The Yankees optioned reliever Richard Bleier to the franchise's Triple-A club. In 16 games this rookie season, the 29-year-old southpaw was 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA, allowing 17 hits and only 2 walks over 13.1 innings while striking out 6. Opposing batters hit .304 against him.
The Texas Rangers released reliever Craig Breslow after just three appearances with its Triple-A club. Breslow was ineffective, yielding 5 hits, 2 walks, and 3 earned runs over 2 combined innings. He began the year with the Miami Marlins before being sent to the minors and later released. Texas signed him to a minor-league contract on July 27.
As mentioned yesterday, Toronto placed CF Kevin Pillar on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his MLB career. He sprained his left thumb sliding into second base.
August 9 games
Dodgers CF Joc Pederson went 1-for-2 with an RBI single, 2 walks, and 2 runs scored in a 9-3 win over Philadelphia. The win moved L.A. into a tie for first place in the N.L. West.
Milwaukee LF Ryan Braun went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in a 2-1 loss to Atlanta. The 415-foot shot, Braun's 19th, gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead that lasted until the 7th inning.
Houston 3B Alex Bregman went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, and a run scored in a 7-5 win over Minnesota. A diving catch in the 3rd inning by Brian Dozier robbed Bregman of a second hit, and a 100-mph toss by CF Eddie Rosario caught the rookie trying to score from second base on a single. Bregman has hit safely in four straight games and doubled in three of them.
Detroit 2B Ian Kinsler went 1-for-5 with a double and 2 walks in a 15-inning, 6-5 loss to Seattle. The Tigers sit 3.5 games behind A.L. Central leader Cleveland and one game behind Boston for the final wild-card spot.
Oakland 1B Danny Valencia helped account for both his team's runs in a 2-1 win over Baltimore. His RBI double in the 3rd inning gave the A's their first run, and he scored later that inning on a sacrifice fly. Valencia has struggled since the All-Star break, hitting .235 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs since then and .304 with 12 HRs and 33 RBIs before.
Toronto reliever Scott Feldman continued to struggle with his new team, yielding 6 hits and 4 earned runs over 2 innings in a 9-2 loss to Tampa Bay. He did not suffer the fate of teammate Danny Barnes, who was optioned to Triple-A after yielding 2 earned runs in one inning of relief.
