ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani became the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 Thursday night after a delay caused by a power outage.Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning and completed the feat with a single in the seventh. He is the eighth Angels player to hit for the cycle and the first since Mike Trout on May 21, 2013.Albert Pujols also homered for the Angels, becoming the sixth player ever with 200 home runs in each league. He hit 445 in 11 seasons with St. Louis and has 200 in eight years with the Angels, including 12 this season.He led off the third with a double and tripled in the fifth before Pujols' home run. A two-out single in the seventh completed the cycle in just four plate appearances, and fans at Tropicana Field gave him a standing ovation.The game was held up 36 minutes by a power delay in the fourth with the Angels leading 3-0.Yarbrough (5-3) gave up five runs and five hits (all... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani became the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 Thursday night after a delay caused by a power outage.Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning and completed the feat with a single in the seventh. He is the eighth Angels player to hit for the cycle and the first since Mike Trout on May 21, 2013.Albert Pujols also homered for the Angels, becoming the sixth player ever with 200 home runs in each league. He hit 445 in 11 seasons with St. Louis and has 200 in eight years with the Angels, including 12 this season.He led off the third with a double and tripled in the fifth before Pujols' home run. A two-out single in the seventh completed the cycle in just four plate appearances, and fans at Tropicana Field gave him a standing ovation.The game was held up 36 minutes by a power delay in the fourth with the Angels leading 3-0.Yarbrough (5-3) gave up five runs and five hits (all... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:CRUZ CONTROLTwins slugger Nelson Cruz has homered in four straight games, his streak coming soon after his return from a strained wrist that put him on the injured list for more than three weeks.The 38-year-old Cruz is batting .279 with 11 home runs and 28 RBIs, helping Minnesota post the best record in the American League. He now faces Seattle in the series opener at Target Field.TWO STOPSThe Subway Series gets underway with a day-night doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.After a rainout Monday in the Bronx, the Mets flip-flopped their pitchers. Zack Wheeler (5-3) will start the opener for them against Masahiro Tanaka (3-5) in the first of four matchups this season between the crosstown rivals. Jason Vargas (2-3) goes in the nightcap versus fellow left-hander James Paxton (3-2) and the Yankees.TAKE A SEATBraves third baseman Josh Donaldson and Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove can expect a little time off after their bench-clearing confrontation.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:CRUZ CONTROLTwins slugger Nelson Cruz has homered in four straight games, his streak coming soon after his return from a strained wrist that put him on the injured list for more than three weeks.The 38-year-old Cruz is batting .279 with 11 home runs and 28 RBIs, helping Minnesota post the best record in the American League. He now faces Seattle in the series opener at Target Field.TWO STOPSThe Subway Series gets underway with a day-night doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.After a rainout Monday in the Bronx, the Mets flip-flopped their pitchers. Zack Wheeler (5-3) will start the opener for them against Masahiro Tanaka (3-5) in the first of four matchups this season between the crosstown rivals. Jason Vargas (2-3) goes in the nightcap versus fellow left-hander James Paxton (3-2) and the Yankees.TAKE A SEATBraves third baseman Josh Donaldson and Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove can expect a little time off after their bench-clearing confrontation.... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks got to play Home Run Derby in Philly.The Diamondbacks hit three straight home runs to open the game against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jerad Eickhoff on Monday night.Eickhoff allowed two more two-run homers before he was chased in the fourth inning and the Diamondbacks up 7-3. The Diamondbacks hit two more homers in the fifth to set a club record with seven in one game.Eickhoff allowed five hits in three-plus innings — all the hits homers.Jarrod Dyson hit the first pitch of the game to right field for his fourth homer of the season. Ketel Marte followed with his 16th home run on a drive to right. David Peralta finished the longball barrage when he went deep to center for his ninth homer.It was the first time a team had hit three straight home runs to begin the first inning since the Diamondbacks did it on July 21, 2017, at home against Washington ace Max Scherzer.Eickhoff gave up two-run shots in the fourth to Eduardo Escobar and Alex Avila.... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks got to play an early round of Home Run Derby in Philly.The Diamondbacks hit three straight home runs to open the game against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jerad Eickhoff on Monday night. Eickhoff allowed two more two-run home runs before he was chased in the fourth inning and the Diamondbacks up 7-3.Eickhoff allowed five hits in 3-plus innings — all the hits homers.Jarrod Dyson hit the first pitch of the game to right field for his fourth homer of the season. Ketel Marte followed with his 16th home run on a drive to right. David Peralta finished the longball barrage when he went deep to center for his ninth homer.It was the first time a team had hit three straight home runs to begin the first inning since the Diamondbacks did it on July 21, 2017, at home against Washington ace Max Scherzer.Eickhoff gave up two-run shots in the fourth to Eduardo Escobar and Alex Avila. Eickhoff failed to retire a batter in the fourth when he was yanked by manager Gabe Kapler.The game had been delayed 35 minutes by rain, and more rain fell once play began.Arizona connected a day after the Nationals hit four home runs in a row in the eighth inning at San Diego.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Plate umpire Tom Hallion was forced to leave the game between the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets on Tuesday night soon after he was hit in the mask by a foul ball off the bat of Todd Frazier with one out in the fourth inning.Hallion was hurt on Madison Bumgarner's 3-1 pitch to Frazier. Hallion finished the inning as Frazier singled and Amed Rosario grounded into a double play, then was replaced behind the plate in the fifth by Vic Carapazza, who had been at second base. The game resumed after a 10-minute delay with a three-man crew.Frazier fouled off a pitch in the second inning at Arizona on Friday that glanced off catcher Alex Avila's mask before striking plate umpire Jim Wolf.Wolf immediately left the game.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Plate umpire Tom Hallion was forced to leave the game between the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets on Tuesday night soon after he was hit in the mask by a foul ball in the fourth inning.Hallion finished the inning, then was replaced behind the plate in the fifth by Vic Carapazza, who had been at second base. The game resumed after a 10-minute delay with a three-man crew.New York's Todd Frazier fouled off a pitch in the second inning at Arizona on Friday that glanced off catcher Alex Avila's mask before striking plate umpire Jim Wolf.Wolf immediately left the game.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Using the search engine at Baseball-Reference.com, The Associated Press evaluated each team's draft performance from 1996 through 2018, adding up wins above replacement (WAR) figures for drafted players.For each pick, the player's career WAR was added to the appropriate total for the team, depending on whether or not the player signed with the team after being drafted. Some players had their WAR totals included multiple times, if they were drafted more than once.Stats are through May 25. Compensation picks were considered part of the first round where applicable.___ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKSTotal WAR for all drafted players: 581.8 (MLB rank: 4th)Total WAR for drafted players who signed: 440.1 (rank: 5th)Total WAR for drafted players who did not sign: 141.7Impact players (10 WAR or more) drafted: 17 (rank: tie-9th)Impact players drafted and signed: 13 (rank: 12th)Most recent impact player drafted and signed: Trevor Bauer, 2011, first round, pick No. 3 (15.2 WAR)Lowest pick for impact player drafted... [More]

Using the search engine at Baseball-Reference.com, The Associated Press evaluated each team's draft performance from 1996 through 2018, adding up wins above replacement (WAR) figures for drafted players.For each pick, the player's career WAR was added to the appropriate total for the team, depending on whether or not the player signed with the team after being drafted. Some players had their WAR totals included multiple times, if they were drafted more than once.Stats are through May 25. Compensation picks were considered part of the first round where applicable.___ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKSTotal WAR for all drafted players: 581.8 (MLB rank: 4th)Total WAR for drafted players who signed: 440.1 (rank: 5th)Total WAR for drafted players who did not sign: 141.7Impact players (10 WAR or more) drafted: 17 (rank: tie-9th)Impact players drafted and signed: 13 (rank: 12th)Most recent impact player drafted and signed: Trevor Bauer, 2011, first round, pick No. 3 (15.2 WAR)Lowest pick for impact player drafted... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Plate umpire Jim Wolf was forced to leave the game between the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks when he was struck in the mask by a foul ball in the second inning.Mets third baseman Todd Frazier fouled off an 0-1 pitch that went directly back, ball glanced off Diamondbacks catcher Alex Avila's mask before striking Wolf flush and knocking off his mask.Trainers attended to Wolf and looked at his jaw and throat before he left the field.Manny Gonzalez took over behind the plate, moving from first base. The game continued Friday night with three umpires.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Willson Contreras homered in the 15th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.Contreras turned on a 1-2 pitch from Burch Smith (0-1), sending a long shot to left field that gave Chicago its 11th win in 13 games. He spun and flipped his bat toward the Cubs' dugout as the ball sailed toward the bleachers and was mobbed by teammates when he crossed the plate.Chicago moved back ahead of the Brewers for the NL Central lead after falling into a virtual tie with Friday's 7-0 loss. Milwaukee had its season-high seven-game win streak snapped.Tyler Chatwood (2-0) struck out seven in four innings to cap a strong effort by the bullpen after Cole Hamels worked seven solid innings.Hamels gave up a run and three hits in his fourth straight no-decision. Seven relievers combined to give up one hit the rest of the way.RAYS 7, YANKEES 2ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Willy Adames and Ji-Man Choi hit run-scoring infield singles in the sixth after tempers... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona placed catcher Alex Avila on the injured list with a strained left quadriceps, an injury sustained while circling the bases on a home run.Avila was hurt when he homered off Boston infielder Eduardo Nunez, who was on the mound during the eighth inning of the Diamondbacks' 15-8 victory Friday."He was gearing up to get to second base, and when he saw it went over the fence he kind of geared down and felt it grab," manager Torey Lovullo said Sunday. "We don't think it is going to be anything that is too lengthy."Avila is hitting .333 with two homers and five RBIs in six games.Arizona, which opened the season with three catchers, recalled infielder/outfielder Tim LoCastro from Reno of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's a happening around the majors today:LA LONGBALLSCody Bellinger and the Los Angeles Dodgers are on a home run rampage, hitting a whopping 21 in their first eight games — that's the second-most in major league history in that span, only behind the St. Louis Cardinals' 23 in 2000. After launching a franchise-record 235 homers last year, the NL champion Dodgers have connected in every game so far this season.Rockies righty Jon Gray tries to keep the Dodgers in the park when he starts against them at Coors Field. Bellinger leads the majors with six home runs.SKIDSThe defending World Series champion Red Sox are 2-7 on their season-opening 11-game road trip. They got pounded 15-8 Friday night in Arizona — starting pitcher Rick Porcello flung a water cooler against the back wall of the Boston dugout after getting hit hard, and infielder Eduardo Nunez came in to pitch in the eighth inning and gave up a home run to Alex Avila. ... Joey Votto and the Reds have been shut out in three... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger and Russell Martin homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers kept up their longball barrage, beating Colorado 10-6 Friday in the Rockies' home opener.After hitting a franchise-record 235 home runs last year, the NL champion Dodgers have connected a whopping 21 times in only eight games this season. They've homered in every game so far.Bellinger hit his sixth of the year, breaking the game open with a three-run drive in the fifth. Muncy finished a double shy of a cycle, walking in the ninth.Trevor Story homered twice for the Rockies.Kenta Maeda (2-0) threw five sharp innings and cruised through a scuffling Colorado lineup. He allowed four hits and his only run on Nolan Arenado's sacrifice fly.Tyler Anderson (0-2) couldn't find his groove in allowing six runs over four innings.RED SOX 15, DIAMONDBACKS 8PHOENIX (AP) — Ketel Marte homered from both sides of the plate, including a grand slam, and Arizona won its home opener by keeping Boston in a funk.Adam Jones... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger and Russell Martin homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers kept up their longball barrage, beating Colorado 10-6 Friday in the Rockies' home opener.After hitting a franchise-record 235 home runs last year, the NL champion Dodgers have connected a whopping 21 times in only eight games this season. They've homered in every game so far.Bellinger hit his sixth of the year, breaking the game open with a three-run drive in the fifth. Muncy finished a double shy of a cycle, walking in the ninth.Trevor Story homered twice for the Rockies.Kenta Maeda (2-0) threw five sharp innings and cruised through a scuffling Colorado lineup. He allowed four hits and his only run on Nolan Arenado's sacrifice fly.Tyler Anderson (0-2) couldn't find his groove in allowing six runs over four innings.RED SOX 15, DIAMONDBACKS 8PHOENIX (AP) — Ketel Marte homered from both sides of the plate, including a grand slam, and Arizona won its home opener by keeping Boston in a funk.Adam Jones... [More]

A look at what's a happening around the majors Saturday:LA LONGBALLSCody Bellinger and the Los Angeles Dodgers are on a home run rampage, hitting a whopping 21 in their first eight games — that's the second-most in major league history in that span, only behind the St. Louis Cardinals' 23 in 2000. After launching a franchise-record 235 homers last year, the NL champion Dodgers have connected in every game so far this season.Rockies righty Jon Gray tries to keep the Dodgers in the park when he starts against them at Coors Field. Bellinger leads the majors with six home runs.SKIDSThe defending World Series champion Red Sox are 2-7 on their season-opening 11-game road trip. They got pounded 15-8 Friday night in Arizona — starting pitcher Rick Porcello flung a water cooler against the back wall of the Boston dugout after getting hit hard, and infielder Eduardo Nunez came in to pitch in the eighth inning and gave up a home run to Alex Avila. ... Joey Votto and the Reds have been shut out in... [More]

Bryce Harper got his first hit with Philadelphia, and Manny Machado homered for San Diego.Both of baseball's big offseason free agents are finally getting into the swing of things at spring training.Harper lined a 97 mph fastball to center field for a single in the fourth inning Wednesday against Detroit, snapping his 0-for-9 start to Grapefruit League play with the Phillies. The slugger jokingly gestured toward the dugout that he wanted to keep the ball as a souvenir.It was Harper's 16th plate appearance over six exhibition games. Spencer Turnbull struck him out swinging in the first inning.His final time up, Harper walked against Reed Garrett leading off the seventh. The 2015 NL MVP has struck out six times and drawn five walks."Took great swings on pitches that he just missed and fouled back," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after his team's 3-1 loss to the Tigers."And one swing, a foul ball (down the third base side) that was a real near-miss. You could see with just a little bit... [More]

Bryce Harper is on the board at spring training.The slugger lined a 97 mph fastball to center field in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against Detroit for his first hit with the Philadelphia Phillies after an 0-for-9 start.Harper jokingly gestured toward the dugout that he wanted to keep the ball.It was Harper's 16th plate appearance over six exhibition games. Spencer Turnbull struck him out swinging in the first.His final time up, Harper walked against Reed Garrett to lead off the seventh. Harper has struck out six times and drawn five walks."Took great swings on pitches that he just missed and fouled back," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after the 3-1 loss to the Tigers."And one swing, a foul ball (down the third base side) that was a real near-miss. You could see with just a little bit better timing that ball is in the seats in left field. So, a lot to get excited about there with Bryce."Harper played seven innings in right field.Kapler plans to hit Harper third regularly during... [More]

Bryce Harper got his first hit of spring training.Harper lined a 97-mph fastball to center in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against Detroit his first spring training hit with the Philadelphia Phillies after a 0-for-9 start.Harper jokingly gestured toward the dugout that he wanted to keep the ball.It was Harper's 16th plate appearance over six exhibition games. Spencer Turnbull struck him out swinging in the first.In his final at-bat, Harper walked against Reed Garrett to lead off the seventh. Harper has struck out six times and drawn five walks."Took great swings on pitches that he just missed and fouled back," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after the 3-1 loss to the Tigers."And one swing, a foul ball (down the third-base side) that was a real near-miss. You could see with just a little bit better timing that ball is in the seats in left field. So, a lot to get excited about there with Bryce."Harper played seven innings in right field.Kapler plans to hit Harper third regularly... [More]