Houston Astros slugger Yuli Gurriel apologized for what appeared to be a racist gesture and remark about Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish during Friday's World Series game.
The Cuban smashed a solo home run off the Japanese pitcher to spark a four-run second inning that powered Houston to a 5-3 victory and a 2-1 lead in Major League Baseball's best-of-7 championship final.
During the game, television cameras showed Gurriel putting his fingers to the outer edges of his eyes and pulling the skin wider. There was also concern he had uttered the word "chinito," or "little Chinese".
"Acting like that was just disrespectful to people all over the world," Darvish said through a translator when told of the move. "I feel like the Astros have Asian fans too."
After the game, Gurriel -- who played for Japan's Yokohama BayStars in 2014 -- said through a translator that he meant no offensive gesture or remark.
"I didn't want to offend anybody in Japan. I have a lot of respect for Japan. I never intended to make an offensive gesture," said Gurriel. "I was commenting to my teammates that I haven't had much luck against Darvish.
"If he was offended, I ask for his forgiveness. That wasn't my intention."
As for his remark, Gurriel said that, "In Cuba we call everybody who is from Asia 'chinito.' "
Houston's four-run outburst chased Darvish off the mound after 1 2/3 innings -- the shortest start of Darvish's career in possibly the biggest game of his life.
But after the contest, Darvish's poor outing was less of a concern than Gurriel's actions. And while Darvish did not utter the word forgiveness, it was the spirit he showed to the man who seemingly added insult to victory.
"He made a mistake," Darvish said. "He'll learn from it. We're all human beings."
Well after the game, Darvish released a statement in English on his Twitter account that expressed his desire for people to learn from Gurriel's actions.
"No one is perfect. That includes both you and I. What he had done today isn't right, but I believe we should put our effort into learning rather than to accuse him," Darvish wrote.
"If we can take something from this, that is a giant step for mankind. Since we are living in such a wonderful world, let's stay positive and move forward instead of focusing on anger.
"I'm counting on everyone's big love."
Several media reports said Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred plans to speak to Gurriel on Saturday about the gesture before game four of the best-of-seven championship series now led by the Astros 2-1.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch said that Gurriel was "remorseful" about his actions.
"I am aware of it," Hinch said. "I know he's remorseful. But other than that, I don't know a lot."
source: news.abs-cbn.com
NEW YORK -- Japanese ace Yu Darvish dazzled in his Los Angeles Dodgers debut, throwing seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts in a 6-0 victory Friday over the New York Mets.
The 30-year-old righthander from Osaka picked up his seventh win of the year and first since being acquired Monday from the Texas Rangers on Major League Baseball's trading deadline.
"He did everything we hoped he would do," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
The Dodgers, who improved to 77-32 on the season, gave up three prospects to get Darvish, who allowed just three hits and one walk.
It marked the first win for Darvish since June 12. He was 0-5 with a 5.81 earned-run average in his final eight starts for the Rangers.
Darvish became the first Dodger with 10 strikeouts in his debut since Japanese compatriot Kaz Ishii in 2002.
"It is not just about being a Dodger in my first outing," Darvish said. "I gave up 10 runs in my last outing. I was a little concerned about that. I didn't want to pitch bad in my first outing."
Darvish received the only support he would need when Chris Taylor homered leading off the first against Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom at Citi Field. Yasiel Puig homered in the second and Justin Turner drove in a run in the fifth.
The scorching Dodgers won for the 42nd time in their last 49 games dating to June 7. The Mets lost for the fifth time in six games.
DeGrom allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out eight over five innings. He also singled and stole a base in the third. It was the first stolen base by a Mets pitcher since Oliver Perez swiped second in May 2008.
Chase Utley blasted a two-run home run for the Dodgers. Utley was booed loudly before every at-bat by fans who remember from his years with the Philadelphia Phillies, when he broke the leg of shortstop Ruben Tejada with a hard slide into second base during the 2015 National League playoffs.
The blast was his 39th regular-season homer against the Mets, most of any active player.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
LOS ANGELES -- Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish is leaving the slumping Texas Rangers for Major League Baseball's most successful team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the biggest of several trade deadline moves on Monday.
The 30-year-old right-hander is a four-time major league all-star since joining the Texas Rangers in 2012 after seven seasons pitching for Japan's Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters from 2005-2011.
The Rangers swapped Darvish to the Dodgers in the last 10 minutes before the deadline, shortly after the Japanese star tweeted a photo of himself standing next to his locker.
Texas, 50-54 and 18 games behind leader Houston in the American League West division, will receive outfielder Willie Calhoun, right-handed pitcher A.J. Alexy and infielder Brendon Davis in the deal.
Darvish joins a club that stands 74-31 and leads the National League West division by 14 games over Arizona.
In other deadline-day deals, the Dodgers acquired two left-handed relief pitchers, Tony Watson from Pittsburgh and Tony Cingrani from Cincinnati.
Arizona, with a firm grip on a wildcard playoff spot at 60-45, added right-handed pitcher David Hernandez in a deal with the Los Angeles Angels for minor league pitcher Luis Madero.
NL East leader Washington, a possible playoff foe for the Dodgers at 62-41, acquired right-handed All-Star closing relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler from the Minnesota Twins, helping ease a woeful bullpen.
The reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs, atop the NL Central by 2 1/2 games over Milwaukee at 5-48, acquired Detroit Tigers closer Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila in exchange for minor leaguers.
Left-hander Wilson, who turns 30 next month, is expected to enter before Cubs right-handed closer Wade Davis.
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, locked in the tighest fight in baseball with only a half-game separating them atop the American League East division, also made moves.
Former All-Star right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray was traded to the Yankees by Oakland for three minor league players.
The Red Sox obtained right-handed closer Addison Reed from the New York Mets for three minor leaguers. Reed would be a set-up man for Red Sox right-handed closer Craig Kimbrel.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
