LOS ANGELES (AP) ― June was a month to savor for Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig and one to forget for Philadelphia Phillies’ slumping first baseman Ryan Howard.
Puig ended his sensational first month in the major leagues with his first four-hit game, Stephen Fife scattered four hits over seven scoreless innings and the Dodgers beat the Phillies 6-1 Sunday to take three of four in the series.
“Puig’s definitely brought an energy and a spark to us, and his skill level, I think, is a little more than anybody anticipated it would be,” Fife said.
Puig finished June with 44 hits, surpassing the 42 by Pittsburgh’s Bob Elliott in September 1939 for the second-most in a player’s first full calendar month in the major leagues. Joe DiMaggio had 48 in May 1936.
“Obviously, the league is going to start to make adjustments when they start figuring out what counts and what pitches he may struggle with or have less success with,” Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins said. “And then he’ll have to readjust his game. But right now, he’s done everything he needs to do.”
Darvish, Rangers edge Reds
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) ― Yu Darvish brought the heat to win for the first time in eight starts and the Texas Rangers squeezed out a series-clinching victory.
Relying heavily on his fastball, primarily a four-seamer, Darvish struck out eight in 6 2/3 scoreless innings and the Rangers scored twice on a squeeze bunt in a 3-2 victory over Mat Latos and the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
