HOUSTON (AP) — Benches cleared Tuesday night during the Dodgers’ 5-2 victory over the Astros in the first game between the teams since it was revealed that Houston illegally stole signs en route to a 2017 championship that came at Los Angeles’ expense in the World Series.The fracas occurred after Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly threw high-and-tight pitches to Astros stars Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa in the sixth inning. Kelly threw an errant breaking ball over Correa’s head. Correa, who homered and finished with three hits, took off his batting helmet and stared Kelly down before continuing the at-bat. Kelly struck out Correa, then stuck out his tongue and made a face in his direction. Correa started walking toward him and the players exchanged words, prompting the benches to clear in the first such incident of this pandemic-delayed season. There was plenty of yelling and crowding — outlawed as MLB tries to play a 60-game season amid the pandemic — but no pushing or punches thrown.Order was... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Javier Báez homered twice, doubled and scored on a deft dive to the plate, Alec Mills went six solid innings, and the Chicago Cubs extended their opening surge, beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-5 on Tuesday night.Chicago has won four of its first five games, scoring first in each one. Jason Kipnis’ triple — Shogo Akiyama lost it in the sun — got the Cubs going again.Mills (1-0) added to Chicago’s stretch of impressive starts, holding the Reds to two hits in six innings. Chicago’s starters have a 1.80 ERA and a .131 opponent batting average this season.The Reds got two-run homers by Nick Castellanos — his first since signing a $64 million deal — and Freddy Galvis but fell to 1-4, tied for the worst start in the majors.Cody Reed (0-1) allowed two runs in the fifth after relieving starter Tyler Mahle.DIAMONDBACKS 4, RANGERS 1ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Merrill Kelly took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up a home run as Arizona beat Texas. Rougned Odor’s one-out... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Javier Báez homered twice, doubled and scored on a deft dive to the plate, Alec Mills went six solid innings, and the Chicago Cubs extended their opening surge, beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-5 on Tuesday night.Chicago has won four of its first five games, scoring first in each one. Jason Kipnis’ triple — Shogo Akiyama lost it in the sun — got the Cubs going again.Mills (1-0) added to Chicago’s stretch of impressive starts, holding the Reds to two hits in six innings. Chicago’s starters have a 1.80 ERA and a .131 opponent batting average this season.The Reds got two-run homers by Nick Castellanos — his first since signing a $64 million deal — and Freddy Galvis but fell to 1-4, tied for the worst start in the majors.Cody Reed (0-1) allowed two runs in the fifth after relieving starter Tyler Mahle.BLUE JAYS 5, NATIONALS 1WASHINGTON (AP) — The reigning World Series champions dropped to 1-4 in the pandemic-shortened season with a 5-1 loss to Toronto that included two outfielders... [More]

Cubs third. Jason Kipnis triples to deep center field. Nico Hoerner singles to right field. Jason Kipnis scores. Anthony Rizzo strikes out swinging. Victor Caratini singles to center field. Nico Hoerner to second. Javier Baez strikes out swinging. Kyle Schwarber flies out to shallow center field to Aristides Aquino.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Cubs 1, Reds 0.Cubs fourth. Ian Happ flies out to deep center field to Shogo Akiyama. Jason Heyward singles to center field. David Bote singles to center field. Jason Heyward to third. Jason Kipnis singles to shallow center field. David Bote to second. Jason Heyward scores. Nico Hoerner grounds out to shallow infield. Jason Kipnis out at second.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 2, Reds 0.Reds fourth. Joey Votto grounds out to first base, Anthony Rizzo to Alec Mills. Eugenio Suarez pops out to Anthony Rizzo. Jesse Winker walks. Nick Castellanos homers to right field. Jesse Winker scores. Josh VanMeter grounds out to shallow infield, Alec... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Hunter Renfroe homered twice and Tampa Bay pitchers set a team nine-inning record with 19 strikeouts in the Rays’ 14-5 romp over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz (0-1) gave up six runs, four hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. The 2018 All-Star was designated for assignment after the game.Tyler Glasnow struck out nine and allowed one hit over four innings in first start after missing part of summer camp with the Rays after testing positive for the coronavirus. Diego Castillo (1-0) struck out two in a 10-pitch fifth and Jalen Beeks fanned seven over his three innings.Dansby Swanson and Matt Adams homered for the Braves. Swanson tied a career-high with five RBIs and stopped a 41-game homerless streak in Atlanta’s 14-1 win Sunday night over the New York Mets.CUBS 8, REDS 7CINCINNATI (AP) — Anthony Rizzo homered for the third time and Chicago let most of a seven-run lead slip away before Jeremy Jeffress closed out a victory over... [More]

Cubs first. Kris Bryant hit by pitch. Anthony Rizzo walks. Kris Bryant to second. Javier Baez flies out to right field to Nick Castellanos. Kyle Schwarber lines out to right field to Nick Castellanos. Willson Contreras doubles to deep left field. Anthony Rizzo to third. Kris Bryant scores. Steven Souza Jr. doubles to left field. Willson Contreras scores. Anthony Rizzo scores. David Bote singles to right field. Steven Souza Jr. scores. Nico Hoerner strikes out swinging.4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 4, Reds 0.Cubs second. Albert Almora Jr. strikes out swinging. Kris Bryant walks. Anthony Rizzo hit by pitch. Kris Bryant to second. Javier Baez doubles to deep left field. Anthony Rizzo to third. Kris Bryant scores. Kyle Schwarber strikes out swinging. Willson Contreras hit by pitch. Steven Souza Jr. flies out to deep center field to Phillip Ervin.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Cubs 6, Reds 0.Cubs sixth. Albert Almora Jr. grounds out to shortstop, Freddy Galvis to Joey Votto.... [More]

Tigers third. Grayson Greiner called out on strikes. JaCoby Jones flies out to left field to Shogo Akiyama. Niko Goodrum homers to center field. Jonathan Schoop grounds out to shortstop, Freddy Galvis to Joey Votto.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Tigers 1, Reds 0.Reds fifth. Freddy Galvis flies out to Christin Stewart. Travis Jankowski walks. Curt Casali flies out to deep center field to JaCoby Jones. Jesse Winker singles to right field. Travis Jankowski to third. Joey Votto singles to center field. Jesse Winker to third. Travis Jankowski scores. Eugenio Suarez walks. Joey Votto to second. Nick Castellanos strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Tigers 1, Reds 1.Tigers ninth. Miguel Cabrera walks. C.J. Cron homers to right field. Cameron Maybin scores. Jordy Mercer grounds out to shallow infield, Freddy Galvis to Joey Votto. Harold Castro grounds out to shallow infield, Michael Lorenzen to Joey Votto. Victor Reyes lines out to deep center field to Phillip Ervin.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Tigers 3, Reds 1.Reds ninth. Freddy Galvis doubles to deep center field. Aristides Aquino doubles to left center field. Freddy Galvis scores. Curt Casali flies out to deep center field to JaCoby Jones. Aristides Aquino to third. Jesse Winker hit by pitch. Joey Votto grounds out to second base. Jesse Winker out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 3, Reds 2.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Daniel Bard won in his first major league game in more than seven years, pitching 1 1-3 scoreless innings in relief for the Colorado Rockies in a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. The 35-year-old Bard (1-0), whose control troubles ran him out of baseball, got the Rockies out of a jam when he took over for starter Jon Gray with two on and two outs in the fifth. The right-hander worked around two more base runners in the sixth, getting Willie Calhoun on an inning-ending flyout to cap an 11-pitch at-bat.Wade Davis worked the ninth for his first save since July 25, 2019. He gave up a run.Colorado went ahead to stay with two runs in the fourth off Mike Minor (0-1), helped by two fielder’s choice plays and two errors. Bard threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes Saturday, including his first one before Elvis Andrus flied out to end the fifth. ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in his Angels debut and... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Daniel Bard won in his first major league game in more than seven years, pitching 1 1-3 scoreless innings in relief for the Colorado Rockies in a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. The 35-year-old Bard (1-0), whose control troubles ran him out of baseball, got the Rockies out of a jam when he took over for starter Jon Gray with two on and two outs in the fifth. The right-hander worked around two more base runners in the sixth, getting Willie Calhoun on an inning-ending flyout to cap an 11-pitch at-bat.Wade Davis worked the ninth for his first save since July 25, 2019. He gave up a run.Colorado went ahead to stay with two runs in the fourth off Mike Minor (0-1), helped by two fielder’s choice plays and two errors. Bard threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes Saturday, including his first one before Elvis Andrus flied out to end the fifth. ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in his Angels debut and... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Daniel Bard won in his first major league game in more than seven years, pitching 1 1-3 scoreless innings in relief for the Colorado Rockies in a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. The 35-year-old Bard (1-0), whose control troubles ran him out of baseball, got the Rockies out of a jam when he took over for starter Jon Gray with two on and two outs in the fifth. The right-hander worked around two more base runners in the sixth, getting Willie Calhoun on an inning-ending flyout to cap an 11-pitch at-bat.Wade Davis worked the ninth for his first save since July 25, 2019. He gave up a run.Colorado went ahead to stay with two runs in the fourth off Mike Minor (0-1), helped by two fielder’s choice plays and two errors. Bard threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes Saturday, including his first one before Elvis Andrus flied out to end the fifth. ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in his Angels debut and... [More]

Tigers first. Niko Goodrum strikes out swinging. Jonathan Schoop singles to shallow infield. Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging. C.J. Cron doubles to deep left field. Jonathan Schoop scores. Christin Stewart walks. Jeimer Candelario pops out to shortstop to Eugenio Suarez.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Tigers 1, Reds 0.Reds first. Jesse Winker grounds out to shallow center field, Jeimer Candelario to C.J. Cron. Joey Votto homers to right field. Eugenio Suarez grounds out to shortstop, Niko Goodrum to C.J. Cron. Mike Moustakas singles to center field. Nick Castellanos grounds out to third base, Jeimer Candelario to C.J. Cron.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 1, Reds 1.Reds second. Shogo Akiyama grounds out to shallow right field, Jonathan Schoop to C.J. Cron. Nick Senzel walks. Freddy Galvis homers to right field. Nick Senzel scores. Curt Casali lines out to left field to Christin Stewart. Jesse Winker grounds out to second base, Jonathan Schoop to C.J. Cron.2 runs, 1 hit,... [More]

Reds first. Phillip Ervin walks. Joey Votto singles to right field. Phillip Ervin to second. Eugenio Suarez hit by pitch. Joey Votto to second. Phillip Ervin to third. Nick Castellanos hit by pitch. Eugenio Suarez to second. Joey Votto to third. Phillip Ervin scores. Mike Moustakas singles to right field. Nick Castellanos to second. Eugenio Suarez to third. Joey Votto scores. Matt Davidson pops out to shallow infield to C.J. Cron. Nick Senzel reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Mike Moustakas to second. Nick Castellanos to third. Eugenio Suarez out at home. Freddy Galvis grounds out to shallow infield, Niko Goodrum to C.J. Cron.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Reds 2, Tigers 0.Reds third. Eugenio Suarez grounds out to shortstop, Jeimer Candelario to C.J. Cron. Nick Castellanos doubles to deep left center field. Mike Moustakas singles to deep left center field. Nick Castellanos scores. Matt Davidson grounds out to shortstop. Mike Moustakas out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors,... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Trevor Bauer thinks his decision to tip pitches for a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during a spring training game and the resulting attention are good for baseball.The Cincinnati Reds' outspoken starter signaled pitches to the Dodgers' Matt Beaty during a game on Monday. Bauer flicked his glove toward the catcher before each pitch — a sign a fastball was coming — and Beaty eventually lined out to center field.Bauer has criticized the Houston Astros over their sign-stealing. Major League Baseball's investigation found Houston broke rules by using electronics to steal catchers' signs en route to their 2017 World Series title and again in 2018.Bauer told reporters on Wednesday he was just having fun, and the pitch tipping wasn't intended to help the team that lost to the Astros in the World Series.“It wasn't team-specific,” Bauer said. “I did it a couple times last season in games. There are a lot of interesting outcomes from it, psychologically and competitively. Spring... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Trevor Bauer thinks his decision to tip pitches for a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during a spring training game and the resulting attention are good for baseball.The Cincinnati Reds' outspoken starter signaled pitches to the Dodgers' Matt Beaty during a game on Tuesday. Bauer flicked his glove toward the catcher before each pitch — a sign a fastball was coming — and Beaty eventually lined out to center field.Bauer has criticized the Houston Astros over their sign-stealing. Major League Baseball's investigation found Houston broke rules by using electronics to steal catchers' signs en route to their 2017 World Series title and again in 2018.Bauer told reporters on Wednesday he was just having fun, and the pitch tipping wasn't intended to help the team that lost to the Astros in the World Series.“It wasn't team-specific,” Bauer said. “I did it a couple times last season in games. There are a lot of interesting outcomes from it, psychologically and competitively. Spring... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Eugenio Suárez was playing in a swimming pool with his children at home in Pinecrest, Florida, and decided to dive into the shallow half. The Cincinnati Reds third baseman hit the bottom of the pool and wound up with a shoulder injury that has set him back in spring training and left his availability uncertain for opening day.“I tried to dive in headfirst,” Suárez said. “My hands hit first first and then my shoulder felt like a pop.”Suárez tore cartilage in his right shoulder and had surgery Jan. 28. For the start of spring training, Suárez was limited to conditioning work while his throwing shoulder healed.He's progressed to taking infield practice, playing catch and hitting in the batting cage. It's unclear how long it will be until he can play in a game.“I feel better every day,” Suárez said.The Reds are counting upon the 28-year-old to be a top contributor in an offense that was near the bottom of the NL in runs last season.Suárez's 49 homers last year were a... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Sonny Gray had an All-Star season despite soreness in his throwing elbow. Surgery has left him pain-free heading into his second season with the Cincinnati Reds.The right-hander pitched with bone chips all season but managed to make 31 starts. He had the bone chips removed after the season.“It was hard to think that he wasn't completely healthy last year, based on the kind of year he had,” manager David Bell said. “He's definitely confident coming off of last season. It's just a mindset knowing that he's healthy and you had something taken out of his elbow. It has freed him up even more not only with mechanics but his mentality.”Cincinnati aquired him from the New York Yankees and Gray agreed to a contract that added $30.5 million from 2020-22 and includes a 2023 club option.He went 11-8 with a 2.87 ERA, making the NL All-Star team along with teammate Luis Castillo. Gray (205) and Castillo (226) became the first Reds with at least 200 strikeouts in the same season.Gray... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Infielder Freddy Galvis' $5.5 million option for next season has been exercised by the Cincinnati Reds.Galvis, who turns 30 on Nov. 14, was claimed by the Reds off waivers from Toronto on Aug. 12 and hit .234 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 32 games. Overall, he batted .267 last season and set career bests with 23 homers and 70 RBIs.Cincinnati announced its decision Friday.Usually a shortstop with Toronto, Galvis played mostly at second with the Reds. José Iglesias, Cincinnati's regular shortstop this year, became a free agent Thursday.Galvis' contract, agreed to with the Blue Jays in January, had a $4 million salary for 2019. If the option had been declined, he would have received a $1 million buyout.He has a .248 career average in eight seasons with Philadelphia (2012-17), San Diego (2018), Toronto and Cincinnati.__More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Diamondbacks third. Nick Ahmed triples to deep left field. Jarrod Dyson out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Michael Lorenzen. Nick Ahmed scores. Merrill Kelly grounds out to shortstop, Freddy Galvis to Joey Votto. Ildemaro Vargas grounds out to second base, Jose Peraza to Joey Votto.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Diamondbacks 1, Reds 0.

Reds third. Brian O'Grady strikes out swinging. Luis Castillo pops out to shallow infield to Nick Ahmed. Josh VanMeter walks. Joey Votto homers to center field. Josh VanMeter scores. Eugenio Suarez grounds out to third base, Eduardo Escobar to Christian Walker.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Reds 2, Diamondbacks 0.Diamondbacks fourth. Josh Rojas grounds out to first base, Joey Votto to Luis Castillo. Eduardo Escobar pops out to shallow center field to Jose Iglesias. Christian Walker singles to center field. Wilmer Flores singles to left field. Christian Walker to second. Adam Jones singles to center field. Wilmer Flores to third. Christian Walker scores. Nick Ahmed flies out to deep center field to Brian O'Grady.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Reds 2, Diamondbacks 1.Reds fifth. Jose Iglesias grounds out to second base, Wilmer Flores to Christian Walker. Brian O'Grady reaches on error. Throwing error by Wilmer Flores. Luis Castillo strikes out on a foul bunt. Josh VanMeter homers... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Yu Darvish struck out a season-high 14 and allowed only two hits in six innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 4-1 on Thursday to remain tied with Milwaukee for the NL's second wild card.The Padres scored in the ninth when Manny Machado was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs, but Rowan Wick struck out Luis Urias to end it.Chicago split the four-game series and won for just the second time in seven games.Darvish (6-6) retired his first eight batters before allowing his first hit, an infield single by starter Dinelson Lamet (2-5). Darvish kicked the ball with his right foot and it caromed to third baseman Kris Bryant. Darvish struck out Greg Garcia to end the inning.The big right-hander had at least one strikeout in every inning. After Greg Garcia tripled leading off the sixth, Darvish finished strong by striking out the side, including Eric Hosmer for the third straight time.Darvish was one shy of his career high, set Aug. 12, 2013, at Houston... [More]