BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a game-ending grand slam with one out in the 10th inning, and J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 29th homer to carry the Boston Red Sox to a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.Martinez increased his major league-leading RBI total to 80 with a solo shot and red-hot Mookie Betts extended his hitting streak to 12 games with three singles to raise his majors' best average to .362 for Boston.The AL East-leading Red Sox had their 10-game winning streak halted Friday. They haven't lost two straight since June 19 and 20.Betts reached on error against Chris Rowley (0-1) when shortstop Gurriel, who moved there in the top of the inning, had his grounder go right through his legs. Brock Holt had a hit-and-run single and Martinez was intentionally walked before Bogaerts hit his shot to left-center.Craig Kimbrel (2-1) pitched a hitless 10th for the victory.ANGELS 5, DODGERS 4, 10 INNINGSLOS ANGELES (AP) — Kole Calhoun homered on his first pitch... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a game-ending grand slam with one out in the 10th inning, and J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 29th homer to carry the Boston Red Sox to a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.Martinez increased his major league-leading RBI total to 80 with a solo shot and red-hot Mookie Betts extended his hitting streak to 12 games with three singles to raise his majors' best average to .362 for Boston.The AL East-leading Red Sox had their 10-game winning streak halted Friday. They haven't lost two straight since June 19 and 20.Betts reached on error against Chris Rowley (0-1) when shortstop Gurriel, who moved there in the top of the inning, had his grounder go right through his legs. Brock Holt had a hit-and-run single and Martinez was intentionally walked before Bogaerts hit his shot to left-center.Craig Kimbrel (2-1) pitched a hitless 10th for the victory.ROYALS 5, WHITE SOX 0CHICAGO (AP) — Jorge Bonifacio homered for the first time since he... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Oscar De La Cruz has been suspended 80 games under Major League Baseball's drug program.The commissioner's office said Friday that the 23-year-old right-hander tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic and masking agent.De La Cruz is 6-7 with a 5.24 ERA in 16 starts this season at Double-A Tennessee, and is considered among the Cubs' top prospects. He is covered under the major league drug program because he is on the 40-man major league roster and is on option to Tennessee.The Cubs say that while they are "disappointed" in De La Cruz, they "will support him on his journey back."He is the ninth player suspended this year under the big league drug program. The others are Seattle All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano, Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo, Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read, Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley, Kansas City outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, Toronto pitcher Thomas Pannone and Minnesota shortstop Jorge Polanco.There have been 46 players suspended this year under the minor league drug program.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Oscar De La Cruz has been suspended 80 games under Major League Baseball's drug program.The commissioner's office said Friday that the 23-year-old right-hander tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic and masking agent.De La Cruz is 6-7 with a 5.24 ERA in 16 starts this season at Double-A Tennessee, and is considered among the Cubs' top prospects. He is covered under the major league drug program because he is on the 40-man major league roster and is on option to Tennessee.The Cubs say that while they are "disappointed" in De La Cruz, they "will support him on his journey back."He is the ninth player suspended this year under the big league drug program. The others are Seattle All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano, Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo, Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read, Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley, Kansas City outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, Toronto pitcher Thomas Pannone and Minnesota shortstop Jorge Polanco.There have been 46 players suspended this year under the minor league drug program.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals outfielder Jorge Soler will miss at least six weeks after breaking a bone in his left foot while leaving the batter's box in Kansas City's series opener against Houston.Soler had provided some much-needed punch to a struggling Kansas City offense, batting .265 with nine homers and 28 RBIs. He has been especially crucial while fellow outfielder Jorge Bonifacio finishes off his 80-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.The Royals' Triple-A affiliate in Omaha is on a West Coast trip, making it impossible to get anybody to the ballpark in time for Saturday afternoon's game against the Astros. The Royals will place Soler on the disabled list and make a corresponding roster move before Sunday's series finale."It's very tough. He was very disappointed, very upset last night," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He knew something was wrong. He was putting together a really, really good, solid year where he's getting a chance to play every day and was... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals outfielder Jorge Soler will miss at least six weeks after breaking a bone in his left foot while leaving the batter's box in Kansas City's series opener against Houston.Soler had provided some much-needed punch to a struggling Kansas City offense, batting .265 with nine homers and 28 RBIs. He has been especially crucial while fellow outfielder Jorge Bonifacio finishes off his 80-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.The Royals' Triple-A affiliate in Omaha is on a West Coast trip, making it impossible to get anybody to the ballpark in time for Saturday afternoon's game against the Astros. The Royals will place Soler on the disabled list and make a corresponding roster move before Sunday's series finale.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.The commissioner's office cited use of EPO. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the red-blood cell production and often turns up in test results for cyclists.Castillo apologized in a statement through the players' union, saying he has "let many people down." He pointed to an "extremely poor decision that I, and I alone, made. I take full responsibility for my conduct."General manager Rick Hahn told reporters on Thursday that he learned of the suspension on Wednesday night as the White Sox pounded Baltimore 11-1."Obviously we were surprised, saddened and disappointed to learn of Welington's suspension." Hahn said. "He certainly has stood up and accepted responsibility for his actions. It doesn't change the fact that it's disappointing."I've gone through a lot of emotions over the last several hours,"... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.The commissioner's office cited use of EPO. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the red-blood cell production and often turns up in test results for cyclists.Castillo apologized in a statement through the players' union, saying he has "let many people down." He pointed to an "extremely poor decision that I, and I alone, made. I take full responsibility for my conduct."General manager Rick Hahn told reporters on Thursday that he learned of the suspension on Wednesday night as the White Sox pounded Baltimore 11-1."Obviously we were surprised, saddened and disappointed to learn of Welington's suspension." Hahn said. "He certainly has stood up and accepted responsibility for his actions. It doesn't change the fact that it's disappointing."I've gone through a lot of emotions over the last several hours,"... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.The commissioner's office cited use of EPO. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the red-blood cell production and often turns up in test results for cyclists.Castillo apologized in a statement through the players' union, saying he has "let many people down." He pointed to an "extremely poor decision that I, and I alone, made. I take full responsibility for my conduct."General manager Rick Hahn said the team was "saddened and disappointed." Castillo, he said in a statement, "understands that he has negatively affected the team and has fallen short of the expectations we have of our players."He is the eighth player suspended this year under the major league drug-testing program.Castillo is in his ninth major league season. The 31-year-old Dominican is batting .267 with six homers and 15 RBIs this... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.The commissioner's office cited use of EPO. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the red blood cell production and often has turned up in test results for cyclists.He is the eighth player suspended this year under the major league drug-testing program.Castillo is in his ninth major league season. The 31-year-old Dominican is batting .267 with six homers and 15 RBIs this year on a team that is 15-31.Barring rainouts, he would be eligible to return Aug, 24 at Detroit. He would lose more than $3.5 million of his $7.25 million salary, which covers the period of 80 games plus the 11 off-days during that span.He is due $7.25 million next season, and the White Sox have an $8 million option for 2020 with a $500,000 buyout.Castillo has a .259 career average with 86 homers and 298 RBIs. He also has played... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle already knew Robinson Cano would be out of the Mariners lineup for several weeks, the result of a broken bone in his right hand.His absence will be significantly longer.The All-Star second baseman was suspended for 80 games on Tuesday for violating baseball's drug agreement, becoming among the most prominent players disciplined under the sport's anti-doping rules.Major League Baseball's announcement was a stunning development for a middle-of-the-lineup stalwart and a club expected to contend for a postseason spot. Cano tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic that can be used to mask performance-enhancing drugs.In a statement released through the players' association, Cano said, "This substance was given to me by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic to treat a medical ailment." He said he did not realize it was banned."For more than fifteen years, playing professional baseball has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life," Cano said. "I would never... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle already knew Robinson Cano would be out of the Mariners lineup for several weeks, the result of a broken bone in his right hand.His absence will be significantly longer.The All-Star second baseman was suspended for 80 games on Tuesday for violating baseball's drug agreement, becoming among the most prominent players disciplined under the sport's anti-doping rules.Major League Baseball's announcement was a stunning development for a middle-of-the-lineup stalwart and a club expected to contend for a postseason spot. Cano tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic that can be used to mask performance-enhancing drugs.In a statement released through the players' association, Cano said, "This substance was given to me by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic to treat a medical ailment." He said he did not realize it was banned."For more than fifteen years, playing professional baseball has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life," Cano said. "I would never... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mariners All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano was suspended 80 games for violating baseball's joint drug agreement.The league announced Cano's suspension Tuesday, a stunning development for the stalwart in the middle of the Mariners' lineup and a club expected to contend for a postseason spot in the American League. Cano tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic. In a statement released through the players' association, Cano said, "This substance was given to me by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic to treat a medical ailment." He said he didn't realize it was banned.Cano is the most prominent player to be busted since Melky Cabrera was suspended in 2012 while leading the National League in hitting. There have been 36 players suspended this year under the minor league drug program and six in addition to Cano under the big league program: Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read, Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley, Kansas City outfielder Jorge... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston catcher Oscar Hernandez, Chicago Cubs pitcher David Garner, St. Louis pitcher Matt Pearce and Pittsburgh shortstop Andrew Walker have been suspended for 50 games each under baseball's minor league drug program.Hernandez, Garner and Pearce each had second positive tests for a drug of abuse, the commissioner's office said Friday. Walker was disciplined for an unspecified violation.The 24-year-old Hernandez played 18 games for Arizona in 2016 and four the following year. He hit .197 with eight homers and 21 RBIs in 67 games last year for Jackson in the Double-A Texas League and is on the roster of Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League.Garner, a 25-year-old right-hander, is with the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He was 4-3 with a 3.25 ERA in 35 relief appearances last year for Double-A Tennessee and Iowa.Peace, a right-hander who turned 24 last month, was 9-12 with a 3.08 ERA in 25 starts last year for Double-A Springfield of the Texas... [More]

On the day the Kansas City Royals welcomed back Mike Moustakas, they found out Jorge Bonifacio will miss half the season.Bonifacio was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Saturday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.The outfielder was banned after a positive test for Boldenone. The ban will begin on opening day."It really kind of made me sick to my stomach," Royals manager Ned Yost said.The 24-year-old Bonifacio made his major league debut last season, hitting .255 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs in 113 games.Bonifacio's suspension cleared a roster spot for Moustakas, who re-signed with the Royals this week after becoming a free agent last fall.Moustakas set a Royals record with 38 home runs last season, then rejected a $17.4 million offer from the team. But the third baseman never received the multiyear, mega-million dollar contract he and his agent Scott Boras anticipated.The Royals signed Moustakas to a one-year $6.5 million contract with a mutual option... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Kansas City Royals outfielder Jorge Bonifacio has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.The commissioner's office made the announcement Saturday.Bonifacio was banned after a positive test for Boldenone. The ban will begin on opening day."It really kind of made me sick to my stomach," Royals manager Ned Yost said.The 24-year-old Bonifacio made his major league debut last season, hitting .255 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs in 113 games."He is an incredible person who just made a mistake," general manager Dayton Moore said in a statement. "Jorge will have our full support as he deals with the consequences of this violation."Kansas City was reshuffling its outfield this spring after Lorenzo Cain left as a free agent, and Bonifacio was competing for playing time in the field and at designated hitter.The Royals recently signed free agent outfielder Jon Jay. Paulo Orlando and several others are also trying to earn time.Bonifacio's suspension cleared a roster spot for third baseman Mike Moustakas, who re-signed with the Royals this week after becoming a free agent last fall.Bonifacio is the fourth player suspended this year under the major league drug program. Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read and Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley previously were penalized.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — There was an unexpected reunion in the Kansas City Royals' camp Saturday: Welcome back, sort of, Mike Moustakas.After setting the Royals' single-season home run record with 38 last season, Moustakas filed for free agency. He rejected a $17.4 million qualifying offer in November.The Royals had been grooming Cheslor Cuthbert as a replacement at third. Manager Ned Yost said he needed to find ways to get Cuthbert at least 500 plate appearances.Moustakas, however, never received the multiyear, mega-million dollar contract he and his agent Scott Boras anticipated. The Royals signed Moustakas to a one-year $6.5 million contract this week with a mutual option for 2019. Moustakas can make another $2.2 million in incentives this year based on plate-appearances, beginning at 225."It's fortunate the way it happened for us the way it did," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said Saturday. "That's as simply as I can say it at this time."Moustakas passed his physical and was in... [More]

Mike Moustakas is staying with the Kansas City Royals in a surprising turn dictated by a historically slow free-agent market.Kansas City agreed Thursday to a one-year contract that guarantees the third baseman $6.5 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.The deal could be worth up to $22.7 million over two seasons, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.Moustakas gets a $5.5 million salary this year and has the chance to earn $2.2 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances. The agreement, reached exactly three weeks before opening day, includes a $15 million mutual option for 2019 with a $1 million buyout.The 29-year-old infielder turned down a $17.4 million, one-year qualifying offer from the Royals in November. But he found the interest of many other teams dimmed because a deal would have required compensation such as a loss of draft picks and/or international signing... [More]

Clayton Kershaw's second spring training outing went according to plan, save for one poor throw to first.The ace left-hander breezed through two scoreless innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, allowing one hit and walking one during a 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Arizona. He worked a perfect inning in his spring training debut against Seattle on Sunday."Another step. Another inning," Kershaw said. "Definitely things I can do better, but for the most part I'll take it. It was all right. I made some good pitches when I needed to. I made some bad ones, too. Enough to work on for the next one."Leury Garcia dropped a single into left in the first for Chicago's only hit off Kershaw. Garcia raced all the way to third when Kershaw made a wild throw on a pickoff attempt, but Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia grounded out to end the inning."I just tried to be a little too quick," Kershaw said, looking back on his fielding miscue. "I think I might have, it would have been... [More]

Clayton Kershaw's second spring training outing went according to plan, save for one poor throw to first.The ace left-hander breezed through two scoreless innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, allowing one hit and walking one during a 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Arizona. He worked a perfect inning in his spring training debut against Seattle on Sunday."Another step. Another inning," Kershaw said. "Definitely things I can do better, but for the most part I'll take it. It was all right. I made some good pitches when I needed to. I made some bad ones, too. Enough to work on for the next one."Leury Garcia dropped a single into left in the first for Chicago's only hit off Kershaw. Garcia raced all the way to third when Kershaw made a wild throw on a pickoff attempt, but Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia grounded out to end the inning."I just tried to be a little too quick," Kershaw said, looking back on his fielding miscue. "I think I might have, it would have been... [More]