December 12, 2018 10:48 PM PST
HOUSTON (AP) — Rajai Davis is getting the chance to further
his October legacy.Indians manager Terry Francona said Thursday the speedy
outfielder will get his team’s final spot on the 25-man roster for the AL
Division Series against the Houston Astros.Davis was given the nod over backup
infielder Erik Gonzalez. Davis cemented his place in October baseball lore with
a tying home run in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series before Cleveland lost to the
Chicago Cubs in 10 innings.Houston manager A.J. Hinch chose to carry just two
catchers [url=http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-jason-heyward-jersey]Jason
Heyward Jersey[/url] , leaving off Max Stassi for rookie Myles Straw, another
speedy outfielder who has been mostly used as a pinch-runner. The Astros bullpen
will consist of closer Roberto Osuna, Lance McCullers Jr., Ryan Pressly,
left-hander Tony Sipp, Collin
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Will Harris and hard-throwing rookie Josh James.Hinch chose to go with James
over Hector Rondon, who has struggled over the last month, for his ability to
pitch multiple innings. Also left off the roster were right-hander Brad Peacock,
who appeared in seven games with one start last postseason, and 2017 All-Star
Chris Devenski. WASHINGTON (AP) — For struggling Matt Adams, a return to
Nationals Park was the perfect tonic.Adams homered twice against his former team
who traded him last
month [url=http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-ben-zobrist-jersey]Ben
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St. Louis Cardinals held off the Washington Nationals 7-6 on Wednesday night.One
night after bashing five homers against Washington, St. Louis settled for three
in the rubber game of the series as Yairo Munoz had a solo shot in the
sixth.Adams victimized Tanner Roark with first-pitch homers on a curveball in
the first inning and a changeup in the fifth.“I’ve always seen the ball well in
this ballpark,” Adams said. “I’m ready for his fastball. He has a good feel for
that two-seamer, and I saw the curveball up and I saw the changeup up.”Miles
Mikolas (14-4) worked 6 2/3 innings and was charged with four runs on 12 hits.
Carlos Martinez worked the final two innings for his first save since 2014,
getting three straight outs in the ninth after the first two batters reached.“He
was clearly sharp in the eighth. He was pretty dominant again in the ninth,
too [url=http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-anthony-rizzo-jersey]http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-anthony-rizzo-jersey[/url] ,”
manager Mike Shildt said. “A couple balls fell in . and he didn’t waver. He just
went right at it and made some quality big-league pitches to bring it home.”Ryan
Zimmerman’s three-run double followed by Wilmer Difo’s RBI single pulled
Washington within 7-6 in the seventh.Bryce Harper had three hits for Washington
on a day when general manager Mike Rizzo responded that he hasn’t considered any
other scenario when asked if manager Dave Martinez will return in 2019.Adams was
signed by the Nationals in the offseason. The former Cardinal hit .258 with 18
homers for Washington and was traded back to St. Louis on Aug. 21, the same day
Daniel Murphy was dealt to the Cubs.Tuesday’s homers were Adams’ first since the
trade. He came into the game 3 for 23 with the Cardinals.“The home runs have
really killed us,” Martinez said. “I look back, and we’re giving up way too many
homers. We have to figure that out. We really do.”Roark (8-15) was a loser for
the third straight start. He gave up six runs on 10 hits over five innings.It
took the Cardinals just seven pitches to take a 3-0 lead. Following a pair of
singles, Adams homered.Fielding problems helped the Cardinals expand their lead
in the second. With two outs, third baseman Anthony Rendon had trouble getting a
Mikolas bouncer out of his glove. Then Matt Carpenter launched a flyball to the
warning track in center that Harper lost sight of in the twilight for an RBI
double.Carpenter later scored to make it 5-0.Adams struck again in
fifth [url=http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-kosuke-fukudome-jersey]Kosuke
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deck.“Like I’ve said a million times, if you don’t make your pitch, they hit it
far,” Roark said. “And so he did it twice.”BRYCE BALLHarper has reached base
safely in 14 of his last 20 plate appearances. During this stretch he has eight
walks, six hits and five RBIs.TRAINER’S ROOMCardinals: C Yadier Molina left in
the eighth inning with left hamstring tightness. Shildt said Molina told him,
“I’ll be fine.” … 2B Kolten Wong (left hamstring strain) was activated from the
10-day disabled list after missing nine games. Shildt said Wong was available
Wednesday in a limited capacity. . OF Harrison Bader started a night after
fouling a ball off his ankle. “I said after the game ‘How are you feeling?'”
Shildt said. “He
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‘Five ounces can’t hurt me’ — the weight of a baseball.”Nationals: LHP Sean
Doolittle (left toe inflammation) threw another simulated game Wednesday. “He
felt a lot better today than he did the previous game,” Martinez said.
“Hopefully he’ll be back for the weekend.”UP NEXTCardinals: LHP Austin Gomber
(5-0, 2.77 ERA) starts Friday at Detroit as St. Louis begins its final
interleague series of the season.Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-7, 4.09)
starts the opener of a four-game series against the visiting Chicago Cubs.
Strasburg is 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA in six career starts versus the Cubs.
HOUSTON (AP) — Rajai Davis is getting the chance to further
his October legacy.Indians manager Terry Francona said Thursday the speedy
outfielder will get his team’s final spot on the 25-man roster for the AL
Division Series against the Houston Astros.Davis was given the nod over backup
infielder Erik Gonzalez. Davis cemented his place in October baseball lore with
a tying home run in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series before Cleveland lost to the
Chicago Cubs in 10 innings.Houston manager A.J. Hinch chose to carry just two
catchers [url=http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-jason-heyward-jersey]Jason
Heyward Jersey[/url] , leaving off Max Stassi for rookie Myles Straw, another
speedy outfielder who has been mostly used as a pinch-runner. The Astros bullpen
will consist of closer Roberto Osuna, Lance McCullers Jr., Ryan Pressly,
left-hander Tony Sipp, Collin
McHugh [url=http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-john-lackey-jersey]http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-john-lackey-jersey[/url] ,
Will Harris and hard-throwing rookie Josh James.Hinch chose to go with James
over Hector Rondon, who has struggled over the last month, for his ability to
pitch multiple innings. Also left off the roster were right-hander Brad Peacock,
who appeared in seven games with one start last postseason, and 2017 All-Star
Chris Devenski. WASHINGTON (AP) — For struggling Matt Adams, a return to
Nationals Park was the perfect tonic.Adams homered twice against his former team
who traded him last
month [url=http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-ben-zobrist-jersey]Ben
Zobrist Jersey[/url] , Marcell Ozuna tied his career-high with four hits and the
St. Louis Cardinals held off the Washington Nationals 7-6 on Wednesday night.One
night after bashing five homers against Washington, St. Louis settled for three
in the rubber game of the series as Yairo Munoz had a solo shot in the
sixth.Adams victimized Tanner Roark with first-pitch homers on a curveball in
the first inning and a changeup in the fifth.“I’ve always seen the ball well in
this ballpark,” Adams said. “I’m ready for his fastball. He has a good feel for
that two-seamer, and I saw the curveball up and I saw the changeup up.”Miles
Mikolas (14-4) worked 6 2/3 innings and was charged with four runs on 12 hits.
Carlos Martinez worked the final two innings for his first save since 2014,
getting three straight outs in the ninth after the first two batters reached.“He
was clearly sharp in the eighth. He was pretty dominant again in the ninth,
too [url=http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-anthony-rizzo-jersey]http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-anthony-rizzo-jersey[/url] ,”
manager Mike Shildt said. “A couple balls fell in . and he didn’t waver. He just
went right at it and made some quality big-league pitches to bring it home.”Ryan
Zimmerman’s three-run double followed by Wilmer Difo’s RBI single pulled
Washington within 7-6 in the seventh.Bryce Harper had three hits for Washington
on a day when general manager Mike Rizzo responded that he hasn’t considered any
other scenario when asked if manager Dave Martinez will return in 2019.Adams was
signed by the Nationals in the offseason. The former Cardinal hit .258 with 18
homers for Washington and was traded back to St. Louis on Aug. 21, the same day
Daniel Murphy was dealt to the Cubs.Tuesday’s homers were Adams’ first since the
trade. He came into the game 3 for 23 with the Cardinals.“The home runs have
really killed us,” Martinez said. “I look back, and we’re giving up way too many
homers. We have to figure that out. We really do.”Roark (8-15) was a loser for
the third straight start. He gave up six runs on 10 hits over five innings.It
took the Cardinals just seven pitches to take a 3-0 lead. Following a pair of
singles, Adams homered.Fielding problems helped the Cardinals expand their lead
in the second. With two outs, third baseman Anthony Rendon had trouble getting a
Mikolas bouncer out of his glove. Then Matt Carpenter launched a flyball to the
warning track in center that Harper lost sight of in the twilight for an RBI
double.Carpenter later scored to make it 5-0.Adams struck again in
fifth [url=http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-kosuke-fukudome-jersey]Kosuke
Fukudome Jersey[/url] , hitting a solo shot into the back of the second
deck.“Like I’ve said a million times, if you don’t make your pitch, they hit it
far,” Roark said. “And so he did it twice.”BRYCE BALLHarper has reached base
safely in 14 of his last 20 plate appearances. During this stretch he has eight
walks, six hits and five RBIs.TRAINER’S ROOMCardinals: C Yadier Molina left in
the eighth inning with left hamstring tightness. Shildt said Molina told him,
“I’ll be fine.” … 2B Kolten Wong (left hamstring strain) was activated from the
10-day disabled list after missing nine games. Shildt said Wong was available
Wednesday in a limited capacity. . OF Harrison Bader started a night after
fouling a ball off his ankle. “I said after the game ‘How are you feeling?'”
Shildt said. “He
said [url=http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-andre-dawson-jersey]http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-andre-dawson-jersey[/url] ,
‘Five ounces can’t hurt me’ — the weight of a baseball.”Nationals: LHP Sean
Doolittle (left toe inflammation) threw another simulated game Wednesday. “He
felt a lot better today than he did the previous game,” Martinez said.
“Hopefully he’ll be back for the weekend.”UP NEXTCardinals: LHP Austin Gomber
(5-0, 2.77 ERA) starts Friday at Detroit as St. Louis begins its final
interleague series of the season.Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-7, 4.09)
starts the opener of a four-game series against the visiting Chicago Cubs.
Strasburg is 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA in six career starts versus the Cubs.