Intriguing ripple effect of Astros rival going full-hypocrite
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20 July 2023
The Los Angeles Dodgers recently signed former Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick, and much has been made about welcoming a player that was on the 2017 Astros team that was punished for sign-stealing. The fact that the Astros beat LA in the World Series that year has certainly produced a lot of fans and players that still dislike the team.
However, many Dodgers players and their manager have come to Marisnick's defense. The LA Times reported on him joining the club.
“I do like Jake,” said Kershaw. “I think he’s had to deal with it for a long time. I think he has some remorse for it as well, which is probably all you can ask for at this point…”
Some other quotes were pretty condemning too.
“I don’t get as mad at him because he wasn’t in the lineup,” Kershaw said.
I guess he gets a pass because he wasn't a starter?
Funny, none of the Dodgers mentioned that Marisnick benefitted from the sign-stealing scandal probably more than anyone. He recorded a career-high in OPS and home runs that year.
And let's not forget Mookie Betts is on the Dodgers, and he was part of the Red Sox team punished for sign-stealing. And if memory serves, they won the World Series the same year they were busted for cheating. But nobody in LA brings that up.
Looking ahead
Enough with ancient history, the Dodgers players seem ready to put the past behind them.
So let's turn our attention to the home team. Astros supporters have been quick to tell angry MLB fans to get over it, 2017 was a long time ago. But the thought of Astros hater Cody Bellinger joining the team has most Houstonians upset. Personally, I can't blame them. I don't want him here, either.
But if we want everybody to move on and get over it, shouldn't that apply to Bellinger's past comments?
Be sure you watch the video above as we break it all down.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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