BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale let a Toronto runner steal home, Mookie Betts fanned with two on for the final out and the champion Boston Red Sox stumbled again, losing to the Blue Jays 7-5 Tuesday in their home opener.After receiving their World Series rings during a ceremony that included the Super Bowl champ New England Patriots, the Red Sox fell to 3-9. A return to Fenway Park failed to shake the doldrums that plagued Boston during a season-opening trip to Seattle, Oakland and Arizona.Red Sox sparkplug Dustin Pedroia went 1 for 4 in his first major league game since May. He played only three times last year while slowed by a knee injury.The game also made history: It was the first big league matchup of managers born in Puerto Rico, with Toronto's Charlie Montoyo topping Boston's Alex Cora.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. stole home and had an RBI single as Toronto ended a four-game losing streak. Freddy Galvis drove in two runs to back Matt Shoemaker (3-0), who allowed two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.Sale... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale let a Toronto runner steal home, Mookie Betts fanned with two on for the final out and the champion Boston Red Sox stumbled again, losing to the Blue Jays 7-5 Tuesday in their home opener.After receiving their World Series rings during a ceremony that included the Super Bowl champ New England Patriots, the Red Sox fell to 3-9. A return to Fenway Park failed to shake the doldrums that plagued Boston during a season-opening trip to Seattle, Oakland and Arizona.Red Sox sparkplug Dustin Pedroia went 1 for 4 in his first major league game since May. He played only three times last year while slowed by a knee injury.The game also made history: It was the first big league matchup of managers born in Puerto Rico, with Toronto's Charlie Montoyo topping Boston's Alex Cora.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. stole home and had an RBI single as Toronto ended a four-game losing streak. Freddy Galvis drove in two runs to back Matt Shoemaker (3-0), who allowed two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.Sale... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cincinnati's Derek Dietrich admired a home run off Chris Archer in the second inning, and two innings later the Pittsburgh Pirates starter threw a 93 mph fastball behind Dietrich's waist, setting off a brawl Sunday that led to the ejections of four players and Reds manager David Bell.Dietrich's 436-foot drive to right-center gave the Reds a 2-1 lead. Dietrich dropped his bat and stood in the batter's box and watched the ball clear the fence atop the Clemente Wall and bounce into the Allegheny River.After Archer's pitch went behind Dietrich leading off the fourth, plate umpire Jeff Kellogg warned both benches. Bell jogged from the dugout to the infield, arguing Archer should have been ejected. Players from both dugouts and bullpens followed, and Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig grab Pirates bench coach Tom Prince in a headlock. Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez and set-up man Keone Kela were also in the middle of the fray.Bell, Kela, Puig and Vazquez were ejected, as was Reds reliever Amir Garrett.Matt Kemp replaced Puig, and Archer was allowed to remain in the game. The Reds led 3-2.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — David Robertson forced home the game-ending run with a ninth-inning walk to Jake Noll, a rookie without a hit in his two previous major league at-bats, and the Nationals beat the previously unbeaten Phillies 9-8 Wednesday as Washington's fans again booed Bryce Harper.Noll was sent to the minors after the game to make room for utilityman Howie Kendrick to come off the injured list Thursday.Robertson (0-1) gave up a leadoff single to Anthony Rendon, then walked three batters in a row.Nationals closer Sean Doolittle (2-0) worked the ninth.Philadelphia fell to 4-1 — it had been the last team in the majors without a loss. Making his second appearance against his former team since signing a $330 million, 13-year deal with the Phillies, Harper hit a pair of singles and was walked three times, twice intentionally.RED SOX 6, ATHLETICS 3OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mookie Betts' two-out grounder hit the third base bag and popped into the outfield for a tiebreaking, two-run double in the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — David Robertson forced home the game-ending run with a ninth-inning walk to Jake Noll, a rookie without a hit in his two previous major league at-bats, and the Nationals beat the previously unbeaten Phillies 9-8 Wednesday as Washington's fans again booed Bryce Harper.Noll was sent to the minors after the game to make room for utilityman Howie Kendrick to come off the injured list Thursday.Robertson (0-1) gave up a leadoff single to Anthony Rendon, then walked three batters in a row.Nationals closer Sean Doolittle (2-0) worked the ninth.Philadelphia fell to 4-1 — it had been the last team in the majors without a loss. Making his second appearance against his former team since signing a $330 million, 13-year deal with the Phillies, Harper hit a pair of singles and was walked three times, twice intentionally.PADRES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1SAN DIEGO (AP) — Manny Machado hit his first home run for San Diego, a two-run drive in the seventh off former Padres farmhand Matt Andriese.... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Reds got a game deeper into this season before having to call one off.The second game of their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates was called off Saturday because of rain. The start was delayed 40 minutes before it was postponed with storms forecast all evening. It'll be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on May 27.It was the majors' first postponement of the 2019 season. Fifty-four games were called off last year — the most since 1989 — largely due to cold, wet weather at the start of the season.The Reds have called off only 16 games during their 17 seasons at Great American Ball Park. Two were postponed because of rain last season, including the season opener against the Nationals that was pushed back a day.Both teams will stay with their scheduled starters for the final game of the now-shortened series, with Trevor Williams opposing Sony Gray in his Reds debut Sunday. Pittsburgh's Joe Musgrove will skip his turn in the rotation.Williams went 14-10 last... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The second game of a series between the Pirates and Reds was postponed Saturday because of rain.The start of the game was delayed 40 minutes before it was called with storms in the forecast all evening. It'll be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on May 27.It was only the 16th postponement in 17 seasons at Great American Ball Park. Two games were called off because of weather last season, including the season opener against the Nationals that was pushed back a day. An April 3 game against the Cubs also was postponed.The Reds won the season opener 5-3 on Thursday on a sunny, 70-degree day — the Reds' warmest home opener since 2010. The teams wrap up their opening series on Sunday, with temperatures around 40 degrees forecast.TRAINER'S ROOMPirates: CF Starling Marte was back in the posted lineup after missing the opener with a migraine.Reds: Matt Kemp was scheduled to start in left field instead of Jesse Winker. Manager David Bell said he wanted to get Kemp a chance to play early in the season. He came to the Reds in a trade with the Dodgers along with Yasiel Puig and left-hander Alex Wood.UP NEXTPirates: After concluding the series Sunday, the Pirates open at PNC Park on Monday against the Cardinals.Reds: Cincinnati wraps up its opening homestand with three games against the Brewers starting Monday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds expect left-hander Alex Wood to open the season on the injured list as he recovers from a sore back that has limited him during spring training.Wood was part of the trade that brought outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to Cincinnati from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made one spring training start before his back tightened, and had a setback when he resumed throwing last week.Reds manager David Bell said Monday that it's likely Wood will miss the first couple weeks of the season as he tries to catch up."It will be mid-April, if everything is perfect," Bell said.Bell and his staff haven't decided whether Wood will stay in Goodyear for extended spring or bring him to Cincinnati to continue his throwing. The Reds open the season March 28 at Great American Ball Park against the Pirates.Right-hander Tyler Mahle, who was one of five rookies on last year's opening day roster, is the likely replacement in the rotation. Mahle made 23 starts for Cincinnati... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds expect left-hander Alex Wood to open the season on the disabled list as he recovers from a sore back that has limited him during spring training.Wood was part of the trade that brought outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to Cincinnati from the Dodgers. He made one spring training start before his back tightened, and he had a setback when he resumed throwing last week.Manager David Bell said Monday that it's likely Wood will miss the first couple weeks of the season as he tries to catch up."It will be mid-April, if everything is perfect," Bell said.Bell and his staff haven't decided whether Wood will stay in Goodyear for extended spring or bring him to Cincinnati to continue his throwing. The Reds open the season March 28 at Great American Ball Park against the Pirates.Right-hander Tyler Mahle, who was one of five rookies on last year's opening day roster, is the likely replacement in the Reds rotation. Mahle made 23 starts for Cincinnati last... [More]

Kyle Seager will be absent next week when the Seattle Mariners play the major league opener in Japan. Mike Foltynewicz will miss opening day for Atlanta, too.Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, meanwhile, is on the mend.The Mariners said Monday that Seager needs surgery on his left hand, sidelining the third baseman through at least April. The former All-Star and Gold Glove winner rolled his glove going for a grounder in a spring training game last week.Seattle is likely to move first baseman Ryon Healy across the diamond to third. The Mariners and Oakland begin the regular season on March 20 in Tokyo.The Braves had hoped Foltynewicz could start on March 28 when the NL East champions open at Philadelphia, but a sore elbow has slowed the All-Star righty.Foltynewicz has yet to make an appearance in an exhibition game because of discomfort that began about two weeks ago."We're just trying to figure out at what point do we get him up to five innings?" general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "He's not... [More]

Kyle Seager will be absent next week when the Seattle Mariners play the major league opener in Japan. Mike Foltynewicz will miss opening day for Atlanta, too.Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, meanwhile, is on the mend.The Mariners said Monday that Seager needs surgery on his left hand, sidelining the third baseman through at least April. The former All-Star and Gold Glove winner rolled his glove going for a grounder in a spring training game last week.Seattle is likely to move first baseman Ryon Healy across the diamond to third. The Mariners and Oakland begin the regular season on March 20 in Tokyo.The Braves had hoped Foltynewicz could start on March 28 when the NL East champions open at Philadelphia, but a sore elbow has slowed the All-Star righty.Foltynewicz has yet to make an appearance in an exhibition game because of discomfort that began about two weeks ago."We're just trying to figure out at what point do we get him up to five innings?" general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "He's not... [More]

Clayton Kershaw might not be on the mound when the two-time NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers start the season.The lefty ace is working his way back from shoulder soreness that caused him to shut down his spring training.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said "that's fair" when asked Monday whether Kershaw might miss the opener March 28 against Arizona at Dodger Stadium."There's just way too much importance put on the opening-day roster. The No. 1 thing is for him to be ready and to feel confident physically and mentally," Roberts said, "and when that is, it is."Kershaw has made a franchise-record eight consecutive opening day starts, and was tabbed to do so again when the Dodgers arrived in Arizona.But a couple days later, the three-time Cy Young Award winner had some shoulder soreness that caused him to halt his throwing program. He's taking anti-inflammatory medication.Kershaw began throwing against last week, slowly building up the amount of work and the distance of his throws. He threw on... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds are hoping Scott Schebler is at the center of their resurgence.Following an offseason that saw a lot of turnover for the last-place Reds, they're beginning this year with Schebler in center field, taking over after the departure of Billy Hamilton.Schebler doesn't have Hamilton's range or speed. Few players do.But Schebler has played 49 games at the spot over the last three seasons. New manager David Bell has given Schebler the job, eager to see it he can make the transition from right field — by far his most familiar spot — and give Yaisel Puig a chance to settle in somewhere else in the outfield."Schebler is going to play all over this spring, but I'm interested in seeing him in center field," Bell said. "It's valuable that he can play all three positions in the outfield. There's no question he can play at this level."The question is how the Reds' new components fit together. They let Hamilton leave after years of trying unsuccessfully to improve... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — The biggest play from the Phillies' spring training game Thursday: great communication behind the home dugout.Philadelphia fans with an eye on their smartphones cried out when reports emerged that Bryce Harper had agreed to a deal with the Phillies, breaking the news to manager Gabe Kapler and his players during a 5-5 split-squad tie with the Orioles. Harper agreed to a $330 million, 13-year deal with the club, the largest contract in baseball history. Harper's agent, Scott Boras, said the deal was agreed to shortly before noon, subject to a successful physical."If the reports are true, it's a huge moment for our baseball team," Kapler said. "Certainly I think that the city of Philadelphia would embrace Bryce Harper. I think he would be very happy in this city because our fans care deeply about winning."A 26-year-old All-Star who had spent his entire big league career with the Washington Nationals, Harper topped the $325 million, 13-year agreement outfielder Giancarlo... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — The biggest play from the Phillies' spring training game Thursday: great communication behind the home dugout.Philadelphia fans with an eye on their smartphones cried out when reports emerged that Bryce Harper had agreed to a deal with the Phillies, breaking the news to manager Gabe Kapler and his players during a 5-5 split-squad tie with the Orioles. Harper agreed to a $330 million, 13-year deal with the club, the largest contract in baseball history. Harper's agent, Scott Boras, said the deal was agreed to shortly before noon, subject to a successful physical."If the reports are true, it's a huge moment for our baseball team," Kapler said. "Certainly I think that the city of Philadelphia would embrace Bryce Harper. I think he would be very happy in this city because our fans care deeply about winning."A 26-year-old All-Star who had spent his entire big league career with the Washington Nationals, Harper topped the $325 million, 13-year agreement outfielder Giancarlo... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — This much is working out for Yasiel Puig: Red is his favorite color.Cincinnati's new outfielder appeared in his fourth spring game Thursday, hitting a two-run homer in a 10-8 loss. It was his first home run since moving from glittering Hollywood with the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Queen City in a blockbuster deal which also sent outfielder Matt Kemp, pitcher Alex Wood and infielder Kyle Farmer to the Reds in December.Puig has looked good on the field so far, and he's also been himself off of it, feeling at home in a welcoming climate new manager David Bell has sought to provide."I had seen him play so that was my only experience with him," Bell said of Puig. "He's been great to have in camp. He's happy to be here. He brings great energy to what he does every day. He's been a good teammate. It goes for all our players — we want them to be comfortable being themselves and he certainly is and we think it's great."More than anything that stands out is his energy and he... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles was not at spring training camp for Monday's voluntary full squad reporting day because of an unspecified personal matter.Manager Dave Roberts said there is no timeline for Toles' arrival. The mandatory reporting date is Saturday."We'll get Andrew here when things work out; he works through some personal things," Roberts said Monday. "He has our full support, certainly."Roberts said Toles' absence was surprising."Obviously, things are sometimes unpredictable and family, personal issues obviously have to come before baseball," Roberts said.Toles has a challenge to make the major league roster, even after outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp were traded to Cincinnati. Outfielders include A.J. Pollock, Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson and Alex Verdugo are on the roster, and Chris Taylor and Kike Hernandez could compete for time,The left-handed hitting Toles spent most of last year at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he batted .306 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs in 71 games. He was the Dodgers' starting left fielder in the second half of 2016 and until May 9 the following year, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.Pederson is aware of speculation he could be traded."I guess it's nice to know that there are some other teams out there that would want you," he said.____More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles did not report to spring training camp on Monday's voluntary full squad reporting day because of an unspecified personal matter.Manager Dave Roberts said there is no timeline for Toles' arrival. The mandatory reporting date is Saturday."We'll get Andrew here when things work out; he works through some personal things," Roberts said Monday. "He has our full support, certainly."Given the contact he and his staff keep with their players in the off-season, Robert said Toles' absence was surprising."Obviously, things are sometimes unpredictable and family, personal issues obviously have to come before baseball and you got to take care of that," Roberts said. "So, yeah, it was a surprise. And I think that is kind of the unpredictability of life. So, we've got to adjust, but like I said, he has our full support and we will go from there."Toles has a challenge to make the major league roster, even after outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp were traded to Cincinnati.The left-handed hitting Toles spent most of last year at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he hit .306 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs in 71 games. He was the Dodgers' starting left fielder in the second half of 2016 and until May 9 the following year, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Joey Votto has spent the offseason trying to make sure he doesn't have another subpar season.The Cincinnati Reds star led the NL in on-base percentage last year but hit 12 homers, his fewest in a full season, and batted .284, his lowest since 2014. He had 67 RBIs."It was the first year where I had a poor offensive year," Votto said. "It is hard to speak on this without sounding arrogant. I've always performed at a certain level. Last year was a bit of a shock. I didn't perform anywhere near to what I'm used to."Votto, who turns 36 in September, was hit on the right knee by a pitch from Ryan Madson in August and went on the disabled list. His numbers were down even before the injury.Votto hit 37 homers during his 2010 NL MVP season and had 36 with 100 RBIs in 2017. He spent this offseason refining his swing."I did things differently, so I hope it works," Votto said. "Intuitively, I know why I wasn't ready and came up short last year. I just made sure I didn't do that... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Tucker Barnhart read about the Reds' interest in Miami catcher J.T. Realmuto and hoped that they wouldn't be able to swing a deal for the All-Star. Having endured the hardest part of a rebuild, he wanted to be in Cincinnati for a turnaround.Barnhart got his wish. Realmuto was dealt to Philadelphia — another team seemingly on the rise after major changes — and Barnhart got to stay with the Reds and handle a rotation that's been overhauled.After four straight 90-loss seasons, the Reds are trying to become competitive in the NL Central."I want to be a part of the finished product of the rebuild that was started when I came up in '14. It's continued since. I want to be a part of the winning," Barnhart said. "Hopefully, that starts now."Barnhart thought he would be an important part of the rebuild when the Reds gave him a $16 million, four-year contract that runs through 2021 and includes a club option for 2022. He was coming off a 2017 season in which he became only the... [More]