MLB 2023 | Cionel grabs first save, Chapman gave up lead, Abreu collected RBI#51

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

Cionel Pérez (Photo: MLB)

Jul 24

Cionel Pérez tossed a scoreless ninth inning on Monday against the Phillies to record his first save of the season.

Perez picked up the save Monday against the Phillies, working around a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning. Perez got the call in the ninth, with Felix Bautista having pitched in Baltimore's previous two games. After retiring the first two Phillies in the inning, Perez surrendered a base hit and a walk before coaxing a groundout from Johan Rojas to strand the tying and winning runs. While Perez isn't likely to see much closing work going forward, he's been solid lately, pitching to a 1.93 ERA over his last nine appearances (9.1 innings). Overall, the southpaw sports a 4.54 ERA with a 1.78 WHIP and 26:20 K:BB through 33.2 innings this season.

Aroldis Chapman gave up lead.

Chapman allowed three runs on one hit and two walks while striking out two over one inning in Monday's 10-9 loss to the Astros. It’s the first time this year that he’s given up three runs. He had been unscored upon as a Ranger, pitching seven scoreless innings with a 12/0 K/BB, but he walked two and gave up a three-run homer tonight. That long ball from Chas McCormick was the first he’s allowed all year. Obviously, this won’t help Chapman in the competition for saves in Texas, but it should be viewed as an aberration for now.

José Abreu hitless but scored two.

In Houston's important 10-9 win over Texas, Abreu did not get a hit but drew three walks. One of his two runs of the game came on McCormick's home run, which tied the score at 9 in the seventh inning for Houston. The Cienfuegos native was 0-for-2 with 2 strikeouts in the game and collected his 51st RBI of the year. He now has a slash line of .241/.296/.349.

Dairon Blanco logged eighth steal. Blanco went 0-for-3 with a stolen base in Monday's 5-3 win over the Guardians. Blanco was plunked and stole second in the ninth inning. Aside from a four-hit effort July 18 versus the Tigers, the outfielder has been nothing special with the bat. He's managed eight stolen bases on 11 attempts through 64 plate appearances, but he's slashing a paltry .220/.281/.407 with three triples, five doubles, no home runs, six RBI and seven runs scored.

Yordan Álvarez was not activated from the injured list prior to Monday’s game against the Rangers.

The 26-year-old slugger was spotted on the field doing some light running during early workouts, but the Astros announced that he won’t be activated for Monday’s game — and that Álvarez would not be speaking to reporters on Monday. It sounds like they’re going to continue to take things day-to-day for the time being.

Adolis García remained out of the Rangers’ starting lineup for Monday night’s showdown against the Astros.

The 30-year-old slugger was plunked by another pitch — this time on his right hand — during Saturday’s game against the Dodgers. He sat out Sunday’s game as a precautionary measure and will ride the pine on Monday as well as he’s still dealing with some soreness and swelling. He’s still considered day-to-day and should avoid a trip to the injured list.