Sports Writing (USA), May 14 (EFE).- The fight between Bryce Harper and Jake Bird, in a duel between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies, stood out this Sunday in a day of the MLB in which Blue Jays, Astros, Rays, Guardians, Nationals and Diamondbacks won their games by the smallest advantage.
The contrast was in Minnesota, where the Twins tore past the Chicago Cubs (16-3) thanks to seven runs in the third inning and seven more in the eighth. The Puerto Ricans Carlos Correa and Christian Vásquez, as well as the Dominican Christopher Morel, scored for the locals.
The controversy of the day happened in the duel between the Phillies and the Rockies, with a 4-0 victory for Colorado. Harper went after pitcher Bird after he clapped and stuck his tongue out at the opposing dugout, sparking a brawl with both teams involved.
Both Harper and Bird were ejected in that seventh inning. Previously, in the sixth, Philadelphia coach Rob Thomson was also eliminated.
In Miami, Garrett Cooper was the protagonist, who returned with the Marlins after a fifteen-day absence due to injury, and hit two hits, also producing a run. They were key scores to beat Cincinnati 3-1 and stop the losing streak of five straight losses at LoanDepot Park.
In Cleveland, the Guardians’ victory over the Angels (4-3) had as an anecdote the face-to-face reunion of two former high school classmates with Tanner Bibee pitching from the mound against Patrick Sandoval.
The two shared a locker room during their time at Mission Viejo High School, in California, and their former coach was able to witness it from the Progressive Field stands.
YANKEES 7-8 RAYS
Tampa Bay won at Yankee Stadium to even the series (2-2) in four games. With the match tied 4-4, Taylor Wall’s grand slam came in the fifth inning, defeating the locals in the result.
The Yankees tried to rally with an RBI by Aaron Judge and scored by Oswaldo Cabrera in the seventh inning, plus a two-run homer in the eighth by Anthony Volpe.
The Rays will continue in New York City to play their next three-game series, visiting the Mets starting Tuesday.
BLUE JES 6-5 BRAVES
Toronto swept its series against Atlanta on a two-run single hit by Danny Jansen in the ninth. The Dominican Vladimir Guerrero Jr and Matt Chapman scored.
It is the Braves’ ninth straight loss to the Blue Jays, who got the game on track after scoring in the first four innings thanks to home runs by Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies and Kevin Pillar.
WHITE SOCKS 3-4 ASTROS
The champions won in Chicago a duel that was quickly on track with three runs in the first inning.
Cuban Jordan Álvarez, with a hit that prompted two runs by Honduran Mauricio Dubon and Alex Bregman, also advancing himself to third base.
Álvarez also scored later thanks to Kyle Tucker’s hit that closed the inning. Yainer Díaz hit his first major league home run to complete with another run in the fourth inning.
The home runs of Cuban Luis Robert Jr. in the fourth inning and Jake Burger’s in the sixth did not serve.
DODGERS 4-0 PARENTS
The Dodgers completed their sweep of the San Diego Padres with a resounding victory this Sunday. All the home runs came in the third and sixth innings, turning the game into an interesting duel on the mound between the two main pitchers.
Tony Gonsolin pitched five innings, giving up just two hits to the Padres. He followed up with a Mookie Betts home run in the third, also driving in Miguel Rojas.
Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy in the sixth inning completed the sweep of a San Diego team that continues to accumulate losses against the Dodgers with five consecutive since last May 6.
