OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Liam Hendricks agreed to a $2.15 million, one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics and fellow right-hander Ryan Dull settled on an $860,000, one-year deal.Oakland failed to offer contracts to right-handers Mike Fiers, Cory Gearrin and Kendall Graveman, allowing the trio to become free agents.Dull had six stints with the A's last season, going 0-0 with a 4.26 ERA in 28 relief appearances.Hendriks started the season with the A's but was sent outright to the minors in July with a 7.36 ERA. He returned in September and was primarily used as the team's "opener." He finished 0-1 with a 4.13 ERA. He also took the loss in the wild-card playoff against the Yankees, allowing two runs in the first inning.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Bob Melvin's job was a lot different as a rookie manager with Seattle in 2002, and even when he was voted Manager of the Year with Arizona in 2007 and Oakland in 2012."Organizations and certainly front offices are more a part of it now, and you have to understand that," Melvin said Tuesday after winning his third manager award.Melvin won the American League honor after leading the Athletics to the playoffs despite the lowest opening-day payroll in the major leagues.Atlanta's Brian Snitker won the National League award following a surprising first-place finish, a reward for a 63-year-old baseball lifer who has spent 42 seasons with the Braves. He thought back to how he returned to the minor leagues in 1986, 1991 and 2004 after stints on the staff of the big league Braves."Hey, I've been recycled three times from the major leagues as a coach," he said. "Everything that I've been through I think has prepared me better to understand what these guys go through and what this job... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Fittingly, Liam Hendriks wore his cap backward. A reliever is going to start a team's postseason opener.A pitcher with no wins in the regular season.A pitcher cut from the 40-man roster in June who spent two months toiling in the minor leagues.A pitcher from Down Under who was happy to get medieval in New York."Instead of the starter going six and handing it over to the bullpen or going five and handing it over to the bullpen, now we're just reversing it," Oakland's Australian right-hander said Tuesday, a day ahead of the Athletics' AL wild card game against the New York Yankees.New York's Aaron Boone made a more conventional choice for his postseason game as a manager, picking Luis Severino over J.A. Happ and Masahiro Tanaka. Severino created a bullpen night in last year's wild card game but not by design, lasting just one out and leaving with a three-run deficit against Minnesota in a game the Yankees rallied to win 8-4.Oakland manager Bob Melvin has been scrambling because... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Fittingly, Liam Hendriks wore his cap backward. A reliever is going to start a team's postseason opener.A pitcher with no wins in the regular season.A pitcher cut from the 40-man roster in June who spent two months toiling in the minor leagues.A pitcher from Down Under who was happy to get medieval in New York."Instead of the starter going six and handing it over to the bullpen or going five and handing it over to the bullpen, now we're just reversing it," Oakland's Australian right-hander said Tuesday, a day ahead of the Athletics' AL wild card game against the New York Yankees.New York's Aaron Boone made a more conventional choice for his postseason game as a manager, picking Luis Severino over J.A. Happ and Masahiro Tanaka. Severino created a bullpen night in last year's wild card game but not by design, lasting just one out and leaving with a three-run deficit against Minnesota in a game the Yankees rallied to win 8-4.Oakland manager Bob Melvin has been scrambling because... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — If the Oakland Athletics are to advance in October, they'll have to do it without Sean Manaea.Manaea, who threw a no-hitter against Boston earlier this season, joined Oakland's list of pitchers lost to season-ending surgery when the team announced Tuesday that the lefty was done for the year because of shoulder trouble.The playoff-contending A's said Manaea, on the disabled list since Aug. 26, will have an operation to repair a left shoulder impingement on Sept. 19 at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles."He was that guy that every series, when teams played us, they're looking to see if Manaea's pitching in the series," manager Bob Melvin said before a game at Baltimore. "That's what your top guy means to you. Again, I feel worse for him. We'll find a way to manage around it."The 26-year-old Manaea went 12-9 with a 3.59 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 160 2/3 innings this year. He pitched a no-hitter at home against the Red Sox on April 21, fanning 10.The A's... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Oakland Athletics opening day starter Kendall Graveman, who was sent down to the minors after going winless the first month of the season, will have Tommy John surgery.A's manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday that Graveman's surgery will be performed by Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister. The manager didn't know when the surgery would be."It's unfortunate that he's having to go down this road right now, it's going to take a little while for him to get back," Melvin said.Graveman was 0-5 with an 8.89 ERA in his six starts this season for the A's before getting sent down to Triple-A Nashville on April 26. The 26-year-old right-hander got a second opinion after a recent setback with his troublesome pitching elbow.Melvin said there was no indication whether those issues had any impact on Graveman's struggles with the A's."There were games when the velo was a little bit better than others, but he never said anything. It wasn't until really until his last one or... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Oakland Athletics opening day starter Kendall Graveman will have Tommy John surgery.A's manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday that Graveman's surgery will be performed by Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister. Melvin didn't know when the surgery will be.Graveman was 0-5 with an 8.89 ERA in his six starts this season for the A's before getting sent down to Triple-A Nashville on April 26. The 26-year-old right-hander got a second opinion after a recent setback with his troublesome pitching elbow.Melvin said there was no indication the elbow issues had any impact on Graveman's struggles. The manager said Graveman never reported feeling anything wrong until his last couple of starts at Triple-A.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

BOSTON (AP) — Oakland Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty has returned to the starting lineup after the club reinstated him from the bereavement list.Piscotty was batting eighth and starting in right field for Tuesday night's game at Boston, which was delayed by rain. Piscotty had been away from the team following the death of his mother. Gretchen Piscotty died May 6 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.Piscotty is hitting .248 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 34 games.To make room for Piscotty and with Trevor Cahill (elbow) expected to return from the disabled list on Wednesday, the A's also optioned right-hander Kendall Graveman to Triple-A Nashville.Graveman, called up last Friday, earned his first win of the year in a solid start against the Yankees and was scheduled to start Wednesday against the Red Sox. He's 1-5 with a 7.60 ERA over seven starts with the A's this season.

TORONTO (AP) — Luke Maile hit two home runs, including a two-run shot in the 12th inning that gave the Toronto Blue Jays a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.Maile's drive off Boston's Brian Johnson (1-2) improved the Blue Jays to 5-0 in extra innings after they overcame an impressive outing by Red Sox starter Chris Sale.Curtis Granderson walked to begin the 12th before Maile went deep to right. Maile also hit a game-tying homer off Sale in the seventh. It was the first multihomer game of his career.Sale matched his career high by striking out 15 over a season-high nine innings.Sam Gaviglio (1-0), recalled from Triple-A Buffalo earlier Friday, pitched three innings for the win in his Blue Jays debut.METS 3, PHILLIES 1PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Conforto hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Philadelphia closer Hector Neris for New York's second win in 10 games.Phillies starter Jake Arrieta allowed five hits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings, and they led 1-0 until Neris... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Luke Maile hit two home runs, including a two-run shot in the 12th inning that gave the Toronto Blue Jays a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.Maile's drive off Boston's Brian Johnson (1-2) improved the Blue Jays to 5-0 in extra innings after they overcame an impressive outing by Red Sox starter Chris Sale.Curtis Granderson walked to begin the 12th before Maile went deep to right. Maile also hit a game-tying homer off Sale in the seventh. It was the first multihomer game of his career.Sale matched his career high by striking out 15 over a season-high nine innings.Sam Gaviglio (1-0), recalled from Triple-A Buffalo earlier Friday, pitched three innings for the win in his Blue Jays debut.METS 3, PHILLIES 1PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Conforto hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Philadelphia closer Hector Neris for New York's second win in 10 games.Phillies starter Jake Arrieta allowed five hits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings, and they led 1-0 until Neris... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Conforto hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Phillies closer Hector Neris and the New York Mets rallied to beat Philadelphia 3-1 on Friday night.Phillies starter Jake Arrieta allowed five hits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings, and they led 1-0 until Neris allowed a one-out single, Conforto's third homer and a homer to Devin Mesoraco on the next pitch. It was the second blown save in six days for Neris (1-3), both costing Arrieta a victory.Odubel Herrera extended his on-base streak to 40 games with a first-inning home run for the Phillies, who had won four straight.It was only the Mets' second win in 10 games and came in improbable fashion in their first game since an embarrassing gaffe in Wednesday's loss to Cincinnati in which they batted out of order, squashing a first-inning rally.Jeurys Familia (2-1) worked a perfect ninth for the Mets, who had scored two or fewer runs in seven of their previous nine games.CUBS 11, WHITE SOX 2CHICAGO (AP) — Willson Contreras... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have put outfielder Stephen Piscotty on the bereavement list and recalled right-hander Kendall Graveman from Triple-A Nashville.Graveman was set to start Friday night against New York at Yankee Stadium. He was 0-5 with an 8.89 ERA in six starts for the A's when he was sent down April 26.Piscotty's mother, Gretchen, died Sunday from Lou Gehrig's disease. The 27-year-old played twice in Oakland this week, going 1 for 3 in each game. He stayed with his family in the Oakland area when the Athletics headed to New York.Piscotty is hitting .248 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 34 games. He was traded from St. Louis to the Athletics during the winter.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland right-hander Trevor Cahill was put on the 10-day disabled list because on an impingement in his pitching elbow, a move retroactive to Sunday.Cahill signed with the A's in mid-March after injuries depleted Oakland's starting rotation. The 30-year-old started the season in the minors, was called up April 17 and went 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four starts. He struck out a career-best 12 in six innings against Baltimore on Saturday.Manager Bob Melvin said he was unsure who will Cahill's rotation spot.Kendall Graveman, the A's opening-day starter, could be called up. He went 0-5 with an 8.89 ERA in six starts for Oakland and is 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in two outings with Triple-A Nashville.Outfielder Dustin Fowler was recalled from Nashville on Wednesday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have optioned opening day starter Kendall Graveman and fellow right-hander Chris Bassitt to Triple-A Nashville.The A's also announced Thursday that right-hander Wilmer Font will be added to the 25-man roster a day after being acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers.Graveman was 0-5 with an 8.89 ERA in six starts. He has the most losses, runs allowed (28) and hits allowed (41) in the majors. Graveman was last optioned to the minors in 2015 after starting the year 1-2 with an 8.27 ERA in four starts. He came back a month later to go 5-2 with a 1.78 ERA over his first nine starts following his return.Bassitt was called up from Nashville last Friday but didn't get into a game before being sent back down.Font was 0-2 with an 11.32 ERA in six relief appearances with the Dodgers before he was designated for assignment on Monday. He was traded to the A's for minor league left-handed pitcher Logan Salow on Wednesday.___More AP baseball: apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched seven sharp innings, AL MVP Jose Altuve hit his first home run of the season and the Houston Astros beat the Angels 5-2 on Wednesday, ending Los Angeles' road winning streak at a team record-tying 11.Albert Pujols connected off Verlander for his 619th career homer. Pujols has 2,994 hits.Alex Bregman hit a three-run double and Jake Marisnick homered as Houston avoided a three-game sweep. The Angels also won 11 straight road games in 1988.Verlander (4-0) held the Angels hitless into the fifth inning. He gave up two runs and four hits, striking out nine without a walk. Verlander won his 11th regular-season decision in a row.Ken Giles pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save. Nick Tropeano (1-2) retired the first 11 batters he faced, striking out six.INDIANS 4, CUBS 1CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians reliever Andrew Miller exited with tightness in his hamstring in the win over Chicago and could miss a few days.Miller grabbed the back of his leg after throwing... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-3 on Saturday to get to 12-2 — the best start in their 118-year history.Andrew Benintendi had a two-run single and an RBI double, and J.D. Martinez hit a solo homer for the Red Sox.Only once — in 1918 — had Boston started 11-2.Alex Cobb (0-1) was roughed up in his Orioles debut, giving up eight runs — seven earned — in 3 2/3 innings. Pedro Alvarez had a two-run homer for Baltimore, which has lost four of five.Hector Velazquez (2-0) gave up two runs in five innings. Marcus Walden pitched the final three innings for his first big-league save.BREWERS 5, METS 1NEW YORK (AP) — Chase Anderson breezed into the seventh inning, Jonathan Villar sliced a three-run homer inside the foul pole and Milwaukee stopped the Mets' nine-game winning streak.Jett Bandy also went deep against Matt Harvey (0-1) on a windy Fireworks Night at Citi Field as the Brewers cooled off New York... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani retired the Oakland Athletics' first 19 batters and yielded one hit over seven shutout innings in his home pitching debut, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 6-1 victory Sunday.Marcus Semien's clean one-out single to left broke up Ohtani's bid for a perfect game,Ohtani (2-0) struck out the side twice and finished with 12 strikeouts in all. He won his pitching debut in Oakland last weekend with six strong innings, then homered in three consecutive games in Anaheim between starts in his attempt to become the first regular two-way player in decades.Mike Trout and Ryan Schimpf homered, and Albert Pujols had an RBI double in the Angels' seventh win in nine games. Kendall Graveman (0-2) gave up five hits and four walks while failing to get out of the fourth inning for the A's, who have lost seven of 10.METS 6, NATIONALS 5, 12 INNINGSWASHINGTON (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes scored Juan Lagares with a broken-bat single in the 12th inning to help New York complete... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani retired the Oakland Athletics' first 19 batters and yielded one hit over seven shutout innings in his home pitching debut, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 6-1 victory Sunday.Marcus Semien's clean one-out single to left broke up Ohtani's bid for a perfect game,Ohtani (2-0) struck out the side twice and finished with 12 strikeouts in all. He won his pitching debut in Oakland last weekend with six strong innings, then homered in three consecutive games in Anaheim between starts in his attempt to become the first regular two-way player in decades.Mike Trout and Ryan Schimpf homered, and Albert Pujols had an RBI double in the Angels' seventh win in nine games. Kendall Graveman (0-2) gave up five hits and four walks while failing to get out of the fourth inning for the A's, who have lost seven of 10.MARLINS 6, PHILLIES 3PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Arrieta (0-1) lasted just four innings in his Philadelphia debut, allowing three runs — two earned — and three... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his first major league home run in his first Angel Stadium at-bat, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Cleveland Indians 13-2 on Tuesday night.Ohtani capped a six-run first inning with a three-run drive to center off Josh Tomlin (0-1). The Japanese two-way player got the silent treatment from teammates when he returned to the dugout, but not from the crowd. After players broke character and jumped around Ohtani to celebrate, Mike Trout pointed to the field and instructed Ohtani to take a curtain call.Trout, Justin Upton, Luis Valbuena and Rene Rivera also homered for the Angels, who broke a 12-game losing streak to the Indians. Garrett Richards (1-0) got the win.Jose Ramirez hit a two-run home run in the first for the Indians.BREWERS 5, CARDINALS 4MILWAUKEE (AP) — Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun hit consecutive homers off Dominic Leone with two out in the ninth, sending Milwaukee to the win.Leone (0-1) retired the first two batters, but then... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani got off to a perfect start at the plate.The two-way newcomer from Japan quickly put aside a rugged spring training, hitting a single in his first real at-bat for the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday before finishing 1 for 5 with three groundouts and a strikeout in a 6-5, 11-inning loss to Oakland.Batting eighth as the designated hitter, Ohtani swung at the first pitch and grounded a hard single to right field off Oakland's Kendall Graveman in the second inning."As a hitter I was never really nervous on opening day," Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. "That's kind of the same thing today. I wasn't too nervous."That first ball he hit will go to his parents — mother Kayoko and father Toru — who were in the stands to see it."That's probably an at-bat I'm not going to forget for the rest of my life," Ohtani said.Ohtani often looked overmatched in the Cactus League, managing just four singles in 32 at-bats (.125) and striking out 10 times.The 23-year-old... [More]