Best of MLB: Ichiro becomes oldest starting CF since at least 1900 as Marlins beat Cubs <\/p>\n
MIAMI -- The Chicago Cubs wasted a fine pitching performance by Mike Montgomery, stranding 11 runners and allowing three unearned runs to lose Sunday to the Miami Marlins, 4-2. <\/p>\n
Edinson Volquez (4-8) gave up five hits and five walks in five innings, but he stranded eight runners and departed with a 3-2 lead. <\/p>\n
Miami's Ichiro Suzuki, 43, became the oldest player to start in center field since at least 1900, surpassing Rickey Henderson. Suzuki batted leadoff for the first time this year and went 0 for 4, dropping his average to .200. <\/p>\n
Giancarlo Stanton hit his 20th homer for Miami, a solo shot off reliever Pedro Strop in the seventh (see full recap). <\/p>\n
Bellinger belts2 home runs, Dodgers cruise to 10th straight win LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers found a new way to extend their winning streak to 10 games, scoring five runs on four wild pitches to go along with two more homers from rookie sensation Cody Bellinger in rallying past the Colorado Rockies 12-6 Sunday. <\/p>\n
The Dodgers' string is their longest since they won 10 straight in August 2013. Colorado lost its season-worst fifth in a row. <\/p>\n
Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino (1-2) threw four wild pitches in the late innings, all of them scoring at least one run. <\/p>\n
Kenley Jansen got five outs for his 17th save, and hit an RBI double for the Dodgers' final run. <\/p>\n
Jansen also walked his first batter of the season after striking out 51 in a dominant year (see full recap). <\/p>\n
Twins complete sweep of Indians, claim 1st place in AL Central CLEVELAND -- Ervin Santana and the Minnesota Twins are on top of the AL Central again. <\/p>\n
Santana struck out seven in six innings, Jason Castro drove in three runs and the Twins swept the Cleveland Indians with a 4-0 victory on Sunday. <\/p>\n
Santana (10-4) allowed nine hits, but Cleveland's lineup struggled again. The Indians were shut out twice, went 1 for 23 with runners in scoring position and stranded 30 baserunners in the weekend series. <\/p>\n
It was one sweet stay in Cleveland for the Twins, who were swept in a four-game set against the Indians at Target Field last weekend. Minnesota moved a half-game ahead of Cleveland for the division lead (see full recap). <\/p>\n
PHOENIX -- Howie Kendrick was not in the Phillies' starting lineup for a fifth straight day on Monday because of a hamstring problem that, as the player said, \"hasn't gotten any better, but it hasn't gotten any worse either.\" <\/p>\n
Kendrick can pinch-hit -- he, in fact, had hits in the role on Friday and Sunday -- but playing defense is another matter. <\/p>\n
\"I kind of stinks because I can function, I can still hit, but as far as getting up to full speed and exploding the way I'd like to, it's still restricting me,\" he said. <\/p>\n
Kendrick's ability to hit -- not to mention his .361 batting average in 122 at-bats -- makes him a prime candidate to serve as the designated hitter when the Phillies open a two-game interleague series Tuesday night in Seattle. But as far as playing second base when the Phillies return to National League action Friday night in New York <\/p>\n
That's the issue. <\/p>\n
\"The trouble with defense youre exploding with every play, especially up the middle,\" Kendrick said. \"I just dont feel as comfortable exploding off it every time. As far as hitting and pinch-hitting goes you can govern that a little more when you run. You can control the rate of speed, but as far as defense you have to react to the ball.\" <\/p>\n
Kendrick could end up on the disabled list if he's not ready to play defense by Friday night. <\/p>\n
\"Thats something we talked about, but I dont know whats going to happen yet,\" he said. \"Well see.\" <\/p>\n
Kendrick missed six weeks earlier this season with an abdominal injury. <\/p>\n
In other health matters, pitcher Jerad Eickhoff will remain on the disabled list and Mark Leiter Jr. will make a second start on Wednesday in Seattle. Leiter filled in for Eickhoff on Friday night and pitched six shutout innings in his first big-league start. <\/p>\n
Eickhoff believes he has completely recovered from an upper-back strain. <\/p>\n
\"I think they just want to err on the side of caution,\" he said. \"I feel like I could throw Wednesday, but in all honestly, maybe that would be too quick. We'd rather be safe than sorry and finish the season strong and not risk a setback. So if we can knock this thing out with three or four more days, that's the way to go.\" <\/p>\n
Eickhoff has felt good in bullpen workouts but has not reached game intensity. It's possible he could make a minor-league rehab start later this week before returning to the rotation next week. <\/p>\n
So what is Charlie Manuel doing nowadays? <\/p>\n
You just might find him strolling around Center City or shopping at your local Wegmans. <\/p>\n
In the latest episode of CSN Philly's At The Yard podcast with our Jim Salisbury, the former Phils skipper joined the show to talk about what he's been up to since retiring from baseball in 2013. The 2008 World Series champion manager is currently a senior advisor for the team, spending part of his time on the road scouting for the Phillies. <\/p>\n
Still, one of his favorite things is getting to meet fans who seemingly always \"want to touch him\" and thank him for bringing the City of Brotherly Love its only title in the last 34 years. <\/p>\n
\"This lady is on the other side of the store and Wegmans is a big store,\" Manuel said. \"She hollers out loud to me and she goes, 'CHARLIE! Ryan [Howard's] pulling off the ball!' I holler back to her and I said, 'Lady, he's pulling off MVP!!'\" <\/p>\n
\"The people come up and talk to me just like I was a friend like I was their sister or brother or somethingit was unreal. Just name somewhere I'd go, Atlantic City, people would want to come up and talk to me and they'd laugh.\" <\/p>\n
Manuel also talked at length about coaching Jim Thome, benching Jimmy Rollins and a number of other stories from his coaching days. <\/p>\n
To listen to the entire podcast, click below. <\/p>\n
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Best of MLB: Ichiro becomes oldest starting CF since at least 1900 as Marlins beat Cubs - Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Best of MLB: Ichiro becomes oldest starting CF since at least 1900 as Marlins beat Cubs MIAMI -- The Chicago Cubs wasted a fine pitching performance by Mike Montgomery, stranding 11 runners and allowing three unearned runs to lose Sunday to the Miami Marlins, 4-2. Edinson Volquez (4-8) gave up five hits and five walks in five innings, but he stranded eight runners and departed with a 3-2 lead Continue reading