Day: 23 April 2023

ATLANTA -- A 3-game dropping streak doesn’t take away all of the momentum the Braves created whereas rolling by the common season’s first three weeks. But such a skid can actually remind you ways shortly even the very best groups will be humbled.   Kyle Wright surrendered a pair of two-run homers within the sixth inning and the Braves weren’t capable of get better in a 6-3 loss to the Astros on Saturday night time at Truist Park. Atlanta has misplaced three straight video games since claiming an eighth straight win on Tuesday in San Diego.   “We knew it would be a tough series coming in,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned. “It’s been every bit what I expected. That’s for sure.”  The Braves squandered the four-run first inning they produced in Friday night time’s collection opener. ...

Mark Gubicza was beginning pitcher. Making all however two of his 384 big-league appearances with the Kansas City Royals, the massive right-hander logged 132 wins to go together with a 3.96 ERA, 42 full video games, and 16 shutouts. His finest season got here in 1988 when he went 20-8 with a 2.70 ERA and completed third in A.L. Cy Young balloting. Gubicza additionally had two saves, each of them in 1993. That was the 12 months he gained a real appreciation for the way difficult it's to guard a late-inning lead for a teammate. How he got here work out of the bullpen — one thing he did sparingly exterior of that one season — was a matter of circumstance. “We didn’t have a bridge to get from our starters to Jeff Montgomery,” defined Gubicza, who now serves as a TV analyst for the Angels...

CLEVELAND -- When Oscar Gonzalez was tagged out on the plate with two outs within the backside of the ninth inning of Saturday’s nightcap between the Marlins and the Guardians, everybody in Progressive Field thought the sport was over. With Cleveland’s contact wizard Steven Kwan on the plate, Puk threw an 86 mph sweeper that Kwan hit right into a swinging bunt. Catcher Nick Fortes fielded the ball and obtained it to Puk, who dashed to the plate to use the tag that will have given the Marlins a win. But, with each managers (or in Miami’s case, an performing supervisor) coming onto the sphere to determine issues out, Puk knew he’d must get Kwan out once more, as he noticed in actual time the ball hit his bat then his hand -- an automated useless ball. After the mud had settled and Kwan stepp...

PITTSBURGH -- As Derek Shelton sat on the dais in PNC Park’s interview room, he couldn’t assist however discover that just about his complete workers had briefly deserted their pregame obligations and congregated on the opposite facet of the room, eager to be there for his or her supervisor’s second. Shelton had already processed the information that he and the membership had reached an extension past the 2023 season. But as he checked out his workers, he couldn't stop the tears in his eyes, the quiver in his voice, the tremble in his speak. In that second, he realized what this all meant. “I walk in, and they’re all back there,” Shelton stated. “It’s for your family. You work your [butt] off to get this job. Yeah, it’s emotional.” A second like that is by no means assured for a supervisor...

Besides being a two-time World Series-winning supervisor, Guardians skipper Terry Francona is likely one of the most entertaining figures within the sport. MLB Network will debut a revealing and intimate documentary on the legendary supervisor titled “Tito: The Terry Francona Story,” premiering tonight at 8 ET. Francona talks overtly about managing the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years, the jubilation and heartbreak of guiding Cleveland to the 2016 World Series and managing NBA legend Michael Jordan within the Minor Leagues. As he approaches 1,900 profession wins, Francona can be candid about how for much longer he needs to handle. Cash, former Red Sox common supervisor Theo Epstein, Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti and a handful of Francona’s ...