HOUSTON (AP) — Nestor Cortes and three relievers combined for a three-hitter and Brett Gardner and DJ LeMahieu each drove in two runs to lead the New York Yankees over the Houston Astros 4-0 on Friday night. Making a spot start, Cortes permitted two hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking two and lowering his ERA to 1.05. Lucas Luetge (3-1) pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings for the win. Chad Green gave up one hit in two innings and Jonathan Loaisiga threw a perfect ninth. It was New York’s first visit to Houston since Game 6 of the 2019 AL Championship Series. The Astros advanced to the World Series with a 6-4 win in that game on a two-run homer by Jose Altuve with two outs in the ninth. The Astros are commemorating the event by giving away replica 2019 AL champions trophies on Friday night, 2019 AL champions replica rings on Saturday and Altuve jerseys for the finale on Sunday. GIANTS 5, NATIONALS 3 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Curt Casali hit a two-run homer while filling in for injured... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Nestor Cortes and three relievers combined for a three-hitter and Brett Gardner and DJ LeMahieu each drove in two runs to lead the New York Yankees over the Houston Astros 4-0 on Friday night. Making a spot start, Cortes permitted two hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking two and lowering his ERA to 1.05. Lucas Luetge (3-1) pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings for the win. Chad Green gave up one hit in two innings and Jonathan Loaisiga threw a perfect ninth. It was New York’s first visit to Houston since Game 6 of the 2019 AL Championship Series. The Astros advanced to the World Series with a 6-4 win in that game on a two-run homer by Jose Altuve with two outs in the ninth. The Astros are commemorating the event by giving away replica 2019 AL champions trophies on Friday night, 2019 AL champions replica rings on Saturday and Altuve jerseys for the finale on Sunday. GIANTS 5, NATIONALS 3 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Curt Casali hit a two-run homer while filling in for injured... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Nestor Cortes and three relievers combined for a three-hitter and Brett Gardner and DJ LeMahieu each drove in two runs to lead the New York Yankees over the Houston Astros 4-0 on Friday night. Making a spot start, Cortes permitted two hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking two and lowering his ERA to 1.05. Lucas Luetge (3-1) pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings for the win. Chad Green gave up one hit in two innings and Jonathan Loaisiga threw a perfect ninth. It was New York’s first visit to Houston since Game 6 of the 2019 AL Championship Series. The Astros advanced to the World Series with a 6-4 win in that game on a two-run homer by Jose Altuve with two outs in the ninth. The Astros are commemorating the event by giving away replica 2019 AL champions trophies on Friday night, 2019 AL champions replica rings on Saturday and Altuve jerseys for the finale on Sunday. CUBS 10, CARDINALS 5 CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks won his ninth straight decision, Patrick Wisdom hit... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Bryce Harper homered and tied a career high with five hits, Andrew McCutchen smacked a grand slam and the Philadelphia Phillies handed Chicago its 11th straight loss, beating the Cubs 15-10 on Tuesday night. Rhys Hoskins also went deep. The Phillies jumped on Jake Arrieta (5-9) and finished two shy of a season high with 16 hits. The Cubs extended their worst skid since they dropped 12 in a row in May 2012. Harper had a three-run homer and a season-high four RBIs. McCutchen smacked his third career grand slam and second this season. Jean Segura chipped in with four hits and four runs. Aaron Nola (6-5) went six innings, allowing four runs and six hits. He struck out eight and walked one. Arrieta matched the second-shortest start of his career, lasting just 1 2/3 innings in his second straight outing. He gave up seven runs, tying a season high, and six hits. Javier Báez hit two homers and Robinson Chirinos added a solo shot for the Cubs. ANGELS 5, RED SOX 3 ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)... [More]

Tuesday, July 13At Coors Field, DenverAmerican LeagueCatcher — Salvador Pérez, Kansas City Royals First Baseman — Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays Second Baseman — Marcus Semien, Toronto Blue Jays Shortstop — Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox Third Baseman — Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox Designated Hitter — Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels Outfield — Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels Outfield — Aaron Judge, New York Yankees Outfield — Teoscar Hernández, Toronto Blue Jays National LeagueCatcher — Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants First Baseman — Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves Second Baseman — Adam Frazier, Pittsburgh Pirates Shortstop — Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres Third Baseman — Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals Outfield — Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves Outfield — Nick Castellanos, Cincinnati Reds Outfield — Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds ___ Final percentagesAmerican LeagueCatchers: Salvador Pérez 62%, Martín Maldonado 20%, Yasmani Grandal 18% First basemen: Vladimir Guerrero... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Fans came for Sho time, to watch Shohei Ohtani perform Ruthian feats. Instead, the 26-year-old Japanese sensation exited almost as quickly as the Bambino did during a famous early career outing. Offensive fireworks and mound magnificence had been combined by Ohtani in a manner not seen since Ruth pitched regularly for the Red Sox in 1919, the last season before Boston sold him to New York. Taking the mound below Yankee Stadium’s famous facade, Ohtani failed miserably but spectacularly. He allowed a career-worst seven runs and got just two outs. A miserably hot and humid night ended in a shocking Angels victory, unprecedented going back to at least 1900. Los Angeles became the first team to give up seven runs in the first inning and score seven in the ninth to win, beating the Yankees 11-8 at 1:06 a.m. Thursday in a game that took 5 hours, 57 minutes, including a pair of rain delays. Ohtani is the talk of baseball, a focus of the All-Star Game, where he will be the first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's debut on the Yankee Stadium mound sure didn't last long. Babe Ruth, he was not. At least on this night. The two-way phenom got only two outs Wednesday for the Los Angeles Angels during his highly anticipated first pitching appearance in the Bronx. Ohtani, who leads the majors with 28 home runs, was chased after four early walks and charged with a career-worst seven runs in a game later delayed more than two hours by rain during a pair of stoppages. Making his career-high 12th pitching start of the season on a 92-degree night, Ohtani flopped long before the showers arrived. He was handed a 2-0 lead on Phil Gosselin's two-run homer in the top of the first but quickly gave it back. The 26-year-old right-hander walked his first three batters and crossed up catcher Kurt Suzuki, resulting in a passed ball that advanced two runners. A visit from pitching coach Matt Wise didn't do the trick, either. Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres hit consecutive RBI singles... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's debut on the Yankee Stadium mound sure didn't last long. Babe Ruth, he was not. At least on this night. The two-way phenom got only two outs Wednesday for the Los Angeles Angels during his highly anticipated first pitching appearance in the Bronx. Ohtani, who leads the majors with 28 home runs, was chased after four early walks and charged with a career-worst seven runs in a game delayed twice by rain. Making his career-high 12th pitching start of the season on a 92-degree night, Ohtani flopped long before the showers arrived. He was handed a 2-0 lead on Phil Gosselin's two-run homer in the top of the first but quickly gave it back. The 26-year-old right-hander walked his first three batters and crossed up catcher Kurt Suzuki, resulting in a passed ball that advanced two runners. A visit from pitching coach Matt Wise didn't do the trick, either. Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres hit consecutive RBI singles to tie it before Ohtani struck out Rougned Odor... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's debut on the Yankee Stadium mound sure didn't last long. Babe Ruth, he was not. At least on this night. The two-way phenom got only two outs Wednesday for the Los Angeles Angels during his highly anticipated first pitching appearance in the Bronx. Ohtani, who leads the majors with 28 home runs, was chased after four early walks and charged with a career-worst seven runs in a game delayed by rain in the third inning. Making his career-high 12th pitching start of the season on a 92-degree night, Ohtani flopped long before the showers arrived. He was handed a 2-0 lead on Phil Gosselin's two-run homer in the top of the first but quickly gave it back. The 26-year-old right-hander walked his first three batters and crossed up catcher Kurt Suzuki, resulting in a passed ball that advanced two runners. A visit from pitching coach Matt Wise didn't do the trick, either. Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres hit consecutive RBI singles to tie it before Ohtani struck out... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's debut on the Yankee Stadium mound sure didn't last long. Babe Ruth, he was not. At least on this night. The two-way phenom got only two outs Wednesday for the Los Angeles Angels during his highly anticipated first pitching appearance in the Bronx. Ohtani, who leads the majors with 28 home runs, was chased after four early walks and charged with a career-worst seven runs in a game that was delayed by rain in the third inning. Making his career-high 12th pitching start of the season, Ohtani flopped long before the showers arrived. He was handed a 2-0 lead on Phil Gosselin's two-run homer in the top of the first inning but quickly gave it back. The 26-year-old right-hander walked his first three batters and crossed up catcher Kurt Suzuki on one pitch, resulting in a passed ball that advanced two runners. An early visit from pitching coach Matt Wise didn't do the trick, either. Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres hit consecutive RBI singles to tie it before... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Max Scherzer threw his glove and hat to the grass, then stared down Phillies manager Joe Girardi after getting checked for a third time by umpires for sticky stuff as the Washington Nationals beat Philadelphia 3-2 Tuesday night. Scherzer (6-4) looked sharp in his return to the rotation after missing a start due to a groin injury, striking out eight in five innings. Girardi apparently didn’t like what he saw. In the fourth, Scherzer threw high and inside to Alec Bohm, sending him sprawling to the ground before striking him out. Prior to the next batter, Girardi asked the umpires to check Scherzer. Scherzer already had been checked by second-base umpire Alfonso Marquez after the first and third inning. So, when he was approached for a third time, this time at Girardi’s request, Scherzer threw his glove and hat to the ground, unbuckled his belt and appeared ready to take his pants off. Yan Gomes had a pair of RBI singles for the Nationals, who have won three straight and... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Max Scherzer threw his glove and hat to the grass, then stared down Phillies manager Joe Girardi after getting checked for a third time by umpires for sticky stuff as the Washington Nationals beat Philadelphia 3-2 Tuesday night. Scherzer (6-4) looked sharp in his return to the rotation after missing a start due to a groin injury, striking out eight in five innings. Girardi apparently didn’t like what he saw. In the fourth, Scherzer threw high and inside to Alec Bohm, sending him sprawling to the ground before striking him out. Prior to the next batter, Girardi asked the umpires to check Scherzer. Scherzer already had been checked by second-base umpire Alfonso Marquez after the first and third inning. So, when he was approached for a third time, this time at Girardi’s request, Scherzer threw his glove and hat to the ground, unbuckled his belt and appeared ready to take his pants off. Yan Gomes had a pair of RBI singles for the Nationals, who have won three straight and... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Max Scherzer threw his glove and hat to the grass, then stared down Phillies manager Joe Girardi after getting checked for a third time by umpires for sticky stuff as the Washington Nationals beat Philadelphia 3-2 Tuesday night. Scherzer (6-4) looked sharp in his return to the rotation after missing a start due to a groin injury, striking out eight in five innings. Girardi apparently didn’t like what he saw. In the fourth, Scherzer threw high and inside to Alec Bohm, sending him sprawling to the ground before striking him out. Prior to the next batter, Girardi asked the umpires to check Scherzer. Scherzer already had been checked by second-base umpire Alfonso Marquez after the first and third inning. So, when he was approached for a third time, this time at Girardi’s request, Scherzer threw his glove and hat to the ground, unbuckled his belt and appeared ready to take his pants off. Yan Gomes had a pair of RBI singles for the Nationals, who have won three straight and... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Max Scherzer threw his glove and hat to the grass, then stared down Phillies manager Joe Girardi after getting checked for a third time by umpires for sticky stuff as the Washington Nationals beat Philadelphia 3-2 Tuesday night. Scherzer (6-4) looked sharp in his return to the rotation after missing a start due to a groin injury, striking out eight in five innings. Girardi apparently didn’t like what he saw. In the fourth, Scherzer threw high and inside to Alec Bohm, sending him sprawling to the ground before striking him out. Prior to the next batter, Girardi asked the umpires to check Scherzer. Scherzer already had been checked by second-base umpire Alfonso Marquez after the first and third inning. So, when he was approached for a third time, this time at Girardi’s request, Scherzer threw his glove and hat to the ground, unbuckled his belt and appeared ready to take his pants off. Yan Gomes had a pair of RBI singles for the Nationals, who have won three straight and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees turned their record-tying third triple play this season to strand the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, bailing out closer Aroldis Chapman and closing down a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Gary Sánchez spoiled Sean Manaea’s gem with a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning, and Jonathan Loaisiga (7-2) and Lucas Luetge turned a 2-1 lead over to Chapman. Jed Lowrie and Chad Pinder walked, and Sean Murphy grounded to Gio Urshela, who stepped on third and threw to DJ LeMahieu. The second baseman relayed the ball to first to get Murphy by a step. New York also turned a triple play Thursday in Buffalo against the Blue Jays and also had one May 21 against the Chicago White Sox. Chapman’s 16th save sent Oakland to its first road series loss this season after eight wins and a split. BLUE JAYS 7, ORIOLES 4 BALTIMORE (AP) — Reese McGuire had three doubles during a four-hit performance. Hyun Jin Ryu (6-4) gave up one run and three hits in seven... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees turned their record-tying third triple play this season to strand the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, bailing out closer Aroldis Chapman and closing down a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Gary Sánchez spoiled Sean Manaea’s gem with a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning, and Jonathan Loaisiga (7-2) and Lucas Luetge turned a 2-1 lead over to Chapman. Jed Lowrie and Chad Pinder walked, and Sean Murphy grounded to Gio Urshela, who stepped on third and threw to DJ LeMahieu. The second baseman relayed the ball to first to get Murphy by a step. New York also turned a triple play Thursday in Buffalo against the Blue Jays and also had one May 21 against the Chicago White Sox. Chapman’s 16th save sent Oakland to its first road series loss this season after eight wins and a split. BLUE JAYS 7, ORIOLES 4 BALTIMORE (AP) — Reese McGuire had three doubles during a four-hit performance. Hyun Jin Ryu (6-4) gave up one run and three hits in seven... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees turned their record-tying third triple play this season to strand the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, bailing out closer Aroldis Chapman and closing down a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Gary Sánchez spoiled Sean Manaea’s gem with a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning, and Jonathan Loaisiga (7-2) and Lucas Luetge turned a 2-1 lead over to Chapman. Jed Lowrie and Chad Pinder walked, and Sean Murphy grounded to Gio Urshela, who stepped on third and threw to DJ LeMahieu. The second baseman relayed the ball to first to get Murphy by a step. New York also turned a triple play Thursday in Buffalo against the Blue Jays and also had one May 21 against the Chicago White Sox. Chapman’s 16th save sent Oakland to its first road series loss this season after eight wins and a split. BLUE JAYS 7, ORIOLES 4 BALTIMORE (AP) — Reese McGuire had three doubles during a four-hit performance. Hyun Jin Ryu (6-4) gave up one run and three hits in seven... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees turned their record-tying third triple play this season to strand the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, bailing out closer Aroldis Chapman and closing down a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Gary Sánchez spoiled Sean Manaea’s gem with a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning, and Jonathan Loaisiga (7-2) and Lucas Luetge turned a 2-1 lead over to Chapman. Jed Lowrie and Chad Pinder walked, and Sean Murphy grounded to Gio Urshela, who stepped on third and threw to DJ LeMahieu. The second baseman relayed the ball to first to get Murphy by a step. New York also turned a triple play Thursday in Buffalo against the Blue Jays and also had one May 21 against the Chicago White Sox. Chapman’s 16th save sent Oakland to its first road series loss this season after eight wins and a split. BLUE JAYS 7, ORIOLES 4 BALTIMORE (AP) — Reese McGuire had three doubles during a four-hit performance. Hyun Jin Ryu (6-4) gave up one run and three hits in seven... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gio Urshela stayed in the game despite a shard of a broken bat hitting his right eye in the second inning and hit a go-ahead homer eighth as the New York Yankees rallied from a three-run deficit in a 7-5 victory Saturday that stopped the Oakland Athletics’ seven-game winning streak. Aroldis Chapman struck out Matt Chapman on a 103.4 mph pitch to strand two runners in the ninth for his 15th save. Urshela singled in New York’s first run in the fourth and put the Yankees ahead 5-4 in the eighth when he lifted a 98.6 mph fastball from Jesús Luzardo (2-4) into the netting above Monument Park in center. DJ LeMahieu added a two-run single against Sergio Romo. Chad Green (2-4) struck out the side in the eighth. PADRES 7, REDS 5 SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Kim Ha-seong hit a tiebreaking, two-run home run with two outs in the eighth — three innings after he replaced injured star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. — and San Diego beat Cincinnati. Tatis left after apparently hurting his left... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gio Urshela stayed in the game despite a shard of a broken bat hitting his right eye in the second inning and hit a go-ahead homer eighth as the New York Yankees rallied from a three-run deficit in a 7-5 victory Saturday that stopped the Oakland Athletics’ seven-game winning streak. Aroldis Chapman struck out Matt Chapman on a 103.4 mph pitch to strand two runners in the ninth for his 15th save. Urshela singled in New York’s first run in the fourth and put the Yankees ahead 5-4 in the eighth when he lifted a 98.6 mph fastball from Jesús Luzardo (2-4) into the netting above Monument Park in center. DJ LeMahieu added a two-run single against Sergio Romo. Chad Green (2-4) struck out the side in the eighth. PADRES 7, REDS 5 SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Kim Ha-seong hit a tiebreaking, two-run home run with two outs in the eighth — three innings after he replaced injured star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. — and San Diego beat Cincinnati. Tatis left after apparently hurting his left... [More]