ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays’ 11-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday night when Brad Keller pitched seven strong innings and Salvador Perez hit a tiebreaking RBI single to give the Kansas City Royals a 2-1 victory. Rich Hill struck out a career-high 13 for the Rays. Tampa Bay’s winning string was the second-longest in club history, one shy of the record set in 2004 by the then-Devil Rays managed by Lou Piniella. Keller (4-4) allowed one run, four hits, four walks and struck out seven. Jake Brentz went 1 1/3 innings before Kyle Zimmer got two outs to get his second save. Perez put the Royals up 2-1 on a sixth-inning single off Hill (3-2). Hill became the oldest player to appear in a game with the Rays at 41 years, 75 days. Hall of Famer Wade Boggs was 41 years, 73 days old when he played his final game on Aug. 27, 1999. WHITE SOX 8, CARDINALS 3 CHICAGO (AP) — Lucas Giolito beat Jack Flaherty in a major league matchup of former high school teammates, leading Chicago... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Less than a week after the high of a no-hitter, Corey Kluber lasted just three innings against Toronto and came out because of tightness in his previous troubled right shoulder. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, who appeared revitalized with the New York Yankees when he no-hit Texas last Wednesday, will have an MRI and hopes he was bothered only by fatigue and not something more serious. “I wouldn’t say alarmed at this point. I wish we knew more," he said after the Yankees' 6-2 loss on Tuesday night. “It doesn't feel at all like what I dealt with last year." Coming off a 101-pitch effort against the Rangers, the 35-year-old right-hander's bid to match Johnny Vander Meer’s feat of consecutive no-hitters was ended by Bo Bichette’s infield single with one out in the third. Bichette grounded to shortstop and beat Gleyber Torres' off-line throw from the left-field grass. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a home run into the Yankees bullpen in right-center on a flat cutter... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays’ 11-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday night when Brad Keller pitched seven strong innings and Salvador Perez hit a tiebreaking RBI single to give the Kansas City Royals a 2-1 victory. Rich Hill struck out a career-high 13 for the Rays. Tampa Bay’s winning string was the second-longest in club history, one shy of the record set in 2004 by the then-Devil Rays managed by Lou Piniella. Keller (4-4) allowed one run, four hits, four walks and struck out seven. Jake Brentz went 1 1/3 innings before Kyle Zimmer got two outs to get his second save. Perez put the Royals up 2-1 on a sixth-inning single off Hill (3-2). Hill became the oldest player to appear in a game with the Rays at 41 years, 75 days. Hall of Famer Wade Boggs was 41 years, 73 days old when he played his final game on Aug. 27, 1999. METS 3, ROCKIES 1 NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom struck out nine in a successful return from the injured list and Tomás Nido hit a tiebreaking homer... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday: ___ SORE THOR Noah Syndergaard was pulled from his minor league rehabilitation outing because of soreness in his pitching elbow Tuesday night, the latest setback for a New York Mets team ravaged by injuries. The hard-throwing right-hander is coming back from Tommy John surgery on March 26 last year. He lasted only one inning in his second start with Class A St. Lucie. The Mets said Syndergaard was removed as a precaution. He had been on track for a mid-June return, but suddenly that appears uncertain at best. The 28-year-old Syndergaard, an All-Star in 2016, is 47-30 with a 3.31 ERA in five major league seasons. He can become a free agent in the fall. New York has 16 players on the injured list, most in the majors, and is missing three of its top five starting pitchers in Syndergaard, Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker. FROM NO-NO TO OH NO Yankees right-hander Corey Kluber will get an MRI a day after leaving his start with right shoulder... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Corey Kluber left his start against Toronto after three innings on Tuesday night because of tightness in his previously troubled right shoulder, shortly after his bid to match Johnny Vander Meer's feat of consecutive no-hitters was ended by Bo Bichette's infield single against the New York Yankees. Coming off a no-hitter at Texas last Wednesday in which he threw 101 pitches, the 35-year-old right-hander opened with 2 1/3 hitless innings before Bichette grounded to shortstop and beat Gleyber Torres' off-line throw from the left-field grass. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a home run into the Yankees bullpen in right-center on a flat cutter for a 2-0 lead, his major league-leading 16th home run. Kluber retired Randal Grichuk, then was replaced by Michael King at the start of the fourth. New York said Kluber will have an MRI on Wednesday. A two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, Kluber threw 58 pitches, walked three and struck out five. His fastball velocity dropped from mostly 91-93 mph in the first two innings to 89-91 mph in the third. Kluber's 2019 season ended for Cleveland that May 1 when he was hit on the forearm by a comebacker, and his debut for Texas in 2020 lasted just one inning before he tore a muscle in his right shoulder on July 26. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Corey Kluber's bid to match Johnny Vander Meer's feat of consecutive no-hitters ended when Toronto's Bo Bichette reached on an infield single with one out in the third on Tuesday night, and the New York Yankees removed the 35-year-old right-hander after the inning. Coming off a no-hitter at Texas last Wednesday, Kluber opened with 2 1/3 hitless innings before Bichette grounded to shortstop and beat Gleyber Torres' off-line throw from the left-field grass. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a home run into the Yankees bullpen in right-center on a flat cutter for a 2-0 lead, his major league-leading 16th home run. Kluber retired Randal Grichuk, then was replaced by Michael King at the start of the fourth. A two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, Kluber threw 58 pitches, walked three and struck out five. Kluber's 2019 season ended for Cleveland that May 1 when he was hit on the forearm by a comebacker, and his debut for Texas in 2020 lasted just one inning before he tore a muscle in his right shoulder on July 26. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

For the first few weeks of the 2021 season, Mike Trout looked as impressive as ever, and Jacob deGrom was dominant on the mound. It would have been something to see what they could have done over a full season, but that won't happen now because both are sidelined with injuries. Availability could play a major role in this year's award races. Trout is hitting .333 with eight home runs and an OPS of 1.090, but he went on the injured list Tuesday with a strained calf. DeGrom has an 0.68 ERA through six starts, but he has pitched only once in May because of side tightness. He's expected back Tuesday. Aside from Trout, several other recent MVPs have spent time on the IL this season, including Jose Altuve, Cody Bellinger, Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton. Young stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto have also missed time. The good news is that it doesn't necessarily take these players long to find their rhythm when they return. In four games since returning from COVID-19, Tatis has 11 hits,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: LA RUSSA REUNION White Sox manager Tony La Russa will see plenty of familiar faces when his AL Central leaders host his longtime team, the St. Louis Cardinals. The 76-year-old Hall of Fame skipper guided the Cardinals from 1996-2011, reaching the playoffs nine times and winning two World Series championships. Out of the majors for nearly a decade, he returned to the dugout this season with Chicago. La Russa sounded eager to see Cards catcher Yadier Molina and the rest of the Redbirds and their classic uniforms. “I think it’s the common-sense stuff, it’s you recognize the birds with the bat,” La Russa said Sunday. “There are guys there, several guys that were teammates, but they’re guys in the coaching staff that I know really well.” La Russa praised St. Louis manager Mike Shildt, whose club leads the NL Central. “Mike was a teammate starting in 2000 through 2004. Mike Shildt came in the organization in player development and over the years... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Monday: LA RUSSA REUNION White Sox manager Tony La Russa will see plenty of familiar faces when his AL Central leaders host his longtime team, the St. Louis Cardinals. The 76-year-old Hall of Fame skipper guided the Cardinals from 1996-2011, reaching the playoffs nine times and winning two World Series championships. Out of the majors for nearly a decade, he returned to the dugout this season with Chicago. La Russa sounded eager to see Cards catcher Yadier Molina and the rest of the Redbirds and their classic uniforms. “I think it’s the common-sense stuff, it’s you recognize the birds with the bat,” La Russa said Sunday. “There are guys there, several guys that were teammates, but they’re guys in the coaching staff that I know really well.” La Russa praised St. Louis manager Mike Shildt, whose club leads the NL Central. “Mike was a teammate starting in 2000 through 2004. Mike Shildt came in the organization in player development and over the... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: PINSTRIPE PITCHING Jameson Taillon (1-3, 5.73 ERA) tries to extend a streak of dominant starting pitching by the Yankees when he opposes Dallas Keuchel (3-1, 4.44 ERA) and the White Sox in the Bronx. Following Corey Kluber’s no-hitter at Texas and outings by Domingo Germán against the Rangers and Jordan Montgomery and Gerrit Cole against Chicago, the Yankees have four straight starts of seven shutout innings for the first time since 1932 (Johnny Allen vs. the St. Louis Browns, George Pipgras and Red Ruffing vs. Chicago and Lefty Gomez vs. Cleveland). The Yankees beat Chicago 7-0 Saturday for their fifth win in a row. New York leads the major leagues in shutouts and have eight in the first 46 games for the fourth time after 1958 (nine), 1955 (eight) and 1910 (nine). RAYS NEWCOMER Tampa Bay goes for its 10th straight victory with a lineup now boosted by rookie Taylor Walls. Walls hit two doubles Saturday night in a 3-1 win over Toronto.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Sunday: PINSTRIPE PITCHING Jameson Taillon (1-3, 5.73 ERA) tries to extend a streak of dominant starting pitching by the Yankees when he opposes Dallas Keuchel (3-1, 4.44 ERA) and the White Sox in the Bronx. Following Corey Kluber’s no-hitter at Texas and outings by Domingo Germán against the Rangers and Jordan Montgomery and Gerrit Cole against Chicago, the Yankees have four straight starts of seven shutout innings for the first time since 1932 (Johnny Allen vs. the St. Louis Browns, George Pipgras and Red Ruffing vs. Chicago and Lefty Gomez vs. Cleveland). The Yankees beat Chicago 7-0 Saturday for their fifth win in a row. New York leads the major leagues in shutouts and have eight in the first 46 games for the fourth time after 1958 (nine), 1955 (eight) and 1910 (nine). RAYS NEWCOMER Tampa Bay goes for its 10th straight victory with a lineup now boosted by rookie Taylor Walls. Walls hit two doubles Saturday night in a 3-1 win over Toronto.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The 151 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources. For players with minor league contracts, terms for major league contract base salaries are in parentheses: AMERICAN LEAGUEBALTIMORE (3) — Signed Freddy Galvis, ss, Cincinnati, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Wade LeBlanc, lhp, to a $700,000, one-year contract; signed Matt Harvey, rhp, Kansas City, to a $1 million, one-year contract. BOSTON (4) — Signed Kiké Hernández, of-inf, Los Angeles Dodgers to a $14 million, two-year contract; signed Garrett Richards, rhp, San Diego, to a $10 million, one-year contract; re-signed Martin Pérez, lhp, to a $5 million, one-year contract; signed Marwin Gonzalez, inf, Minnesota, to a $3 million, one-year contract. CHICAGO (2) — Signed Adam Eaton, of, Washington, to an $8 million, one-year contract; signed Liam Hendriks, rhp, Oakland,... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today: ___ STRIKE THREE After no-hitters on consecutive nights by Detroit right-hander Spencer Turnbull and Yankees newcomer Corey Kluber, is there a pitcher on the docket who can make it three days in a row? Kluber fired the sixth no-hitter in the majors already this year, leading New York over the Texas Rangers 2-0 on Wednesday. That marks the most this early in a season — seven in one year is the modern-era record — and four have come in a 15-day span. The two-time Cy Young Award winner came within a four-pitch walk to Charlie Culberson in the third inning of throwing a perfect game. It was the first time there were no-hitters on consecutive days since 1969, when Cincinnati’s Jim Maloney threw one on April 30 and Houston’s Don Wilson on May 1. There were two no-hitters on June 29, 1990, by the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela and Oakland’s Dave Stewart. Kluber (4-2) struck out nine during the 12th no-hitter in Yankees history, the... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Kluber threw the the major leagues’ sixth no-hitter this season and second in two nights, leading the New York Yankees over the Texas Rangers 2-0 on Wednesday. The 35-year-old right-hander, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, came within a four-pitch walk to Charlie Culberson in the third inning of twirling a perfect game. Kluber pitched his gem a night after Detroit's Spencer Turnbull threw one against Seattle, marking the first no-hitters on consecutive days since 1969. Kluber (4-2) struck out nine and and threw 71 of 101 pitches for strikes in his ninth start for the Yankees. Kluber was pitching on the mound when he was hurt after one inning last season for the Rangers, when he tore a muscle in his right shoulder on July 26 in his Texas debut. It was the 12th no-hitter in Yankees history, the 11th in the regular season and the first since David Cone’s perfect game against Montreal on July 18, 1999. It was the fifth against the Rangers, who... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Kluber threw the the major leagues’ sixth no-hitter this season and second in two nights, leading the New York Yankees over the Texas Rangers 2-0 on Wednesday night. The 35-year-old right-hander, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, came within a four-pitch walk to Charlie Culberson in the third inning of throwing a perfect game. Kluber pitched his gem a night after Detroit's Spencer Turnbull threw one against Seattle, marking the first no-hitters on consecutive days since 1969. Kluber (4-2) struck out nine and and threw 71 of 101 pitches for strikes in his ninth start for the Yankees. Kluber was pitching on the mound when he was hurt after one inning last season for the Rangers, when he tore a muscle in his right shoulder on July 26 in his Texas debut. It was the 12th no-hitter in Yankees history, the 11th in the regular season and the first since David Cone’s perfect game against Montreal on July 18, 1999. It was the fifth against the Rangers,... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Kluber threw the the major leagues’ sixth no-hitter this season and second in two nights, leading the New York Yankees over the Texas Rangers 2-0 on Wednesday night. The 35-year-old right-hander, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, came within a four-pitch walk to Charlie Culberson in the third inning of throwing a perfect game. Kluber pitched his gem a night after Detroit's Spencer Turnbull threw one against Seattle, marking the first no-hitters on consecutive days since 1969. Kluber (4-2) struck out nine and and threw 71 of 101 pitches for strikes in his ninth start for the Yankees. Kluber was pitching on the mound when he was hurt after one inning last season for the Rangers, when he tore a muscle in his right shoulder on July 26 in his Texas debut. It was the 12th no-hitter in Yankees history, the 11th in the regular season and the first since David Cone’s perfect game against Montreal on July 18, 1999. It was the fifth against the Rangers,... [More]

Sometimes, the simplest explanation is the valid one: The number of hits per game in the major leagues has plummeted, so no-hitters are on the rise. Even so, this season has been a bit extreme. Yankees right-hander Corey Kluber pitched the majors' sixth no-hitter Wednesday against the Rangers, just a night after Spencer Turnbull's gem, and 2021 is on pace to obliterate the modern record of seven no-hitters in a season. Cleveland, Seattle and Texas have already been no-hit twice, and of the 21 complete games that have been pitched this season, more than a quarter of them have been no-hitters. “It’s definitely getting harder to hit. The pitchers are only getting better and I think their plan of attack against hitters are getting better,” Oakland Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman said Wednesday. “The shifts play a big part in that as well. It seems like there’s not many hits out there. The way guys pitch, there’s a lot of power arms and guys have high spin rates and they don’t leave the... [More]

American LeagueMay 19 — Corey Kluber, New York Yankees at Texas Rangers, 2-0 May 18 — Spencer Turnbull, Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners, 5-0 May 5 — John Means, Baltimore Orioles at Seattle Mariners, 6-0 April 14 — Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians, 8-0 National LeagueMay 7 — Wade Miley, Cincinnati Reds at Cleveland Indians, 3-0 April 9 — Joe Musgrove, San Diego Padres at Texas Rangers, 3-0

American LeagueBaltimore — John Means, Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners, 6-0, May 5,2021 Boston — Jon Lester vs. Kansas City, 7-0, May 19, 2008 Chicago — Carlos Rodon vs. Cleveland Indians, 8-0, April 14, 2021 Cleveland — x-Len Barker vs. Toronto, 3-0, May 15, 1981 Detroit — Spencer Turnbull at Seattle, 5-0, May 18, 2021 Houston — Justin Verlander at Toronto, 2-0, Sept. 1, 2019 Kansas City — Bret Saberhagen vs. Chicago White Sox, 7-0, Aug. 26, 1991 Los Angeles — Taylor Cole, Felix Pena (3), vs. Seattle, 13-0, July 12, 2019 Minnesota — Francisco Liriano at Chicago White Sox, 1-0, May 3, 2011 New York — Corey Kluber at Texas, 2-0, May 19, 2021 Oakland — Mike Fiers vs. Cincinnati, 2-0, May 7, 2019 Seattle — James Paxton at Toronto, 5-0, May 8, 2018 Tampa Bay — Matt Garza vs. Detroit, 5-0, July 26, 2010 Texas — x-Kenny Rogers vs. California, 4-0, July 28, 1994 Toronto — Dave Stieb at Cleveland, 3-0, Sept. 2, 1990 National League Arizona — Edwin Jackson at Tampa Bay, 1-0, June 26, 2010... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — New York Yankees right-hander Corey Kluber has not allowed a hit through eight innings against the Texas Rangers, the team the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner pitched one inning for last season. Kluber, who has never thrown a no-hitter, has nine strikeouts, and has thrown 64 of 93 pitches for strikes. The only runner for the Rangers was Charlie Culberson, who drew a one-out walk in the third. There have already been five no-hitters in the big leagues this season, including Detroit Tigers right-hander Spencer Turnbull against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. There haven't been no-hitters thrown on consecutive days since 1969. The first no-hitter this season was April 9 when San Diego native Joe Musgrove threw the first no-hitter in Padres history against the Rangers in Texas. Kluber was making his second start at the Rangers’ retractable roof stadium. The two-time AL Cy Young winner threw just one inning in his only season with the Rangers, tearing... [More]