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While stars shined bright in Arizona, a cameo was crucial to Cardinals’ rally for sweep

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While stars shined bright in Arizona, a cameo was crucial to Cardinals’ rally for sweep


PHOENIX — Throughout a memorable go to to Arizona, one for the report books and scrapbooks, the Cardinals received a recreation with their two MVP candidates in starring roles and one other with Albert Pujols as showstopper. In consecutive video games, that they had gamers surpass information as soon as owned by icons Yogi Berra and Stan Musial.

However past the highlight, the bullpen stretched, leaving it restricted, perhaps even uncovered, for the final act of a three-day collection.

Taking inventory of the arms out there on the finish of a weekend with out All-Star nearer Ryan Helsley, one reliever acknowledged if he needed to make a cameo, it might be essential.

“Each man likes to play GM and supervisor of their head and check out to determine who’s going to go in and in what state of affairs,” mentioned Chris Stratton, a veteran acquired on the commerce deadline. “I’ve gotten caught off guard earlier than in sure conditions in my profession within the bullpen. What you be taught by expertise isn’t be caught off guard. I used to be prepared for it. Our staff wanted some size, and I attempted to do the very best I may.”

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Paired with Jake Woodford for the pivotal position of carrying a one-run recreation by center innings left unattended, Stratton did all of the Cardinals wanted.

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Stratton’s scene-stealing 2⅔ scoreless innings adopted by Woodford’s 1⅓ scoreless stalled the Arizona Diamondbacks lengthy sufficient for the Cardinals to rally for a 6-4 victory Sunday at Chase Subject and full a collection sweep. The Cardinals’ seventh consecutive win was not the pulse-pounding blockbuster of Saturday’s 16-7 win. It wasn’t even a passable sequel. It was the refined brief, perhaps an indy darling. A day after 4 hits and two homers, Pujols contributed a pinch-hit single. Nolan Arenado didn’t match Saturday’s dazzling protection as a result of he didn’t even play protection Sunday. At designated hitter, he did punch the two-run, strike-single that flipped a deficit within the seventh inning for a comeback made attainable by contributions across the roster.

This wasn’t a raucous encore. It was an ensemble.

“That’s a straightforward recreation there the place you lose it 4-3, 4-2 or no matter, and also you go get on the aircraft, take two of three, and really feel OK about it,” supervisor Oliver Marmol mentioned. “However the guys had been relentless. They weren’t going to present in.”

Stated Arenado: “We’re taking part in powerful. If we lose the lead, we nonetheless struggle again. It’s nice to see these issues from us. I really feel like early within the yr, if we obtained down, it was exhausting for us to rally. Proper now, it’s not. I believe it’s as a result of we’ve confidence in ourselves that we are able to win any recreation.”

The one factor shorter for the Cardinals than starter Jose Quintana’s outing Sunday was Marmol’s presence — and, arguably, his endurance.

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Sparked by Lars Nootbaar’s first profession leadoff homer, the Cardinals struck for a 3-0 lead earlier than Arizona obtained an out. That lead began to leak when Quintana had hassle pegging the strike zone. He was not alone. The Cardinals felt home-plate umpire C.B. Bucknor had missed a number of calls that warped counts on the lefty and added to his troubles. Quintana walked two and allowed three singles within the second inning as Arizona knotted the sport, 3-3.

Within the third, the Cardinals benefited with two walks from Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly. Arenado stood on the plate and took a pitch that was off the within fringe of the plate, in keeping with replays and MLB.com’s Gameday. Bucknor referred to as the ball a strike.

Marmol referred to as that call one thing unprintable.

With a dramatic level, Bucknor tossed Marmol from the sport. With six innings to make up for in that second, Marmol charged onto the sector to broaden on his opinion.

“I didn’t like his smirk once I obtained on the market,” the Cardinals’ first-year supervisor mentioned. “After which he questioned my time within the league. And so I returned the favor and questioned his time within the league.”

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Within the backside of that inning, Arizona turned a catcher’s interference into the run that broke the tie and chased Quintana from the sport. Stone Garrett’s swing whacked Andrew Knizner’s left hand and mitt for the interference. Knizner mentioned after the sport he appeared down “to see if my hand was nonetheless there. It was.” He had a bruise, an error, after which Quintana had an escape route. He obtained a double play, however Jordan Luplow’s RBI single broke the 3-3 tie.

Quintana walked the following batter after which confronted no extra.

Within the third inning, the sport had reached the Cardinals bullpen. When the bullpen cellphone rang, Stratton presumed it might be him. That project: “Get us as deep as I may.”

He stranded the 2 runners he inherited and retired eight consecutive.

Woodford did the identical — stranding the 2 runners he inherited earlier than getting 4 consecutive outs in economical sufficient style he might begin a recreation Tuesday. Genesis Cabrera completed the seventh, breezed by the eighth, and handed a result in Giovanny Gallegos to shut for his twelfth save. The Cardinals swept a collection with out Helsley, who’s on paternity go away, throwing a pitch.

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“That is the primary time (this season) I didn’t see the identical arm out of the ‘pen,’” mentioned Arizona infielder Josh Rojas. “I didn’t see the identical arm twice out of the bullpen. I really feel like not many groups have sufficient guys. This collection was completely different. That they had guys for the matchup, and I noticed Cabrera for the primary time.”

Stated Kelly: The Cardinals “play exhausting from the primary pitch until the final pitch.”

Many of the pitches he made in between saved the Cardinals quiet. Arizona’s right-hander strung zeroes from the second by his ultimate inning, the sixth. Within the seventh inning, the Diamondbacks went to the bullpen, and right here comes that man once more. Pujols. Lower than 24 hours after a singular efficiency by a 42-year-old that put him between Musial and Hank Aaron for profession whole bases, Pujols pinch-hit within the seventh. He delivered a single that set the bases in movement for Arenado’s game-winning single.

Arenado confronted reliever Kevin Ginkel, who brings the warmth. It’s a dry warmth. In search of a low fastball, Arenado fell behind 0-2 earlier than connecting on a 99 mph fastball for a liner to proper that scored two.

“We simply discovered a technique to win,” Stratton mentioned.

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It wasn’t a win bronzed with historical past or beaming with highlights. It wasn’t one dominated by the starter or overwhelmed by the starters. It wasn’t the Cardinals at their finest.

It was, in that manner, higher.

They didn’t have to be to win.

“It simply reveals what sort of staff you will have once you try this,” Marmol mentioned. “It’s no completely different than a pitcher not having his finest stuff and nonetheless supplying you with six innings. Your potential to nonetheless discover a technique to scratch a run right here or there and completely different guys within the bullpen step up. Good groups discover a manner to try this slightly than go house simply successful a collection when you’ll be able to sweep it.”

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Arizona

Arizona Wildcats may sign 2 sons of former NBA Finals MVPs

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Arizona Wildcats may sign 2 sons of former NBA Finals MVPs


The Arizona Wildcats may sign the sons of two former NBA Finals MVPs in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

Arizona has already secured the commitment of Sierra Canyon (California) three-star shooting guard Bryce James, the son of LeBron James.

But another marquee name may soon join the fold.

Over the weekend, the Wildcats hosted Link Academy (Missouri) three-star small forward Andre Iguodala II on an official visit.

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The 6-foot-7, 185-pound wing is the son of former Arizona star Andre Iguodala, who won NBA Finals MVP with the Golden State Warriors in 2015.

Turns out, Arizona made quite an impression with Iguodala.

“The visit to Arizona was great,” he said. “I’ve been as a recruit and just for fun… and I loved the environment.”

While some may be hesistent to enter into one’s famous father’s shadow at his former college, Iguodala II is intrigued by the possibility.

It could give him a chance to write his own chapter.

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“It would be great to go to my dad’s alma mater, not because my dad went there, but to create my own legacy,” he said.

Iguodala II doesn’t have any other trips planned and said he’ll make a college decision “when I feel it’s right.”

If that ends up being Arizona, it would give Arizona two sons of NBA Finals legends to go along with Brewster Academy (New Hampshire) five-star center Dwayne Aristode, the nation’s No. 24 overall prospect.

Here’s what 247Sports had to say about Iguodala II as a prospect:

“The son of four-time NBA champion and 19-year NBA veteran Andre Iguodala, Andre Iguodala II is a late-blooming prospect with significant upside.”

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“While he’s still on the thin side and will need to focus on the weight room when he gets to college, Iguodala is an elite mover with well above average athleticism. He runs extremely well in transition, he changes directions laterally and he has outstanding length to go along with this 6-foot-7 and growing size. A bit of a tweener, he can play as a big wing or as a small ball four man. As a senior, he’s developed significantly as a jump shooter and has turned into a dangerous spot up shooter with range beyond the three-point line.”



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An Arizona prisoner whose execution is coming up isn’t asking for a reprieve

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An Arizona prisoner whose execution is coming up isn’t asking for a reprieve


PHOENIX — A prisoner scheduled to be executed next week in what would be Arizona’s first use of the death penalty in over two years will not ask for a reprieve from his death sentence.

Aaron Brian Gunches, 53, is not expected to participate in a hearing Monday before the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency, which will note on the record that he has waived his right to ask for relief.

He is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on March 19 for his murder conviction in the 2002 shooting death of Ted Price, his girlfriend’s ex-husband, near the Phoenix suburb of Mesa.

Aaron Brian Gunches.Arizona Department of Corrections / AP

Gunches, who isn’t a lawyer but is representing himself, made an unsuccessful bid late last year to skip legal formalities and schedule his execution earlier than authorities were aiming for. His death sentence was “long overdue,” Gunches told Arizona’s highest court, which rejected the request.

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In a Feb. 20 filing, Gunches said he didn’t want to be present at Monday’s hearing and noted he made a brief virtual appearance earlier before the board to confirm a clemency waiver he made in 2022.

“My position has not changed,” Gunches wrote in the recent filing.

The Arizona Supreme Court issued a death warrant for Gunches nearly two years ago, but the sentence wasn’t carried out because the state’s Democratic attorney general agreed not to pursue executions during a review of the state’s death penalty protocol. The review ended in November when Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs dismissed the retired federal magistrate judge she had appointed to examine execution procedures.

Arizona, which has 112 prisoners on death row, last carried out three executions in 2022 following a nearly eight-year hiatus brought on by criticism that a 2014 execution was botched and because of difficulties obtaining drugs for execution.

Since then, the state has been criticized for taking too long to insert an IV for lethal injection into a condemned prisoner.

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One significant change made by corrections officials was forming a new, larger team to insert IVs into condemned prisoners after the state had been criticized for taking too long to insert IVs into prisoners.

The Arizona Legislature is considering a proposal aimed at changing the state’s method of execution. If approved by lawmakers, the proposal would ask voters in 2026 to replace lethal injection with a firing squad.

Currently, Arizona death row prisoners whose crimes occurred before Nov. 23, 1992, can choose between lethal injection or the gas chamber, which was refurbished in late 2020 since it was last used for an execution in 1999.

Under current law, those who decline to make the choice or whose crimes occurred after the November 1992 date are to be executed by lethal injection. The proposed ballot measure would keep lethal gas as one of Arizona’s two execution methods for those whose crimes occurred before the 1992 date.



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Arizona baseball rallies past Pepperdine for 11th win in 12 games

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Arizona baseball rallies past Pepperdine for 11th win in 12 games


Beating a team three times is hard enough, taking all four is even tougher. And after cranking out 21 runs the night before, Arizona’s offense looked like it didn’t have anything left in the tank for the finale against Pepperdine.

Down 3-0 and held scoreless through the first five innings, despite getting the leadoff man on each time, the Wildcats finally broke through to beat the Waves 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at Hi Corbett Field. It was their 11th win in the last 12 games after an 0-3 start and improved their home record to 8-0, the best start to a season since winning the first 10 at Hi Corbett in 2018.

“This probably helps us a heck of a lot more of this game than last night’s game, because we’re able to battle back,” UA coach Chip Hale said, referring to Saturday’s 21-2 victory. “We talked to them last night, a lot, about that game’s over, we got to move on.”

Arizona (11-4) couldn’t do much against Pepperdine starter Dylan Stewart beyond getting the first guy on, going 0 for 14 with runners on base. The story changed once the Waves (3-13) went to the bullpen, with the UA loading the bases to start the 6th on two hits and a walk.

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Adonys Guzman came off the bench and brought in a run on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1 but that was it for the rally. In the 7th, however, after not getting the leadoff guy on the Wildcats had the next four guys reach, with Garen Caulfield tripling to right-center on the first pitch he saw with the bases loaded for a 4-3 lead.

“My family and I call it the honey hole,” Caulfield said of the right-center gap. “That’s what I’m trying to do. I consider myself a good gap to gap hitter. That’s my approach.”

Maddox Mihalakis then brought Caulfield in with a sac fly to make it 5-3.

Freshman right-hander Smith Bailey allowed three runs in 5.2 innings, striking out six but walking three. He had only issued one walk in his previous three starts.

“I thought there was a time there where he was sort of wasn’t his best and I thought he turned it on towards the end, and he had much better stuff,” Hale said.

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Garrett Hicks came on to finish the 6th and then threw a scoreless 7th to earn the win, making him 3-0 in a team-high eight relief appearances. The junior college transfer didn’t become a full-time pitcher until his time at Pima College.

“Just kind of get in there and compete,” Hicks said. “And when you compete, it’s gonna go your way most time. If it doesn’t, it’s baseball.”

Hunter Alberini threw a perfect 8th and then Tony Pluta pitched the 9th for his second save. Pluta allowed a pair of 2-out singles, doubling the number of baserunners he’s allowed this season, but kept his ERA at 0.00.

“I think the pitch stuff is rounding into shape, and guys are kind of finding their roles,” Hale said.

Arizona continues its season-long 9-game homestand Tuesday at 6 p.m. PT against ASU. It’s a nonconference game—the ones that count toward the Big 12 standings are April 4-6 in Phoenix—but no less important.

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“It’s a big deal for us,” Hale said. “We want to win. We’re going to play to win. We’re going to pitch our best guys.”

ASU is 12-4 after sweeping Gonzaga over the weekend. The Sun Devils took two of three in Tucson last season with Arizona winning the final game of the series and then a midweek at ASU.



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