WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg pitched into the sixth inning in his return from the injured list, allowing just one hit as the Washington Nationals defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 on Friday night. Strasburg (1-1) started for the first time since April 13. He had been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation. He picked up his first win in a regular-season game since Sept. 26, 2019. Strasburg allowed only Anthony Santander’s leadoff single in the second. He walked four and struck out four in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Washington scored two runs against Jorge López (1-5) in the fifth. López allowed four straight hits, including back-to-back doubles by Josh Bell (3 hits) and Kyle Schwarber and a run-scoring single by Josh Harrison. Freddy Galvis hit a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth against Brad Hand. Trey Mancini had two hits for the Orioles, who have lost 11 of 13 since John Means threw a no-hitter on May 5. DODGERS 2, GIANTS 1 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Trevor Bauer struck... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg pitched into the sixth inning in his return from the injured list, allowing just one hit as the Washington Nationals defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 on Friday night. Strasburg (1-1) started for the first time since April 13. He had been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation. He picked up his first win in a regular-season game since Sept. 26, 2019. Strasburg allowed only Anthony Santander’s leadoff single in the second. He walked four and struck out four in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Washington scored two runs against Jorge López (1-5) in the fifth. López allowed four straight hits, including back-to-back doubles by Josh Bell (3 hits) and Kyle Schwarber and a run-scoring single by Josh Harrison. Freddy Galvis hit a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth against Brad Hand. Trey Mancini had two hits for the Orioles, who have lost 11 of 13 since John Means threw a no-hitter on May 5. DODGERS 2, GIANTS 1 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Trevor Bauer struck... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg pitched into the sixth inning in his return from the injured list, allowing just one hit as the Washington Nationals defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 on Friday night. Strasburg (1-1) started for the first time since April 13. He had been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation. He picked up his first win in a regular-season game since Sept. 26, 2019. Strasburg allowed only Anthony Santander’s leadoff single in the second. He walked four and struck out four in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Washington scored two runs against Jorge López (1-5) in the fifth. López allowed four straight hits, including back-to-back doubles by Josh Bell (3 hits) and Kyle Schwarber and a run-scoring single by Josh Harrison. Freddy Galvis hit a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth against Brad Hand. Trey Mancini had two hits for the Orioles, who have lost 11 of 13 since John Means threw a no-hitter on May 5. YANKEES 2, WHITE SOX 1 NEW YORK (AP) — Gleyber Torres homered... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today: ___ DEBUT TIME IN TEXAS Tyler Ivey is set for his major league debut for Houston against his hometown Texas Rangers just a few miles from where the right-hander grew up watching the Astros’ biggest rival. The 25-year-old expects about 50 family members and friends to be at Globe Life Field, across the street from where Ivey watched the Rangers at Globe Life Park, which is now a football venue. He is replacing injured starter José Urquidy. “Growing up a Rangers fan, it’s really crazy,” said Ivey, who spent some time in his youth in the Houston suburb of Katy and cheered for the Astros as well. “To be able to make my debut in my hometown is something. I just can’t describe it.” Ivey appeared in two games at Triple-A Sugar Land. He pitched for Texas A&M as a freshman before transferring to a junior college and getting drafted by the Astros. During his last full minor league season in 2019, Ivey was suspended after umpires found a foreign... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today: ___ DEBUT TIME IN TEXAS Tyler Ivey is set for his major league debut for Houston against his hometown Texas Rangers just a few miles from where the right-hander grew up watching the Astros’ biggest rival. The 25-year-old expects about 50 family members and friends to be at Globe Life Field, across the street from where Ivey watched the Rangers at Globe Life Park, which is now a football venue. He is replacing injured starter José Urquidy. “Growing up a Rangers fan, it’s really crazy,” said Ivey, who spent some time in his youth in the Houston suburb of Katy and cheered for the Astros as well. “To be able to make my debut in my hometown is something. I just can’t describe it.” Ivey appeared in two games at Triple-A Sugar Land. He pitched for Texas A&M as a freshman before transferring to a junior college and getting drafted by the Astros. During his last full minor league season in 2019, Ivey was suspended after umpires found a foreign... [More]

Whatever the future holds, Kris Bryant is giving the Chicago Cubs plenty of production so far in 2021. Bryant is hitting .303 with 10 home runs in 37 games, and he is second in the National League with an OPS of 1.032. That's quite a rebound after he batted .206 in last year's pandemic-shortened season. Bryant was the subject of trade rumors in the offseason, but the Cubs eventually brought him back on a $19.5 million deal. Bryant can become a free agent at the end of this season after he was one day shy of eligibility at the end of 2020. He lost a grievance that claimed the Cubs delayed his call-up as a rookie in 2015 to put off his free agency by a year. Chicago is certainly benefitting from the fact that Bryant remained under team control this year — and perhaps Bryant will have more success entering free agency a few months from now than he would have following a disappointing 2020. Despite his efforts, the Cubs are a game under .500. They did win the NL Central last year, but changes... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Angels rallied past the Boston Red Sox 6-5 Sunday, ending a four-game losing streak. Matt Barnes (1-1) retired the first two batters in the ninth before giving up a bloop single to Mike Trout. Ohtani followed with his 12th homer, tying for the major league lead, a drive tucked just inside the Pesky Pole in right field. It was Ohtani’s second homer of the series and stopped Boston’s three-game winning streak. Raisel Iglesias (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth and Mike Mayers got his second save. BLUE JAYS 10, PHILLIES 8 DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Television cameras showed a confrontation in the dugout between Phillies manager Joe Girardi and second baseman Jean Segura, who committed two errors. Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette hit consecutive first-inning homers, and Randal Grichuk had a two-run double in a five-run second as Toronto burst to an 8-0 lead. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 11th homer. Bryce... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Angels rallied past the Boston Red Sox 6-5 Sunday, ending a four-game losing streak. Matt Barnes (1-1) retired the first two batters in the ninth before giving up a bloop single to Mike Trout. Ohtani followed with his 12th homer, tying for the major league lead, a drive tucked just inside the Pesky Pole in right field. It was Ohtani’s second homer of the series and stopped Boston’s three-game winning streak. Raisel Iglesias (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth and Mike Mayers got his second save. BLUE JAYS 10, PHILLIES 8 DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Television cameras showed a confrontation in the dugout between Phillies manager Joe Girardi and second baseman Jean Segura, who committed two errors. Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette hit consecutive first-inning homers, and Randal Grichuk had a two-run double in a five-run second as Toronto burst to an 8-0 lead. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 11th homer. Bryce... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nolan Arenado homered against his former team, Adam Wainwright pitched three-hit ball into the ninth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 2-0 on Sunday. Yadier Molina hit an RBI double and Ryan Helsley got Josh Fuentes to ground into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded for his second career save and first this season. St. Louis completed a three-game sweep and has won nine of 11 overall. Colorado dropped to a major league-worst 2-14 on the road. Wainwright (2-3) struck out five and walked three over 8 1/3 innings, improving to 11-1 against the Rockies. Arenado homered leading off the second against German Marquez (1-4), who allowed two runs — one earned — in six innings. St. Louis improved to 14-4 since April 23, the best record in the majors during that span. YANKEES 3, NATIONALS 2 NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton hit a game-ending single off Brad Hand in the ninth inning, and New York beat Washington for its second straight walk-off... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nolan Arenado homered against his former team, Adam Wainwright pitched three-hit ball into the ninth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 2-0 on Sunday. Yadier Molina hit an RBI double and Ryan Helsley got Josh Fuentes to ground into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded for his second career save and first this season. St. Louis completed a three-game sweep and has won nine of 11 overall. Colorado dropped to a major league-worst 2-14 on the road. Wainwright (2-3) struck out five and walked three over 8 1/3 innings, improving to 11-1 against the Rockies. Arenado homered leading off the second against German Marquez (1-4), who allowed two runs — one earned — in six innings. St. Louis improved to 14-4 since April 23, the best record in the majors during that span. YANKEES 3, NATIONALS 2 NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton hit a game-ending single off Brad Hand in the ninth inning, and New York beat Washington for its second straight walk-off... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Huascar Ynoa (3-1) hit a grand slam and allowed an unearned run and four hits in seven innings, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Ynoa drove a fastball from Tanner Rainey 427 feet to center field in the sixth inning for the first grand slam by a major league pitcher since Cincinnati’s Anthony DeSclafani on June 23, 2018. Ronald Acuña Jr. also homered for the Braves, breaking a scoreless tie in the fifth against Joe Ross (2-2). Atlanta stopped a four-game skid while ending Washington’s four-game winning streak. YANKEES 7, ASTROS 3 NEW YORK (AP) — Boos and bad words streamed loudly from the seats in Houston’s return to Yankee Stadium, and New York got a homer and four hits from Giancarlo Stanton to sate those spiteful fans. In Houston’s first visit to the Bronx since its sign-stealing scam was exposed, an error by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman in the sixth inning let New York blow the game open. A pandemic-limited,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Huascar Ynoa (3-1) hit a grand slam and allowed an unearned run and four hits in seven innings, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Ynoa drove a fastball from Tanner Rainey 427 feet to center field in the sixth inning for the first grand slam by a major league pitcher since Cincinnati’s Anthony DeSclafani on June 23, 2018. Ronald Acuña Jr. also homered for the Braves, breaking a scoreless tie in the fifth against Joe Ross (2-2). Atlanta stopped a four-game skid while ending Washington’s four-game winning streak. MARLINS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 3 MIAMI (AP) — NL RBIs leader Jesús Aguilar delivered a tiebreaking single in a six-run eighth against Kevin Ginkel (0-1) following Miguel Rojas' double, Corey Dickerson followed with an infield single, and catcher Stephen Vogt’s throwing error allowed Aguilar to score all the way from first. Lewis Brinson added a three-run homer off Alex Young. Richard Bleier (2-0) came out of the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Huascar Ynoa (3-1) hit a grand slam and allowed an unearned run and four hits in seven innings, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Ynoa drove a fastball from Tanner Rainey 427 feet to center field in the sixth inning for the first grand slam by a major league pitcher since Cincinnati’s Anthony DeSclafani on June 23, 2018. Ronald Acuña Jr. also homered for the Braves, breaking a scoreless tie in the fifth against Joe Ross (2-2). Atlanta stopped a four-game skid while ending Washington’s four-game winning streak. MARLINS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 3 MIAMI (AP) — NL RBIs leader Jesús Aguilar delivered a tiebreaking single in a six-run eighth against Kevin Ginkel (0-1) following Miguel Rojas' double, Corey Dickerson followed with an infield single, and catcher Stephen Vogt’s throwing error allowed Aguilar to score all the way from first. Lewis Brinson added a three-run homer off Alex Young. Richard Bleier (2-0) came out of the... [More]

A look at what's happening around baseball today: ___ MAJOR DAY FOR MINOR LEAGUES From the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to the Tri-City Dust Devils, minor league teams are set to host opening day across the country following more than a year of uncertainty and empty ballparks. Much has changed since the end of the 2019 campaign — the pandemic wiped out the entire 2020 season, Major League Baseball eliminated 40 affiliates, and Commissioner Rob Manfred instituted experimental rules changes that will differ by level in an effort to speed up play and improve player safety. Of course, the charms of minor league ball remain plentiful. Family-friendly prices, offbeat giveaways and outlandish team branding remain key pillars of the experience. As does the chance for thousands of players to pursue their big-league dreams. “If you have young guys that need to play baseball, they’ve been void of it for almost two years now, they’ve got to get out there and play,” Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon... [More]

A look at what's happening around baseball Tuesday: ___ MAJOR DAY FOR MINOR LEAGUES From the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to the Tri-City Dust Devils, minor league teams are set to host opening day across the country following more than a year of uncertainty and empty ballparks. Much has changed since the end of the 2019 campaign — the pandemic wiped out the entire 2020 season, Major League Baseball eliminated 40 affiliates, and Commissioner Rob Manfred instituted experimental rules changes that will differ by level in an effort to speed up play and improve player safety. Of course, the charms of minor league ball remain plentiful. Family-friendly prices, offbeat giveaways and outlandish team branding remain key pillars of the experience. As does the chance for thousands of players to pursue their big-league dreams. “If you have young guys that need to play baseball, they’ve been void of it for almost two years now, they’ve got to get out there and play,” Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Dustin May got an MRI on Monday morning, and that was it. His season was over. May will have Tommy John surgery next week, leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers without one of baseball’s top young pitchers for the rest of their title defense. “It’s a big blow,” manager Dave Roberts said before the team’s series opener against the Cubs was postponed because of inclement weather in the forecast. “But we’ve got a lot of talented players, and we just got to find a way to fill that void.” The 23-year-old May was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, a day after the right-hander winced in pain on the mound and was forced to leave a start at Milwaukee. The World Series champion Dodgers, already beset by several injuries to their pitching staff, said Dr. Neal El Attrache will perform May's ligament reconstruction surgery on May 11 in Los Angeles. “It’s obviously very disappointing,” Roberts said. “He’s handling it like a pro. You know, wants to figure out what’s the next step after... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs activated Joc Pederson from the 10-day injured list on Monday, giving the slugger a chance to face his former team. Pederson was in the starting lineup for Chicago's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, leading off and playing left field. But the game was postponed because of inclement weather in the forecast. Pederson had been sidelined by left wrist tendinitis. He is batting just .137 with a homer and four RBIs with his new team. “Competing against your old teammates and a little bit of (a) chance to face some of your old friends is always something that I think a lot of players take a lot of pride in,” manager David Ross said. “It's fun. He's got a lot of history with those guys, a really good history, a winning history with that group.” Catcher Willson Contreras also was set for his first start since he left Friday night's 8-6 loss at Cincinnati with tightness in his right thigh. But Ian Happ was out of the starting lineup a day after he was... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ GAMER GONE Athletics left-hander Jesús Luzardo will be off the mound for a while. He might also be staying away from video games. Luzardo is out indefinitely after breaking the pinkie finger on his pitching hand when he thumped a table while playing a video game. The injury occurred before his start Saturday. An X-ray after a loss to Baltimore showed a hairline fracture and Luzardo was put on the 10-day injured list. Oakland manager Bob Melvin said he didn’t know how long Luzardo would be out. Luzardo wound up pitching three innings and allowed six runs, three of them earned. He is 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA in six starts this season. OHTANI’S TURN Shohei Ohtani is a question mark to make his scheduled start on the mound for the Angels when they face Tampa Bay ace Tyler Glasnow in Anaheim. Ohtani was hit on the right elbow by a pitch in the first inning of Sunday's 2-0 loss at Seattle. Los Angeles manager Joe Maddon said the elbow was sore... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw yielded four hits over seven innings, Justin Turner homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers ended their three-game losing streak with an 8-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Kershaw (4-2) struck out eight and walked one never allowing Cincinnati to get a runner to third base. Matt Beaty drove in two runs with a pinch single on his 28th birthday during a six-run eighth. Nick Senzel matched his career high with four hits as the Reds were shut out for the fourth time. Sonny Gray (0-2) pitched four-hit ball into the sixth while striking out 11 and allowing four hits and three walks. CARDINALS 5, PHILLIES 3 ST. LOUIS (AP) — Andrew McCutchen returned to the lineup and drove in the go-ahead run, helping Philadelphia beat St. Louis after Bryce Harper was hit in the face by a pitch. Harper left the game in the sixth inning after getting hit in his left cheek on a 96.9 mph fastball from left-handed reliever Génesis Cabrera (0-1). Cabrera hit the next batter,... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw yielded four hits over seven innings, Justin Turner homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers ended their three-game losing streak with an 8-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Kershaw (4-2) struck out eight and walked one never allowing Cincinnati to get a runner to third base. Matt Beaty drove in two runs with a pinch single on his 28th birthday during a six-run eighth. Nick Senzel matched his career high with four hits as the Reds were shut out for the fourth time. Sonny Gray (0-2) pitched four-hit ball into the sixth while striking out 11 and allowing four hits and three walks. CARDINALS 5, PHILLIES 3 ST. LOUIS (AP) — Andrew McCutchen returned to the lineup and drove in the go-ahead run, helping Philadelphia beat St. Louis after Bryce Harper was hit in the face by a pitch. Harper left the game in the sixth inning after getting hit in his left cheek on a 96.9 mph fastball from left-handed reliever Génesis Cabrera (0-1). Cabrera hit the next batter,... [More]