FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Injured second baseman Dustin Pedroia won't report to spring training with the rest of the Red Sox position players next week, manager Ron Roenicke said Thursday in somewhat of a eulogy for the former MVP's career.“He's a special player,” Roenicke said after confirming what had been suspected since it was reported that Pedroia had a setback in his latest attempt to rehab his left knee. “All the things you like from a player, he's got.”A four-time All-Star who was the AL rookie of the year in 2007 and the AL MVP in his second season, Pedroia has played in just nine games the last two seasons while trying to recover from the injury he sustained when Baltimore's Manny Machado slid spikes-high into his knee in May 2017. For the third straight spring, the team was hoping Pedroia could return to the lineup. For the third straight spring, those plans have been thwarted. Boston signed infielder José Peraza to a one-year deal in December, and Michael Chavis also plays second... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox say the turmoil in the manager's office isn't a reason to give up on this season and trade outfielder Mookie Betts. “The goal remains to be competitive always,” Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom said this week after Alex Cora was ousted, leaving the Red Sox without a manager with less than a month before spring training. “2020 is important. So are 2021, 2022 and beyond.”The 2018 AL MVP, Betts has been the subject of trade rumors this winter because he is in the last year of team control before he is eligible to become a free agent. The two sides avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $27 million contract for this season.“He's the biggest person for our team, or one of the biggest,” shortstop Xander Bogaerts said on Thursday at a Fenway Park availability before the annual Boston Baseball Writers Awards Dinner. “We have a lot of veterans in this clubhouse to make another run. We've been through the good and we've been through the bad, and we're still... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox say the turmoil in the manager's office isn't a reason to give up on this season and trade outfielder Mookie Betts. “The goal remains to be competitive always,” Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom said this week after Cora was ousted, leaving the Red Sox without a manager with less than a month before spring training. “2020 is important. So are 2021, 2022 and beyond.”The 2018 AL MVP, Betts has been the subject of trade rumors all winter because he is in the last year of team control before he is eligible to become a free agent. The two sides avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $27 million contract for this season.Red Sox infielder Michael Chavis said he tried not to follow the rumors but knew there was a danger Betts would be traded. Those trade talks appear to have subsided.“I'm very excited about that,” Chavis said on Thursday at a Fenway Park availability before the annual Boston Baseball Writers Awards Dinner “Mookie did a lot for me. I'm very... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOWOne day after Houston teammate Justin Verlander pitched a no-hitter, Gerrit Cole looks to stay on a roll of his own when the Astros visit Milwaukee on Labor Day. Cole (15-5, 2.85 ERA) is 11-0 with a 2.06 ERA in his last 16 starts and needs six strikeouts to regain the major league lead from Verlander, who whiffed 14 batters Sunday during his third career no-hitter — second in Toronto.With four weeks to go, Verlander and Cole appear to be running 1-2 in the AL Cy Young Award race.SCARYDodgers rookie pitcher Dustin May is listed as day to day after being hit in the head by a line drive.May was injured Sunday when a liner by Jake Lamb struck him on the right side of the head in Arizona. The 21-year-old passed a concussion test and was diagnosed with a bruise. The 6-foot-6 May is one of the top pitching prospects for the NL West leaders.CHECK HIMThe Cubs will see how Yu Darvish is feeling, a day after he was scratched from... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday:TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOWOne day after Houston teammate Justin Verlander pitched a no-hitter, Gerrit Cole looks to stay on a roll of his own when the Astros visit Milwaukee on Labor Day. Cole (15-5, 2.85 ERA) is 11-0 with a 2.06 ERA in his last 16 starts and needs six strikeouts to regain the major league lead from Verlander, who whiffed 14 batters Sunday during his third career no-hitter — second in Toronto.With four weeks to go, Verlander and Cole appear to be running 1-2 in the AL Cy Young Award race.SCARYDodgers rookie pitcher Dustin May is listed as day to day after being hit in the head by a line drive.May was injured Sunday when a liner by Jake Lamb struck him on the right side of the head in Arizona. The 21-year-old passed a concussion test and was diagnosed with a bruise. The 6-foot-6 May is one of the top pitching prospects for the NL West leaders.CHECK HIMThe Cubs will see how Yu Darvish is feeling, a day after he was scratched from... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Michael Chavis played through the pain for as long as he could.On Monday, the Red Sox rookie finally gave in.Boston placed the versatile Chavis on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left shoulder he sustained recently while trying to make a diving catch.One of the AL's top first-year players, Chavis has 18 homers and 58 RBIs, second most to Mets slugger Pete Alonso among rookies. But he's been in a slump, batting .156 (5 for 32) in his last 11 games, and the shoulder injury explains Chavis' recent slide."It stinks," said Chavis, adding the pain is most severe when the swings a bat. "I want to be out there and help the team, but if I can't do my part it's tough."Red Sox manager Alex Cora didn't want to put a timetable on when Chavis will return. He won't swing a bat for five or six days."It makes sense for him to get healthy," Cora said. "He tried to play through it. It's one of those things we have to manage now."The Red Sox also recalled right-hander Travis Lakins... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have placed rookie infielder Michael Chavis on the 10-day injured list with sprained left shoulder.One of the AL's top first-year players, Chavis has 18 homers and 58 RBIs, second most to Mets slugger Pete Alonso among rookies. Chavis has been in a slump, batting just .156 (5 for 32) in his last 11 games. The shoulder injury could explain Chavis' recent slide.The move was announced before the Red Sox opened a three-game series at Progressive Field. Boston has lost 11 of 15 and is 16 ½ games behind first-place New York in the AL East and 7 ½ back for a playoff wild-card spot.The Red Sox also recalled right-hander Travis Lakins and infielder Marco Hernández from Triple-A Pawtucket.Chavis' home-run and RBI totals are the most by a Red Sox rookie since Ellis Burks hit 20 home runs with 59 RBIs in 1987. Chavis played first base (49 games), second (45), and third (five).___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Aug. 111907 — In the second game of a doubleheader, shortened by agreement, Ed Karger of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a seven-inning perfect game, beating the Boston Braves 4-0.1926 — Tris Speaker of Cleveland hit his 700th career double but the Indians lost to the Chicago White Sox, 7-2. The double came in the third inning off Joe Edwards.1929 — Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run in the second inning off Willis Hudlin at Cleveland's League Park. The homer was Ruth's 30th of the year, but it wasn't enough as the Indians beat the Yankees 6-5.1951 — Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Giants 4-0, dropping the Giants 13 1/2 games behind the first-place Brooklyn Dodgers.1961 — Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves scattered six hits to beat the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, for his 300th career victory.1970 — Philadelphia's Jim Bunning beat the Houston Astros 6-5 to become the first pitcher to win 100 games in both leagues since Cy Young.1986 — Cincinnati player-manager... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Josh Donaldson homered against Sean Doolittle in the top of the 10th, and the Atlanta Braves pulled out a 5-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday to take two of three in the series and pad their NL East lead to 6 1/2 games.After the Nationals scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, Donaldson swatted a fastball from Doolittle over the center-field wall for his 25th homer of the season.Adam Duvall homered for the fourth time in five games. Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Tyler Flowers also drove in runs for the Braves, who won consecutive series in Washington for the first time since 2013. They also won two of three in late June.Atlanta got another quality road start from Mike Soroka (10-2), who pitched seven innings and allowed just three hits, including a leadoff homer to Juan Soto in the second.Washington starter Aníbal Sánchez (6-6) could not keep pace, allowing four runs on 10 hits in five innings of work.YANKEES 7, DIAMONDBACKS 5NEW... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt was ejected from Thursday night's game against the New York Yankees for arguing a called third strike with home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn.Holt was leading off the third when he was caught looking on three pitches from Masahiro Tanaka. He was walking back to the Boston dugout when he looked over his shoulder and said something. Reyburn immediately threw him out of the game.Red Sox manager Alex Cora came out to argue, unsuccessfully.Michael Chavis replaced Holt in the field in the top of the fourth.The Red Sox led 7-2 after scoring seven runs in the first.J.D. Martinez also took issue with Reyburn's work after striking out in the fourth. But Cora and third base coach Carlos Febles sprinted to the plate to get between him and the umpire and avoid losing another player from the lineup.___More AP MLB coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lance Lynn matched the major league lead with his 11th win and the Texas Rangers avoided a series sweep with a 9-3 victory over the grieving Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night, the Fourth of July game that the late Tyler Skaggs had been scheduled to start.The Angels won the first two games of the series after the 27-year-old Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in Texas on Monday, and that night's scheduled game was postponed until August.Mike Trout hit another impressive homer for Los Angeles in the first inning, his AL best-tying 25th. But Lynn (11-4) limited Los Angeles to only one more run over his seven innings and Rougned Odor homered twice to drive in five runs for the Rangers, who snapped a four-game losing streak.An emotional trip for the Angels that began with them traveling to Texas in cowboy hats and Western attire — a theme initiated by Skaggs — now takes them to Houston for three games this weekend against the Astros before the All-Star break.... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lance Lynn matched the major league lead with his 11th win and the Texas Rangers avoided a series sweep with a 9-3 victory over the grieving Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night, the Fourth of July game that the late Tyler Skaggs had been scheduled to start.The Angels won the first two games of the series after the 27-year-old Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in Texas on Monday, and that night's scheduled game was postponed until August.Mike Trout hit another impressive homer for Los Angeles in the first inning, his AL best-tying 25th. But Lynn (11-4) limited Los Angeles to only one more run over his seven innings and Rougned Odor homered twice to drive in five runs for the Rangers, who snapped a four-game losing streak.An emotional trip for the Angels that began with them traveling to Texas in cowboy hats and Western attire — a theme initiated by Skaggs — now takes them to Houston for three games this weekend against the Astros before the All-Star break.... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer and knocked in the go-ahead run to help the Washington Nationals finish a three-game sweep of the last-place Miami Marlins with a 5-2 victory Thursday.Washington has won eight of nine and 13 of 16 to climb to a season-best four games over .500.Kurt Suzuki homered in the second inning to extend the Montreal Expos/Nationals franchise record for consecutive games with a home run to 18. Rendon hit a solo shot in the fourth off Elieser Hernández (1-3) and drove in Gerardo Parra with a single in the fifth.Washington right-hander Aníbal Sánchez (5-6) allowed one earned run and five hits in six innings. Fernando Rodney got three outs for his second save of the season.Miguel Rojas homered for Miami, and Starlin Castro had three hits.YANKEES 8, RAYS 4, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — DJ LeMahieu hit a tiebreaking two-run single and Gary Sanchez had a long three-run homer in the 10th inning, and AL East-leading New York overcome a ninth-inning... [More]

LONDON (AP) — The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox treated fans to one of the most unusual first innings in their century-plus rivalry when they played Saturday night in the first Major League Baseball game in Europe.In the 2,200th regular-season meeting between the teams, New York scored six runs in the top of the first and Boston came back with six in the bottom half in an inning that lasted 58 minutes, 20 batters and 94 pitches.Boston's Rick Porcello got just one out in the shortest of his 324 career starts. New York's Masahiro Tanaka got two outs and failed to finish the first inning for the first time in 149 major league starts. It was the first time in the rivalry that both teams scored six or more runs in the first and the first big league game involving any teams in which that occurred since visiting Toronto led Oakland 7-6 on June 23, 1989.The last time neither pitcher recorded three outs was Sept. 21, 1989, when San Diego's Dennis Rasmussen and Cincinnati's Jack Armstrong both... [More]

LONDON (AP) — The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox treated fans to one of the most unusual first innings in their century-plus rivalry when they played Saturday night in the first Major League Baseball game in Europe.In the 2,200th regular-season meeting between the teams, New York scored six runs in the top of the first and Boston came back with six in the bottom half in an inning that lasted 58 minutes, 20 batters and 94 pitches.Boston's Rick Porcello got just one out in the shortest of 324 career starts. New York's Masahiro Tanaka got two outs and failed to finish the first inning for the first time in 149 major league starts. It was the first big league game in which both teams scored at least six runs in the first since visiting Toronto led Oakland 7-6 on June 23, 1989.Luke Voit and Edwin Encarnación hit RBI doubles around Didi Gregorius' two-run double, and Aaron Hicks drove a changeup from Rick Porcello 386 feet over the Boston bullpen in right field for a two-run homer on Porcello's 33rd and final pitch.Rafael Devers and Brock Holt had RBI singles in the bottom half around Christian Vazquez's sacrifice fly, and Michael Chavis chased Tanaka with a three-run homer.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LONDON (AP) — Aaron Hicks has hit Major League Baseball's first home run on European soil.The shot came during a 27-minute top of the first inning Saturday night when the New York Yankees batted around against the Boston Red Sox.Hicks drove a changeup from Rick Porcello 386 feet over the Boston bullpen in right field. The two-run drive on Porcello's 33rd pitch gave the Yankees a 6-0 lead just one out into the game. Porcello was then relieved by Colten Brewer, marking the shortest outing of his 324 career starts.New York extended its big league record of consecutive games with a home run to 30.DJ LeMahieu singled leading off, and Aaron Judge flied out to center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who fought off the sun to make the catch.Luke Voit hit a foul pop that Michael Chavis let drop after making a long run to the fence behind first base — Olympic Stadium has more foul territory than any regular big league ballpark.Voit followed with an RBI double, Didi Gregorius hit a two-run double and Edwin Encarnación doubled in another run. Hicks followed with his sixth home run.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani became the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 Thursday night after a delay caused by a power outage.Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning and completed the feat with a single in the seventh. He is the eighth Angels player to hit for the cycle and the first since Mike Trout on May 21, 2013.Albert Pujols also homered for the Angels, becoming the sixth player ever with 200 home runs in each league. He hit 445 in 11 seasons with St. Louis and has 200 in eight years with the Angels, including 12 this season.He led off the third with a double and tripled in the fifth before Pujols' home run. A two-out single in the seventh completed the cycle in just four plate appearances, and fans at Tropicana Field gave him a standing ovation.The game was held up 36 minutes by a power delay in the fourth with the Angels leading 3-0.Yarbrough (5-3) gave up five runs and five hits (all... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani became the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 Thursday night after a delay caused by a power outage.Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning and completed the feat with a single in the seventh. He is the eighth Angels player to hit for the cycle and the first since Mike Trout on May 21, 2013.Albert Pujols also homered for the Angels, becoming the sixth player ever with 200 home runs in each league. He hit 445 in 11 seasons with St. Louis and has 200 in eight years with the Angels, including 12 this season.He led off the third with a double and tripled in the fifth before Pujols' home run. A two-out single in the seventh completed the cycle in just four plate appearances, and fans at Tropicana Field gave him a standing ovation.The game was held up 36 minutes by a power delay in the fourth with the Angels leading 3-0.Yarbrough (5-3) gave up five runs and five hits (all... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier expressed a mix of defiance and remorse in his first public comments since three defensive mistakes in the last innings of a loss to Boston last weekend.The 24-year-old did not speak to reporters following Sunday night's defeat at Yankee Stadium.New York trailed 3-2 in the seventh inning Sunday when Frazier let Eduardo Núñez's sharp single get under his glove for a two-base error that allowed Michael Chavis to score from first base. Three batters later, Frazier dived and missed Andrew Benintendi's liner, which fell for a single as Brock Holt scored from first. Then in the eighth, he took a bad route on Chavis' ball near the right-field line, letting it skip by for an RBI triple as fans booed."I don't want to have mistakes in the outfield, or at the plate, or in life in general," Frazier said. "And when you do, it's tough. When you're standing there and you hear everything that everyone is saying in the outfield — that's the first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — First baseman Steve Pearce has been removed from Boston's game against the New York Yankees because of back spasms.Pearce fouled out against J.A. Happ in the second inning Friday night and was replaced on defense by Red Sox rookie Michael Chavis in the bottom half. The team says Pearce is day to day.Pearce, the World Series MVP last year, began the night batting only .182 with one home run and nine RBIs. A major nemesis to the Yankees the past few years, he has six homers off Happ — his most against any pitcher and the most the left-hander has allowed to any hitter.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports