The Sacramento Bee from Sacramento, California • B3

THURSDAY MARCH 21 2019 3BSportsSACBEE.COM 916.725.4500 7752 Mariposa Avenue Citrus Heights, CA 95610 Monday thru Saturday 10:00 am 6:00 pm Sunday 10:00 am www.HallsFurniture.com 73RD ANNIVERSARY SALE LIFT and Zero Gravity Chairs Representing 5 Major Recliner Manufacturers Choose from 100 recliners on Display from Metro, Retro, Modern and Traditional Over 1,000 Designer Fabrics to Choose from Custom Ordering Available Since 1946 DONATE YOUR CAR Wheels For Wishes Northeastern California and Northern Nevada Tax Deductible Free Vehicle Pickup ANYWHERE We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not We Also Accept Boats, Motorcycle RVs WheelsForWishes.org 905-1753 Car Donation Foundation Wheels For Wishes. To learn more about our programs or information, call (213) 948-2000 or visit www.wheelsforwishes.org. and was pulled by manager Bob Melvin in favor of Liam Hendriks after just three innings of work at 58 pitches on the night. give up a five-spot with two games here, you can run some pitchers out two games in a Melvin said. just felt like that was not the way to go with some upcoming days of.

a different story if looking at that those 18 games in a row we have coming up. He probably goes back out there and tries to go more Hendriks and Ryan Dull were not great in relief of Fiers, both allowing runs. Dull surrendered a three- run home run to Tim Beckham in the fifth that really busted the game open for Seattle (1-0) with a 9-4 lead. The (0-1) establish- ed in 2018 they could score plenty of runs. They finished fourth in the majors in runs scored (813) and third in home runs (227.) That will likely be a strength again in 2019 as the offense did its best to overcome the pitching woes.

Stephen Piscotty, Khris Davis and Matt Chapman each homered, with Chap- three-run homer in the seventh shrinking the deficit to just two runs. The crazy late-inning comeback also became a common occurrence for the in 2018, leading players to begin feeling like they might just start off the new season with more of the same. But Hunter Strickland shut the door in the ninth to bring any of those hopes to an end. Still, responding with late runs is a positive the will take this early in the season. treat every at-bat the same and I think why been able to pull out those late Chapman said.

showed we still have that fight and are not going to get complacent. always battling and a good testament to our The Mariners victory capped what was a special day for Ichiro Suzuki in what is likely be his fare- well series. Ichiro played the first three innings of the game and went 0 for 1 with a walk before Seattle man- ager Scott Servais re- moved him from the game after he had run out to his position in right field. The removal allowed the Japa- nese star to soak in the ovation from the 45,757 fans in attendance who cheered literally anything Ichiro did throughout the night, even simply catch- ing a fly ball during bat- ting practice. Ichiro re- ceived hugs from each of his Mariners teammates and tipped his cap over to the dugout, where even manager Bob Melvin and his players partici- pated in a round of ap- plause for Suzuki.

was a moment, for Melvin said. think every time he comes to the plate and every time a ball is hit to him, there are going to be a lot of moments. We have one more game left, and the fans are certainly support- ing him, as they should. meant a lot to the game and you understand there are going to be mo- ments like that during the was cool to be a part of that because kind of a once in a lifetime Chapman said. was cool to be on the same field as Ichiro will play in Thursday game, which is expected to be the final game of his ma- jor league career.

It was the first and last time Fiers has faced him in an at-bat, an experience he said he will appreciate despite the loss. crowd got a little bit louder when he got Fiers said. was pretty cool. rather get the win and pitch better, but definitely a cool expe- CHAPMAN VS. GORDON Dee Gordon laid down a perfect bunt with runners on first and second in the fourth inning that ap- peared as it would go for a single, but the Gold Glove third baseman charged hard to pick the ball up and fire an off-balance throw to Matt Olson at first for the out.

After Gordon tried and failed to bunt for a hit against Chapman multiple times last season, the two seem to have a rivalry brewing. Chapman enjoys it and called Gordon the best bunter he has ever seen. have a little back and forth going I think because of one play that was bang-bang last year he was called out on and was all Chapman said. definitely going to try and get one down on me this year for sure. be FROM PAGE 1B TOKYO It came to light Tues- day, through the dogged reporting of Jeff Passan, that Philadelphia Phillies players on a cou- ple of occasions last sea- son retired to the club- house, while a game was going on, to play them a little Apparently it was great fun until the day first baseman Carlos Santana, with the Phils mired in a losing streak, ended the frivolities by taking a bat to the TV screen.

I know, I know. You pay big money to watch a game, only to find that the players were more in- vested in online virtual gaming than the real thing. an outrage. Unless from the Bay Area, in which case thinking, that all you For your forehead- slapping pleasure, check out this sampling of occa- sions when Bay Area ath- letes played hooky. The 1976 Giants need any fancy video games to cold-shoulder the game they were paid to play.

In fact, 43 years ago there were no video games to serve as such a distraction. Derrel Thomas, the animated second baseman, was a pretty good distraction in his own right. So it come as a shock, after a midsummer game at Can- dlestick Park, it was re- ported that Thomas had repaired to the parking lot and washed his car during the contest. It became an instant ur- ban legend, one that Tho- mas tried to set straight. the first place, I was on the disabled list Thomas told the San Ma- teo Times in an interview the following summer.

John Mon- tefusco and John quisto were outside, too, but their names mentioned. the second place I wash my car. I just washed off my wind- shield. But everywhere I go now people ask how much I charge for a car The 1977 featured a number of free spirits. One happened to be well- traveled slugger Dick Allen.

When engaged, he was a top-drawer masher. When he well, turn the narrative over to the then- owner Charlie Finley who, walking through the club- house June 20 during his game against the White Sox, found Allen luxuriating in a nice warm shower. The owner posthaste suspended the slugger one week without pay. he like it (here), he can take a Finley told the Oakland Tribune. care if he ever shows up note: He never did.) was trying to show the world I could work with him, but I found out I was like the rest of the suckers.

I hope he never shows again. I saw Dick Allen in the shower in the sixth inning, and that was all I wanted to see of Dick Fifteen years later, only the names had been changed. Dick Allen was now Jose Canseco. On Aug. 10, 1992, Canseco asked out of a game against the White Sox in deference to his famously balky back.

manager Tony La Russa subbed him out of the lineup. Canseco then showered and headed for home, the game still going strong. Now you might think it no big deal if an ailing ballplayer who has been excused from the pro- ceedings heads home early. In fact, it was a ginor- mous deal. of somebody passing away in your fam- ily, you leave a game La Russa said.

was a major mistake. I care who you are, never excusable to leave Catcher Terry Stein- bach, one of the most unassuming and agreeable athletes you could ever have had the pleasure to have known, piled on. be honest with you, he said, really give a (rip) about not Carney Lansford added. are busting their tails on the field, and then he does something that gives the impression that he Then there was pitcher Ron Darling, who came to the from the New York Mets and therefore was inured to such drama. is no way as bad as it was with the he said.

had guys in New York who were dressed (in street clothes) and their at-bats were coming up in the ninth Which leads us to the mother of all walk-aways: Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Headed to the bottom of the 10th inning, the Boston Red Sox had a two-run lead. They need- ed but three outs to win their first World Series in 68 years. The Wally Backman flied out. Keith Hernandez also flied out.

With two outs and no one on base, the despond- ent Hernandez retired to the office and popped a beer. Then Gary Carter sin- gled and things got in- teresting. Mets manager Davey Johnson called for Kevin Mitchell to pinch hit for the pitcher. There was a slight delay. Believing defeat was nigh, Mitchell had shed his uniform pants and was on the phone making travel ar- rangements.

He had to quickly yank his britches back on. Going comman- do, he singled. The rest is history, bound to repeat itself. GENARO MOLINA Bee file On Aug. 10, 1992, Jose Canseco came out of a game with a bad back, then went home before the game was over, provoking the ire of his teammates.

Said manager Tony La Russa, of somebody passing away in your family, you leave a game COMMENTARY Playing hooky: Phillies are the latest, but and Giants players may be the greatest BY GARY PETERSON (San Jose) Mercury News Phillies 1B Hoskins dealing with sore shoulder CLEARWATER, FLA. When Phillies officials review the depth chart, they see only one name listed at first base: Rhys Hoskins. nota- ble, then, that Hoskins will miss a few games this week with what manager Gabe Kapler characterized Wednesday as soreness in his left shoul- der. Kapler emphasized the Phillies are confident Hoskins will be ready for opening day March 28 at Citizens Bank Park, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Tests reveal any structural dam- age to the shoul- der, according to Kapler, but Hoskins play through at least Friday night against the Yankees.

concerns about the start of the season; just going to give him a couple of days to let things calm Kapler said. my mind, we have him penciled in to the last couple of spring-training starts. But also want to be If Hoskins did miss an extended period of time, third baseman Maikel Franco would be the choice to play first base. ABryce Harper lined a 97-mph, fourth-inning fastball from Detroit right- hander Spencer Turnbull for his first spring training hit after a 0-for-9 start. Notable White Sox: A person fam- iliar with the negotiations told the Associated Press that Chicago is nearing a $43 million, six-year con- tract with highly regarded outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez, who was op- tioned to Triple-A Char- lotte.

The contract would include team options for 2025 and 2026 that if exercised would make the agreement worth $77.5 million over eight years. The deal would nearly double the previous high for a player with no major league service: Scott $24 mil- lion, six-year contract with Philadelphia before 2018 season. season is officially over before it starts, acccording to the Detroit Free Press. MLB.com’s Jason Beck reported the right-hander said he will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, effectively render- ing him out for the year. Rays: Rookie Brandon Lowe, who made his big league debut in August, agreed to a $24 million, six-year contract with Tampa Bay.

The deal includes club options for 2025 and 2026 with esca- lators that could make the agreement worth $49 mil- lion over eight seasons. The infielder and out- fielder has 58 days of major league service. Orioles: Infielder Alcides Escobar was granted his unconditional release, the team announced. Escobar, a former All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner with Kansas City, signed a minor league contract during the first week of spring training. Strong camps by Rule 5 short- stops Richie Martin and Drew Jackson, plus good springs from some other infielders, made the re- lease apparent.

Yankees: Guest instructor Lee Mazzilli was struck in the head by a ball during batting practice in Tampa, and taken to a local hospital. Team spokesman Jason Zillo said in an email that Mazzilli spend the night at the hospital for Pitcher Luis Severino played catch at the spring training facility in Tampa for the first time since being shut down March 5 because of a shoulder issue. He is slated to play catch again Thursday. Red Sox: expect AL Most Valuable Player Mookie Betts to agree to a long-term contract before he can become a free agent in late 2020. Betts, 26, has a $20 million, one-year contract and is eligible for arbitration again next winter.

He is content to remain on track for testing the market. Giants: Outfielder Matt Joyce, a left-handed hitter who had 25 homers and 68 RBIs while batting .243 in 141 games for the Ath- letics in 2017, reached agreement on a minor league deal after his re- lease by Cleveland. Joyce played in 83 games last season with Oakland while dealing with a lin- gering back injury. Marlins: Pablo Lopez, bidding for a spot in the rotation, pitched six score- less innings against St. Louis, allowing two hits, to lower his ERA to 0.90.

Pineda gave up two hits in five shutout innings against Pittsburgh, striking out five. Minnesota also released first baseman Lucas Duda. SERVICES MLB IN BRIEF.