Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are vying for workers’ support in a race that could mark a pivotal moment for organized labor.

NEW YORK (AP) — Troy High grad Jon Berti looked like a Gold Glove winner in his first professional game at first base.

Forced to use backups following Anthony Rizzo’s injury, the New York Yankees started Berti at first base in Monday night’s 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals that evened their AL Division Series at one game apiece.

Berti made a clean pickup of Yuli Gurriel’s tricky second-inning squibber over the bag, then a diving stab for an unassisted double play in the sixth to save at least one run — maybe two.

“I thought he was great over there tonight and at the plate,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Berti sprawled for a backhand catch on pinch-hitter MJ Melendez’s 105.3 mph liner in the sixth, popped to his feet and stepped on first to double up Michael Massey for an inning-ending double play.

“Just reacted to it, obviously, and glad we’re able to get out of that and give ourselves a chance moving forward,” Berti said.

Berti went 1 for 4 with a strikeout, hitting a pair of flyouts and a ninth-inning single.

“Berti’s an athlete,” Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. “Just like me, you can put him on any part of the field. He’s going to make plays.”

Acquired from Miami just before opening day, Berti hit .273 in 25 games and 66 at-bats for the Yankees this year while playing second, third and left.

A 34-year-old veteran of seven big league season, Berti had no experience at first base besides the final three innings of a spring training game when Miami played Washington on March 25, 2021. He caught the throw from third baseman Joe Dunand on Jordy Mercer’s eighth-inning grounder for his one putout.

With Rizzo sidelined by a pair of fractured fingers, Oswaldo Cabrera started at first in the Yankees’ 6-5 win Saturday in the series opener, going 1 for 4 with three strikeouts and making several sparkling defensive plays.

New York rookie Ben Rice, who played at first while Rizzo was sidelined with a broken right forearm from mid-June through August, was another option on the Yankees roster.

Boone was impressed by Berti’s pickup on Gurriel’s grounder.

“Sneaky, tough play, especially when you’re not over there a lot where that ball’s spinning on you,” Boone said. “Thought he handled himself really well tonight over there.”

Hurt when hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh’s Ryan Borucki on Sept. 28, Rizzo hopes to be back if the Yankees advance to the League Championship Series.

Berti worked in the past week with coach Travis Chapman and Rizzo to learn first base positioning.

“Just a lot of nuance to it,” Berti said. “There’s a lot more to it than people probably think. But coming over as third baseman, shortstop, second baseman, you always want to go after every single ball. But as a first baseman, you’ve got to learn kind of which balls are going to go towards the second baseman and get over to first.”

Schmidt to start Game 3 on Wednesday night

Boone picked Clarke Schmidt over Luis Gil to start Game 3 at Kansas City on Wednesday night.

Schmidt, a 28-year-old right-hander, will follow Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón in the rotation, with Cole lined up for Game 4 in the best-of-five series and Rodón for a potential Game 5. A 28-year-old right-hander, Schmidt was 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 16 starts, missing time between May 26 and Sept. 7 because of a strained right lat.

“I think a great opportunity and something I’ve been looking forward to and kind of hoping would happen,” Schmidt said.

Gil, a 26-year-old rookie right-hander, was 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA. He struck out 171 in 151 2/3 innings but led the major leagues with 77 walks.

Schmidt said Boone told him of the decision on Sunday.

“It just feels like he’s the right guy for that game,” Boone said. “I have a lot of confidence in what both bring to the table and, hopefully, if we’re able to move on, then Luis is obviously going to find himself back in the rotation, as well.”

— By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kerry Carpenter hit a three-run homer off Cleveland’s All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning, and the Detroit Tigers stunned the Guardians 3-0 in Game 2 on Monday to even their AL Division Series at one game apiece.

Carpenter connected for a 423-foot shot with two outs off Clase, who had not given up a run since Aug. 30 and led the American League with 47 saves.

Detroit ace Tarik Skubal pitched seven shutout innings, increasing his postseason total to 13, before the Tigers put together a rare big inning against the almost unhittable Clase.

The intimidating right-hander has dominated hitters all season — he hasn’t blown a save since May — and was making just his second multi-inning appearance of 2024.

Jake Rogers singled and Trey Sweeney hit consecutive two-out singles. Carpenter, who entered an inning earlier as a pinch-hitter, turned on Clase’s third straight slider, sending the ball into the right-field seats and shocking Cleveland’s rowdy home crowd.

“How about those three two-out hits?” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt didn’t regret using Clase for more than one inning.

“Emmanuel has been locked down all year,” Vogt said. “He’s been nearly perfect. He’s human, too. These things are going to happen, and it’s unfortunate the timing of when it did, but at the same time he’s going to have the ball in the ninth again.

“This is the best closer in the game for a reason, and they just happened to get him tonight.”

The homer drove in the first runs of the series for the Tigers, who have been finding ways to win for months. Detroit went 31-13 after Aug. 11 to qualify for the postseason and then stunned the AL West champion Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series.

They’re at it again and head home to Comerica Park for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Thursday with a chance to advance.

After Skubal pitched seven innings and winner Will Vest got through the eighth, Beau Brieske pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

Skubal, who won the AL pitching triple crown by leading the league in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (288), allowed just three hits. The left-hander dominated the Guardians over the first 4 1/3 innings, striking out eight before Josh Naylor doubled with one out in the fifth for Cleveland’s first hit. Skubal then hit rookie Jhonkensy Noel on the left hand.

But the 27-year-old Skubal, who has never pitched a complete game, got Andrés Giménez to bounce into an inning-ending double play and celebrated loudly as he left the mound and headed toward Detroit’s dugout.

Cleveland also threatened in the sixth.

No. 9 hitter Brayan Rocchio doubled with one out and Kwan singled. Rocchio was held at third, and Skubal again got out of trouble as Detroit’s infield turned a nifty 6-4-3 double play, prompting the lefty to raise his hands and ask the crowd for more applause like a conductor pushing his orchestra for volume.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Guardians: Utilityman Tyler Freeman was replaced on the ALDS roster after straining an oblique while taking a swing in a simulated game on Sunday. Freeman, who was replaced by rookie Ángel Martínez, was probably going to be in the lineup for Game 2. He batted .385 against Detroit this season and knows Skubal well after facing him in the minors.

UP NEXT

Guardians RHP Alex Cobb will make his first start since Sept. 1 in Game 3. He’s been sidelined with a middle finger blister and only made three starts after coming over in a July trade from San Francisco. He’ll be pitching in the postseason for the first time since Game 3 of the ALDS in 2013 for Tampa Bay.

Detroit manager A.J. Hinch had not announced his starter.

— By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer

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