ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Alex Wood has experience starting in the World Series for the Dodgers. While in a different role now, the left-hander could be an intriguing option if Los Angeles needs another starter in this Fall Classic. “When you get to this point in the year, all bets are off. When you get your opportunity to go in, throw up a zero or get your team to the next inning to have a chance to win, I'm just trying to contribute,” Wood said Thursday, a day off at the World Series. “I think my role is increasing as we’ve gone forward. And I feel pretty good. So hopefully I’ll continue to have some more opportunities.” Wood returned to LA as a free agent last winter after being traded to Cincinnati the previous offseason, but missed a month of this pandemic-shortened regular season because of a shoulder injury in his first start, and went to the bullpen after returning in September. He was added to the playoff roster for the NL Championship Series, threw 1 2/3 innings against Atlanta,... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Playoff games and the World Series will be played this October in the new Texas Rangers ballpark. The home team is far from being part of the postseason festivities. In this most unusual of seasons, delayed and abbreviated by the pandemic and now with most of the MLB playoffs at neutral sites, the Rangers got to play only 30 home games, and without fans, in the debut season of the $1.2 billion stadium with a retractable roof that was constructed over 2 1/2 years. They are now early in the process of another major rebuilding project. This one will be much more cost conscious and has no certain timeline. On the final day of a 22-38 season, the Rangers had three 22-year-old rookies in the starting lineup — center fielder Leody Taveras, shortstop Anderson Tejeda and catcher Sam Huff. Shin-Soo Choo, in a farewell appearance at the end of a $130 million, seven-year contract, was the only player over 26. “I think it’s the start of something. It’s a beginning,” second-year... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Harrison Bader tripled and homered to help the St. Louis Cardinals clinch a postseason berth on the final day of the regular season with a 5-2 win over Milwaukee, and the Brewers also earned a playoff spot Sunday via help on the West Coast moments later. St. Louis (30-28) will be the fifth seed in the NL and open a three-game wild-card series at San Diego on Wednesday. By winning, the Cardinals avoided having to travel to Detroit for two makeup games Monday. The Brewers (29-31) locked up the eighth seed and a third consecutive postseason berth after the Padres beat San Francisco 5-4 in a game that ended about 15 minutes later. The Giants finished with an identical record as the Brewers but lost out on a tiebreaker due to an inferior intradivision record. Milwaukee will face the top-seeded Dodgers in Los Angeles in a three-game series that also starts Wednesday. The Brewers haven’t had a winning record at any point this season. Milwaukee and Houston will be the first teams... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres are returning to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years after beating the Seattle Mariners 7-4 Sunday with a three-run rally in the 11th inning that included a go-ahead double by newcomer Mitch Moreland. The clincher came in the finale of a series that was moved from Seattle because of poor air quality due to wildfires, so the Mariners were considered the home team and batted last. After closer Trevor Rosenthal (1-0), another newcomer, struck out Phillip Ervin for the final out, the Padres had a brief but joyous celebration in the infield. Then they gathered near the dugouts to get playoff caps and T-shirts. Although Petco Park was devoid of spectators, a handful of fans watched from a rooftop bar just beyond left-center field and several others watched from balconies on an office building high above right field. Casey Sadler (1-1) took the loss. RED SOX 10, YANKEES 2 BOSTON (AP) — Tanner Houck took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his second... [More]

Rangers ninth. Leody Taveras singles to shallow right field. Willie Calhoun strikes out swinging. Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounds out to shallow infield to Yuli Gurriel. Leody Taveras to second. Joey Gallo doubles. Leody Taveras scores. Nick Solak walks. Rougned Odor called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rangers 1, Astros 0.

Astros first. George Springer homers to center field. Jose Altuve grounds out to third base, Isiah Kiner-Falefa to Ronald Guzman. Michael Brantley grounds out to shallow right field, Ronald Guzman to Kyle Cody. Alex Bregman pops out to shallow infield to Anderson Tejeda.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 1, Rangers 0.Rangers fifth. Joey Gallo pops out to shallow infield to Martin Maldonado. Nick Solak singles to left field. Rougned Odor singles to center field. Nick Solak to second. Anderson Tejeda pops out to first base to Yuli Gurriel. Ronald Guzman singles to deep right field. Rougned Odor to third. Nick Solak scores. Sam Huff strikes out swinging.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rangers 1, Astros 1.Astros seventh. Martin Maldonado doubles to deep center field. George Springer walks. Jose Altuve walks. George Springer to second. Martin Maldonado to third. Michael Brantley reaches on a fielder's choice to first base. Jose Altuve to second. George Springer to third. Martin Maldonado... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Alec Mills cruised through baseball’s second no-hitter this season in just the 15th start of his major league career, leading the Chicago Cubs over the Milwaukee Brewers 12-0 on Sunday.The former college walk-on at Tennessee-Martin retired Jace Peterson on a game-ending groundout. Peterson had replaced 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich on defense to start the eighth inning.Mills (5-3) threw 114 pitches and hardly had any close calls in Chicago’s 16th no-hitter. He struck out five, walked three and induced five swings and misses, tied with Oakland’s Dallas Braden during his perfect game in 2010 for fewest in a no-hitter since at least 1988, according to Stats.Chicago White Sox ace Lucas Giolito threw baseball’s other no-hitter this season against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 15.Jason Heyward’s RBI double put the Cubs ahead in a five-run fourth against Adrian Houser (1-5) that included Ian Happ’s two-run single. David Bote added a two-run homer in the fifth.ANGELS 5, ROCKIES... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Alec Mills cruised through baseball’s second no-hitter this season in just the 15th start of his major league career, leading the Chicago Cubs over the Milwaukee Brewers 12-0 on Sunday.The former college walk-on at Tennessee-Martin retired Jace Peterson on a game-ending groundout. Peterson had replaced 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich on defense to start the eighth inning.Mills (5-3) threw 114 pitches and hardly had any close calls in Chicago’s 16th no-hitter. He struck out five, walked three and induced five swings and misses, tied with Oakland’s Dallas Braden during his perfect game in 2010 for fewest in a no-hitter since at least 1988, according to Stats.Chicago White Sox ace Lucas Giolito threw baseball’s other no-hitter this season against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 15.Jason Heyward’s RBI double put the Cubs ahead in a five-run fourth against Adrian Houser (1-5) that included Ian Happ’s two-run single. David Bote added a two-run homer in the fifth.ANGELS 5, ROCKIES... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Alec Mills cruised through baseball’s second no-hitter this season in just the 15th start of his major league career, leading the Chicago Cubs over the Milwaukee Brewers 12-0 on Sunday.The former college walk-on at Tennessee-Martin retired Jace Peterson on a game-ending groundout. Peterson had replaced 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich on defense to start the eighth inning.Mills (5-3) threw 114 pitches and hardly had any close calls in Chicago’s 16th no-hitter. He struck out five, walked three and induced five swings and misses, tied with Oakland’s Dallas Braden during his perfect game in 2010 for fewest in a no-hitter since at least 1988, according to Stats.Chicago White Sox ace Lucas Giolito threw baseball’s other no-hitter this season against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 15.Jason Heyward’s RBI double put the Cubs ahead in a five-run fourth against Adrian Houser (1-5) that included Ian Happ’s two-run single. David Bote added a two-run homer in the fifth.ANGELS 5, ROCKIES... [More]

Athletics first. Tommy La Stella walks. Marcus Semien doubles to deep left field. Tommy La Stella to third. Stephen Piscotty grounds out to shallow infield, Anderson Tejeda to Ronald Guzman. Marcus Semien to third. Tommy La Stella scores. Matt Olson strikes out swinging. Robbie Grossman lines out to left field to Nick Solak.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Athletics 1, Rangers 0.Rangers second. Derek Dietrich homers to left field. Anderson Tejeda doubles to deep right center field. Ronald Guzman pops out to shallow center field to Marcus Semien. Eli White grounds out to shallow infield, Tony Kemp to Matt Olson. Anderson Tejeda to third. Jeff Mathis strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Athletics 1, Rangers 1.Rangers sixth. Leody Taveras grounds out to shallow infield, Marcus Semien to Matt Olson. Isiah Kiner-Falefa singles to right field. Nick Solak singles to deep right center field. Isiah Kiner-Falefa to third. Rougned Odor homers to right field. Nick Solak scores.... [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]

NEW YORK (AP) — Luke Voit hit a game-ending sacrifice fly leading off the 10th inning, and the New York Yankees beat Baltimore 2-1 Saturday to open a 4 1/2-game lead over the Orioles for the American League’s eighth and final playoff berth.With DJ LeMahieu starting the inning as the automatic runner on second, Hunter Harvey (0-2) bounced a wild pitch that advanced LeMahieu. Baltimore brought the field in.Voit, hitting in shadows, worked the count to 2-2, fouled off three pitches and hit a fly ball to center fielder Cedric Mullins for his 37th RBI. LeMahieu scored without a throw.A day after sweeping a doubleheader from the Orioles, New York (25-21) won its fourth straight game and closed in on Toronto (24-20) for second place in the AL East.Jonathan Holder (2-0) combined with Jordan Montgomery, Chad Green, Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman on a four-hitter.RANGERS 5, ATHLETICS 2, GAME 1ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rougned Odor and Ronald Guzman homered during Texas' five-run first inning, and... [More]

Rangers first. Leody Taveras walks. Isiah Kiner-Falefa reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Leody Taveras out at second. Nick Solak strikes out swinging. Joey Gallo walks. Isiah Kiner-Falefa to second. Rougned Odor homers to right field. Joey Gallo scores. Isiah Kiner-Falefa scores. Elvis Andrus singles to third base. Ronald Guzman homers to right field. Elvis Andrus scores. Eli White singles to deep right center field. Jeff Mathis pops out to second base to Tony Kemp.5 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rangers 5, Athletics 0.Athletics third. Vimael Machin doubles. Jonah Heim singles to shallow infield. Vimael Machin scores. Tony Kemp reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Jonah Heim out at second. Tommy La Stella flies out to right field to Eli White. Marcus Semien strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rangers 5, Athletics 1.Athletics sixth. Tommy La Stella walks. Marcus Semien pops out to shallow infield to Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Ramon Laureano strikes out swinging. Matt Olson doubles. Tommy La Stella scores. Robbie Grossman strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rangers 5, Athletics 2.

Athletics first. Tommy La Stella walks. Marcus Semien walks. Tommy La Stella to second. Ramon Laureano walks. Marcus Semien to second. Tommy La Stella to third. Matt Olson homers. Ramon Laureano scores. Marcus Semien scores. Tommy La Stella scores. Mark Canha walks. Robbie Grossman pops out to first base to Ronald Guzman. Khris Davis strikes out swinging. Vimael Machin flies out to deep left field to Nick Solak.4 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Athletics 4, Rangers 0.Rangers first. Leody Taveras singles to center field. Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounds out to shortstop, Marcus Semien to Tommy La Stella to Matt Olson. Leody Taveras to second. Nick Solak grounds out to shallow infield, Tommy La Stella to Matt Olson. Leody Taveras scores. Joey Gallo doubles to deep left field. Elvis Andrus grounds out to shortstop, Vimael Machin to Matt Olson.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Athletics 4, Rangers 1.Athletics second. Sean Murphy homers to center field. Tommy La Stella singles to right field.... [More]

Angels first. Andrelton Simmons singles to center field. Matt Thaiss grounds out to first base. Andrelton Simmons out at second. Mike Trout singles to deep left field. Anthony Rendon walks. Mike Trout to second. Jared Walsh homers to right field. Anthony Rendon scores. Mike Trout scores. Max Stassi grounds out to third base, Isiah Kiner-Falefa to Ronald Guzman.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Angels 3, Rangers 0.Rangers first. Leody Taveras triples to right field. Rougned Odor grounds out to first base, Jared Walsh to Dylan Bundy. Leody Taveras scores. Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounds out to shallow infield, Jared Walsh to Dylan Bundy. Joey Gallo grounds out to second base, Luis Rengifo to Jared Walsh.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Angels 3, Rangers 1.Angels fifth. Andrelton Simmons pops out to shallow infield to Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Matt Thaiss grounds out to shallow center field, Rougned Odor to Ronald Guzman. Mike Trout homers to left field. Anthony Rendon singles to center field. Jared... [More]

Angels first. Andrelton Simmons singles to shallow center field. Matt Thaiss strikes out swinging. Mike Trout strikes out swinging. Andrelton Simmons steals second. Anthony Rendon singles to center field. Andrelton Simmons scores. Shohei Ohtani singles to right field. Anthony Rendon to third. Albert Pujols grounds out to third base, Isiah Kiner-Falefa to Ronald Guzman.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Angels 1, Rangers 0.Angels fourth. Jo Adell lines out to deep left field to Eli White. Anthony Bemboom singles. Luis Rengifo reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Anthony Bemboom out at second. Andrelton Simmons reaches on error to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Luis Rengifo scores. Throwing error by Anderson Tejeda. Matt Thaiss grounds out to shallow right field to Ronald Guzman.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Angels 2, Rangers 0.Rangers fourth. Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubles. Nick Solak singles to shallow infield. Isiah Kiner-Falefa scores. Joey Gallo flies out to deep right center... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers were away from home for a later-than-usual Jackie Robinson Day. On the road for the first time in six years to mark Major League Baseball’s annual observation of Robinson breaking the sport's color barrier, the Dodgers tied the game right before Derek Dietrich's tiebreaking leadoff homer that started a four-run seventh inning. The struggling Texas Rangers then finished off a 6-2 victory Friday night over the team with the best record in the majors. “We’re a second-half team. I don’t know what to tell you," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “Overall it was a really good team effort right there, something that we needed.” Texas had lost 10 of its previous 11 games to wrap up the first half of its 60-game schedule. That included losing two of three games to AL-best Oakland before the Athletics decided not to play the scheduled series finale Thursday to show support for calls for racial justice.The Dodgers and San Francisco Giants didn't play... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Derek Dietrich led off the Texas seventh inning with a tiebreaking home run and the Rangers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in a later-than-usual Jackie Robinson Day game on Friday night.It was the first time in six years the Dodgers were away from home for Major League Baseball’s annual observation of Robinson breaking sports color barrier. It is traditionally held April 15, the date in 1947 that he made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, but had to be altered because the coronavirus pandemic pushed back the start of this season nearly four months.After Los Angeles tied the game with two runs in the top of the seventh, Dietrich's opposite-field shot to left off reliever Jake McGee (2-1) put Texas up 3-2. Shin-Soo Choo and Nick Solak added RBI hits, and Jose Trevino a sacrifice fly, in the four-run outburst as the Rangers won for only the second time in 12 games. The Dodgers (24-10), coming off a doubleheader sweep at San Francisco and without a series loss this... [More]

Athletics first. Marcus Semien singles to center field. Ramon Laureano reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Marcus Semien out at second. Matt Olson walks. Ramon Laureano to second. Matt Chapman strikes out swinging. Mark Canha singles to shallow center field. Matt Olson to second. Ramon Laureano scores. Robbie Grossman lines out to deep right field to Scott Heineman.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Athletics 1, Rangers 0.Rangers first. Leody Taveras strikes out swinging. Nick Solak singles to center field. Danny Santana doubles to deep left field. Nick Solak to third. Todd Frazier singles to center field. Danny Santana scores. Nick Solak scores. Jose Trevino flies out to deep center field to Ramon Laureano. Robinson Chirinos flies out to deep center field to Ramon Laureano.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rangers 2, Athletics 1.Athletics second. Stephen Piscotty homers to center field. Tony Kemp grounds out to right field to Danny Santana. Sean Murphy strikes out swinging. Marcus Semien walks. Ramon Laureano hit by pitch. Marcus Semien to second. Matt Olson strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Athletics 2, Rangers 2.Rangers second. Rougned Odor strikes out swinging. Isiah Kiner-Falefa homers to right field. Scott Heineman strikes out swinging. Leody Taveras singles to left field. Nick Solak reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Leody Taveras out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rangers 3, Athletics 2.