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ANAHEIM, Calif. — What was originally thought to be a minor shoulder injury was serious enough for the Los Angeles Angels to transfer reliever Ben Joyce to the 60-day injured list Friday.

The 24-year-old right-hander, whose 105.5 mph fastball to strike out Dodgers utility man Tommy Edman last September was the hardest pitch thrown in the major leagues in 2024, went on the 15-day injured list because of shoulder inflammation on April 11.

Joyce tried to play catch in late April and again Tuesday but was shut down both times because of discomfort. He is scheduled to visit a doctor and likely will undergo more imaging next week.

“It’s just not getting better,” Joyce said before Friday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. “It’s frustrating for me and everyone else involved. I just want to pitch and be part of the team.

“I don’t know exactly what the concern level is. We’re evaluating it as we go. But at this point, it’s been a month (on the IL), so even if we start a throwing program, it’s going to be another 30 days. So it makes sense right now to go on the 60-day IL.”

Joyce opened the season as Kenley Jansen’s primary setup man and went 1-0 with a 6.23 ERA in five games. He went 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 31 appearances last season, striking out 33 and walking 14 in 34 2/3 innings.

The loss of Joyce has left manager Ron Washington with only two reliable relievers to hold late narrow leads — Jansen and right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn. Angels relievers entered Friday with a 7.15 bullpen ERA, the second-worst in baseball.

“Tremendously,” Washington said, when asked how much Joyce’s absence has impacted the bullpen. “When he went down, it affected us, and we’re still trying to find our footing in the bullpen. He’s an impact-type pitcher. He was the kind of guy we could use to finish an inning, give us another inning, and we miss that.”

Washington said it is unclear who will be responsible for holding leads in the sixth and seventh innings.

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Marlins’ Myers heckled at Fenway before hitting HR

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Marlins' Myers heckled at Fenway before hitting HR

BOSTON — Marlins right fielder Dane Myers felt like a fan at Fenway Park was heckling him beyond what was appropriate, verbal abuse that began before he hit a tying homer in the ninth inning to help Miami rally past the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.

Myers said the heckling began in the eighth when the Red Sox led 3-2 and continued in the ninth after he homered and rookie Jakob Marsee followed with a two-run shot to put the Marlins on top.

“Maybe so,” he said when asked if the fan said something inappropriate. “I don’t really want to get into that. Probably drinking some beers out there, having a good time. It’s a baseball game. I won’t get into necessarily what I heard exactly. It’s part of the game. I think I need to be a pro and probably handle it just a little bit better.”

Myers said he yelled back at the fan in the ninth before security workers intervened. After the fan was removed, Miami wrapped up its 5-3 victory.

“I basically said: ‘Would you be saying this if you were on the field right in my face?'” Myers said. “That was basically the one guy that kind of got the whole section going.”

Myers credited security workers with handling the situation.

“Yeah, they probably had that happen before. They kind of were on it right away,” he said. “Kudos for them kind of stepping in. I wouldn’t ever go into the stands or do anything like that. Just kind of letting them know I’m a person, too. I’m a human, too, so I want some respect as well.”

When asked if the Red Sox approached him and asked what was said — with the possibility of banning the fan for a longer period — he said he wasn’t sure if he would provide details.

“It’s hard to tell. Like I said, they’re fans. They have the right to cheer and to jeer as well. I won’t necessarily … get into what was exactly said,” Myers said.

In the fourth inning, Myers went back on Wilyer Abreu‘s two-run homer and turned like he was going to make an over-the-shoulder grab, but when he crashed into the wall, the ball popped out of his glove and over the fence.

“I don’t know if that ball’s getting over or not, but to kind of have it in my glove then go over and cost two runs kind of hurt,” he said. “I got the chance to make up for it and glad I was able to.”

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Reds turn tables in extras, snap Brewers’ streak

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Reds turn tables in extras, snap Brewers' streak

CINCINNATI — Austin Hays‘ single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 3-2 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday, ending the Brewers’ franchise-record winning streak at 14 games.

Milwaukee had barely pulled out the previous two games in Cincinnati for its longest streak ever within one season and the longest in the majors since the St. Louis Cardinals won 17 straight from Sept. 11-28, 2021.

This time, Spencer Steer‘s sacrifice bunt in the 10th advanced designated runner TJ Friedl to third. After intentional walks to Elly De La Cruz and Will Benson loaded the bases, Hays laced a single down the third-base line for his second career walk-off hit.

Milwaukee, which overcame a seven-run deficit on Friday, rallied to win in 14 innings Saturday and have eight come-from-behind wins over its 14-game win streak, nearly came back again.

William Contreras hit his 13th home run of the season, a two-run shot off Reds closer Emilio Pagan, to put Milwaukee ahead 2-1 in the ninth. But the Reds tied it when Benson reached on a fielding error by shortstop Joey Ortiz and later scored on Jose Trevino’s single.

The first-place Brewers are 53-17 in their past 70 games. The loss accounted for just their 14th blown save this season, third fewest in MLB, according to ESPN Research.

The game was scoreless through six innings with Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott and Brewers lefty Jose Quintana allowing a combined six hits with 11 strikeouts.

Cincinnati scored the game’s first run when Hays led off the seventh with a double and scored on Trevino’s sacrifice fly to the wall in center.

Graham Ashcraft (7-4) earned the win for Cincinnati. Grant Anderson (2-4) took the loss.

Key moment: In the top of the 10th inning, designated runner Andrew Vaughn was thrown out at third base trying to advance on Blake Perkins‘ bunt.

Key stat: The Reds are the only team that has not been swept in a series this season. Their 40 series without a sweep is the longest in franchise history, eclipsing the 1970 team that went 32 straight series. It’s the seventh time the Reds have won the final game of a series to avoid being swept.

Up next: Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (14-5, 2.90) will start Monday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. RHP Brady Singer (10-9, 4.31) will start Monday for the Reds against the Angels in Anaheim.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Phillies’ Nola hit hard in return from injured list

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Phillies' Nola hit hard in return from injured list

WASHINGTON — Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola‘s first start after returning from the injured list didn’t last long.

The right-hander allowed six runs in 2⅓ innings Sunday against the Washington Nationals, a start that ended when seven consecutive batters reached safely.

Nola struck out four in his first major league outing since May 14.

The former All-Star was one of the majors’ most durable pitchers entering the season, making at least 32 starts and throwing at least 180⅔ innings in each of the last six full seasons. But a sprained right ankle and fractured rib cost him three months this season.

His return became even more significant Saturday when Philadelphia placed ace Zack Wheeler on the injured list with a blood clot in his right arm. Nola already was scheduled to start after making three minor league rehabilitation appearances, though the Phillies scrapped their plans to use a six-man rotation.

Nola gave up Luis Garcia Jr.’s leadoff single in the first inning, then appeared to settle in. He retired the next seven batters as Philadelphia built a 6-0 lead.

The Nationals stitched together three consecutive singles in the third, the last by CJ Abrams to score a run. That led to a mound visit from pitching coach Caleb Cotham, but Nola then walked Paul DeJong before giving up Daylen Lile‘s two-run single and Dylan Crews‘ two-run double. Jose Tena followed with a tying double to end Nola’s day.

Nola allowed seven hits while throwing 53 pitches. His ERA rose to 6.92.

In addition to Nola taking Wheeler’s roster spot, the Phillies activated third baseman Alec Bohm from the injured list and optioned infielder Otto Kemp to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. To make room on the 40-man roster for Nola, Philadelphia released outfielder Cal Stevenson.

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