Bartolo Colon has reached one goal he set for himself this season and is within two wins of another.
Colon earned his 244th victory
Cheap Dalton Schultz Jersey , passing Hall of Famer Juan Marichal for the most by a pitcher born in the Dominican Republic, and the Texas Rangers beat the
skidding Kansas City Royals 6-3 on Monday night.
Adrian Beltre hit a three-run homer for the Rangers, who won their third straight game. The 45-year-old Colon (4-4) allowed three runs and nine hits in
six innings to break a tie with Marichal on the career wins chart.
Only right-hander Dennis Martinez has more victories among pitchers from Latin America. Martinez, a native of Nicaragua, won 245 games in the majors.
”Now that I’ve won the 244, I see that it’s close to Dennis Martinez, but with health and enough time, I’m ready to be able to pass him and be the first
Latin with more wins,” Colon said through a translator. ”I feel happy, of
course, to pass a Hall of Famer
Ian Thomas Color Rush Jersey , the first Dominican in the Hall of Fame.”
The Royals have lost seven straight and 13 of 14. They’ve dropped 27 of 37 games at Kauffman Stadium, the worst home record in the majors. Kansas City is
2-14 in June, having been outscored 95-35.
Colon was 1-3 with a 9.51 ERA in his five previous starts. Kansas City loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but the portly and popular right-hander
affectionately nicknamed Big Sexy got out of the inning when Hunter Dozier
grounded into a double play.
”They’ve wanted to get this win for him for some time now,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. ”It’s just incredible to watch. He’s such a humble guy. No
real fanfare whatsoever. Kind of just a great humility. But, these guys fought
hard for him and were able to get him some runs and he fought hard for it
tonight.”
Keona Kela tossed a spotless ninth for his 16th save in 16 chances.
Beltre homered in the third off Ian Kennedy, with Elvis Andrus and Nomar Mazara aboard, to give the Rangers a 5-0 advantage. Mazara had three hits.
Kennedy (1-7) is 1-13 in his last 28 home starts. He is winless in 13 starts since an April 7 victory at Cleveland.
The right-hander gave up a home run to Shin-Soo Choo on his fourth pitch, a drive that just cleared the Royals’ right-field bullpen fence. Choo reached base
five times, including a double and three walks.
Kennedy yielded five runs and four hits, two of them homers. He walked three.
”Just one really bad inning and it cost us the game
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felt like I pitched better than the line. I really felt like we were going to
come back and win.”
Adalberto Mondesi had an RBI double in the Kansas City third and scored on Mike Moustakas’ sacrifice fly.
Rosel Herrera had a run-scoring triple in the fourth for his first extra-base hit and RBI, trimming the lead to 5-3.
Delino DeShields‘ bunt single in the eighth scored Jurickson Profar for the final Texas run.
HERRERA TRADED
Just before the game, Royals manager Ned Yost broke the news to closer Kelvin Herrera that he had been traded to the Washington Nationals for three minor
league prospects.
”It was one that was a little emotional,” Yost said of the conversation. ”I’ve seen him throw every pitch he’s ever thrown in the big leagues. I’ve seen
him come up as a rookie and be a part of one of the best bullpens (with Wade
Davis and Greg Holland) in recent history, to be an All-Star and a world
champion. We knew this day was coming someday down the road. It’s a chance for
him to go play for a winner.”
STRUGGLING
Royals SS Alcides Escobar is in a 3-for-45 drought in his past 12 games.
ROSTER MOVES
Rangers: Andrus was activated after missing 59 games with a broken right elbow. RHP Ricardo Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock, where he had
allowed one unearned run in 13 1/3 innings. C Jose Trevino was optioned to
Double-A Frisco after hitting a game-ending, two-run single in the ninth on
Sunday. RHP Deck McGuire was designated for assignment.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals: Whit Merrifield was in the lineup as the designated hitter after leaving in the second inning Sunday with a bruised left knee after fouling a
pitch off his leg.
UP NEXT
Rangers: LHP Cole Hamels (3-6, 3.69 ERA) starts Tuesday night at Kansas City.
Royals: RHP Jason Hammel (2-7, 4.89) is winless in his last eight home starts.
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Michael Griffin says his 10-year NFL career was a blessing that lasted far longer than some of his former teammates at the University of Texas.
The two-time Pro Bowl safety officially ended that career Monday by signing a one-day contract with the Tennessee Titans and retiring with the franchise that
drafted him with the 19th pick overall in 2007. Griffin, who wore No. 33 in his
career
Authentic M.J. Stewart Jersey , retired at the age of 33.
”I can’t say enough, thank y’all, just thank y’all,” Griffin said at a news conference inside the team’s indoor practice field. ”That’s probably all I can
say is just thank y’all because it’s a blessing, and I’m so thankful to have
that opportunity for the last nine years to play for this organization.”
Griffin started 10 games as a rookie and played 141 games over nine seasons with Tennessee, including 103 straight between 2007 and 2013. He remains the
franchise’s all-time leader in tackles by a safety with 912. Griffin also had 25
interceptions, seven sacks, 11 forced fumbles and six fumble recovers with his
best season in 2008 with seven interceptions.
Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk thanked Griffin for his nine seasons with the Titans and wished him the best in retirement.
”He was such a dependable player for us during his time here, missing only three games over nine seasons, and he was always among our leading tacklers,”
Strunk said in a statement. ”His play earned him two Pro Bowl selections and the
respect of his teammates. Michael also was invested in our community
Harold Landry Titans Jersey , finding ways to make a difference.”
The Titans released Griffin in February 2016 when he was tied with Corey Graham of Buffalo for the most games played by a safety in the NFL between 2007
and 2015. Griffin signed with Minnesota but didn’t play a game. He then signed
with Carolina and started six of 13 games with the Panthers in 2016. He finished
his career starting 134 of 154 games played in 10 seasons.
Griffin spent the 2017 season working out in case a team called and finished his degree at Texas. He said even when he was with the Vikings and Panthers he
always felt he remained a Tennessee Titan.
”I was always cheering my guys on, always texting them if someone went down, ask how they were doing, keep their heads up, if someone was released whatever
it may be,” Griffin said. ”I always stayed in contact with those guys.”
Titans linebackers Brian Orakpo and Wesley Woodyard and defensive linemen Jurrell Casey and DaQuan Jones were on hand for Griffin’s announcement.
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