MLB 2023 | Chapman blows save Monday, Adolis crushes 31st homer, Rehabilitation at AAA for Morejón

Major League Baseball (MLB) and other Cuban Players News for the 2023 season. A compendium from several sources

Aroldis Chapman after Kenel Marte's homerun (Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Aug 21

Aroldis Chapman allowed a game-tying solo homer to Ketel Marte in the ninth inning on Monday in a blown save against the Diamondbacks.

Chapman blew a save against the Diamondbacks on Monday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two batters over two innings. With Texas ahead 1-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth, it was Chapman who got the call from the bullpen to close things out. He couldn't do so, allowing a game-tying solo home run to Ketel Marte with one out. Chapman did settle down from there to finish that frame and the 10th without allowing any more runs, and he looked to be in line for the win when Texas scored twice in the top of the 11th. However, Will Smith -- who has been working as the Rangers' primary closer of late -- coughed up three two-out runs to blow a save opportunity of his own. Smith has blown two of five save chances over his past seven outings while posting a 15.19 ERA and 2.25 WHIP, so Chapman could be in line for more ninth-inning opportunities, though there hasn't yet been any word of a changing of the guard between the duo.

Adolis García crushes 31st homer. García went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in an extra-inning loss to Arizona on Monday. García bashed a 425-foot solo shot in the seventh inning, and for a while it looked like that would stand up with Arizona not scoring until the bottom of the ninth. The long ball was García's 31st of the campaign, tying the career-high mark he set in 2021. The star outfielder also has 93 RBI this season, and he needs just eight more to reach the career-best mark he established last year.

Monday, Luis Robert, Yoán Moncada, Yasmani Grandal, and Oscar Colás combined for three hits.

As the White Sox lost 14-2 to Seattle, their four Cubans went 3-for-14 with no RBIs and four strikeouts. During his three at-bats, Luis Robert went hitless, Moncada went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts, Grandal was 1-for-4 with two strikeouts, and Colás went 1-for-4 with one strikeout and a double.

Adrián Morejón rehabbing at Triple-A. Morejón has made his last two rehab appearances at Triple-A El Paso, covering 1.2 innings and allowing an unearned run on one hit and no walks while striking out three between the two outings. Morejón shifted his rehab assignment to El Paso after he struck out two in a scoreless inning for the Padres' rookie-level Arizona Complex League club Aug. 4. The left-hander has been on the shelf since July 16 with right knee inflammation, an injury he picked up while fielding a bunt. Morejón was sent down to the Minors on August 17, a day he was supposed to be promoted to the Majors. Upon his reinstatement from the 15-day injured list, probably in September, he is unlikely to hold a major role in the bullpen.

Dairon Blanco was not in lineup Monday. Blanco was absent from the lineup Monday against the Athletics. Blanco went 0-for-4 in Sunday's series finale at Chicago and is slashing .241/.298/.402 over 95 plate appearances this year with 15 steals in 19 attempts.