CLEVELAND (AP) — Austin Meadows hit an RBI single in the 10th inning to cap Tampa Bay’s comeback in a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night, hours after the Rays acquired slugger Nelson Cruz from Minnesota. Meadows’ one-out liner off Bryan Shaw (3-4) brought home Randy Arozarena, who began the 10th at second base. Down 4-2 in the ninth, the Rays rallied to tie it against closer James Karinchak on a leadoff homer by Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe’s two-out RBI double. Pete Fairbanks (3-3) pitched the ninth and Diego Castillo struck out Franmil Reyes and Bobby Bradley with the potential tying run at third in the 10th for his 14th save. The Rays announced their acquisition of Cruz just before the first pitch. Needing a big bat for the playoff push, Tampa Bay got a potent one from the disappointing Twins. Cruz has 436 career homers, and his presence alone will re-shape Tampa Bay’s lineup. Indians starter Cal Quantrill allowed just one run in six strong innings before turning it... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Austin Meadows hit an RBI single in the 10th inning to cap Tampa Bay’s comeback in a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night, hours after the Rays acquired slugger Nelson Cruz from Minnesota. Meadows’ one-out liner off Bryan Shaw (3-4) brought home Randy Arozarena, who began the 10th at second base. Down 4-2 in the ninth, the Rays rallied to tie it against closer James Karinchak on a leadoff homer by Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe’s two-out RBI double. Pete Fairbanks (3-3) pitched the ninth and Diego Castillo struck out Franmil Reyes and Bobby Bradley with the potential tying run at third in the 10th for his 14th save. The Rays announced their acquisition of Cruz just before the first pitch. Needing a big bat for the playoff push, Tampa Bay got a potent one from the disappointing Twins. Cruz has 436 career homers, and his presence alone will re-shape Tampa Bay’s lineup. Indians starter Cal Quantrill allowed just one run in six strong innings before turning it... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alcides Escobar homered in the eighth inning and hit a winning single in the ninth Sunday as the Washington Nationals wrapped up a disturbing weekend with an 8-7 win over the San Diego Padres. A day after the game was suspended in the sixth inning because of a shooting outside Nationals Park, the Padres completed a 10-4 victory. Washington then came back to end a six-game losing streak. Tres Barrera singled off Mark Melancon (2-2) with one out in the ninth and, after failing on a bunt attempt, Victor Robles was hit by pitch. Escobar hit a flyball that center fielder Trent Grisham couldn’t corral and Barrera scored. Brad Hand (5-2) earned the victory. Juan Soto joined Josh Harrison with three hits and added a two-run homer. Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer and Jackson Profar homered for the Padres. Nationals ace Max Scherzer allowed four runs on four hits in seven innings. He struck out eight. In the completion of Saturday's suspended game, Fernando Tatis Jr. had his third four-hit... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alcides Escobar homered in the eighth inning and hit a winning single in the ninth Sunday as the Washington Nationals wrapped up a disturbing weekend with an 8-7 win over the San Diego Padres. A day after the game was suspended in the sixth inning because of a shooting outside Nationals Park, the Padres completed a 10-4 victory. Washington then came back to end a six-game losing streak. Tres Barrera singled off Mark Melancon (2-2) with one out in the ninth and, after failing on a bunt attempt, Victor Robles was hit by pitch. Escobar hit a flyball that center fielder Trent Grisham couldn’t corral and Barrera scored. Brad Hand (5-2) earned the victory. Juan Soto joined Josh Harrison with three hits and added a two-run homer. Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer and Jackson Profar homered for the Padres. Nationals ace Max Scherzer allowed four runs on four hits in seven innings. He struck out eight. In the completion of Saturday's suspended game, Fernando Tatis Jr. had his third four-hit... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Judge homered for the third time in two games, Domingo Germán had another stellar outing at Camden Yards and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 on Saturday night. After hitting two home runs Friday, Judge provided New York a 5-0 lead with a two-run shot in the second. Six of Judge’s 11 homers this season have come against Baltimore. Germán (3-2) allowed one run and four hits with six strikeouts and two walks over six innings. He has won all four of his career starts in Baltimore. Tyler Wade had three hits while batting ninth for New York, which improved to 4-1 on its 10-game road trip and has won 11 of its last 14 games overall. The Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the first on a passed ball by catcher Chance Sisco and a two-run single by Gary Sánchez off Jorge López (1-4). Judge increased the margin with the two-run homer in the second. He has hit 23 home runs in 59 career games against Baltimore. BLUE JAYS 4, PHILLIES 0 DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Judge homered for the third time in two games, Domingo Germán had another stellar outing at Camden Yards and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 on Saturday night. After hitting two home runs Friday, Judge provided New York a 5-0 lead with a two-run shot in the second. Six of Judge’s 11 homers this season have come against Baltimore. Germán (3-2) allowed one run and four hits with six strikeouts and two walks over six innings. He has won all four of his career starts in Baltimore. Tyler Wade had three hits while batting ninth for New York, which improved to 4-1 on its 10-game road trip and has won 11 of its last 14 games overall. The Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the first on a passed ball by catcher Chance Sisco and a two-run single by Gary Sánchez off Jorge López (1-4). Judge increased the margin with the two-run homer in the second. He has hit 23 home runs in 59 career games against Baltimore. BLUE JAYS 4, PHILLIES 0 DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Judge homered for the third time in two games, Domingo Germán had another stellar outing at Camden Yards and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 on Saturday night. After hitting two home runs Friday, Judge provided New York a 5-0 lead with a two-run shot in the second. Six of Judge’s 11 homers this season have come against Baltimore. Germán (3-2) allowed one run and four hits with six strikeouts and two walks over six innings. He has won all four of his career starts in Baltimore. Tyler Wade had three hits while batting ninth for New York, which improved to 4-1 on its 10-game road trip and has won 11 of its last 14 games overall. The Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the first on a passed ball by catcher Chance Sisco and a two-run single by Gary Sánchez off Jorge López (1-4). Judge increased the margin with the two-run homer in the second. He has hit 23 home runs in 59 career games against Baltimore. BLUE JAYS 4, PHILLIES 0 DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Judge homered for the third time in two games, Domingo Germán had another stellar outing at Camden Yards and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 on Saturday night. After hitting two home runs Friday, Judge provided New York a 5-0 lead with a two-run shot in the second. Six of Judge’s 11 homers this season have come against Baltimore. Germán (3-2) allowed one run and four hits with six strikeouts and two walks over six innings. He has won all four of his career starts in Baltimore. Tyler Wade had three hits while batting ninth for New York, which improved to 4-1 on its 10-game road trip and has won 11 of its last 14 games overall. The Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the first on a passed ball by catcher Chance Sisco and a two-run single by Gary Sánchez off Jorge López (1-4). Judge increased the margin with the two-run homer in the second. He has hit 23 home runs in 59 career games against Baltimore. BLUE JAYS 4, PHILLIES 0 DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and is expected to be sidelined at least three to five weeks. Manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that the AL champions should have a better idea of how long the South Korean might be out after Wednesday’s operation. “I don’t think anything’s been totally defined on: `Here’s the issue.’ We know there is an issue,” Cash said before the Rays spring training finale against the Detroit Tigers. “Right now, the timetable is three to five weeks. ... If there’s a loose body in there and they take it out, that’s different than maybe having something else in there,” the manager added. Choi, who hit .230 with three homers and 16 RBIs in 42 games last season, was slowed much of spring training by the sore knee. He’s set to earn $2.45 million this year after winning a salary arbitration hearing against the AL champions. With Choi out, Yoshi Tsutsugo, Yandy Diaz and Mike Brousseau figure to share most of the playing time at first base. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mookie Betts slid headfirst across home plate, then popped up and did a double pump with his right fist. An inning later, he got to trot around the bases after going deep. That big commitment to Betts is already paying off for the Los Angeles Dodgers this postseason. After run-saving catches in three consecutive potential elimination games to get the Dodgers this far, Betts put his speed, instincts and power on display in Game 1 of the World Series. There was a Ruth-like journey around the bases to score — and that was before his solo homer in an 8-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night. Betts led off the Dodgers fifth with a walk and stole second base. After NL Championship Series MVP Corey Seagar drew a walk behind him, they pulled off a double steal. Then, with the Rays infield playing in, Max Muncy hit a bouncer to first baseman Yandy Diaz, who threw on the run after Betts broke quickly for the plate. He slid past the attempted tag for a 3-1 lead. The... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 1 of the World Series (all times local): ___ 4:37 p.m. Pentatonix will sing the national anthem before Game 1 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Grammy-winning a cappella group from Arlington, Texas, prerecorded the song that will be shown on video at Globe Life Field. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will give the call of “Play ball!” Ceremonial first pitch duties will be handled by four frontline healthcare workers who are serving during the coronavirus pandemic. Married nurses Jamie Edens and Ryan Ward are from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Erika Combs is a nurse in Dallas. Brittney Burns is a nurse practitioner from San Antonio. ___ 4:22 p.m. Cody Bellinger was in his normal spot in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Bellinger was batting sixth and playing center field Tuesday night, two days after knocking his right shoulder out of whack during his... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Rookie left-hander Shane McClanahan was a surprise addition to the 28-man roster the Tampa Bay Rays announced for the AL first-round series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. McClanahan was a first-round pick in the amateur draft two years ago who pitched at Class A and Double-A in 2019. He joined first baseman Ji-Man Choi and infielder Yandy Diaz, who have been on the injured list, in being added to the active roster before Game 1 of the best-of-three series. To make room on the 40-man roster for McClanahan, lefty reliever Sean Gilmartin was designated for assignment. Gilmartin is the husband of White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Three players who were on the regular season-ending roster — catcher Kevan Smith, left-handed starter Josh Fleming and lefty reliever Ryan Sherriff — were not included on the roster against Toronto. They remain in the 60-man postseason eligible player pool and can be added in future rounds. Tampa Bay’s 28-man roster... [More]

A capsule look at the best-of-three playoff series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Florida, beginning Tuesday. ___ TORONTO BLUE JAYS Record: 32-28. Playoff Entry: AL wild card. Playoff Seed: No. 8. Manager: Charlie Montoyo (second season). Projected Rotation: RHP Matt Shoemaker (0-1, 4.71 ERA), LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (5-2, 2.69), RHP Taijuan Walker (4-3, 2.70 with Seattle and Toronto). Top Hitters: OF Teoscar Hernandez (.289, 16 HRs, 34 RBIs), OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (.308, 11, 33), OF Randal Grichuk (.273, 12, 35). Top Relievers: RHP Anthony Bass (2-3, 3.51 ERA, 7 saves), RHP Rafael Dolis (2-2, 1.50, 5 saves). Series Summary: The Blue Jays make their eighth trip to the postseason and first since 2016, when they lost in the ALCS for the second straight year. Barred from playing home games north of the border because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blue Jays began the season with an extended road trip before moving into Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, home of... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — If Aroldis Chapman's 101 mph brush-back pitch Tuesday night didn't push the Yankees-Rays rivalry to its boiling point, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash's threat certainly did. “Somebody’s got to be accountable," Cash said. “And the last thing I’ll say on this is I got a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 mph. Period.”Chapman threw a 101 mph fastball near the head of pinch-hitter Michael Brosseau while closing out his first save of the season, prompting the benches to empty after New York ended a six-game losing streak against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 5-3 victory. “We’re talking about a 100 mph fastball over a young man’s head,” Cash said. “It makes no sense. It’s poor judgment, poor coaching, it’s just poor teaching what they’re doing and what they’re allowing to do, the chirping from the dugout."Chapman’s first pitch to Brosseau with two outs in the ninth inning whizzed past Brosseau’s head. Umpires convened before issuing warnings to both benches, and Cash was ejected... [More]

Rays first. Randy Arozarena called out on strikes. Brandon Lowe flies out to left field to Mike Tauchman. Yandy Diaz singles to deep right field, advances to 2nd. Fielding error by Clint Frazier. Ji-Man Choi homers to deep right field. Yandy Diaz scores. Willy Adames doubles to shallow left field. Joey Wendle lines out to deep center field to Brett Gardner.2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Rays 2, Yankees 0.Rays second. Manuel Margot flies out to right center field to Brett Gardner. Kevin Kiermaier homers to right field. Michael Perez walks. Randy Arozarena strikes out swinging. Brandon Lowe strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 3, Yankees 0.Rays fifth. Ji-Man Choi walks. Willy Adames singles to shallow left field. Ji-Man Choi to second. Joey Wendle hit by pitch. Willy Adames to second. Ji-Man Choi to third. Manuel Margot singles to center field, advances to 2nd. Joey Wendle out at third. Willy Adames to third. Ji-Man Choi scores. Kevin Kiermaier strikes out on... [More]

Rays first. Joey Wendle homers to right field. Ji-Man Choi lines out to deep right center field to Lewis Brinson. Yandy Diaz hit by pitch. Yoshi Tsutsugo homers to right field. Yandy Diaz scores. Willy Adames singles to center field. Brian O'Grady strikes out swinging. Hunter Renfroe flies out to left field to Corey Dickerson.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 3, Marlins 0.Rays fourth. Willy Adames flies out to deep left center field to Corey Dickerson. Brian O'Grady singles to center field. Hunter Renfroe reaches on error. Brian O'Grady to third. Throwing error by Jonathan Villar. Kevin Kiermaier walks. Kevan Smith reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Kevin Kiermaier scores. Hunter Renfroe out at third. Brian O'Grady scores. Throwing error by Brian Anderson. Joey Wendle grounds out to shortstop, Brian Anderson to Garrett Cooper.2 runs, 1 hit, 2 errors, 1 left on. Rays 5, Marlins 0.Marlins fourth. Jon Berti grounds out to third base, Yandy Diaz to Ji-Man Choi. Corey Dickerson... [More]

Rays sixth. Kevin Kiermaier grounds out to first base, Lewin Diaz to Pablo Lopez. Michael Perez singles to left field. Austin Meadows doubles to deep right field. Michael Perez to third. Brandon Lowe flies out to left field to Lewis Brinson. Yandy Diaz singles to shallow infield. Austin Meadows to third. Michael Perez scores. Ji-Man Choi called out on strikes.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rays 1, Marlins 0.Rays seventh. Willy Adames strikes out swinging. Joey Wendle doubles to deep left center field. Manuel Margot grounds out to shortstop, Miguel Rojas to Lewin Diaz. Kevin Kiermaier singles to center field. Joey Wendle scores. Michael Perez flies out to left center field to Lewis Brinson.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 2, Marlins 0.Rays eighth. Austin Meadows flies out to center field to Jon Berti. Brandon Lowe grounds out to first base to Lewin Diaz. Yandy Diaz singles to center field. Ji-Man Choi walks. Hunter Renfroe to second. Willy Adames walks. Ji-Man Choi to second. Hunter Renfroe to third. Joey Wendle doubles to deep right center field. Willy Adames to third. Ji-Man Choi scores. Hunter Renfroe scores. Manuel Margot strikes out swinging.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rays 4, Marlins 0.

NEW YORK (AP) — Dominic Smith hit the go-ahead home run in his first game since tearfully pleading for help combating racial inequality, Pete Alonso also connected and the New York Mets beat the crosstown Yankees 6-4 in the opener of a doubleheader Friday.Amed Rosario hit a walkoff, two-run homer to lift the Mets to a 4-3 victory in the nightcap — a bizarre scene in the Bronx, where the Yankees batted first as the visiting team in the makeup of a game postponed last weekend.The sweep sent the Yankees to their seventh straight loss.Rosario connected off closer Aroldis Chapman (0-1) with pinch-runner Billy Hamilton at second base. Chapman walked Jeff McNeil to open the inning, and Hamilton promptly stole second despite being picked off by the All-Star left-hander.Rosario then cranked his third home run of the season into the left field seats, setting off the second big celebration in the visiting dugout as the Mets swept the Yankees in a doubleheader for the first time.Jared Hughes (1-1)... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Dominic Smith hit the go-ahead home run in his first game since tearfully pleading for help combating racial inequality, Pete Alonso also connected and the New York Mets beat the crosstown Yankees 6-4 in the opener of a doubleheader Friday.Amed Rosario hit a walkoff, two-run homer to lift the Mets to a 4-3 victory in the nightcap — a bizarre scene in the Bronx, where the Yankees batted first as the visiting team in the makeup of a game postponed last weekend.The sweep sent the Yankees to their seventh straight loss.Rosario connected off closer Aroldis Chapman (0-1) with pinch-runner Billy Hamilton at second base. Chapman walked Jeff McNeil to open the inning, and Hamilton promptly stole second despite being picked off by the All-Star left-hander.Rosario then cranked his third home run of the season into the left field seats, setting off the second big celebration in the visiting dugout as the Mets swept the Yankees in a doubleheader for the first time.Jared Hughes (1-1)... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Dominic Smith hit the go-ahead home run in his first game since tearfully pleading for help combating racial inequality, and the New York Mets beat the crosstown Yankees 6-4 in the opener of a doubleheader Friday.Smith, a 25-year-old Black man, wept Wednesday night reflecting on a recent shooting by police of a Black man in Wisconsin. Smith and his teammates were all smiles after his decisive solo shot against Chad Green in the sixth inning on what was Jackie Robinson Day around the majors. Smith’s drive followed a tying three-run shot by Pete Alonso, and Jake Marisnick also connected in the inning against Green (2-2).Clint Frazier homered and reached base four times for the Yankees, who lost their sixth in a row.Walker Lockett (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the Mets. Edwin Díaz struck out the side in the ninth for his second save.Lockett was designated for assignment between games to create roster space for nightcap starter David Peterson.NATIONALS 10,... [More]