LEADING OFF: Cooperstown calling, moonshots and revved Yanks

By: The Associated Press Posted: 9:00 PM CDT Saturday, Jul. 20, 2019 Last Modified: 2:05 AM CDT Sunday, Jul. 21, 2019

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/07/2019 (2304 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

HALL OF A DAY

Will closer Mariano Rivera rattle? Will clutch hitter Edgar Martinez choke up? We’ll see whether the baseball greats get overwhelmed by emotion when they’re enshrined at the Hall of Fame.

FILE - In this April 4, 2001, file photo, Seattle Mariners' Edgar Martinez drops his bat as he heads toward first on his sixth-inning, two-run double against the Oakland Athletics in Seattle. Martinez will go into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, the first player to spend his entire career with the Mariners--18 seasons in all--and find his way into Cooperstown. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

The induction ceremonies in Cooperstown include another full class, with six new members. Rivera, the only unanimous selection in Hall history, will be joined by Martinez, Mike Mussina, Lee Smith, Harold Baines and the late Roy Halladay.

A sizable contingent of Yankees fans is expected to cheer Rivera — and Mussina — in the upstate New York village, which sees its population swell for this annual event.

MOONSHOTS

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Jackie Bradley Jr. were among the many players hitting moonshots on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. A couple ballparks took note of the date Saturday to remember the moment.

At Yankee Stadium, former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino threw a ceremonial first ball to former pitcher Jack Aker before New York hosted Colorado. Aker was on the mound at the old Yankee Stadium on July 20, 1969, when a game against the Washington Senators was stopped for the announcement that the spacecraft had touched down.

At Comerica Park, the stadium PA played “Rocket Man” by Elton John as the seventh-inning sing-a-long as the Tigers hosted Toronto.

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS

Miami Marlins' Jordan Yamamoto pitches to San Diego Padres' Manny Machado during the first inning a baseball game, Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

DJ LeMahieu and the major league-best Yankees (64-33) go for their sixth straight victory and ninth series sweep this season when they face the plummeting Rockies in the finale of a 10-game homestand. LeMahieu has been as hot as the New York weather, with five hits in two weekend games against his former team to raise his AL-leading batting average to .334. “It’s a little weird,” said LeMahieu, who spent his first eight seasons with the Rockies. “I’ll be excited not to play them anymore.”

Colorado has lost six in a row and 13 of 15 while getting outscored 127-64, leaving the Rockies in a last-place tie with San Diego in the NL West.

NIGHT MOVES

The top two teams in the NL East wrap up a four-game series as Freddie Freeman and the first-place Braves host Washington in prime time. Nationals slugger Anthony Rendon is 7 for 17 (.412) with three extra-base hits in his career against Atlanta starter Kevin Gausman (2-5, 6.21 ERA).

MEASURING STICK

Miami rookie Jordan Yamamoto (4-0, 1.59 ERA) gets a tough test in his seventh major league start when he pitches at Dodger Stadium against Cody Bellinger and the top team in the National League. Acquired from Milwaukee in the Christian Yelich trade, the 23-year-old Yamamoto is limiting opponents to a .134 batting average, lowest in the majors since June 12. All-Star right-hander Walker Buehler (8-1, 3.44) is on the mound for Los Angeles.

A NEW START

Astronaut Mike Massamino, right, poses for photographs with former New York Yankees pitcher Jack Aker before a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Colorado Rockies Saturday, Jan. 20, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Drew Smyly is expected to start for the Phillies, a couple days after they signed him. The 30-year-old lefty was 1-5 with an 8.42 ERA in 13 games with Texas before getting released.

Smyly missed the past two seasons because of Tommy John surgery before returning to the majors with the Rangers this year. He will take the place of Nick Pivetta, who was moved to the bullpen.

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