Cubs third. Ian Happ strikes out swinging. Kris Bryant walks. Anthony Rizzo hit by pitch. Kris Bryant to second. Javier Baez singles to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Anthony Rizzo to third. Kris Bryant scores. Throwing error by Trevor Williams. Kyle Schwarber strikes out swinging. Willson Contreras strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 left on. Cubs 1, Pirates 0.Cubs fourth. Jason Heyward grounds out to second base, Adam Frazier to Josh Bell. Victor Caratini flies out to right field to Cole Tucker. Jason Kipnis homers to right field. Ian Happ grounds out to shallow right field, Josh Bell to Trevor Williams.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Cubs 2, Pirates 0.Cubs fifth. Kris Bryant walks. Anthony Rizzo walks. Kris Bryant to second. Javier Baez flies out to deep right field to Cole Tucker. Kyle Schwarber walks. Willson Contreras walks. Kyle Schwarber to second. Kris Bryant to third. Jason Heyward singles to right field. Willson Contreras to third. Kyle Schwarber scores. Kris... [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]

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]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Josh Bell wanted to make a statement with his actions, a way to channel the disgust the Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman felt in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police in late May.Yet as the crowds surged in downtown Pittsburgh last month during a planned peaceful protest, he fought the urge to join in.He couldn't help but notice the helicopters buzzing. He checked the Internet and saw what began with a positive vibe had shifted to something darker. Wary of the optics and the fallout, Bell, who is Black, heeded the advice of his girlfriend.“(She told me) ‘You’re going to make a lot more impact with your platform than going to this riot right now. That’s how people get hurt. That’s where the conversation turns bad," Bell said on Saturday. “'Josh Bell is at a protest is a good thing. But Josh Bell is at a riot is a terrible thing. That’s something that could change your career in a heartbeat.’”And not the kind of change the 27-year-old All-Star... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Archer won't pitch for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020, and his time with the club may be over.The 31-year-old right-hander had surgery Tuesday in St. Louis with Dr. Robert Thompson to relieve symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. Archer will not be available this season if Major League Baseball finds a way to put together a truncated schedule.Pirates director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Archer reported discomfort in the neck/shoulder area on his right side in March shortly before spring training was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Archer remained on a throwing program when he went home but symptoms continued to linger. “What made it most challenging for Chris, he didn’t feel the symptoms immediately after throwing,” Tomczyk said. “It was hours afterward. It was the next day."Tomczyk estimated Archer will need six-to-eight months of rehabilitation. Archer's absence this season is another blow to a starting rotation already missing ace... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — The son's stay in town has outlasted the father's. The irony isn't lost on Jacob Stallings.It wasn't necessarily supposed to be this way. Stallings was still a catching prospect — and not necessarily a young one — in the Pirates' organization four years ago when his dad Kevin left a successful run as the men's basketball coach at Vanderbilt to take on the same job at the University of Pittsburgh. The marriage between the elder Stallings and the Panthers lasted all of two nightmarish seasons. By the spring of 2018, Pitt moved on. It seemed the younger Stallings might meet the same fate. Pittsburgh designated for him assignment several times as he pogoed between the minors and the majors after making his debut in 2016. The odds of him ever sticking in Pittsburgh seeming to grow more and more remote as his mid-20s turned into his late-20s.Yet rather than worry about it, Stallings buried himself in the game. When he spent the first half of 2019 as the third catcher while... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jameson Taillon didn't throw a pitch after May 1. Felipe Vázquez headed to his second All-Star Game in July. By September, he was in jail . Clint Hurdle, who spearheaded a renaissance earlier in the decade, went into the last day of a lost season talking enthusiastically about the future. Two hours later, he was out of a job .Maybe it was a fitting way for the Pittsburgh Pirates to end a 69-93 campaign, one final bout of turbulence in a year when the sailing was rarely smooth. While general manager Neal Huntington talked about the need for a "new voice" heading into 2020, the club the new manager will inherit believes the worst is over."If we can get through all the stuff that's happened this year, all the losses, all the troubles, all the crazy stuff that happened, this is what we call the storm," pitcher Steven Brault said. "So if we can weather the storm and still be as together as we are, I think we're all looking forward to next year."Hard to blame them. Trevor Williams... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Clint Hurdle's booming voice and unrelenting optimism helped shake the Pittsburgh Pirates out of two decades of misery. His charisma gave the moribund franchise an identity, one that reconnected the franchise with a fan base worn down by years of losing.Yet over the years, as the core that led the team to three straight playoff berths from 2013-15 vanished with trades, retirement and the pursuit of financial riches elsewhere, that optimism started to fly in the face of reality. Pittsburgh fell off the pace after winning 98 games in 2015, and as players shuffled in and out, the giddiness of those three intoxicating years of contention faded.When Hurdle arrived for work on Sunday for Pittsburgh's regular season finale against Cincinnati, the Pirates were assured of their worst record since 2011, his first season on the job. By the time Trevor Williams threw the first pitch to José Peraza, Hurdle already was headed home, his nine seasons in Pittsburgh over following a stunning... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — George Springer hit a career-high three homers, Justin Verlander posted his MLB-leading 20th win and the Houston Astros clinched their third straight AL West title in grand fashion, routing the Los Angeles Angels 13-5 on Sunday.A crowd at Minute Maid Park that was cheering from Verlander's first pitch got even louder as Springer homered three times in the first four innings. The Astros kept breaking away and improved to 102-54, a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees for the best record in the majors.After the final out, the Astros held a bouncing group hug in the middle of the diamond and posed for a team picture. It hasn't been determined who they will face in the playoffs as they try for their second World Series championship in three years.Springer, the MVP of the 2017 World Series, had two chances to tie the big league record for home runs in a game. He popped up with the bases loaded in the fifth and grounded out in the seventh.Verlander (20-6) yielded six hits and... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — George Springer hit a career-high three homers, Justin Verlander posted his MLB-leading 20th win and the Houston Astros clinched their third straight AL West title in grand fashion, routing the Los Angeles Angels 13-5 on Sunday.A crowd at Minute Maid Park that was cheering from Verlander's first pitch got even louder as Springer homered three times in the first four innings. The Astros kept breaking away and improved to 102-54, a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees for the best record in the majors.After the final out, the Astros held a bouncing group hug in the middle of the diamond and posed for a team picture. It hasn't been determined who they will face in the playoffs as they try for their second World Series championship in three years.Springer, the MVP of the 2017 World Series, had two chances to tie the big league record for home runs in a game. He popped up with the bases loaded in the fifth and grounded out in the seventh.Verlander (20-6) yielded six hits and... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo was pulled from a game Sunday with a sprained right ankle, putting a damper on the Chicago Cubs' 16-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates that completed a three-game sweep.Rizzo was injured fielding a bunt at first base, had to be helped off the field and could not put pressure on the leg. X-rays taken at Wrigley Field showed no fractures. He'll get an MRI on Monday.Chicago's postseason pursuit has already been hindered by an injury to shortstop Javier Báez, who is out for the rest of the regular season with a hairline fracture of his left thumb.The Cubs maintained their one-game lead over Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Kris Bryant homered twice, and Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber and Jonathan Lucroy also connected for the Cubs, who outscored the Pirates 47-15 in the series.Brad Wieck (1-1) struck out both batters he faced. Trevor Williams (7-7) allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings.DODGERS 3, METS 2NEW YORK (AP) — Jedd Gyorko came off the... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo was pulled from a game Sunday with a sprained right ankle, putting a damper on the Chicago Cubs' 16-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates that completed a three-game sweep.Rizzo was injured fielding a bunt at first base, had to be helped off the field and could not put pressure on the leg. X-rays taken at Wrigley Field showed no fractures. He'll get an MRI on Monday.Chicago's postseason pursuit has already been hindered by an injury to shortstop Javier Báez, who is out for the rest of the regular season with a hairline fracture of his left thumb.The Cubs maintained their one-game lead over Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Kris Bryant homered twice, and Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber and Jonathan Lucroy also connected for the Cubs, who outscored the Pirates 47-15 in the series.Brad Wieck (1-1) struck out both batters he faced. Trevor Williams (7-7) allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings.BREWERS 7, CARDINALS 6ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ryan Braun overcame... [More]

Cubs first. Anthony Rizzo walks. Nicholas Castellanos doubles to deep left field. Anthony Rizzo to third. Kris Bryant homers to center field. Nicholas Castellanos scores. Anthony Rizzo scores. Kyle Schwarber pops out to shallow left field to Erik Gonzalez. Ben Zobrist flies out to right field to Jose Osuna. Victor Caratini singles to center field. Jason Heyward lines out to deep right field to Jose Osuna.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 3, Pirates 0.Pirates third. Erik Gonzalez doubles to left center field. Trevor Williams singles to shallow infield. Erik Gonzalez to third. Kevin Newman singles to center field. Trevor Williams to second. Erik Gonzalez scores. Bryan Reynolds doubles to deep left field. Kevin Newman to third. Trevor Williams scores. Pablo Reyes singles to right center field. Bryan Reynolds scores. Kevin Newman scores. Jose Osuna grounds out to shallow infield, Kris Bryant to Ian Happ. Pablo Reyes to second. Elias Diaz walks. Colin Moran singles to right field. Elias... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo left Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning with a sprained right ankle.X-rays taken at Wrigley Field showed no broken bones. An MRI is scheduled for Monday to determine the severity of the injury.The first baseman suffered the injury while fielding a bunt.With a runner on second and none out, Pirates pitcher Trevor Williams bunted to the third-base side of the mound. Rizzo charged aggressively and rolled the ankle a couple of steps before fielding the ball. He threw wide to first base and then dropped to the ground in obvious pain.Rizzo had to be helped off the field and could put no pressure on his right leg.The injury could be a significant blow to the playoff-contending Cubs, who have already lost shortstop Javier Báez for the season with a fractured left thumb.The 30-year-old Rizzo is hitting .289 with 26 homers and 93 RBIs in 140 games this season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Giants first. Mike Yastrzemski walks. Buster Posey out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Erik Gonzalez to Jose Osuna. Mike Yastrzemski to second. Brandon Belt singles to shortstop. Mike Yastrzemski to third. Evan Longoria singles to shallow center field. Brandon Belt to second. Mike Yastrzemski scores. Kevin Pillar strikes out swinging. Brandon Crawford grounds out to second base, Kevin Newman to Jose Osuna.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Giants 1, Pirates 0.Pirates fifth. Jacob Stallings homers to left field. Cole Tucker grounds out to third base, Evan Longoria to Brandon Belt. Erik Gonzalez singles to left field. Trevor Williams reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Erik Gonzalez out at second. Kevin Newman lines out to first base to Brandon Belt.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Pirates 1, Giants 1.Giants fifth. Mauricio Dubon singles to left field. Madison Bumgarner strikes out on a foul bunt. Mike Yastrzemski walks. Mauricio Dubon to second. Buster Posey strikes... [More]

Marlins first. Miguel Rojas flies out to center field to Bryan Reynolds. Isan Diaz grounds out to second base, Cole Tucker to Josh Bell. Starlin Castro doubles to right field. Garrett Cooper doubles to right field. Starlin Castro scores. Jorge Alfaro walks. Lewis Brinson strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Marlins 1, Pirates 0.Pirates first. Adam Frazier flies out to deep center field to Lewis Brinson. Bryan Reynolds reaches on error. Fielding error by Miguel Rojas. Colin Moran hit by pitch. Bryan Reynolds to second. Josh Bell singles to center field. Colin Moran to second. Bryan Reynolds scores. Jose Osuna grounds out to shortstop. Josh Bell out at second.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 left on. Marlins 1, Pirates 1.Pirates fourth. Cole Tucker flies out to left field to Austin Dean. Jacob Stallings walks. Trevor Williams strikes out on a foul bunt. Adam Frazier triples to deep right field. Jacob Stallings scores. Bryan Reynolds grounds out to second base, Isan Diaz to Garrett... [More]

Pirates first. Kevin Newman homers to left field. Bryan Reynolds singles to center field. Starling Marte singles to shallow left field. Bryan Reynolds to second. Josh Bell walks. Starling Marte to second. Bryan Reynolds to third. Colin Moran doubles to deep right center field. Josh Bell to third. Starling Marte scores. Bryan Reynolds scores. Jose Osuna pops out to shallow center field to Trevor Story. Adam Frazier singles to left field. Colin Moran to third. Josh Bell scores. Jacob Stallings singles to right field. Adam Frazier to third. Colin Moran scores. Trevor Williams out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Dom Nunez to Ryan McMahon. Jacob Stallings to second. Kevin Newman singles to right field. Jacob Stallings scores. Adam Frazier scores. Bryan Reynolds grounds out to shallow infield, Yency Almonte to Daniel Murphy.7 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Pirates 7, Rockies 0.Rockies first. Trevor Story called out on strikes. Charlie Blackmon singles to right field. Nolan Arenado... [More]

Pirates third. Jacob Stallings singles to center field. Erik Gonzalez flies out to right field to Aristides Aquino. Trevor Williams out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Derek Dietrich to Freddy Galvis. Jacob Stallings to second. Kevin Newman walks. Bryan Reynolds doubles to right field, advances to 3rd. Kevin Newman scores. Jacob Stallings scores. Fielding error by Derek Dietrich. Starling Marte grounds out to shallow infield, Alex Wood to Derek Dietrich.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Pirates 2, Reds 0.Pirates sixth. Kevin Newman walks. Bryan Reynolds walks. Kevin Newman to second. Starling Marte reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Bryan Reynolds out at second. Kevin Newman to third. Josh Bell hit by pitch. Starling Marte to second. Jose Osuna singles to second base. Josh Bell to second. Starling Marte to third. Kevin Newman scores. Colin Moran pinch-hitting for Pablo Reyes. Colin Moran homers to right field. Jose Osuna scores. Josh Bell scores. Starling Marte scores.... [More]

Nationals first. Trea Turner pops out to Elias Diaz. Adam Eaton homers to right field. Anthony Rendon doubles to deep center field. Juan Soto walks. Asdrubal Cabrera out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Melky Cabrera. Juan Soto to second. Anthony Rendon scores. Matt Adams homers to center field. Juan Soto scores. Victor Robles grounds out to shallow infield, Trevor Williams to Josh Bell.4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 4, Pirates 0.Nationals second. Yan Gomes walks. Joe Ross reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Yan Gomes to third. Throwing error by Elias Diaz. Trea Turner homers to center field. Joe Ross scores. Yan Gomes scores. Adam Eaton strikes out swinging. Anthony Rendon grounds out to third base, Colin Moran to Josh Bell. Juan Soto singles to center field. Asdrubal Cabrera walks. Juan Soto to second. Matt Adams doubles to deep right center field. Asdrubal Cabrera out at home. Juan Soto scores.4 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Nationals 8, Pirates... [More]