MLB 2022 | Yordan adds homer #16, Adolis homers again, Raicel Iglesias took a hard loss, and more

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

Yordan Álvarez (Photo: Astros de Houston Twitter)

Jun 5, 2022

Yordan Álvarez went 3-for-4 with a homer and a triple against the Royals on Sunday.

Álvarez went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a triple and three runs scored in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Royals. Álvarez continues to rack up hits at a rapid rate -- he's 17-for-35 (.486) in his last nine games with six extra-base hits in that span. He came up a double shy of the cycle Sunday, which was his second three-hit effort in his last three games. For the season, he's batting .295 with a 1.015 OPS while adding 16 homers, 34 RBI, 35 runs scored, five doubles, and two triples through 201 plate appearances. Álvarez has four homers and eight RBI in his last six games, and he's raised his average from .247 to .285 over his last seven games. He's tied for second in the majors with his 16 homers, putting him five back of Aaron Judge.

White Sox's Yasmani Grandal: Drives in pair. Grandal went 1-for-4 with a walk and two RBI on Sunday against the Rays. Grandal has shown very few signs of breaking out of a season-long slump, and his RBI on Sunday was his first in his last nine starts. In that span, he had collected just two hits in 33 at-bats. Overall, Grandal is hitting .163/.274/.213 across 186 plate appearances.

Royals' Ronald Bolaños: Sent down Saturday. Bolaños was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday. Bolaños returned from the COVID-19 injured list in late May, but he'll lose his spot on the active roster after he allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one in one-third of an inning Friday against the Astros. The right-hander's demotion makes room on the major-league roster for Kris Bubic, who was recalled to start Saturday against Houston.

Adolis García went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Mariners.

García hit a 109 mph solo home run off of George Kirby with two men out in the bottom of the second. The 29-year-old outfielder has hit a home run in back-to-back games. He's added a .229/.266/.448 slash line with 36 RBI, 29 runs scored, six stolen bases, two triples, 10 homers, and 10 doubles in 51 games.

Raisel Iglesias surrendered a game-tying homer Sunday in a blown save against the Phillies.

Iglesias (1-4) allowed three runs on three over 1.1 innings against the Phillies on Sunday. Iglesias was summoned for his first relief appearance in 10 days to attempt to put out a bases-loaded fire in the eighth inning. He struck out Rhys Hoskins, but wound up surrendering a game-tying grand slam to Bryce Harper with two outs in the frame. It was just his second blown save this season. The 32-year-old righty came back out to guard a one-run lead in the ninth inning, but was pulled after allowing two hits and recording just two outs. His replacement, Jimmy Herget promptly served up a walk-off homer to Bryson Stott. Iglesias was charged with his fourth loss of the year (all since May 14) while his ERA jumped to 4.91 through 18.1 innings.

Rangers optioned INF Andy Ibáñez to Triple-A Round Rock.

Ibáñez has been shipped back to the minors to make room for Steele Walker on the Rangers' active roster. The 29-year-old infielder has hit just .216/.272/.276 with one homer and three steals across 125 plate appearances.

Tampa Bay's Randy Arozarena: Had his second triple of the year.

Randy Arozarena was 1-for-3 on Sunday's 6-5 loss to the White Sox. The only hit for the flashy Cuban outfielder was his second triple of the year. Arozarena, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, is slashing .262/.309/.431 for the season. Meanwhile, in the same game, Yandy Díaz went 2-for-3 with a run scored, and a walk, lifting his BA to .282 this year.

The Gurriel's brothers.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (Blue Jays) and Yulieski Gurriel (Astros), went 1-for-4 each on Sunday against the Twins and Royals, respectively. The Gurriel brothers are having an offensively difficult season. Gurriel Jr. is slashing .247/.312/.347 with 2 HR and 20 RBI this year, while Yuli - the reigning batting champion of the American League - is just hitting .225 for the year. There is still time for both players to get hot this season, but there is plenty of fans concerned about their performance this year.

Luis Robert went 3-for-5 on Sunday.

Luis Robert went 3-for-5 on Sunday's 6-5 win against the Rays. Robert added his double #5 of the season and RBI #20. He left two man on bases but lifted his BA to .296 for the season.

Reds placed RHP Vladimir Gutiérrez on the 15-day injured list with right forearm soreness.

Gutiérrez was ejected from the Reds' starting rotation earlier this season and has pitched out of the bullpen twice over the last week. It sounds like he could be out for awhile. There should be some clarity on his status at some point next week.

Chicago White Sox's José Abreu: Getting better.

José Abreu is getting better every day. After a difficult Saturday when he went blank against Tampa Bay pitchers, the Cuban first baseman went 2-for-4 on Sunday's 6-5 win over the Rays. Abreu walked, scored, and added a few points to his BA which is now .255 for the year.

Yoán Moncada was not in the White Sox' starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

Moncada has dealt with a series of lingering leg issues this season, but his absence on Sunday didn't appear to be injury-related at the moment.

Rockies' Jose Iglesias: Day off Sunday. Iglesias was not in Sunday's lineup against Atlanta. Iglesias is hitting .325 with zero home runs and one stolen base over his last 10 games.