CINCINNATI (AP) — Slumping Jesse Winker hit a three-run homer — one of four off White Sox starter Jonathan Stiever — and the Cincinnati Reds extended their surge into playoff contention with a 7-1 win Friday night for their season-high sixth victory in a row. The Reds moved to .500 (26-26) for the first time since Aug. 3. Their winning streak has them in playoff position, in second place in the NL Central behind the Cubs. The AL Central-leading White Sox clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 with a win over the Twins on Thursday night. Their momentum hit a snag as Stiever (0-1) got hit hard in his first major league road appearance. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed Winker’s shot and solo homers by Joey Votto, Nick Castellanos and Tucker Barnhart. Tyler Mahle (2-2) got his first win since Aug. 28, allowing four hits and fanning eight in 5 2/3 innings. CARDINALS 6, PIRATES 5, 1st game PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kolten Wong hit the second leadoff home run of his career, Tyler O’Neill added... [More]

Rays first. Austin Meadows pops out to shallow left field to Trea Turner. Brandon Lowe flies out to deep left center field to Juan Soto. Randy Arozarena hit by pitch. Nate Lowe doubles to deep right field. Randy Arozarena scores. Manuel Margot strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 1, Nationals 0.Nationals sixth. Trea Turner flies out to deep right field to Manuel Margot. Juan Soto walks. Asdrubal Cabrera homers to right field. Juan Soto scores. Yan Gomes strikes out swinging. Carter Kieboom flies out to right center field to Kevin Kiermaier.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 2, Rays 1.Rays ninth. Mike Brosseau pinch-hitting for Michael Perez. Mike Brosseau strikes out on a foul tip. Austin Meadows flies out to right center field to Michael A. Taylor. Brandon Lowe homers to right field. Yoshi Tsutsugo strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 2, Rays 2.Nationals tenth. Luis Garcia homers to center field. Carter Kieboom scores. Victor Robles called out on strikes. Michael A. Taylor strikes out swinging. Jake Noll strikes out swinging.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 4, Rays 2.

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. strikes out swinging. Freddie Freeman doubles to deep center field. Marcell Ozuna strikes out swinging. Travis d'Arnaud doubles to deep right center field. Freddie Freeman scores. Dansby Swanson flies out to deep center field to Victor Robles.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 1, Nationals 0.Nationals second. Asdrubal Cabrera homers to right field. Kurt Suzuki grounds out to second base, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Eric Thames strikes out swinging. Carter Kieboom strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Braves 1, Nationals 1.Braves fourth. Travis d'Arnaud singles to deep right field. Dansby Swanson called out on strikes. Nick Markakis doubles to center field. Travis d'Arnaud scores. Adam Duvall lines out to center field to Victor Robles. Austin Riley called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Nationals 1.Nationals fourth. Juan Soto doubles to center field. Asdrubal Cabrera lines out to deep right field to... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alex Bregman singled in the go-ahead run during a five-run ninth inning, and the Astros rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-5 under smoky skies Saturday night in Houston’s first visit since the infamous 2017 World Series.The Dodgers blew a three-run lead in the ninth when Kenley Jansen (3-1) got knocked around, giving up four consecutive hits without an out.Josh James (1-0) got the victory with 1 1/3 innings of relief. Ryan Pressly earned his ninth save.The game lacked the fiery emotion of the teams’ matchup on July 29. But there were multiple reminders that Dodger fans haven’t forgotten the Astros’ cheating scandal from their championship three years ago.A plane towed a banner reading “Houston Cheats Bang Bang” over the stadium.WHITE SOX 14, TIGERS 0CHICAGO (AP) — José Abreu hit two three-run homers and matched a career high with seven RBIs, and the White Sox earned their eighth straight win against the Tigers.Abreu went 4 for 4 a day after his career-best 22-game... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alex Bregman singled in the go-ahead run during a five-run ninth inning, and the Astros rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-5 under smoky skies Saturday night in Houston’s first visit since the infamous 2017 World Series.The Dodgers blew a three-run lead in the ninth when Kenley Jansen (3-1) got knocked around, giving up four consecutive hits without an out.Josh James (1-0) got the victory with 1 1/3 innings of relief. Ryan Pressly earned his ninth save.The game lacked the fiery emotion of the teams’ matchup on July 29. But there were multiple reminders that Dodger fans haven’t forgotten the Astros’ cheating scandal from their championship three years ago.A plane towed a banner reading “Houston Cheats Bang Bang” over the stadium.WHITE SOX 14, TIGERS 0CHICAGO (AP) — José Abreu hit two three-run homers and matched a career high with seven RBIs, and the White Sox earned their eighth straight win against the Tigers.Abreu went 4 for 4 a day after his career-best 22-game... [More]

Nationals first. Adam Eaton doubles. Trea Turner walks. Juan Soto doubles to deep right field. Trea Turner scores. Adam Eaton scores. Eric Thames singles to right field. Juan Soto scores. Brock Holt grounds out to shallow infield. Eric Thames out at second. Yan Gomes doubles to deep left field. Luis Garcia pops out to shortstop to Dansby Swanson.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 3, Braves 0.Nationals third. Trea Turner doubles to left field. Juan Soto singles to left field. Trea Turner scores. Eric Thames strikes out swinging. Brock Holt grounds out to shallow infield, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Juan Soto to third. Yan Gomes singles to shallow center field. Juan Soto scores. Luis Garcia grounds out to shallow right field, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 5, Braves 0.Braves fourth. Adam Duvall strikes out swinging. Nick Markakis doubles to deep right field. Ozzie Albies walks. Ender Inciarte flies out to deep right field to... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Yadiel Hernández, who played for five years at a top level in his native Cuba before signing with Washington in 2016, made his major league debut at age 32 for the Nationals on Thursday night.The highly experienced rookie entered as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning of the Nationals' 7-6 loss to the Atlanta Braves. His first big league at-bat will have to wait.Hernández put up impressive numbers in the minors but was stuck in the Nationals' system behind younger outfielders like Juan Soto and Victor Robles.Washington manager Dave Martinez said Hernández reminded him of his former teammate Jim Morris, a relief pitcher who made his major league debut at age 35 and whose story was dramatized in the Dennis Quaid movie “The Rookie.”“It’s an older guy trying to live out his dream and that’s to play in the major leagues,” Martinez said. “To be the guy to tell him, yeah, ‘Congratulations, you worked really hard, keep doing what you’re doing.’ ... To see his face today was awesome.”Hernández... [More]

Nationals first. Victor Robles called out on strikes. Adam Eaton singles to deep left field. Trea Turner triples. Adam Eaton scores. Juan Soto doubles. Trea Turner scores. Asdrubal Cabrera triples to deep left center field. Juan Soto scores. Josh Harrison grounds out to shallow infield, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Yan Gomes flies out to left center field to Adam Duvall.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 3, Braves 0.Nationals second. Michael A. Taylor doubles. Carter Kieboom lines out to deep center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Michael A. Taylor to third. Victor Robles lines out to shallow infield to Freddie Freeman. Adam Eaton homers to center field. Michael A. Taylor scores. Trea Turner walks. Juan Soto is intentionally walked. Asdrubal Cabrera walks. Juan Soto to second. Trea Turner to third. Josh Harrison reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Asdrubal Cabrera out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 4 left on. Nationals 5, Braves 0.Braves fourth. Ronald Acuna... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Nationals have selected the contract of 32-year-old rookie Yadiel Hernández, who played for five years at a top level in his native Cuba before signing with Washington in 2016.Hernández has put up impressive numbers in the minors but has yet to play in the majors, stuck in the Nationals' system behind younger outfielders like Juan Soto and Victor Robles.Washington manager Dave Martinez said Hernández reminded him of his former teammate Jim Morris, a relief pitcher who made his major league debut at age 35 and whose story was dramatized in the Dennis Quaid movie “The Rookie.”“It’s an older guy trying to live out his dream and that’s to play in the major leagues,” Martinez said. “To be the guy to tell him, yeah, ‘Congratulations, you worked really hard, keep doing what you’re doing.’ ... To see his face today was awesome.”Hernández hit 33 homers in the minors last year and was Washington’s minor league player of the year. Martinez said the Nationals chose Hernández over... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Nationals have selected the contract of 32-year-old rookie Yadiel Hernández, who played professionally for five years in his native Cuba before signing with Washington in 2016.Hernández has put up impressive numbers in the minors but has yet to play in the majors, stuck in the Nationals' system behind younger outfielders like Juan Soto and Victor Robles.Washington manager Dave Martinez said Hernández reminded him of his former teammate Jim Morris, a relief pitcher who made his major league debut at age 35 and whose story was dramatized in the Dennis Quaid movie “The Rookie.”“It’s an older guy trying to live out his dream and that’s to play in the major leagues,” Martinez said. “To be the guy to tell him, yeah, ‘Congratulations, you worked really hard, keep doing what you’re doing.’ ... To see his face today was awesome.”Hernández hit 33 homers in the minors last year and was Washington’s minor league player of the year. Martinez said the Nationals chose Hernández over... [More]

Nationals first. Victor Robles hit by pitch. Adam Eaton out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Yoshi Tsutsugo to Ji-Man Choi. Victor Robles to second. Trea Turner walks. Juan Soto grounds out to shallow infield, Yoshi Tsutsugo to Ji-Man Choi. Trea Turner to third. Victor Robles scores. Kurt Suzuki grounds out to second base, Ji-Man Choi to Ryan Yarbrough.1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 1, Rays 0.Nationals second. Asdrubal Cabrera strikes out swinging. Josh Harrison flies out to deep left center field to Randy Arozarena. Brock Holt doubles to deep right field. Carter Kieboom doubles to deep left field. Brock Holt scores. Victor Robles flies out to center field to Kevin Kiermaier.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 2, Rays 0.Nationals third. Adam Eaton flies out to center field to Kevin Kiermaier. Trea Turner doubles to deep left field. Juan Soto singles to second base. Trea Turner to third. Kurt Suzuki hit by pitch. Juan Soto to second. Asdrubal Cabrera out on... [More]

Nationals second. Kurt Suzuki flies out to deep right field to Brandon Lowe. Josh Harrison walks. Eric Thames singles to deep center field. Josh Harrison to third. Carter Kieboom reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Eric Thames out at second. Josh Harrison scores. Michael A. Taylor grounds out to second base, Joey Wendle to Ji-Man Choi.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 1, Rays 0.Nationals third. Victor Robles doubles to deep left center field. Adam Eaton flies out to Brandon Lowe. Victor Robles to third. Trea Turner singles to left field. Victor Robles scores. Brock Holt lines out to left field to Austin Meadows. Kurt Suzuki doubles to deep left field. Trea Turner scores. Josh Harrison pops out to Yoshi Tsutsugo.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 3, Rays 0.Nationals sixth. Brock Holt doubles to deep right field. Kurt Suzuki singles to shallow right field. Brock Holt to third. Josh Harrison singles to deep right field. Kurt Suzuki to second. Brock Holt... [More]

Nationals second. Asdrubal Cabrera strikes out swinging. Brock Holt singles to center field. Yan Gomes pops out to shallow center field to Dansby Swanson. Eric Thames singles to deep right field. Brock Holt scores. Carter Kieboom grounds out to shallow infield to Freddie Freeman.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 1, Braves 0.Braves fourth. Travis d'Arnaud called out on strikes. Austin Riley singles to shallow left field. Adam Duvall doubles. Austin Riley to third. Tyler Flowers doubles. Adam Duvall scores. Austin Riley scores. Adeiny Hechavarria grounds out to third base, Carter Kieboom to Eric Thames. Ronald Acuna Jr. is intentionally walked. Dansby Swanson singles to shortstop. Ronald Acuna Jr. to second. Tyler Flowers to third. Freddie Freeman flies out to left field to Brock Holt.2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Braves 2, Nationals 1.Braves fifth. Marcell Ozuna homers to left field. Travis d'Arnaud grounds out to third base, Carter Kieboom to Eric Thames. Austin Riley... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning, Albert Pujols drove in three runs and the Los Angeles Angels rallied for a 7-6 victory over the Houston Astros to sweep Saturday’s doubleheader.It was not a walk-off win for the Angels, though. They were the visiting team in the nightcap because it was a makeup of the Aug. 26 game in Houston that was postponed due to Tropical Storm Laura.Mike Trout became the Angels’ home run leader in the first game with No. 300 of his career and Jo Adell celebrated with a game-winning, two-run single in the seventh to give Los Angeles a 10-9 win.Rendon hitting homers to sink the Astros is nothing new. He had a three-run shot for Washington in Game 6 of last year’s World Series and then a solo drive in the deciding game to start the Nationals’ comeback.Noe Ramirez (1-0) worked a scoreless sixth and Ty Buttrey earned his fifth save.Los Angeles trailed 6-4 in the seventh. Justin Upton singled and Trout walked before Rendon... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout became the Angels’ career home run leader and Jo Adell celebrated with a game-ending, two-run single in the seventh, lifting Los Angeles to a 10-9 victory over the Houston Astros in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.The Angels trailed by two going into the seventh. Trout and Shohei Ohtani drew walks before Justin Upton doubled to drive in Trout. One out later, Adell lined a two-run single to right off Enoli Paredes (1-2) for his first game-ending hit.Trout hit career homer No. 300 in the third inning to pass Tim Salmon as the franchise leader. He also had a pair of doubles.Adell and Upton also homered, and Felix Peña (3-0) got the win.Kyle Tucker homered and drove in three runs for the Astros, who lost in walk-off fashion for the second straight game.INDIANS 4, BREWERS 3CLEVELAND (AP) — Milwaukee closer Josh Hader allowed his first hit of the season, and then gave up César Hernández’s game-winning single in the ninth inning.Oscar Mercado, who... [More]

Nationals first. Victor Robles hit by pitch. Trea Turner walks. Victor Robles to second. Howie Kendrick lines out to deep left field to Adam Duvall. Asdrubal Cabrera walks. Kurt Suzuki grounds out to shallow infield, Austin Riley to Freddie Freeman. Asdrubal Cabrera to second. Trea Turner to third. Victor Robles scores. Carter Kieboom singles to right field. Asdrubal Cabrera to third. Trea Turner scores. Brock Holt flies out to center field to Nick Markakis.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Nationals 2, Braves 0.Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. homers to center field. Dansby Swanson grounds out to shallow left field, Carter Kieboom to Asdrubal Cabrera. Freddie Freeman grounds out to second base, Carter Kieboom to Asdrubal Cabrera. Marcell Ozuna singles to center field. Travis d'Arnaud singles to shallow infield. Marcell Ozuna to second. Nick Markakis grounds out to shallow infield to Asdrubal Cabrera.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Nationals 2, Braves 1.Braves third. Freddie Freeman... [More]

Nationals first. Victor Robles hit by pitch. Trea Turner grounds out to shortstop, Dansby Swanson to Freddie Freeman. Victor Robles to third. Asdrubal Cabrera out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Victor Robles scores. Kurt Suzuki strikes out swinging.1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 1, Braves 0.Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. strikes out swinging. Dansby Swanson pops out to shallow center field to Luis Garcia. Freddie Freeman walks. Marcell Ozuna doubles. Freddie Freeman scores. Travis d'Arnaud walks. Nick Markakis pops out to shallow left field to Trea Turner.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Nationals 1, Braves 1.Nationals second. Eric Thames strikes out on a foul tip. Josh Harrison hit by pitch. Luis Garcia singles to center field. Josh Harrison to second. Michael A. Taylor reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Luis Garcia out at second. Josh Harrison to third. Brock Holt singles to left field. Michael A. Taylor to second. Josh Harrison... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. homers to center field. Dansby Swanson grounds out to shortstop, Trea Turner to Asdrubal Cabrera. Freddie Freeman singles to center field. Marcell Ozuna walks. Freddie Freeman to second. Nick Markakis lines out to left field to Josh Harrison. Austin Riley flies out to left field to Josh Harrison.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 1, Nationals 0.Braves third. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Dansby Swanson homers to center field. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Freddie Freeman strikes out swinging. Marcell Ozuna singles to shallow right field. Nick Markakis lines out to deep left field to Josh Harrison. Austin Riley reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Marcell Ozuna out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 3, Nationals 0.Nationals fourth. Asdrubal Cabrera triples to deep right field. Yan Gomes out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Adam Duvall. Asdrubal Cabrera scores. Josh Harrison doubles. Michael A. Taylor called out on strikes. Luis... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Washington Nationals removed left fielder Juan Soto from the lineup for Friday's first game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves because of a sore left elbow.Soto's exit takes away one of baseball's top hitters and comes one day after another Washington outfielder, Adam Eaton, was forced out of Thursday night's game with a jammed knee.The 21-year-old Soto is hitting .354 with 11 homers and 26 RBIs. He missed the Nationals' first eight games because of a positive test for the coronavirus, although he never had symptoms.Soto was listed as the No. 2 hitter in the original lineup announced by the team. In the adjusted lineup, Josh Harrison moved from third base to left field and Wilmer Difo played third.Earlier Friday, manager Dave Martinez said he hoped Eaton would be available for Friday night's second game. Eaton did not start in the first game after jamming his knee in Thursday's loss to Philadelphia.The starting outfield against the Braves included Harrison, Victor Robles in center field and Michael A. Taylor in right field.___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer leading off the 10th inning Thursday night, lifting the New York Mets to a come-from-behind, 9-7 win over the Yankees in the final Subway Series game of the season between the teams.The Mets came back from deficits of 4-0 and 7-4 at Citi Field to earn a split of the six-game season series, all of which was played over the last six days. J.D. Davis forced extra innings by homering off Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman one pitch after pinch-runner Billy Hamilton was thrown out trying to steal third base. Alonso then hit the second pitch he saw from Albert Abreu (0-1) well into the left-field seats for his first walk-off homer.Alonso raised his arms and looked towards the dugout as the Mets spilled out to celebrate a win on the afternoon they honored franchise icon Tom Seaver, whose death was announced Wednesday.Edwin Diaz (2-1) tossed two innings and faced only two batters in the 10th. Tyler Wade, who started the inning on second base as the automatic... [More]