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A16 sports
Friday 8 July 2022
Verlander gets MLB-leading 11th win as Astros down KC 5-2

By KRISTIE RIEKEN The Royals led early in this
AP Sports Writer one just as they had in the
HOUSTON (AP) — In a ca- first three games of the se-
reer with so many accom- ries.
plishments, Justin Verland- Emmanuel Rivera and Ed-
er’s success this season af- ward Olivares hit consecu-
ter missing almost two years tive singles to start the sec-
with an elbow injury has ond. Rivera was picked off
been particularly sweet. trying to steal third for the
“Of course,” the Houston second out before a single
Astros right-hander said by Nicky Lopez scored Oli-
when asked if his stellar start vares to put Kansas City up
means a lot to him. “Yeah, 1-0.
absolutely. We’ve talked Olivares got things going in
about it a lot, just so much the fourth when he singled
hard work since the since with no outs and made it
the surgery and it’s nice to all the way to third on the
see it pay off and hopefully play on an error by center
— knock on wood — it con- fielder Meyers. The Royals
tinues.” made it 2-0 when Olivares
Verlander got his MLB-lead- scored on a sacrifice fly by
ing 11th win, Yordan Alva- Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander, right, fields the infield grounder by Kansas City Kyle Isbel.
rez hit his 26th homer and Royals designated hitter MJ Melendez, left, for the out during the fifth inning of a baseball game Verlander took a one-hop-
the Astros beat the Kansas Thursday, July 7, 2022, in Houston. per hit by MJ Melendez
City Royals 5-2 on Thursday Associated Press off the leg with one out in
to take the series 3-1. the fifth. It didn’t slow him
Jose Altuve added a hom- es in some big spots and 2-2. We’ve seen good swings down, as he chased the
er and three RBIs for the trust my defense behind There were two outs in the from him and it seems like ball after it deflected off his
Astros, who bounced back me,” he said. “Every game inning when Alvarez con- every day he comes ready leg and made the throw in
after a 7-4 loss Wednes- is not going to go perfectly nected on his opposite- to hit the ball.” time to beat Melendez to
day night that snapped an without traffic. Today was field shot to the first row in Houston added two insur- first.
eight-game winning streak. one of those games where left field to put the Astros ance runs in the eighth on Rivera singled to start the
Verlander (11-3) grinded you had to grind a bit.” on top 3-2. His 26 home runs a sacrifice fly by Altuve and sixth before Verlander
through six innings, allowing The Royals led 2-0 and Kris rank second in the AL to an RBI double by Aledmys walked Isbel with one out.
seven hits and two runs — Bubic (1-6) had walked five Yankees star Aaron Judge, Díaz. Ryan Pressly pitched After a short visit to the
one earned — with eight batters but had allowed who has 30. a scoreless ninth for his 18th mound, Verlander retired
strikeouts to lower his ERA just one hit — a single by Altuve was asked if he’s save. Lopez and Cam Gallagher
to 2.00 in his remarkable Jake Meyers in the second impressed by what Alvarez Verlander has 24 wins on groundouts to preserve
return from Tommy John — when Martín Maldonado does day after day. against the Royals, which the lead and end his day.
surgery. His ERA, opponent doubled with one out in the “We enjoy the way he is his most against any Bubic yielded four hits and
average (.190) and WHIP fifth. goes out there and ev- team and ties him with No- three runs while tying a ca-
(0.97) all rank second in the Altuve then jumped on the erything he does,” Altuve lan Ryan for fourth-most in reer high with six walks in 5
AL. first pitch, sending it into the said. “So sometimes we get league history against Kan- 1/3 innings for his second
“I had to make some pitch- seats in left field to tie it at surprised, sometimes not. sas City. straight loss.q

Mets’ Bassitt says MLB should ‘stop

testing’ for COVID-19

By DENIS P. GORMAN “I probably won’t anything,” he said.
Associated Press (again),” Bassitt said Bassitt explained he tested
NEW YORK (AP) — New before the Mets’ series himself after feeling slug-
York Mets pitcher Chris opener against the Miami gish because he has a
Bassitt said Thursday he Marlins. “There’s no way. daughter.
“probably won’t” inform There’s no reason.” “If I can somewhat be
team and Major League Bassitt claimed he was as- safe I will. I tested myself.
Baseball officials if he feels ymptomatic. It was positive. So I basi-
COVID-19 symptoms in the “Just stop testing. Stop act- cally had the choice to
future and that MLB should ing like COVID is far worse tell them so I can protect
“just stop testing.” than a lot of other things,” my teammates or not say
Bassitt was placed on the he said. “I was never sick.” anything and (put) my
COVID-19 list on July 1 af- He noted that under MLB’s teammates at risk. I never
ter complaining about protocols, a positive test had a symptom. I woke up New York Mets starting pitcher Chris Bassitt looks out from the
sluggishness to team of- could mean ongoing test- perfectly fine the next day. dugout after pitching in the fourth inning of a baseball game
ficials. The right-hander ing that keeps an asymp- Have not had a symptom against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, June 25, 2022, in Miami.
missed his scheduled start tomatic player out for an since,” he said. The Marlins scored two runs in the inning.
against Texas last Friday extended period. Bassitt (6-5, 4.01 ERA), Associated Press
and only rejoined the “I guess the answer is I whom the Mets acquired
team Thursday. never should have said in an offseason trade with Oakland, is scheduled to start Friday.q