CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is out of Sunday's starting lineup because of tightness in his back.Rizzo left Saturday's 7-2 loss to Washington in the fifth inning. Rizzo, who turned 30 on Aug. 8, has a history of back issues."It's a little bit different spot he said," Maddon said, "so we're not as concerned. ... When I talked to him afterwards yesterday he was pretty optimistic."Ian Happ started at first in the series finale against the Nationals. It was his third career start at the position.The Cubs are off Monday before beginning a three-game series at the New York Mets on Tuesday night.Chicago also placed reliever Derek Holland on the 10-day injured list and recalled infielder David Bote from Triple-A Iowa before its matchup with Washington.Holland is out with a bruised left wrist. The left-hander got struck by a comebacker during Wednesday's 12-11 victory against San Francisco.The 32-year-old Holland pitched Friday against the Nationals, allowing a run while working the ninth inning. Maddon said Holland thought he was OK "and the result wasn't that good."___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is out of Sunday's starting lineup because of tightness in his back.Rizzo left Saturday's 7-2 loss to Washington in the fifth inning. Rizzo, who turned 30 on Aug. 8, has a history of back issues."It's a little bit different spot he said," Maddon said, "so we're not as concerned. ... When I talked to him afterwards yesterday he was pretty optimistic."Ian Happ started at first in the series finale against the Nationals. It was his third career start at the position.The Cubs are off Monday before beginning a three-game series at the New York Mets on Tuesday night.Chicago also placed reliever Derek Holland on the 10-day injured list and recalled infielder David Bote from Triple-A Iowa before its matchup with Washington.Holland is out with a bruised left wrist. The left-hander got struck by a comebacker during Wednesday's 12-11 loss to San Francisco.The 32-year-old Holland pitched Friday against the Nationals, allowing a run while working the ninth inning. Maddon said Holland thought he was OK "and the result wasn't that good."___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is out of the starting lineup because of tightness in his back.Rizzo left Saturday's 7-2 loss to Washington in the fifth inning. Rizzo has a history of back issues, but manager Joe Maddon says the tightness is in a different spot this time.The Cubs are off Monday before beginning a three-game series at the New York Mets on Tuesday night.Chicago also placed reliever Derek Holland on the 10-day injured list and recalled infielder David Bote from Triple-A Iowa before Sunday's game against the Nationals.Holland is out with a bruised left wrist. He got struck by a comebacker during Wednesday's 12-11 loss to San Francisco.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have optioned infielder David Bote to Triple-A Iowa.Bote hasn't played very much in August, batting .400 (8 for 20) in 14 games. He also committed a costly error while playing shortstop in the ninth inning of Thursday night's 7-5 loss at Philadelphia.The Cubs announced the move on Monday's off day. They will announce a corresponding move before Tuesday night's series opener against San Francisco.The 26-year-old Bote made his major league debut last year, batting .239 with six homers and 33 RBIs in 74 games. He agreed to a $15 million, five-year contract with Chicago in April, covering 2020-24.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Cubs third. Albert Almora Jr. grounds out to shortstop, Jean Segura to Rhys Hoskins. Anthony Rizzo homers to center field. Nicholas Castellanos doubles to deep left field. Kris Bryant flies out to deep center field to Adam Haseley. Nicholas Castellanos to third. Kyle Schwarber pops out to Scott Kingery.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 1, Phillies 0.Cubs fourth. Ian Happ triples to deep right field. David Bote doubles to deep center field. Ian Happ scores. Victor Caratini strikes out swinging. Yu Darvish strikes out swinging. Albert Almora Jr. singles to right field, advances to 3rd. David Bote scores. Fielding error by Jean Segura. Anthony Rizzo singles to right field. Albert Almora Jr. scores. Nicholas Castellanos flies out to center field to Adam Haseley.3 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Cubs 4, Phillies 0.Cubs fifth. Kris Bryant pops out to shallow center field to Cesar Hernandez. Kyle Schwarber homers to center field. Ian Happ strikes out swinging. David Bote walks. Victor... [More]

Aug. 111907 — In the second game of a doubleheader, shortened by agreement, Ed Karger of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a seven-inning perfect game, beating the Boston Braves 4-0.1926 — Tris Speaker of Cleveland hit his 700th career double but the Indians lost to the Chicago White Sox, 7-2. The double came in the third inning off Joe Edwards.1929 — Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run in the second inning off Willis Hudlin at Cleveland's League Park. The homer was Ruth's 30th of the year, but it wasn't enough as the Indians beat the Yankees 6-5.1951 — Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Giants 4-0, dropping the Giants 13 1/2 games behind the first-place Brooklyn Dodgers.1961 — Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves scattered six hits to beat the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, for his 300th career victory.1970 — Philadelphia's Jim Bunning beat the Houston Astros 6-5 to become the first pitcher to win 100 games in both leagues since Cy Young.1986 — Cincinnati player-manager... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts hit three home runs against James Paxton during the first four innings Friday night in the Boston Red Sox's 10-5 victory over the New York Yankees, whose starting pitchers have stumbled this week in historic fashion.Betts homered on Paxton's eighth pitch in a three-run first that included J.D. Martinez's two-run homer, went deep again leading off the third for a 4-0 lead and hit a two-run drive in the fourth for a 7-0 advantage.Betts added an RBI double in the sixth off David Hale to give him five RBIs and grounded out in the eighth. With his fifth career three-homer game, Betts raised his season total to 18 homers.Batters have had three-homer games on four straight days for the first time in big league history. Betts followed the New York Mets' Robinson Canó, St. Louis' Paul DeJong and Minnesota's Nelson Cruz.Andrew Cashner (10-5), coming off losses in his first two starts after Boston acquired him from Baltimore, allowed three runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.Martinez... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts hit three home runs against James Paxton during the first four innings Friday night in the Boston Red Sox's 10-5 victory over the New York Yankees, whose starting pitchers have stumbled this week in historic fashion.Betts homered on Paxton's eighth pitch in a three-run first that included J.D. Martinez's two-run homer, went deep again leading off the third for a 4-0 lead and hit a two-run drive in the fourth for a 7-0 advantage.Betts added an RBI double in the sixth off David Hale to give him five RBIs and grounded out in the eighth. With his fifth career three-homer game, Betts raised his season total to 18 homers.Batters have had three-homer games on four straight days for the first time in big league history. Betts followed the New York Mets' Robinson Canó, St. Louis' Paul DeJong and Minnesota's Nelson Cruz.Andrew Cashner (10-5), coming off losses in his first two starts after Boston acquired him from Baltimore, allowed three runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.Martinez... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Mike Leake of the Seattle Mariners lost his bid to pitch a perfect game on a leadoff single in the ninth inning by rookie Luis Rengifo, then finished off the Los Angeles Angels for a 10-0 win Friday night.A week after the worst start of his career, Leake almost achieved baseball immortality.The Angels hadn't come close to a hit and Leake hadn't gone to a three-ball count before Rengifo grounded a clean hit to right field on Leake's 79th pitch.The fans gave Leake a standing ovation and he quickly waved to acknowledge their cheers.After a walk, Leake (8-8) retired the next three batters for a one-hitter, striking out Mike Trout on a full-count pitch to end it. Leake fanned six overall and walked one.Leake's second career shutout came exactly a week after he was tagged by the Angels in his previous start, giving up seven runs on eight hits and a walk while getting just two outs. The Angels pitched a combined no-hitter that night in Anaheim while the entire club wore jerseys... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Josh Donaldson's bases-loaded single off Fernando Rodney in the ninth inning lifted the Atlanta Braves over the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Friday night after Luke Jackson allowed a tying, two-run homer to Victor Robles in the top half.Ronald Acuña Jr., who had three hits, led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk off Rodney (0-3) and took second on Dansby Swanson's single. Freddie Freeman walked on four pitches, loading the bases.Nationals manager Dave Martinez brought in left fielder Juan Soto as a fifth infielder, including three on the left side against the right-handed hitting Donaldson.Donaldson hit a 2-0 pitch over Robles to center-field warning track, and the Braves boosted their NL East lead to 6½ games over the second-place Nationals. Atlanta had lost its previous five home games against Washington.YANKEES 8, ROCKIES 2NEW YORK (AP) — Edwin Encarnación hit a go-ahead grand slam, a trio of ex-Rockies beat up on their former team and New York defeated Colorado.Encarnación... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Sánchez hit a three-run homer to help chase Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell in the first inning, CC Sabathia got his 250th career win and the New York Yankees thumped the Tampa Bay Rays 12-1 Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Gleyber Torres added a grand slam during a six-run seventh inning, and New York three-hit Tampa Bay to win its fifth in a row and extend its lead the AL East over the second-place Rays to 3½ games. Tampa Bay was swept for the second time this season — the other came against Boston in April.Snell (4-6) walked four, gave up two hits and was charged with six runs while getting one out on 39 pitches in the shortest start of his career.Sabathia (4-4) pitched one-run ball over six innings. He struck out seven and allowed three hits and three walks.ANGELS 11, BLUE JAYS 6TORONTO (AP) — Mike Trout hit two home runs, including his sixth career grand slam, and had a career-best seven RBIs as Los Angeles beat Toronto.Justin Upton also homered for the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Sánchez hit a three-run homer to help chase Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell in the first inning, CC Sabathia got his 250th career win and the New York Yankees thumped the Tampa Bay Rays 12-1 Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Gleyber Torres added a grand slam during a six-run seventh inning, and New York three-hit Tampa Bay to win its fifth in a row and extend its lead the AL East over the second-place Rays to 3½ games. Tampa Bay was swept for the second time this season — the other came against Boston in April.Snell (4-6) walked four, gave up two hits and was charged with six runs while getting one out on 39 pitches in the shortest start of his career.Sabathia (4-4) pitched one-run ball over six innings. He struck out seven and allowed three hits and three walks.ANGELS 11, BLUE JAYS 6TORONTO (AP) — Mike Trout hit two home runs, including his sixth career grand slam, and had a career-best seven RBIs as Los Angeles beat Toronto.Justin Upton also homered for the... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Charlie Morton allowed five hits in seven innings, extending his unbeaten streak to 20 starts and leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.Morton (7-0) hasn't lost since Aug. 11, and only Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, at 21 starts, has a longer active unbeaten streak. Morton struck out eight with no walks and needed just 83 pitches to complete seven innings.Austin Meadows tripled and scored on a throwing error in the third to open the scoring. Tampa Bay scored two more runs in the fifth and snapped its four-game losing streak.Spencer Turnbull (3-5) allowed three runs in five innings.METS 7, GIANTS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Vargas pitched his first shutout in two years, Amed Rosario hit a three-run homer and New York won despite losing Robinson Canó hours after his return from the injured list.Michael Conforto and Adeiny Hechavarría each had a solo homer for the Mets, who ended a three-game skid with their second win in seven games.Canó... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Charlie Morton allowed five hits in seven innings, extending his unbeaten streak to 20 starts and leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.Morton (7-0) hasn't lost since Aug. 11, and only Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, at 21 starts, has a longer active unbeaten streak. Morton struck out eight with no walks and needed just 83 pitches to complete seven innings.Austin Meadows tripled and scored on a throwing error in the third to open the scoring. Tampa Bay scored two more runs in the fifth and snapped its four-game losing streak.Spencer Turnbull (3-5) allowed three runs in five innings.METS 7, GIANTS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Vargas pitched his first shutout in two years, Amed Rosario hit a three-run homer and New York won despite losing Robinson Canó hours after his return from the injured list.Michael Conforto and Adeiny Hechavarría each had a solo homer for the Mets, who ended a three-game skid with their second win in seven games.Canó... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Charlie Morton allowed five hits in seven innings, extending his unbeaten streak to 20 starts and leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.Morton (7-0) hasn't lost since Aug. 11, and only Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, at 21 starts, has a longer active unbeaten streak. Morton struck out eight with no walks and needed just 83 pitches to complete seven innings.Austin Meadows tripled and scored on a throwing error in the third to open the scoring. Tampa Bay scored two more runs in the fifth and snapped its four-game losing streak.Spencer Turnbull (3-5) allowed three runs in five innings.METS 7, GIANTS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Vargas pitched his first shutout in two years, Amed Rosario hit a three-run homer and New York won despite losing Robinson Canó hours after his return from the injured list.Michael Conforto and Adeiny Hechavarría each had a solo homer for the Mets, who ended a three-game skid with their second win in seven games.Canó... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Charlie Morton allowed five hits in seven innings, extending his unbeaten streak to 20 starts and leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.Morton (7-0) hasn't lost since Aug. 11, and only Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, at 21 starts, has a longer active unbeaten streak. Morton struck out eight with no walks and needed just 83 pitches to complete seven innings.Austin Meadows tripled and scored on a throwing error in the third to open the scoring. Tampa Bay scored two more runs in the fifth and snapped its four-game losing streak.Spencer Turnbull (3-5) allowed three runs in five innings.METS 7, GIANTS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Vargas pitched his first shutout in two years, Amed Rosario hit a three-run homer and New York won despite losing Robinson Canó hours after his return from the injured list.Michael Conforto and Adeiny Hechavarría each had a solo homer for the Mets, who ended a three-game skid with their second win in seven games.Canó... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Charlie Morton allowed five hits in seven innings, extending his unbeaten streak to 20 starts and leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.Morton (7-0) hasn't lost since Aug. 11, and only Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, at 21 starts, has a longer active unbeaten streak. Morton struck out eight with no walks and needed just 83 pitches to complete seven innings.Austin Meadows tripled and scored on a throwing error in the third to open the scoring. Tampa Bay scored two more runs in the fifth and snapped its four-game losing streak.Spencer Turnbull (3-5) allowed three runs in five innings.METS 7, GIANTS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Vargas pitched his first shutout in two years, Amed Rosario hit a three-run homer and New York won despite losing Robinson Canó hours after his return from the injured list.Michael Conforto and Adeiny Hechavarría each had a solo homer for the Mets, who ended a three-game skid with their second win in seven games.Canó... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out a season high 15, allowing three hits over eight innings to lead the Washington Nationals over Cincinnati 4-1 on Sunday, their 12th win in 14 games against the Reds.When manager Dave Martinez visited the mound with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth, Scherzer told him emphatically to keep him in the game. Scherzer then fanned Joey Votto on three straight called strikes.Scherzer (3-5) reached double figures in strikeouts for the fourth time in 13 starts this season and 86th time in his career,Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save as Washington won for the seventh time in nine games.Sonny Gray (2-5) gave up two runs and five hits in five innings.Anthony Rendon had three hits, including an RBI single in the first, and raised his average to .331.YANKEES 8, RED SOX 5NEW YORK (AP) — David Price finally won at Yankee Stadium for the first time with the Boston Red Sox, backed by early homers from J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts.Boston... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out a season high 15, allowing three hits over eight innings to lead the Washington Nationals over Cincinnati 4-1 on Sunday, their 12th win in 14 games against the Reds.When manager Dave Martinez visited the mound with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth, Scherzer told him emphatically to keep him in the game. Scherzer then fanned Joey Votto on three straight called strikes.Scherzer (3-5) reached double figures in strikeouts for the fourth time in 13 starts this season and 86th time in his career,Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save as Washington won for the seventh time in nine games.Sonny Gray (2-5) gave up two runs and five hits in five innings.Anthony Rendon had three hits, including an RBI single in the first, and raised his average to .331.TWINS 9, RAYS 7ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jake Odorizzi (8-2) won his eighth straight decision, allowing three hits and striking out nine in six scoreless innings to lower his AL-best... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Austin Romine and Cameron Maybin each drove in two runs during New York's five-run second inning, and the Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Saturday night to complete a doubleheader sweep and run their win streak to seven in a row.Maybin also had an RBI single in the third as New York won both games after severe thunderstorms postponed Friday night's contest.Luke Voit hit a go-ahead home in the seventh inning to power the Yankees to a 7-3 victory in the opener. J.A. Happ (4-3) struck out 10 in six innings.Chance Adams (1-0) threw four innings to earn his first major league victory in the second game after Chad Green threw one inning as the Yankees' opener. Aroldis Chapman earned his 250th career save.Kansas City's Hunter Dozier doubled twice after going hitless in the opener, driving in Adalberto Mondesi in the first inning and coming around to score on Jorge Soler's double in the fourth inning.Scott Barlow (1-1) and Jorge Lopez (0-6) got the losses for... [More]