MLB 2023 | Yordan hits HR No. 23, Iglesias was perfect in 26th save, Arozarena with homer #21

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

Yordan Álvarez and Alex Bregman (Photo: MLB)

Aug 29

Yordan Álvarez added three more extra-base hits Tuesday. Álvarez went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a solo home run in Tuesday's 6-2 victory over the Red Sox. Álvarez went back-to-back with Alex Bregman in the first inning Tuesday, staking Houston to an early 2-0 lead. The 26-year-old Álvarez has logged multiple hits in each of his last four games -- he's gone 11-for-20 (.550) with two homers and a 1.609 OPS in that span, boosting his slash line to .293/.397/.576 with 23 homers, 77 RBI and 61 runs scored through 373 plate appearances in another impressive campaign.

Raisel Iglesias tossed a perfect ninth inning on Tuesday against the Rockies to record his 26th save of the season.

Iglesias was tasked with guarding a two-run lead in the final frame and wound up needing just 14 pitches (nine strikes) to retire the side in order. Iglesias has been on fire for the past two months. In July, he posted a 0-2 record with a 2.00 ERA and in August, he has appeared in 10 games and has yet to give up a run. The last time Iglesias gave up a run was on July 18th against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He gave up three hits and 3 runs (2 earned runs) in only 0.1 innings. In the 14 games since then, He has given up seven total hits, struck out 21 hitters, walked three hitters, and has given up zero runs. Opposing hitters are hitting .171 with a 0.80 Whip in August alone. He’s converted 26 of his 28 save opportunities this season.

Randy Arozarena went deep in win. Arozarena went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and an additional run scored while drawing two walks in Tuesday's victory over the Marlins. Arozarena's seventh-inning, two-run homer extended the Tampa Bay lead to 7-2 Tuesday. The All-Star outfielder has now hit safely in seven of his last eight games, going 10-for-29 with a 1.163 OPS, three home runs, six RBI, three steals and an incredible 13 runs scored during that stretch.

Aroldis Chapman allowed one run in the ninth inning on Tuesday, but still managed to hang on for his fourth save of the season.

Chapman received the call to guard a two-run advantage in the final frame and wound up surrendering a two-out solo homer to Mark Vientos before finally slamming the door. The 35-year-old southpaw has converted just two of his five save opportunities since being acquired last month from the Royals. Meanwhile, Cole Ragans has blossomed into one of the most electrifying young pitchers in baseball for Kansas City.

Jorge Soler was pulled from Tuesday’s contest against the Rays due to tightness in his right hip.

The 31-year-old slugger suffered the injury on an awkward swing during the seventh inning. At the time of the injury he was 1-for-3 in the game with a strikeout. No word yet on the severity of the injury or how long he’ll be sidelined for. Expect the Marlins to update his status prior to Wednesday’s contest.

Yandy Díaz rejoined lineup Tuesday. Díaz started at first base and batted leadoff Tuesday at Miami. Díaz sat out the past two games due to soreness in his left forearm from a hit-by-pitch, but returned to the field Tuesday after Monday's team off day and went 2-for-5 with a run scored. The 32-year-old has carried a hot bat through 22 games in August with a .361/.410/.515 slash line, three homers, 15 RBI and 17 runs.

Yoán Moncada: Gets Wednesday off. Moncada is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles. He'll give way at third base to Elvis Andrus in the series finale. Moncada started in each of the last six games, going 9-for-21 with a home run, three doubles, two walks, six RBI and three runs.