Dodgers, Bosox swing deal
The expected blockbuster trade between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers became official Saturday.
The Red Sox sent first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, outfielder Carl Crawford, right-hander Josh Beckett and utility infielder Nick Punto to the Dodgers for first baseman James Loney, minor-league pitcher Allen Webster, minorleague infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. and two players to be named. The nine-player deal is the largest in Dodgers history.
The Dodgers are chasing the San Francisco Giants in the National League West and are in the thick of the NL wild-card race, too. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are virtually out of playoff contention, and the deal gives them a chance to rebuild without several hefty contracts.
The Red Sox will save $261 million from 2013 to 2018 — $127 million on Gonzalez, $102.5 million on Crawford and $31.5 million on Beckett — plus a few million more for the rest of this season. They will send $11 million to the Dodgers as part of the deal, a baseball official said on condition of anonymity.
The trade paid immediate dividends for the Dodgers, who beat the visiting Miami Marlins 8-2 behind a three-run home run from Gonzalez in his first at-bat with his new team and a 4-for-4 game from Andre Ethier. Ethier tied a franchise record with hits in his last 10 at-bats.
On the field
Jhonny Peralta highlighted a three-run rally in the eighth inning with a two-run double, and the host Detroit Tigers overcame a threerun deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3. The result enabled the Tigers to stay 21⁄2 games behind the White Sox in the battle for first place in the American League Central.
Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips homered, and the Cincinnati Reds scored three runs in the sixth inning and four more in the seventh to top the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 8-2. The result boosted the Reds’ lead over the Cardinals atop the National League Central to seven games.
Justin Masterson (10-11) yielded one run and seven hits in 6⅔ innings, Michael Brantley hit a three-run homer and the host Cleveland Indians ended a ninegame losing streak by defeating the New York Yankees 3-1.
Clemens still has stuff
Roger Clemens, 50, allowed one hit, struck out two and walked none in 3⅓ scoreless innings for the Sugar Land (Texas) Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League. He threw 37 pitches and his fastball was clocked at 88 mph in his first game action since retiring from the Yankees after the 2007 season.