PHOENIX (AP) —in 102 plate appearances this season. Avoiding it with the bases loaded on Sunday still worked in his favor.Locastro’s single in the 10th inning gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants
Joe Mauer Jersey , a line drive to left field that scored Nick Ahmed and helped the Diamondbacks end a season-long six-game losing streak.The first pitch of Locastro’s at-bat in the 10th against Giants reliever Mark Melancon almost hit him. Locastro turned out of the way.Article continues below ...“We would have won either way but I wanted to get a hit there,†Locastro said. “I wasn’t exactly trying to get away but it happened to miss me.â€Melancon (3-2) uncorked a wild pitch to put runners at second and third with one out, and Carson Kelly was intentionally walked to bring up Locastro.“Actually with that pitch not hitting me, I sort of knew his approach was to come in a little bit,†Locastro said, “so I was looking in there and I was able to fight it over the third baseman’s head and drop it in for a single.â€Matt Andriese (4-4) pitched a scoreless top of the 10th to earn the win. He was the last of four relievers that held the Giants hitless for four innings.“I have come in here for five straight days talking about losing a baseball game, and that’s hard,†Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said afterward. “It’s hard for me. It’s hard for the team. It’s hard for everybody, but we’ve got to find a way to keep grinding to have these (winning) moments happen.â€Christian Walker had three hits for Arizona, extending his hitting streak to a career high eight games.Kevin Pillar homered for the Giants, his 10th of the season, but San Francisco was held to four hits for the game.“We just couldn’t get anything going with the bats,†Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “They got the big hit, we didn’t. That’s the difference in the game.â€Locastro rolled a single into shallow right field
Glen Perkins Jersey , the Diamondbacks’ first hit of the game, driving in Caleb Joseph with two outs in the third inning. The Giants tied the score at 1 on Stephen Vogt’s ground out to score Evan Longoria from third base in the top of the fourth.Arizona went back in front 2-1 with Walker’s RBI single in the fourth, the result of a nine-pitch at-bat that drove in Adam Jones, who’d reached on a wild pitch third strike.Pillar led off the seventh inning with a solo shot to left field, which spelled the end of Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly’s day. Kelly went six innings and allowed two runs on four hits, striking out nine.The Diamondbacks opened their half of the seventh with back-to-back hits off Giants starter Shaun Anderson to put runners on second and third, and the Giants turned to Reyes Moronta in relief. Moronta worked out of the jam without allowing a hit.Anderson allowed two runs on five hits in six innings.“I just stayed with the same game plan. I attacked them early and got some quick outs,†Anderson said. “Our bullpen has been absolutely dominant all year. I don’t think they get enough credit for what they do.â€FAVORABLE BOUNCEThe Diamondbacks were primed to take the lead in the seventh with Ahmed up to bat and runners in scoring position with no outs. Moronta threw a pitch to the backstop, but the carom arrived cleanly to catcher Vogt’s glove, and Vogt had plenty of time to tag out Eduardo Escobar trying to score from third base.The Diamondbacks failed to score in the inning.TRAINER’S ROOMGiants: Vogt took a foul ball of his right knee in the bottom of the fifth inning and was limping badly for a few moments immediately afterward, but remained in the game. After the game his knee was heavily wrapped. “I’m sure he’s going to be sore tomorrow,†Bochy said of Vogt.Diamondbacks: 2B-OF Ketel Marte was held out of the lineup for a second straight day due to a minor groin injury from Friday’s game.UP NEXTGiants: LHP Drew Pomeranz (2-7, 7.09 ERA) is set to face the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a three-game series that starts Monday in San Francisco.Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Greinke (8-3, 2.91) is tabbed for the opener of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers starting Monday. He could face the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw
http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey , a former teammate and fellow Cy Young Award winner, for the second time in his career._ CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs took a long, hard look at themselves over the winter.There was nowhere else to go.Chicago begins spring training with largely the same group of players who blew a five-game lead in the NL Central last September and lost to Colorado in 13 innings in the wild card game. On consecutive October days at Wrigley Field, the Cubs watched as Milwaukee celebrated its win in the tiebreaker for the division title and then the Rockies put a bow on the disappointing finish for the 2016 World Series champions.“When something’s taken from you there — I think we deserved to keep going, we had a good year — that state of hungriness and that work ethic even lights up a bigger fire in the offseason,†center fielder Albert Almora Jr. said. “So it’s a good time, it’s a good time to be us and we’re excited to go.â€The Cubs made three consecutive appearances in the NLCS before they faltered last year. But they were noticeably quiet the past couple months, staying away from the marquee free agents because of budget constraints.Chicago’s biggest move might have been the one it didn’t make. Manager Joe Maddon did not receive a contract extension, sending him into the final year of his current deal with an uncertain future.What comes next most likely will be up to the core of baseball’s winningest team since 2015.“This is as hard as I’ve ever worked in an offseason,†president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. “The results in terms of adding players aren’t there, but we think we’ve done a lot of good behind the scenes to learn some lessons from last year and try to put our best foot forward.â€The Cubs’ pitchers and catchers report to Mesa, Arizona, on Wednesday, and the first full-squad workout is Feb. 18.NEW LOOKBrad Brach and Tony Barnette join a Cubs bullpen that finished with a 3.35 ERA last year
Paul Molitor Jersey , second in the majors behind Houston. Brach posted a 1.52 ERA in 27 appearances after he was traded from Baltimore to Atlanta on July 30. Barnette went 2-0 with a 2.39 ERA in 22 games for Texas.Justin Wilson and Jesse Chavez left in free agency, and Brandon Morrow is expected to begin the year on the disabled list while he works his way back from arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow. Pedro Strop, who went 6-1 with a 2.26 ERA and 13 saves last season, likely will fill in at closer while Morrow is out.ROOKIES TO WATCHChicago’s experienced roster will make it difficult for any rookie to make much of an impact this year, but keep an eye on right-hander Adbert Alzolay. The 23-year-old Alzolay missed much of last season with a strained muscle. He could make his major league debut out of the bullpen if the Cubs need some relief help this summer.THEY’RE SETAnthony Rizzo remains a steady presence, providing consistent production at first base and valuable leadership in the clubhouse. The slugger got off to a slow start last year but recovered in time to finish with a .283 batting average, 25 homers and 101 RBIs. He has driven in at least 101 runs in each of the past four seasons.THEY’RE NOTThe outfield is a mixed bag, and how it shakes out could have a huge impact on Chicago’s season. Ian Happ hit just .233 with 167 strikeouts in 142 games last year, taking a step back after his promising rookie campaign. A lighter, more fit Kyle Schwarber was much improved defensively, and just OK at the plate. Albert Almora Jr. batted .227 with a .245 on-base percentage in his final 34 games last season. Jason Heyward also struggled down the stretch last year. The Cubs need a couple of their outfielders to find another level in 2019.ON DECKThe Cubs begin the season at Texas on March 28. Following a nine-game road trip, they host Pittsburgh in their home opener on April 8.
2nd July 2019
Tim Locastro has been hit by pitches 12 times
