Dairon Blanco collected three hits in as many trips to the plate, including his third tater on the campaign to lead a Kansas City Royals season ending 5-2 victory over the Yankees. The speedy outfielder also scored twice and stole two bases to complete his day. Blanco in his own right this season has stolen 24 bases in only 124 at-bats and slashed .258/.324/.452/.776.
José Abreu hit his 18th longball of the year and knocked in two runs, while also scoring twice to do his part in Houston’s 8-1 win over Arizona. With that win the Astros clinched their third straight AL West division title. The slugger from Mal Tiempo, Cuba closed the season with 90 RBIs.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr in defeat drove in the Diamondbacks only run of the game with an eighth inning double to close the campaign with 82 runs batted in and Arizona will now face Milwaukee in the first round of this year’s postseason. Gurriel hit .290 in the season’s last month.
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Dairon Blanco hits a solo shot (2) to give the Royals a 4-0 lead.— MLB Updates (@MLBNews1234) October 1, 2023
Cuban action on the evening:
Yuli Gurriel (MIA) 3-0
Nick Fortes (MIA) 3-0*
Cionel Pérez (BAL) 0.2IP,2H,0ER,3BB,K
Yennier Cano (BAL) 0.1IP,0H,0ER,K
J.D. Martínez (LAD) 5-0*
Zach Neto (LAA) 4-2,2B,R*
Andy Ibáñez (DET) 4-1,RBI
Lourdes Gurriel Jr (ARI) 4-2,2B,RBI
José Abreu (HOU) 4-2,HR,2RBI,2R
Yordan Álvarez (HOU) 3-1,R
Adolis García (TEX) 3-1
Nick Castellanos (PHI) 3-0*
Yasmani Grandal (CHW) 5-1
Dairon Blanco (KC) 3-3,HR,RBI,2R,2SB
* Cuban-American