MLB 2023 | Oviedo hurls first career shutout, Yordan with impressive four-hit night, Abreu homered

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

Johan Oviedo (Photo: MLB)

Aug 28

Johan Oviedo fired a two-hit shutout on Monday in a complete-game win over the Royals.

Oviedo (8-13) notched the win over Kansas City on Monday. Oviedo authored a masterful performance on Monday night in Kansas City, striking out five batters and allowing just four baserunners, needing just 112 pitches (73 pitches) to go the distance for his first career complete game. He retired the final 11 batters he faced to finish with a flourish.

The 25-year-old right-hander excelled at limiting hard contact in this one, allowing just four batted balls with an exit velocity in excess of 95 mph. With his gem, Oviedo became the first Pirates pitcher since April 2017 to throw a nine-inning shutout on the road. His 4.20 ERA and 1.28 WHIP on the campaign are hardly great, though he's put up better numbers in August with a 2.92 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 37 innings covering six starts. He’ll face the division-rival Cardinals on Sunday in a road matchup.

Yordan Álvarez went 4-for-4 with a homer and four RBI on Monday night as the Astros demolished the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The 26-year-old slugger smacked an RBI single off of Chris Sale in the third inning that tied the game at 2-2. Álvarez's terrific night was highlighted by his three-run shot in the sixth inning, a 396-foot three-run shot off of Kyle Barraclough. It was his 22nd home run of the year and first since Aug. 6, snapping an 18-game homerless drought. He's driven in seven runs over the last two games, giving him 76 this season. Álvarez boosted his OPS to .954 with 39 extra-base hits through 85 games. With his impressive four-hit night, Álvarez is now hitting .288/.394/.560.

Luis Robert Jr. went 2-for-3 with a double on Monday night as the White Sox were shut out by the Orioles in Baltimore.

As a team, the White Sox got just two hits in the ballgame, with Robert Jr. accounting for both of them himself. He smacked a two-out double (106.7 mph EV) off of Grayson Rodriguez in the fourth inning, then delivered the hardest-hit ball of the ballgame (110.3 mph EV) with a single up the middle to lead off the seventh inning. He’s enjoying an outstanding season in the midst of the chaos surrounding the White Sox — slashing .268/.323/.557 with 34 homers, 69 RBI and 16 stolen bases.

José Abreu hit first homer since return. Abreu went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI, two walks and a run scored Monday against the Red Sox. Abreu got the scoring started for Houston with a solo homer off Chris Sale in the second inning -- his first since being activated from the injured list Aug. 23. He's produced plenty in the four games since, going 5-for-17 with five RBI and two runs scored. Abreu's increased production has stretched a bit further, as he also has four home runs, 16 RBI and 16 runs scored in 27 games since the All-Star break.

Andy Ibáñez returned to bench Monday. Ibáñez was out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees. Ibáñez started at second base in four of the past five games, but he turned the keystone over to Zach McKinstry while the Tigers opened a four-game set with the Yankees. The 30-year-old began his recent run of starts with a two-homer, four-RBI effort in last Tuesday's win over the Cubs, but he went 2-for-12 over his subsequent three contests. Ibáñez still looks like a part-time player in the Detroit infield rather than a mainstay in the lineup.