Bases Covered is a daily roundup of the most interesting stories in baseball.
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Garcia’s walk-off
The Rays lost to the White Sox on Wednesday, and they did it in one of the worst ways: with a walk. Chicago right-fielder Avisail Garcia drew a walk with the bases loaded in the 10th inning to earn the win for his team, 6–5. Garcia isn’t known for his restraint at the plate, but this time he waited, and it paid off: “I just tried to be focused and be patient,” he said after the game.
Still terrible
The Red Sox, who earned a win over the Yankees on Wednesday, may have won the World Series in 2013, but it’s looking like they might finish at the bottom of the AL East for the third time in four seasons. And the team has some questionable decision-making to thank for their poor results of late. So what are the worst decisions they’ve made, and can they possibly learn anything from this season?
Boyd’s debut
Left-handed pitcher Matt Boyd, who was sent to Detroit from Toronto as part of the deal for David Price, made his debut for the Tigers on Wednesday, pitching seven innings and allowing just one run in a 2–1 win over Kansas City—and outduelling Johnny Cueto, no less. “It was rocking tonight,” remarked Boyd, who received a standing ovation from fans at Comerica Park. The 24-year-old said he’d told fellow starter Daniel Norris, who was also sent to Detroit from the Blue Jays, “[I]t feels like we’re home.”
10th-inning slam
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis hit a grand slam in the 10th inning of a game tied 3–3 on Wednesday to give Baltimore a victory over the A’s. “He actually made a pretty good pitch,” said Davis of A’s reliever Arnold Leon. ” I just thought I waited him out. He threw me a really good curveball earlier in the at-bat. I kind of waited him out and put a good swing on it.”
Into the woods
Mariners reliever Fernando Rodney found some shade during Seattle’s matchup with the Rockies at Coors Field on Wednesday. The 38-year-old was seen grabbing a chair and planting himself behind the bushes near the bullpen during the sixth inning. It’s possible Rodney should have stayed there; he entered the game in the ninth inning and squandered a two-run lead, allowing two walks, two hits and two runs. With the game tied, Rodney was pulled; the Mariners lost 7–5 in the 11th.
