Community Picks: Oakland Athletics 0% vs Philadelphia Phillies 0%

Jorge Alfaro didn’t hesitate when asked what’s more important to him.  “Defense, clean games. That’s all I’m thinking about,” the young catcher said early Sunday morning. “If I hit, thank God.” Alfaro provided the Phillies with a needed bonus at the plate Saturday night, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run homer into the center field bushes in the sixth inning. He also guided seven pitchers to a 5-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics in what turned into a bullpen game thanks to a 1-hour, 46-minute rain delay (see observations).  “The thing I like the most is not so much the hitting — that’s a bonus as far as I’m concerned — because he hit .240 in Triple A,” manager Pete Mackanin said. “The thing I’m Continue to Article

September 17, 2017 1:34:am EST

Jorge Alfaro hit a tiebreaking two-run homer into the center field hedges in the sixth inning and the Phillies used seven pitchers to beat the Oakland Athletics, 5-3, on a soggy Saturday night. With Rhys Hoskins hogging the attention these days, Alfaro is quietly hitting over .300 and looking comfortable behind the plate. The 24-year-old Colombian pounced on Simon Castro’s first pitch for his fourth homer in his 21st big league game this season.  The Phillies rallied from a 2-0 deficit following a 1-hour, 46-minute rain delay in the third inning to win for the fourth time in five games. Cesar Hernandez and J.P. Crawford had RBI singles, and Crawford added a sacrifice fly.  Ben Lively gave up Continue to Article

September 16, 2017 2:00:pm EST

Julian Draxler is unhappy since Neymar's arrival at Paris Saint-Germain and will push for a move to Barcelona in January, Don Balon reports. Now, however, attacking midfielder has become frustrated after Neymar's €222 million arrival and hopes to make his desired move to the Catalan side. Baseball hero Billy Beane is part of a consortium set to take over Championship club Barnsley, The Times reports. Continue to Article

September 16, 2017 4:15:am EST