Rios happy in Texas
Alex Rios has moved from one of the worst teams in the American League to one of the best, and he couldn’t be happier about it.
Rios, who was acquired by Texas from the Chicago White Sox on Friday, joined the Rangers on Saturday. He went 2 for 3 and drove in a run.
“It’s an exciting move, it is a refreshing change for myself, for my career,” Rios said. “It’s something that you as a player look forward to, you want to go deep into the playoffs and win it. I believe we have that chance here. I believe we have a team here that is actually contending.”
Rios will help the Rangers deal with the loss of Nelson Cruz, who was suspended for the final 50 games of the regular season in Major League Baseball’s Biogenesis investigation.
Rios entered Saturday night’s game hitting .277 with 12 homers, 55 RBIs and 26 stolen bases.
The White Sox are last in the A.L. Central and have the second-worst record in the A.L. behind Houston. A recent surge by the Rangers has put them in first place in the A.L. West.
The 32-year-old Rios has never appeared in the postseason.
Tampa Bay pulls off hidden ball trick
The Tampa Bay Rays pulled off the old hidden ball trick against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
The rarely seen play occurred in the fourth inning with Los Angeles leading 4-0.
A.J. Ellis hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, and all three runners moved up as center fielder Wil Myers threw toward the plate.
First baseman James Loney wound up with the ball behind the mound. He flipped it to shortstop Yunel Escobar, who then tossed the ball to Longoria while no one seemed to be looking.
Longoria stood behind Juan Uribe, who was chatting with third base coach Tim Wallach. When Uribe took his foot off the bag, Longoria tagged him.
Umpire Angel Hernandez was right on the play and made the out call.
Clearing the bases
Miami manager Mike Redmond held Giancarlo Stanton out of the lineup Saturday night to give the struggling right fielder some rest. Redmond said it “seems like he’s just really grinding and not having a whole lot of fun out there.” Stanton has hit just .108 in 37 at-bats over his last 10 games. … Boston recalled Will Middlebrooks from Triple-A Pawtucket. Right-hander Pedro Beato was optioned to Triple-A. … The Los Angeles Angels put second baseman Howie Kendrick on the 15-day disabled list with a hyperextended left knee. … Left fielder Ryan Ludwick rejoined the Cincinnati Reds and will be activated off the disabled list Monday, four months after he tore cartilage in his left shoulder while sliding into a base. … Kansas City put outfielder Lorenzo Cain on the 15-day disabled list because of a pulled left oblique. … San Diego put outfielder Carlos Quentin on the 15-day disabled list with a strained knee. … Toronto placed left-hander Juan Perez on the 60-day disabled list with a torn ligament in his elbow and recalled right-hander Mickey Storey from Triple-A Buffalo.