MLB Player News

Brewers reliever John Axford escaped with his first win Saturday night against the Cardinals.

Axford (1-3) pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing a hit, two walks and struck out three in a 6-4 extra-inning win. He has not allowed a run in his last 2 2/3 innings.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel entered Saturday against the Dodgers in the ninth inning with a two-run lead.

The right-hander needed 10 pitches to strike out two and retired the side in order to secure a 3-1 win. He has 13 saves and a 2.76 ERA. Kimbrel has converted three-straight saves since his last blown save May 7.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel notched his 12th save of the season Friday night against the Dodgers.

Kimbrel, who entered the game in the ninth with a three-run lead, worked his way around a base hit, as he struck out two batters and made it out of the frame unscathed to secure an 8-5 victory. It was his second consecutive save since blowing his third save of the season on May 7.

Pirates starting pitcher Jeanmar Gomez placed his calf issues aside as he made the start Friday night against the Astros.

Gomez, who made his fifth start of the season, surrendered a solo home run to Matt Dominguez in the fifth. The right-hander was charged with four runs -- three earned -- and five hits over 4 2/4 innings of work. He walked two and struck out one as he settled for a no-decision.

Gomez is scheduled to make his next start Thursday at home against the Cubs. He surrendered four runs over 14 1/3 innings of work.

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Daniel Hudson, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, pitched in an extended spring training game Friday. It was the first time he has faced non-Arizona hitters since his procedure.

Hudson threw four innings as he struck out one and allowed two runs against minor-league players from the Angels organization.

"It went well," Hudson said. "Nothing out of the ordinary. I got a bunch of ground balls and I got out of the heat as quick as I could. Obviously, I'd thrown a couple of [simulated] games and a live [batting practice], so I've been facing hitters, but once you get out there against someone in a different colored uniform, different adrenaline and emotions start kicking in. Felt like I was getting a lot closer, and the light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little bit brighter now."

Hudson is expected to throw a bullpen session Monday. Barring any setbacks, he will pitch five innings in an extended spring training game Thursday.

Pirates starting pitcher Jeanmar Gomez is set to take the mound Friday against the Astros, and he calf tightness that plagued him in his previous start is not an issue, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Gomez has started three games in a row since moving into the rotation, and has allowed just three earned runs on eight hits in 14 innings of work. He has not gone more than five inning in any start, and the team seems OK with that out of him for now.

"Jeanmar's still spinning out of that fifth spot because he performed admirably as well as a long man, a pure long man, a few times," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's given us what we need there as a five-inning guy, basically."

Gomez is expected to remain in the rotation at least until Charlie Morton can retrun from the disabled list, which is not expected to occur until June 5.

"We'll see where it takes us," Hurdle said. "We'll keep our eyes on what's down below as well."

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman blew his first save opportunity in nine chances when he allowed an inherited runner to score Thursday night against the Marlins. He would allow just one hit while recording both of his outs via strikeout and earn the win when the Reds scored three runs in the 10th.

Chapman has posted a 2.41 ERA this season while saving eight games and compiling an impressive 30 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. Thursday's win was his third of the year.

When a starting pitcher makes it through 27 batters in a row during a start without allowing a hit, it is rightly celebrated as one of the most impressive achievements in baseball.  When a reliever does it over nine appearances mostly in the late innings of a game, we hardly take notice.

Just ask Marlins reliever Ryan Webb, who had not allowed a hit in his last 32 opponent at-bats before Joey Votto singled off him Wednesday. Even he hadn't realized how long his hitless streak was until after it ended.

"Honestly, I didn't even pick up on it until a week ago," Webb told the Sun-Sentinel. "Probably San Diego [last week] I realized it had been a little while."

Webb has only gone less than a full inning in one of his last 10 outings, and has not allowed a run in that span. With 11 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings, Webb is well aware of how much help he has gotten from his defense in this streak.

"Definitely there was some good defense behind all those outs I got and I got lucky on some stuff, which is going to happen," Webb said. "I'm getting the put-aways when I need to."

The Cardinals are asking Shelby Miller to control the run game more efficiently, according to MLB.com.

Miller has been fantastic this season, but opposing base-runners are seven for eight off him. The Cardinals recently timed Miller with a stopwatch, and found he was too slow during his windup. Miller admitted he has been making some mental mistakes, and vowed to take care of the issue. 

Miller will work on his "hold" times during bullpen sessions, which will allow him to figure out the most effective ways for him to cut down on his time to the plate. Miller's next start will come May 20 against the Padres.

Brewers reliever John Axford could be headed to the minors to work out his struggles if he doesn't get back on track soon, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Manager Ron Roenicke has stood by Axford throughout his struggles, but admitted there have been discussions about sending him to the minors. Roenicke said it could happen, but "hopefully it won't." Axford has a 9.00 ERA and a 7.15 FIP in 15 innings.