5, BRAVES 4, 10 INNINGS Giancarlo Stanton hit his 24th home run to MLB Results/Standings Daniel Murphy’s one-out RBI single in the ROCKIES 12, WHITE SOX 4 back another strong start by Dan Straily (7-4) as 10th inning capped Washington’s comeback vic- Nolan Arenado homered and drove in five Miami beat San Francisco. J.T. Realmuto also Miami 6, San Francisco 1; LA Dodgers 4, Kansas City 1; Seattle 7, Oakland 2; Arizona 6, Cincinnati 3; Colorado 12, tory over Atlanta. Adrian Sanchez led off the 10th runs while German Marquez tossed seven strong Chicago White Sox 4; NY Mets 6, St. Louis 5; Minnesota 9, Baltimore 6; Texas 10, LA Angels 0; Boston 8, Tampa against Ian Krol (1-2) with his first major league innings and had two hits as Colorado’s slumber- homered and had three hits, Dee Gordon added Bay 3; Cleveland 11, Detroit 2; Houston 12, Toronto 2; Washington 5, Atlanta 4 (10 innings); Milwaukee 9, NY hit and two batters later moved to third on Ryan ing offense awoke in a win over Chicago. Charlie four hits and JT Riddle drove in two runs to help Yankees 4; San Diego 4, Philadelphia 3; 6, Pittsburgh 1. Zimmerman’s single. Murphy lofted an opposite- Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu also went deep as the Marlins win the opener of their final series American League National League field single over left fielder Matt Kemp’s head to Colorado broke out of prolonged slump. The before the All-Star break. The Marlins batted Eastern Division Eastern Division win it. Matt Albers (5-1) induced Kemp’s double Rockies banged out a season-high 17 hits and around during a four-run first inning highlighted W L PCT GB Washington 51 35 .593 - play grounder to end the 10th to help the were 7 of 14 with runners in scoring position. by Stanton’s opposite field two-run homer off Boston 50 37 .575 - Atlanta 41 44 .482 9.5 Nationals escape a two-on jam. They hit just .226 and .216 with runners in scor- starter Matt Moore (3-9). NY Yankees 44 40 .524 4.5 NY Mets 39 45 .464 11 ing position while losing 12 of their previous 15. Tampa Bay 45 43 .511 5.5 Miami 39 46 .459 11.5 PADRES 4, PHILLIES 3 Toronto 40 46 .465 9.5 TWINS 9, ORIOLES 6 Marquez (6-4) cruised through six innings before Philadelphia 28 57 .329 22.5 Kennys Vargas had three hits, including a big allowing Tim Anderson’s 451-foot two-run homer Austin Hedges hit a pair of solo homers and Baltimore 40 46 .465 9.5 Central Division Central Division two-run double in the fifth inning, hours after in the seventh. He allowed three runs and nine had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the ninth, while Milwaukee 49 40 .551 - Cleveland 46 39 .541 - Jose Pirela also went deep as San Diego beat Chicago Cubs 43 43 .500 4.5 being recalled from the minors to help lead hits, struck out five and didn’t walk a batter while Minnesota 45 41 .523 1.5 Philadelphia. After Cory Spangenberg and Carlos St. Louis 41 45 .477 6.5 Minnesota over Baltimore. Trevor Hildenberger tossing a season-high 102 pitches. Chicago’s Kansas City 44 41 .518 2 Asuaje hit singles off Hector Neris (2-3), Hedges Pittsburgh 40 47 .460 8 (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for Derek Holland (5-9) gave up seven runs and Detroit 38 47 .447 8 his first major league win as the Twins rallied from eight hits in just four innings in his first career fouled off a safety squeeze before hitting a fly Chicago White Sox 37 48 .435 9 Cincinnati 37 49 .430 10.5 Western Division a 6-0 hole to send Baltimore to its fifth straight start at Coors Field. ball to right-center that drove in the go-ahead Western Division run. Padres starter Clayton Richard allowed one Houston 59 28 .678 - LA Dodgers 59 29 .670 - defeat. Vargas’ two-run double off reliever Miguel LA Angels 44 46 .489 16.5 Arizona 53 34 .609 5.5 Castro (1-1) tied the score in the fifth, and Chris METS 6, CARDINALS 5 run and five hits in six innings before a 94- Texas 42 44 .488 16.5 Colorado 51 38 .573 8.5 Gimenez’s RBI single completed the impressive Jose Reyes and Jay Bruce hit solo home runs minute rain delay forced him out. Brad Hand (2- Seattle 42 46 .477 17.5 San Diego 37 49 .430 21 comeback one batter later. Manny Machado to help Jacob deGrom win his fifth straight deci- 4) got four outs for the win and Brandon Maurer Oakland 38 49 .437 21 San Francisco 34 54 .386 25 homered twice and had his second four-hit game sion, leading New York over St. Louis. Bruce’s finished for his 18th save. — AP