Page 22 - AT

A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 17 sepTember 2019
Betances, Montgomery make season debuts in Yanks' loss

TORONTO (AP) — Pitchers vious eight starts.
Dellin Betances and Jordan Trailing 2-1, the Orioles took
Montgomery made their the lead in a three-run third
season debuts for the Yan- that included Dwight Smith
kees after lengthy layoffs. Jr.'s two-out triple, Hanser
Betances, a 31-year-old Alberto's run-scoring bunt
right-hander, recovered single and tiebreaking two-
from a strained lat muscle run homer by Rio Ruiz.
and struck out Reese Mc- ASTROS 12, ROYALS 3
Guire and Brandon Drury, KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) —
his only two batters. New Wade Miley (14-5) allowed
York hopes Betances will two runs and in six innings,
be a factor in the playoffs, rebounding from a pair of
joining an already strong bad starts, and Houston
bullpen that includes Arol- tied the Yankees for a big
dis Chapman, Zack Britton, league-leading 98 wins.
Adam Ottavino, Tommy Josh Reddick's five hits in-
Kahnle and Chad Green. cluded a two-run homer.
Recovered from Tommy Jakob Junis (9-14) gave up
John surgery, Montgomery five runs and seven hits in 2
made his first major league 2/3 innings, his shortest out-
appearance since May 1 ing in 77 career starts.
last year. He allowed three ATHLETICS 6, RANGERS 1
runs and four hits in two in- Toronto Blue Jays Randal Grichuk is met at home plate by teammates Cavan Biggio and Bo ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) —
nings. He threw 26 of 41 Bichette after hitting a three-run home run against the New York Yankees in the fifth inning of a Sean Manaea (2-0) limited
pitches for strikes. baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. Texas to three singles over
Randal Grichuck homered Associated Press six scoreless innings, Mar-
twice, including a tiebreak- cus Semien became the
ing three-run drive in the ORIOLES 8, TIGERS 2 of the four-game series June's amateur draft. third Oakland slugger with
fifth off Nestor Cortes Jr. (5- DETROIT (AP) — Edwin against the Orioles (49-100) Asher Wojciechowski (3-8) 30 homers and the Athlet-
1). T.J. Zeuch (1-0) pitched Jackson (3-10) allowed and opened a 4½-game won for the first time since ics won their sixth straight
5 1/3 innings for his first big five runs in five innings for advantage for the worst re- July 26, allowing two runs to move 1½ games ahead
league win, and Ken Giles Detroit (44-104), which lost cord in the major leagues and eight hits in five innings. of Tampa Bay for the first AL
got his 20th save. two of the first three games — and the top pick in next He had been 0-5 in his pre- wild card.q

Red Sox on track for $13M luxury tax despite mediocre record

By RONALD BLUM threshold in 2018 for the first lated by 2019 salaries and
AP Baseball Writer time since it began in 2003, prorated shares of signing
NEW YORK (AP) — The Bos- they pay at a 20% rate on bonuses, Boston is first at
ton Red Sox are on track to the first $20 million over and $227.9 million, followed by
pay a $13.05 million luxury a 32% rate on the next $20 the Yankees at $225.3 mil-
tax for a season in which million. lion, the Cubs at $217.2 mil-
they are likely to miss the The Chicago Cubs are third lion, the Dodgers at $201.2
playoffs. at $233.8 million, up from million and Washington at
The World Series champi- $229.9 million on opening $196.8 million.
ons' payroll for purposes day. Their projected tax San Francisco, already
of the tax increased from jumped to $6.34 million likely to miss the playoffs,
$239.7 million on opening from $5.26 million. is sixth at $181.5 million, fol-
day to $242.8 million on The Los Angeles Dodgers lowed by St. Louis ($175.7
Aug. 31, according to cal- are under the threshold for million), Houston ($168.8
culations by the commis- the second straight season million) and the Los Ange-
sioner's office obtained by after going over five years les Angels ($164.4 million),
The Associated Press. That in a row at a total tax of who already have been
is well over the $206 million neatly $150 million. eliminated with more than
threshold where the tax be- Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts reacts after popping out in the Three teams are headed two weeks remaining in the
gins. third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game to tax bills, up from Boston regular season.
As of opening day, the Red Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, in Toronto. and Washington last year. Other playoff contenders
Sox were projected for an Associated Press Houston is fourth this season include Philadelphia (10th
$11.76 million tax. at $202.7 million. at $159.5 million), the New
Boston entered Saturday year, they pay at a 30% was dropped 10 places to Final figures, including per- York Mets (12th at $145.3
with a 77-70 record, 8½ rate on the first $20 million 43rd overall as a penalty. formance and award bo- million), Atlanta (14th at
games out for the second over $206 million and a 42% The New York Yankees nuses, will be calculated $135.6 million), Milwaukee
AL wild card with 15 games rate on the next $20 million. have the second-highest in December. Luxury tax (17th at $130.4 million),
remaining. The Red Sox The Red Sox finished with tax payroll at $233.9 mil- payrolls are based on the Minnesota (18th at $125
fired president of baseball a $239.5 million luxury tax lion, up from $225.9 million average annual values of million), Cleveland (19th
operations Dave Dom- payroll last year, when the on opening day, causing contracts for players on at $122.2 million), Arizona
browski last weekend. threshold was $197 million, their projected tax to rise to 40-man rosters and include (22nd at $108.6 million),
Because the Red Sox are and because they were $6.54 million from $3.98 mil- $14.5 million per team in Oakland (25th at $95.3 mil-
over the luxury tax thresh- more than $40 million over, lion. Because the Yankees benefits. lion) and Tampa Bay (30th
old for the second straight their top draft pick this year dropped under the tax Among payrolls calcu- at $66.4 million).q