OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — In the first major league game with the new, unpopular extra-inning rule, automatic runner Marcus Semien began the bottom of the 10th on second base and scored on Matt Olson’s grand slam, sending the Oakland Athletics over the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 Friday night.Olson, whose alert throw from first base nailed Angels free runner Shohei Ohtani in the top of the 10th, connected with one out. Major League Baseball instituted the controversial extra-inning runner rule for this season to keep games from dragging on amid a compressed, 60-game schedule that started late because of the virus outbreak.After Semien took second, the A’s loaded the bases against Hansel Robles (0-1) on a hit by pitch, wild pitch and a walk.New Angels manager Joe Maddon brought in reliever Hoby Milner and, with a five-man infield in place, Olson hit the first pitch far over the right-field wall.According to STATS, Olson became the third player to hit a walkoff grand slam on opening day. He joined... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks convinced new manager David Ross to let him finish a three-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered and dished out hand sanitizer, and the Chicago Cubs started the season by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 on Friday night.Ian Happ also had a two-run drive and Ross got his first victory as a big league manager as the Cubs opened this pandemic-shortened 60-game season without fans at Wrigley Field. Hendricks struck out nine and walked none in his first career opening-day start and fourth career shutout.Orlando Arcia had each of Milwaukee’s hits off Hendricks (1-0). After he singled with two out in the third for the Brewers’ first baserunner, he accepted a splash of sanitizer from a smiling Rizzo at first and cleaned off his hands.Ross came out to check on Hendricks with two out and a runner on first in the ninth. He decided to leave him in, and Keston Hiura bounced into a game-ending fielder’s choice on Hendricks’ 103rd pitch.Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff allowed... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks convinced new manager David Ross to let him finish a three-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered and dished out hand sanitizer, and the Chicago Cubs started the season by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 on Friday night.Ian Happ also had a two-run drive and Ross got his first victory as a big league manager as the Cubs opened this pandemic-shortened 60-game season without fans at Wrigley Field. Hendricks struck out nine and walked none in his first career opening-day start and fourth career shutout.Orlando Arcia had each of Milwaukee’s hits off Hendricks (1-0). After he singled with two out in the third for the Brewers’ first baserunner, he accepted a splash of sanitizer from a smiling Rizzo at first and cleaned off his hands.Ross came out to check on Hendricks with two out and a runner on first in the ninth. He decided to leave him in, and Keston Hiura bounced into a game-ending fielder’s choice on Hendricks’ 103rd pitch.Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff allowed... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks convinced new manager David Ross to let him finish a three-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered and dished out hand sanitizer, and the Chicago Cubs started the season by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 on Friday night.Ian Happ also had a two-run drive and Ross got his first victory as a big league manager as the Cubs opened this pandemic-shortened 60-game season without fans at Wrigley Field. Hendricks struck out nine and walked none in his first career opening-day start and fourth career shutout.Orlando Arcia had each of Milwaukee’s hits off Hendricks (1-0). After he singled with two out in the third for the Brewers’ first baserunner, he accepted a splash of sanitizer from a smiling Rizzo at first and cleaned off his hands.Ross came out to check on Hendricks with two out and a runner on first in the ninth. He decided to leave him in, and Keston Hiura bounced into a game-ending fielder’s choice on Hendricks’ 103rd pitch.Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff allowed... [More]

Cardinals third. Tyler O'Neill homers to left field. Harrison Bader called out on strikes. Kolten Wong grounds out to first base, Josh Bell to Joe Musgrove. Tommy Edman singles to shallow infield.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Cardinals 1, Pirates 0.Cardinals fifth. Dexter Fowler homers to right field. Tyler O'Neill flies out to center field to Jarrod Dyson. Harrison Bader called out on strikes. Kolten Wong triples to deep center field, tagged out at home, Joe Musgrove to Jacob Stallings.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cardinals 2, Pirates 0.Cardinals sixth. Tommy Edman strikes out swinging. Paul Goldschmidt singles to shallow left field. Paul DeJong walks. Matt Carpenter reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Paul DeJong out at second. Paul Goldschmidt to third. Yadier Molina singles to left center field. Matt Carpenter to second. Paul Goldschmidt scores. Dexter Fowler grounds out to first base, Josh Bell to Clay Holmes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Cardinals 3, Pirates... [More]

APRIL 171892: In the first Sunday game in National League history, Cincinnati defeated St. Louis 5-1.1932: New York first baseman Bill Terry tied an NL record with 21 putouts as the Giants beat Boston 5-0 behind Hal Schumacher’s two-hitter.1951: In his first major-league game, Mickey Mantle went 1-for-4 as the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-0.1953: Mickey Mantle cleared the bleachers at Griffith Stadium with a 565-foot home run off Chuck Stobbs. The shot came in the fifth inning of a 7-3 win over the Senators.1964: The New York Mets lost their first game at Shea Stadium to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3. Pittsburgh’s Willie Stargell hit the first homer at Shea.1969: Bill Stoneman of Montreal pitched a 7-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 10th game of the Expos’ existence.1976: Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies hit four consecutive home runs and a single in an 18-16, 10-inning victory over the Cubs in Wrigley Field. Hitting .167 going into the game,... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___St. Louis CardinalsManager: Mike Shildt (third season). 2019: 91-71, first place, lost to Nationals in NLCS.Training Town: Jupiter, Florida.Park: Roger Dean Stadium.First Workout: Feb. 12/17. He's Here: LHP Matthew Liberatore, C Matt Wieters, LHP Kwang-Hyun Kim.He's Outta Here: OF Marcell Ozuna, RF Jose Martinez, LF Randy Arozarena, RHP Dominic Leone.Going campin': The Cardinals return largely intact after getting swept in the NLCS by World Series champion Washington. The biggest competition throughout the spring will be in the outfield, where only Dexter Fowler has a position locked up — mostly because of his contract. Center fielder Harrison Bader probably has another spot under control, and that leaves Tyler O'Neill, Lane Thomas and top prospect Dylan Carlson competing for the last... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Shildt took the ball from Dakota Hudson and patted him on the back of the neck.Hudson was out of the game after recording one out on 15 pitches against eight Washington Nationals batters, and the St. Louis Cardinals were on the receiving end of what they did to the Atlanta Braves in the last round. Tears welled up in the 25-year-old's eyes thinking back to that moment."He just was saying I had a good year and that I had an impact on the team getting here," an emotional Hudson said. "Just a little bit of nice words, I guess, to say as I was coming off."The Nationals put up seven runs in the first inning to beat the Cardinals 7-4 in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series on Tuesday and sweep them out of the playoffs in unceremonious fashion. St. Louis was outscored 20-6 and never led at any point."We proved — and this doesn't require advanced sabermetrics — you have to get a lead to win a game," Shildt said. "We weren't able to do that."Hours after the manager said his... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Shildt took the ball from Dakota Hudson and patted him on the back of the neck.Hudson was out of the game after recording one out on 15 pitches against eight Washington Nationals batters, and the St. Louis Cardinals were on the receiving end of what they did to the Atlanta Braves in the last round.The Nationals put up seven runs in the first inning to beat the Cardinals 7-4 in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series on Tuesday and sweep them out of the playoffs in unceremonious fashion. St. Louis was outscored 20-6 and never was ahead at any point."We proved — and this doesn't require advanced sabermetrics — you have to get a lead to win a game. So we weren't able to do that," Shildt said.Hours after the manager said his team "has always believed in itself" and will continue to do that, it was like the Cardinals forgot how to play baseball. Hudson didn't have his best stuff but was done in by a succession of baffling errors and defensive blunders from the Cardinals —... [More]

Nationals first. Trea Turner singles to right field. Adam Eaton doubles to right center field. Trea Turner to third. Anthony Rendon out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Harrison Bader. Trea Turner scores. Juan Soto doubles to deep left field. Adam Eaton scores. Howie Kendrick is intentionally walked. Ryan Zimmerman reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Howie Kendrick to second. Juan Soto to third. Fielding error by Kolten Wong. Victor Robles singles to shallow right field. Ryan Zimmerman to second. Howie Kendrick to third. Juan Soto scores. Yan Gomes singles to left field. Victor Robles to second. Ryan Zimmerman scores. Howie Kendrick scores. Patrick Corbin out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Yadier Molina to Kolten Wong. Yan Gomes to second. Victor Robles to third. Trea Turner singles to left field. Yan Gomes scores. Victor Robles scores. Adam Eaton lines out to shortstop to Paul DeJong.7 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Nationals 7, Cardinals 0.Cardinals fourth. Paul... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt has benched Dexter Fowler and made several other changes to his slumping lineup for Game 4 of the NL Championship Series against the Washington Nationals.The Cardinals enter Tuesday night's game having scored a grand total of two runs and managed just 11 hits while falling into a 3-0 hole in the best-of-seven series.Going with a lineup he has not used all season, Shildt dropped Fowler — who is 0 for 11 in the NLCS and 2 for 33 this postseason — and put Harrison Bader in center field.Fowler's place in the leadoff spot is being taken by Tommy Edman, who moved up from No. 7 in the order. José Martínez was bumped to No. 2 from No. 5, where he started in the Cardinals' 8-1 loss in Game 3 on Monday.There are other shifts to the order, with only two spots unchanged: Paul Goldschmidt at No. 3, and Marcell Ozuna in the cleanup spot.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt shook his head and blamed himself. The answers aren't coming easy right now.After a third consecutive anemic offensive showing led to an 8-1 blowout loss to the Washington Nationals in Game 3 Monday night, the St. Louis Cardinals are staring down a 3-0 deficit in the NL Championship Series and are one loss from being swept in the best-of-seven playoff.St. Louis scored one unearned run on seven hits and has a total of two runs on 11 hits through three games. It wasn't supposed to be like this, and now the Cardinals are on the brink of elimination going into Game 4 on Tuesday night."We haven't scored," said Goldschmidt, who struck out four times in Game 3. "We haven't executed as an offense. I haven't really done anything this series, and the results speak for themselves, especially tonight. Just have to do a better job."Time is running out to turn things around.Through the first two games of the series, pitching, defense and baserunning helped keep the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Instead of dwelling on the St. Louis Cardinals' troubles at the plate after two losses in the NL Championship Series, manager Mike Shildt tried to accentuate the positives."We've pitched really, really well," he said. "We've played really good defense. We've run the bases when we're getting the opportunities really well."Not anymore. And it might be too late to do anything about those silent bats.All those previously reliable elements abandoned the Cardinals in Game 3 on Monday night, and their hitting never showed up. After another anemic offensive showing, they got blown out 8-1 by the Washington Nationals to fall into a 3-0 hole and are one loss Tuesday from being swept out of the best-of-seven series.A comedy of errors in the field and on the basepaths and a rare off night for 23-year-old ace Jack Flaherty did little to relieve the pressure of a lineup still flummoxed by Nationals pitching. St. Louis scored one unearned run on a throwing error and has a grand total... [More]

Nationals third. Victor Robles singles to center field. Stephen Strasburg out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Paul Goldschmidt to Kolten Wong. Victor Robles to second. Trea Turner strikes out on a foul tip. Adam Eaton singles to center field. Victor Robles scores. Anthony Rendon doubles to left field. Adam Eaton scores. Juan Soto walks. Howie Kendrick doubles to right center field. Juan Soto scores. Anthony Rendon scores. Ryan Zimmerman grounds out to second base, Kolten Wong to Paul Goldschmidt.4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 4, Cardinals 0.Nationals fifth. Adam Eaton grounds out to shortstop, Paul DeJong to Paul Goldschmidt. Anthony Rendon singles to shallow center field. Juan Soto flies out to left field to Marcell Ozuna. Howie Kendrick doubles to left center field. Anthony Rendon scores. Ryan Zimmerman doubles to shallow center field. Howie Kendrick scores. Kurt Suzuki pops out to second base to Kolten Wong.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 6, Cardinals... [More]

Nationals third. Michael A. Taylor homers to left field. Max Scherzer strikes out swinging. Trea Turner lines out to first base to Paul Goldschmidt. Adam Eaton grounds out to shortstop, Paul DeJong to Paul Goldschmidt.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 1, Cardinals 0.Nationals eighth. Michael A. Taylor called out on strikes. Matt Adams pinch-hitting for Max Scherzer. Matt Adams singles to deep right center field. Trea Turner singles to center field. Matt Adams to second. Adam Eaton doubles to right field. Trea Turner scores. Matt Adams scores. Anthony Rendon is intentionally walked. Juan Soto pops out to shallow center field to Paul DeJong. Howie Kendrick strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Nationals 3, Cardinals 0.Cardinals eighth. Matt Carpenter strikes out swinging. Tommy Edman lines out to deep right field to Adam Eaton. Paul DeJong singles to center field. Jose Martinez pinch-hitting for Andrew Miller. Jose Martinez doubles to deep center field. Paul DeJong scores. Dexter Fowler flies out to right field to Adam Eaton.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 3, Cardinals 1.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer lost his no-hit bid on Paul Goldschmidt's clean single leading off the seventh inning in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.Goldschmidt's line drive dropped in front of left fielder Juan Soto, who played the ball conservatively with Washington clinging to a 1-0 lead. Scherzer got a strikeout and a double play to end the inning.Washington won 2-0 in Game 1 behind Aníbal Sánchez, who allowed the Cardinals' only hit of the night with two out in the eighth inning.Scherzer walked Kolten Wong in the first and Dexter Fowler in the sixth for St. Louis' only baserunners before Goldschmidt. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has struck out 11 through seven innings.Scherzer, a St. Louis native, has a record five career postseason no-hit bids of at least five innings, according to Elias Sports. He came closest to finishing in Game 3 of the 2017 NL Division Series, getting one out in the seventh inning before... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer has not allowed a hit through six innings in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.Scherzer walked Kolten Wong in the first and Dexter Fowler in the sixth for St. Louis' only baserunners so far. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has struck out 10 and thrown 92 pitches.Washington won 2-0 in Game 1 behind Aníbal Sánchez, who allowed the Cardinals' only hit of the night with two out in the eighth inning.Scherzer, a St. Louis native, has a record five career postseason no-hit bids of at least five innings, according to Elias Sports. He came closest to finishing in Game 3 of the 2017 NL Division Series, getting one out in the seventh inning before allowing a hit.Sánchez and Scherzer also began the 2013 ALCS with consecutive no-hit bids of at least five innings for Detroit against Boston.There have only been two postseason no-hitters. Don Larsen threw a perfect game for the New York Yankees against Brooklyn in the 1956 World Series, and Roy Halladay pitched a no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2010 NL Division Series.Washington leads 1-0 on Saturday on Michael A. Taylor's homer on Adam Wainwright's first pitch of the third inning.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Nationals second. Howie Kendrick doubles to deep right center field. Ryan Zimmerman grounds out to third base, Matt Carpenter to Paul Goldschmidt. Michael A. Taylor strikes out swinging. Yan Gomes doubles to deep center field. Howie Kendrick scores. Anibal Sanchez grounds out to shortstop, Paul DeJong to Paul Goldschmidt.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 1, Cardinals 0.Nationals seventh. Trea Turner lines out to shallow infield to Giovanny Gallegos. Adam Eaton triples to deep left center field. Anthony Rendon is intentionally walked. Juan Soto strikes out swinging. Howie Kendrick singles to shallow center field. Anthony Rendon to second. Adam Eaton scores. Ryan Zimmerman walks. Howie Kendrick to second. Anthony Rendon to third. Michael A. Taylor flies out to deep center field to Dexter Fowler.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Nationals 2, Cardinals 0.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Washington Nationals right-hander Aníbal Sánchez has not allowed a hit through six innings of Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.Sánchez retired his first 10 batters before Kolten Wong walked in the fourth for St. Louis' first baserunner. He stole second and went to third on catcher Yan Gomes' throwing error, but Marcell Ozuna fouled out to end the inning.Pinch-hitter Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch with one out in the sixth, but Sánchez retired Dexter Fowler and Wong to end the inning.Sánchez struck out five in the first six innings of his ninth career postseason start. He has thrown 75 pitches.The 35-year-old Sánchez pitched a no-hitter as a rookie with the Florida Marlins in 2006. He also threw six hitless innings in the opener of the 2013 AL Championship Series for Detroit against Boston but was pulled after 116 pitches. The Tigers bullpen finished a one-hitter in a 1-0 victory.Washington led 1-0 on Gomes' two-out RBI double off Miles Mikolas in the second inning Friday night.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at the best-of-seven National League Championship Series between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at St. Louis, 8:08 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday, at St. Louis, 4:08 p.m.; Game 3, Monday, at Washington, TBA; Game 4, Tuesday, at Washington, TBA; x-Game 5, Wednesday, at Washington, TBA; x-Game 6, Friday, Oct. 18, at St. Louis, TBA; x-Game 7, Saturday, Oct. 19, at St. Louis, TBA. (All games on TBS).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Cardinals won 5-2.___Projected Lineups:Nationals: SS Trea Turner (.298, 19 HRs, 57 RBIs, 37 2Bs, 35 SBs, 96 runs), RF Adam Eaton (.279, 15, 49, 15 SBs, 103 runs), 3B Anthony Rendon (.319, 34, 126, 44 2Bs, 117 runs, 1.010 OPS), LF Juan Soto (.282, 34, 110, 110 runs, .949 OPS), 2B Howie Kendrick (.344, 17, 62), 1B Ryan Zimmerman (.257, 6, 27 in 52 games), C Kurt Suzuki (.264, 17, 63) or Yan Gomes (.223, 12, 43 in 97 games), CF Victor Robles (.255, 17, 65, 28 SBs) or Michael A. Taylor (.250, 1, 3 in 53 games).Cardinals:... [More]