Going out swinging: Puig brawls again as Reds finish trade
By JOE KAY AP Sports Writer
CINCINNATI (AP) — Jared Hughes’ errant pitch threw a load of fuel on one of the majors’ most flammable rivalries.
Call it Pirates vs. Reds, round two — and a fitting farewell for Yasiel Puig.
Hughes hit Starling Marte with his first pitch in the ninth inning Tuesday night, setting the stage for the latest dust-up between the Ohio River rivals. Four Pirates and four Reds were ejected in Pittsburgh’s 11-4 win, including Puig, who was in the process of being traded.
“The ball just slipped and it was real unfortunate and a lot of bad things happened afterward,” Hughes said.
And it’s not over.
Reds manager David Bell faces a suspension for coming back onto the field and going after Pirates manager Clint Hurdle during the fracas. Bell had already been ejected for arguing a strike call an inning earlier.
And there was Puig, who’s headed to Cleveland as part of a three-team deal for starter Trevor Bauer, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced.
Puig prolonged the fight that started when Reds reliever Amir Garrett went toward the Pirates dugout and threw several punches.
Puig’s summary of the inning: “That’s crazy.”
The NL Central rivals have been going at each other for years. The nastiness resumed this season when Derek Dietrich admired his homer at PNC Park in April, touching off a fracas.
On Tuesday, Dietrich got into the lopsided game late, and Keona Kela threw a fastball up-and-in that set off the Reds.
“I just wanted to show them that we didn’t agree with the way things went down, and you have to pitch in,” Kela said. “I was just going my part.”
Between innings, Joey Votto exchanged words with Kela.
“Today was an example of us standing our ground for what we think is right,” Votto said. “At some point, a group of players has to do that.”
Both benches had been warned when Hughes plunked Marte, so the reliever and Reds bench coach Freddie Benavides were ejected. Garrett relieved and, during the inning, traded words with Pirates starter Trevor Williams, who was in the dugout.
Garrett ran from the mound toward the dugout and started swinging as players came onto the field. Garrett was upset over the up-and-in pitch to Dietrich.
“I definitely do think they teach that in that organization,” Garrett said. “I don’t think it’s right to throw at somebody. That’s not something you should do. If you have a problem, handle it like a man.”
When the fight began, a livid Bell ran back onto the field and went after Hurdle, who got knocked to the ground in the scrum. Pirates hitting coach Rick Eckstein got Bell in a headlock. Bell yelled at Hurdle as he left the field.
“It’s a shame that this is allowed and that they’re able to get away with it,” Bell said of the up-and-in pitch. “They celebrate it, they support it, they clearly allow it. I don’t know if they teach it, but they allow it. It’s dangerous.”
Four Pirates were ejected: Williams, Chris Archer, Kyle Crick and Francisco Cervelli, who is on the injured list.
“No one likes getting shown up,” Williams said. “Alphas don’t like it. You hope it’s done. You hope it’s over. Hopefully, it won’t escalate. Today was pretty bad for us, pretty bad for baseball, pretty bad for everybody.”
Puig was given a warm ovation from Reds fans as he left the field after his ejection, knowing he was headed to Cleveland. He was also at the center of the memorable fight that followed Dietrich’s homer in April, taking on nearly the entire Pirates team at one point — a striking image with Pittsburgh sporting bright yellow throwback uniforms.
As for the game, Pittsburgh ended a nine-game losing streak behind trade candidate Corey Dickerson, who had another big game at Great American Ball Park. He drove in a career-high five runs with a pair of homers and a single. In 14 career games at Great American, Dickerson is batting .431 with nine homers and 18 RBIs. He’s had three four-hit games and three multi-homer games.
Joe Musgrove (8-9) set a career high with his eighth win. He went six innings and gave up solo homers by Votto and Jose Iglesias . Tanner Roark (6-7) had a rough time Tuesday. He lasted only 3 1/3 innings — his shortest start of the season — and gave up five runs.
The teams conclude the series Wednesday, with neither one looking for another confrontation but not backing away, either.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it sparks again,” Musgrove said, noting that Bell ran back onto the field to join in the fight. “We don’t take lightly what happened tonight.”
SUSPENDED
The Pirates suspended bullpen coach Euclides Rojas for two games for an undisclosed contract violation. Rojas started serving the penalty Tuesday. The club had no further comment.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Dickerson was back in left field after missing three games with a sore groin.
Reds: Reliever David Hernandez will be activated before the final game of the series on Wednesday. He’s been on the injured list with shoulder fatigue.
UP NEXT
Pirates: Dario Agrazal (2-1) makes his seventh start since his major league debut June 15. He gave up a career-high three homers in a 6-3 loss to the Mets on Friday.
Reds: Luis Castillo (9-4) is coming off his worst start of an All-Star season. He gave up a career-high six runs in five innings of a 12-2 loss to the Rockies on Friday.
___
AP Sports Writer Tom Withers contributed from Cleveland.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Pirates trade Lyles, lose to Reds 11-6 on 10-run inning
By JOE KAY AP Sports Writer
CINCINNATI (AP) — All nine Reds crossed the plate in a parade unseen in Cincinnati since the days of the Big Red Machine. All the down-and-out Pirates could do was watch glumly.
Jose Iglesias’ grand slam completed Cincinnati’s 10-run second inning and the Reds beat the Pirates 11-6 Monday night after Pittsburgh traded scheduled starter Jordan Lyles to the Brewers.
The last-place Pirates lost their ninth straight, their longest skid since they dropped 10 in a row in 2011.
“It’s hard right now, there’s no doubt about it,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “We battle adversity in different areas just about every night.”
Lyles was dealt to Milwaukee — which has an injury-depleted rotation — in the afternoon for pitching prospect Cody Ponce. Alex McRae (0-3) took Lyles’ spot, his first major league start after seven relief appearances. He retired only four batters and was replaced during Cincinnati’s biggest inning in four years.
McRae learned when he got to the ballpark about four hours before game time that he was going to make his first start.
“I was excited, obviously a little bit of nerves the first inning,” McRae said. “No excuses though.”
Ten days earlier, the Reds gave up a 10-run inning by the Cardinals during a 12-11 loss at Great American Ball Park. This time, they were on the other end of one .
They piled up six hits and three walks while sending 13 batters to the plate. Joey Votto singled home a pair of runs, first baseman Josh Bell had a throwing error, and Iglesias’ second career grand slam off Montana DuRapau made it 10-1.
After he rounded the bases, Iglesias rubbed his hair in the dugout and told teammates he’d make good on a promise.
“I told them before the game that ‘If I hit a home run, I would paint my hair like you guys,'” Iglesias said.
What color?
“Purple or yellow,” he said.
Every Reds player scored in an inning for the first time since Sept. 3, 1975, when they beat the Dodgers 13-2, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Cincinnati hadn’t scored so many runs in an inning since it also had 10 in the sixth against Detroit on Aug. 24, 2015.
“That doesn’t happen a lot, but we’ve been so in tune with our players and our offense these days,” manager David Bell said. “An inning like that can be really good for offense.”
Sonny Gray (6-6) gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings, including Starling Marte’s 18th homer and Bryan Reynolds’ ninth. Colin Moran hit his third career grand slam off Wandy Peralta.
The game matched the NL Central’s bottom teams. The Pirates have anchored themselves in last place by going 2-15 after the All-Star break, prompting them to trade Lyles two days before the deadline.
BAD KARMA
During that 17-game stretch, the Pirates have led only three times after the fifth inning.
NEWCOMER
DuRapau was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Lyles’ spot on the roster. He pitched in 10 games during three previous stints with the Pirates this season.
KEEP GOING
Hurdle says the Pirates have incentive to keep playing hard even as they trade away players.
“There’s an honor code out there about continuing to play,” Hurdle said pregame. “And the one thing we do mention is the name on the front of the jersey is important. It’s important for the fan base, it’s important to your organization, the people who work for your organization. And that name on the back should be important to you because you’re carrying your family name out there every day.”
TERRIBLE TWOS
The Pirates’ previous worst inning? They gave up nine runs — also in the second inning — during a 14-8 loss to the Cardinals on July 24.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Left-hander Steven Brault could start a rehab assignment Thursday. He’s been in the injured list since July 6 with a strained left shoulder. … Corey Dickerson missed a third straight game with a sore groin. He might return during the series.
Reds: Reliever David Hernandez might be activated during the series. He’s been sidelined since July 18 with a sore right shoulder.
UP NEXT
Pirates: Joe Musgrave (7-9) has matched his career high with seven wins, accomplished with the Astros in 2017. He won his other start against the Reds this season, throwing seven scoreless innings for a 2-0 victory on April 5 at PNC Park.
Reds: Tanner Roark (6-6) is 3-1 in eight career starts against the Pirates. He had no decision in a 6-5 loss on April 30 at Pittsburgh.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Conforto, Vargas lead Mets over Pirates for 4th straight win
By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Conforto sparked New York’s offense with a two-run homer in a six-run first inning against Chris Archer, and the Mets held on to beat the reeling Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7 Sunday to match their longest winning streak this season at four games.
Jason Vargas (6-5) won a third straight start for the first time since last August, and the Mets completed a three-game sweep. New York improved to 10-5 since the All-Star break, passing Cincinnati, Colorado and Pittsburgh in the standings. The Mets (50-55) started Sunday six games back in the NL wild-card race with six teams in front.
Pittsburgh was 2½ games off the NL Central lead at the break but has lost 14 of 16, including eight in a row.
Given a 6-0 lead, Vargas allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He could be dangled by the Mets ahead of Wednesday’s trade deadline along with fellow starters Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler.
Vargas, a 36-year-old left-hander, can become a free agent after the World Series unless his $8 million club option for 2020 is exercised. Wheeler can go free this fall but Syndergaard is far more valuable — he can’t become a free agent until after the 2021 season.
Jacob deGrom, Wheeler and Steven Matz got the victories earlier in the Mets’ streak. New York starting pitchers had not won four straight games since Robert Gsellman, Matt Harvey, Seth Lugo and Rafael Montero in September 2017.
New York led 8-3 in the ninth before Bryan Reynolds had a two-run homer off Tyler Bashlor and José Osuna hit a two-run drive against Edwin Díaz, who got the next two outs for his 23rd save in 27 chances.
Archer (3-8) allowed five hits and four walks in five innings, raising his ERA to 5.58. He is 0-3 in his last nine starts, 0-4 on the road this season and has allowed 25 home runs, second in the major leagues to 28 off Houston ace Justin Verlander. Archer is 28-47 since the start of 2016 after going 32-32 in his first four seasons.
He threw 48 pitches in the first, falling behind when Conforto hit an opposite-field drive to left and reached 20 homers for the third straight season. Todd Frazier, J.D. Davis and Amed Rosario had RBI singles, and Aaron Altherr added a sacrifice fly. The inning was prolonged when third baseman Jung Ho Kang failed to catch Archer’s throw on a bunt.
Altherr entered as a pinch hitter for Jeff McNeil, who was hit on the right shin by a pitch earlier in the inning.
Jacob Stallings hit a solo homer for the Pirates, who closed to 6-3 in the fifth inning but were hurt by a sloppy game that included three errors and three unearned runs.
Stallings appeared to lose track of outs while running the bases in the fourth, possibly costing a run; Osuna dropped a foul pop near first for an error; reliever Francisco Liriano failed to cover first on Robinson Canó’s rounder to the right side, leading to an usual 3-6-4 double play; and two-time Gold Glove Starling Marté was charged with an error for failing to catch Conforto’s flyout in what became a two-run sixth.
PIITSBURGH PARADOX
Prates manager Clint Hurdle on how to motivate his team: “I’ve used before the Stockdale Paradox. You have to have a sense of reality, but you need to remain optimistic. The harsh reality is we haven’t played well for two weeks. The optimism is, as I said, there’s been six games that we could have won along the way and that flips the record with one hit or one well-placed out.”
SCUFFLING
Canó was hitless in three at-bats against Archer, dropping to 0 for 19 against him. … Kang struck out four times.
FOWL POLES
Citi Field’s foul poles are now fowl poles, with an ad for a chicken company attached to them.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: LF Corey Dickerson missed his second straight game due to left groin discomfort.
Mets: X-rays on McNeil’s shin were negative.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Jordan Lyles (5-7) starts Monday at Cincinnati and RHP Sonny Gray (5-6). Lyles has allowed 16 runs — 13 earned — over eight innings in his last three starts.
Mets: Syndergaard (7-5) is scheduled to start Tuesday at the Chicago White Sox against RHP Reynaldo López (5-9).
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Matz gets 1st complete game, Mets blank sinking Pirates 3-0
By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Steven Matz threw an efficient five-hitter for his first complete game in 90 major league starts, and the New York Mets got home runs from Michael Conforto and J.D. Davis in a 3-0 victory Saturday night over the sinking Pittsburgh Pirates.
Matz (6-6) struck out seven and walked none, needing just 99 pitches to earn his first win since June 8 against Colorado. The left-hander, making his third start since a brief stint in the bullpen, handed the last-place Pirates their seventh straight loss and 13th in 15 games since the All-Star break.
Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle was only around for the first three batters of a swift contest that took 2 hours, 10 minutes. Hurdle was ejected by plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after Starling Marte was called out on strikes to end the top of the first inning.
It appeared Hurdle came onto the field to escort Marte away and make sure he didn’t get tossed. But when the skipper said something to Wendelstedt from a distance, it was Hurdle who was given the thumb.
Pirates starter Trevor Williams (3-4) held the Mets hitless until Davis doubled off the right center wall with two outs in the fifth.
Conforto sent a changeup into the second deck in right field for a solo shot in the sixth. Davis added a two-run drive to center in the seventh after Pittsburgh shortstop Jung Ho Kang let Todd Frazier’s popup drop for a gift single.
Matz went right at the slumping Pirates, throwing 67 strikes. He was aided by two timely double plays, including when New York went around the horn on Melky Cabrera with runners at the corners to end the sixth.
Three innings later, Matz pounded his pitching hand into his glove after retiring All-Star slugger Josh Bell on a routine grounder for the final out.
The fourth-place Mets (49-55) have won three in a row and are 9-5 since the All-Star break.
NEW ADDITION
Mets outfielder Jeff McNeil and his wife, Tatiana, indeed adopted that rescued puppy he wanted that was brought to Citi Field by the North Shore Animal League on Friday — not long before McNeil hit a three-run homer. The couple visited the puppy together Saturday as planned. “Once she picked her up, it was game over,” McNeil said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: LF Corey Dickerson was out of the starting lineup after leaving Friday night’s game with left groin discomfort. He took indoor swings in the afternoon and hoped to be available off the bench. Cabrera started in left. … LHP Steven Brault (shoulder strain) threw a bullpen.
Mets: LF Dominic Smith went on the 10-day injured list with a stress reaction in his left foot, and it’s unclear how long he’ll be out. Davis started in left field, and New York selected the contract of OF Aaron Altherr from Triple-A Syracuse. … Mets manager Mickey Callaway was “pretty confident” closer Edwin Díaz would be available if needed. Díaz was held out as a precaution Friday night while nursing a sore left big toe. He was hit in the foot by a line drive Thursday. … OF Brandon Nimmo (neck) has been ramping up baseball activities but is still a while from playing in a game, Callaway said. Nimmo has been sidelined since May 21.
ROSTER MOVES
Pittsburgh claimed RHP Parker Markel off waivers from the Seattle Mariners and optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis. To open a spot on the 40-man roster, RHP Rookie Davis (finger blister) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Chris Archer (3-7, 5.40 ERA) pitches the series finale Sunday. He is 0-2 with a 5.65 ERA in his last eight starts, and 0-3 in eight outings on the road this season.
Mets: LHP Jason Vargas (5-5, 3.96), perhaps an under-the-radar trade candidate as Wednesday’s deadline approaches, has a 1.83 ERA in seven starts at home this season. He allowed only one hit in six shutout innings with eight strikeouts to beat San Diego on Tuesday.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Trade target Wheeler brings heat as Mets beat Bucs 6-3
By JAKE SEINER AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — After missing 2 1/2 weeks with a shoulder issue, Zack Wheeler felt some relief when leadoff hitter Corey Dickerson swung through his 98 mph fastball Friday night.
No doubt, the Mets right-hander did his part heating up the hot stove ahead of next week’s trade deadline.
Wheeler, among the major leagues’ most likely players to be dealt, showed off a live arm in his return from the injured list, and New York hit four homers to beat the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3.
Wheeler (7-6) struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings in his first start since July 7 due to right shoulder fatigue — an issue he called an impingement. With contending teams watching closely, the right-hander averaged 96.8 mph on his fastball and looked sharp until Adam Frazier clocked a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Wheeler allowed three runs, six hits and no walks.
“I thought he threw the ball great,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “He held his stuff, and he said he felt outstanding when he came out.”
Jeff McNeil hit a three-run homer, and Todd Frazier, Pete Alonso and Wilson Ramos added solo shots for the Mets. Alonso’s homer was his 34th.
Pirates rookie starter Dario Agrazal (2-1) got roughed up for the first time in his short big league career, and Pittsburgh dropped its sixth straight. The Pirates are 2-13 since the All-Star break and have allowed 12 homers over their past three games.
“We’ve had some challenges keeping the ball in the ballpark,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “It’s been a rough stretch from that standpoint.”
With Mets closer Edwin Díaz nursing a sore left big toe a day after being hit by a line drive, Seth Lugo pitched the ninth for his first save of the year.
Wheeler, who can become a free agent after the season, expects to be dealt prior to the July 31 deadline and even has his bags packed at home. Callaway acknowledged that Wheeler faced a “difficult task” tuning out the trade talk, but he expected the 29-year-old to lock in for game time.
He looked sharp early but allowed a run in the second on two soft singles and Colin Moran’s one-hopper that skipped off shortstop Amed Rosario’s glove for an RBI infield single.
Wheeler retired 12 straight before running into trouble in the sixth. Melky Cabrera led off with a single, and Adam Frazier drove a two-run shot to cut New York’s lead to 4-3. Wheeler got an out and allowed a single to Josh Bell before being pulled after 73 pitches.
Mets fans near the home dugout gave Wheeler a standing ovation as he walked off.
Wheeler has experience with the deadline drama. Sunday will mark eight years since he was acquired from the San Francisco Giants for veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran.
“You just try to stay locked in,” Wheeler said. “I’ve been through it before. It’s just noise at this point. You just have to stay locked in. If you don’t, you’re going to go out there and do crappy.”
McNeil and Ramos each hit their 10th homers. Todd Frazier clubbed his 14th a day after ending a 1-for-18 skid with two hits.
Agrazal was pulled after allowing Alonso’s one-out homer in the sixth. He gave up five runs on three homers, and his ERA rose from 2.25 to 3.24 in his sixth career start.
“I went out there with the same mentality, same game plan, same preparation,” he said through a translator. “Sometimes, it’s just baseball. They have the bat as well.”
DEADLINE ACQUISITION?
McNeil video chatted with his wife, Tatiana, pregame to ask her permission to bring home a rescued puppy brought to the ballpark by the North Shore Animal League. McNeil said the couple planned to visit with the puppy Saturday before making a decision.
“I think hitting a home run after holding a puppy, I think that gives me a little bargaining chip,” McNeil said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Dickerson was pulled in the third with left groin discomfort. Hurdle said Dickerson felt the discomfort making a defensive play in the second inning.
Mets: Callaway opted to give Díaz a night off to heal his big toe, although Díaz said he was feeling well and declared himself ready to pitch. X-rays were negative, and Díaz threw from 90 feet before the game without issue. … RHP Walker Lockett was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make space for Wheeler.
UP NEXT
Mets LHP Steven Matz (5-6, 4.75 ERA) makes his third start since a brief stint in the bullpen. He pitched six innings of two-run ball against San Francisco in his previous outing. The Pirates will send out RHP Trevor Williams (3-3, 4.96).
___
Follow Jake Seiner: https://twitter.com/Jake_Seiner
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports