BOSTON — Given how the Boston Red Sox bullpen has labored for the past month, getting injured setup man Koji Uehara back by Labor Day would be a welcome development.
Indeed, when Uehara got injured, the Red Sox weren’t sure he would pitch again this season. Pectoral injuries are less common in pitchers than shoulder issues. Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski recently noted that Detroit Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez missed the final month and a half of last season with a pectoral strain.
“I have learned more humility, for that I am grateful,” Puig said. “I am going to keep working so my teammates can see my situation and be able to give advice to other players about what has happened to me.”
Ichiro floated an opposite-field single off Mets right-hander Rafael Montero with two outs in the fourth inning of a scoreless game at Citi Field to match Boggs for 27th place with 3,010 hits. He notched hit No. 3,011 with two outs in the eighth and came home on Xavier Scruggs’ RBI double.
It’s been a year of milestones for Ichiro, who entered 2016 just 65 hits shy of 3,000. The veteran became the 30th player in MLB history to reach the benchmark on Aug. 7 with a triple at Colorado.
Next on the all-time list is Rafael Palmeiro, who is 26th with 3,020.
But Ichiro has been in a slump, going 1-for-18 in his last eight games before he reached in the fourth. He is getting more playing time in right field with Giancarlo Stanton on the disabled list with a Grade 3 left groin strain, as manager Don Mattingly has been going with Ichiro against right-handed starters and recently acquired Jeff Francoeur against lefties.
Joe Frisaro has covered the Marlins for MLB.com since 2002. He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter @JoeFrisaro and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani was a member of the Gators’ pitching staff from 2009-11, so he was a freshman when Tebow led the university’s football team to a national title.
“It was great watching him,” DeSclafani said. “He’s a legend at that school, obviously. I heard he was really good at baseball before playing football at school. There are so many people that are against him and a lot who are for him. Personally, I’m for him. бн I think he’s a genuine guy that just wants to play sports.