MLB 2022 | Moncada's monster day, Cortés wins again, Gurriel Jr. another multi-hit game, and more

Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources.

Yoán Moncada (Photo: Chicago White Sox Twitter)

Jun 15, 2022

Yoán Moncada had a monster day at the plate in Wednesday's 13-0 rout of the Tigers, going 5-for-6 with a homer, double and five RBI.

Moncada opened the scoring in the contest with a three-run blast off of Alex Faedo with two outs in the opening inning. He tacked on run-scoring singles in the eighth and ninth innings to cap off the lopsided victory. Even with the five-hit attack, Moncada is still slashing just .181/.232/.295 with three homers and 12 RBI on the season.

Néstor Cortés limited the Rays to one run in 5 1/3 innings Wednesday in a victory.

Cortés walked three, but he allowed just three hits, resulting in another fine outing. It's the sixth time in 12 starts this year that he's allowed three hits or fewer, giving him a 6-2 record and a 1.94 ERA.

Astros' Yuli Gurriel: Smacks fourth homer. Gurriel went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Wednesday against the Rangers. Gurriel took Kolby Allard yard in the eighth inning to record his fourth homer of the season. He has one hit in six of his last seven starts, but more importantly, he has five extra-base knocks in that span. That has increased Gurriel's ISO to .147 on the campaign, in line with his mark from the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Astros' Yordan Álvarez: Another extra base on Wednesday.

In a 9-2 win against the Rangers, Yordan Álvarez added his eighth double of the season and his RBIs #44 and 45. Álvarez has now 27 extra bases this year, including two triples and 17 home runs.

White Sox's José Abreu and Luis Robert: Combined for five hits on Wednesday.

It was too much what the White Sox did to the poor Tigers on Wednesday afternoon. Chicago ended up beating the Tigers 13-0, and the Cuban duo of Luis Robert and José Abreu combined 5-for-9 with four runs scored. Abreu was even better, adding four of those 5 hits including his doubles #13 and 14 of the year, and 2 RBI for a grand total of 30 this season.

Marlins' Jorge Soler: Hitless against the Phillies.

In a 3-1 loss to the Phillies, outfielder Jorge Soler - as a DH on Wednesday - had a bad night at the plate going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Soler slash line is .217/.306/.438 with 12 HR and 29 RBI.

Ray's Yandy Díaz: two doubles, and Randy Arozarena: hitless against the Yankees

Yandy Díaz went 2-for-5 on Wednesday night in a 4-3 loss to the Yankees. Díaz double twice against Yankees' starter Néstor Cortés while scoring once and also struck out. Díaz slash line is .270/.398/.354 this year with 3 HR and 14 RBI mostly as a leadoff hitter for the Rays. Meanwhile, Randy Arozarena isn't having the best series against the Yankees. On Wednesday night he went 0-for-2, walked, and scored, but his bat has been silent in key moments during the two games against the division rival.

Yankees' Clay Holmes: May not close when Chapman returns. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that he envisions using Holmes in high-leverage situations against the toughest parts of opposing lineups once Aroldis Chapman (Achilles) returns from the 15-day injured list, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. Boone clarified that Holmes will be "closing some games, too," but the right-hander doesn't look as though he'll be picking up the majority of save chances like he has thus far during Chapman's absence. Chapman completed a bullpen session Tuesday and may be ready to return from the IL next week, but Holmes should retain plenty of fantasy value in the planned high-leverage role, especially if he still continues to close games every now and then. Holmes has yet to allow a run in his last 27 appearances and sports an 0.59 WHIP and 31:3 K:BB in 29 innings during that span.

Mets recalled RHP Yoán Lopez from Triple-A Syracuse.

It's not the first time -- and certainly won't be the last -- that Lopez makes the trip from Syracuse to New York this season. The 29-year-old hurler holds a 9.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 4/0 K/BB ratio over three innings with the big league club this season. Khalil Lee was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Jay's Lourdes Gurriel Jr.: Adds another multi-hit game.

Gurriel Jr. went 2-for-4 with a strikeout in Wednesday's 7-6 win against the Orioles.

Gurriel Jr. multi-hit effort was his seventh during the month of June. He had something special going right now, having fewer responsibilities at the plate batting at the bottom of Jay's lineup. Gurriel is slashing .282/.338/.401 over 57 games this year.

Rangers' Adolis García: In a groove. García went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 9-2 loss to Houston. García extended a hit streak to seven games, during which he's rapped multiple hits in five of them. His 13-for-29 (.448) stretch began when he was batting just .220 but is now up to .248. The steal was his 10th in 12 tries.

José Iglesias: Hitless on Wednesday.

In a 7-5 loss against José Ramírez and the Guardians, Iglesias went 0-for-4 with three left on base and was caught stealing at second and also gunned down by starter Konnor Pilkington at first base. It was definitely not a good night for Iglesias who has a slash line of .308/.354/.378 for the year.

Astros' Aledmys Díaz: Took over at SS for injured Peña. Díaz started start at shortstop and batted seventh in Wednesday's game against the Rangers. He went 1-for-3 with a run scored, a walk, and a strikeout. He pick up his second start in a row and looks primed to serve as the Astros' everyday shortstop after star rookie Jeremy Peña (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Over 123 plate appearances on the season, Díaz has hit .217 with three home runs and no stolen bases