PHOENIX (AP) — Tyson Ross lost his bid to pitch the first no-hitter in the history of the San Diego Padres when rookie center fielder Franchy Cordero appeared to misplay a ball with two outs in the eighth inning Friday night of a 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.Playing their 7,835th game since joining the majors in 1969, the Padres again came agonizingly close to their first no-no. They remain the only team in the big leagues that has never thrown a no-hitter.Ross had a 1-0 lead with two outs in the eighth when Christian Walker lined a drive to deep center. Cordero seemed to get a late break on the ball, then had it sail just over his outstretched glove for a double that made it 1-all. Ross was pulled after throwing a career-high 127 pitches. The right-hander, who turns 31 on Sunday, struck out 10 and walked three. He retired 18 straight after walking Jarrod Dyson in the first. Brad Hand (1-2) relieved Ross and got the last four outs — they combined on the 29th one-hitter in Padres'... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes, who struck out in his previous four at-bats, hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the 12th inning to lift the New York Mets to a 5-3 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.Cespedes' single to right field drove in winning pitcher Robert Gsellman from second base. Cespedes scored on Asdrubal Cabrera's double off Josh Ravin (0-1) to right field. Cabrera ran halfway to third before stopping and trying to return to second. A review showed he was out at second, overturning the original call. Ravin hit Gsellman with a pitch to open the 12th. Gsellman moved to second on Amed Rosario's sacrifice. Michael Conforto popped out before Cespedes delivered the go-ahead hit.Gsellman (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings. Jeurys Familia pitched a perfect 12th for his eighth save.ASTROS 10, WHITE SOX 0CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched six sparkling innings, Carlos Correa homered twice and the Houston Astros pounded the White Sox.George Springer also drove in four... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Bartolo Colon carried a perfect game into the eighth inning and Robinson Chirinos drove in all three runs for the Texas Rangers during their 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros in 10 innings Sunday night.The 44-year-old Colon turned back the clock and dominated the defending World Series champions for seven innings, retiring his first 21 batters in an entertaining pitchers' duel with Astros ace Justin Verlander.Colon walked Carlos Correa to start the eighth before Josh Reddick lined an 0-2 delivery down the right-field line for a double that put runners at second and third, spoiling the no-hit bid as well.Opposing fans in Houston gave Colon a standing ovation. Two outs later, he was pulled with the score tied at 1.Chirinos homered in the third for the only hit off Verlander, who struck out 11 over eight innings.In the 10th, Chirinos launched a two-run double off Hector Rondon (1-1) that short-hopped the wall in straightaway center field. Jake Diekman pitched out of trouble... [More]

Capsules of American League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Houston Astros2017: 101-61, first place, won World Series.Manager: A.J. Hinch (fourth season).He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Hector Rondon.He's Outta Here: DH Carlos Beltran, RHP Luke Gregerson, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Michael Feliz, INF Colin Moran.Projected Lineup: CF George Springer (.283, 34 HRs, 85 RBIs), 3B Alex Bregman (.284, 19, 71, 39 2Bs), 2B Jose Altuve (MLB-best .346, 24, 81, 39 2Bs, 32 SBs, AL MVP), SS Carlos Correa (.315, 24, 84), 1B Yuli Gurriel (.299, 18, 75, 43 2Bs), LF Marwin Gonzalez (.303, 23, 90, 34 2Bs), DH Evan Gattis (.263, 12, 55), RF Josh Reddick (.314, 13, 82, 34 2Bs), C Brian McCann (.241, 18, 62).Rotation: LH Dallas Keuchel (14-5, 2.90 ERA, 251 Ks), RH Justin Verlander (15-8, 3.36, 219 Ks with Tigers and Astros), RH Gerrit Cole (12-12, 4.26, 196 Ks with Pirates), RH Lance McCullers Jr. (7-4, 4.25), RH Charlie Morton (14-7, 3.62).Key Relievers: RH Ken... [More]

Adrian Beltre goes into his 21st major league season still seeking a World Series title. The offseason for the Texas Rangers likely would have gone much differently if the third baseman and 3,000-hit club member was their general manager."He probably would have made some different moves this winter. I think he would have addressed some different things," said Jon Daniels, the actual GM. "I respect that, but I don't feel any different from how I did at the end of (last season). We're going to go into spring training with a chance."Even in the AL West that is home to the World Series champion Houston Astros and now Shohei Ohtani, the pitcher-outfielder from Japan coveted by the Rangers before he signed instead with the Los Angeles Angels."I believe we're in a good place to allow guys, young guys, to continue to grow," fourth-year manager Jeff Banister said. "We brought in some players that we feel like really have an opportunity to help us."There will be no expensive reunion with Yu Darvish,... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Houston AstrosManager: A.J. Hinch (fourth season).2017: 101-61, first place, won World Series.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Hector Rondon.He's Outta Here: DH Carlos Beltran, RHP Luke Gregerson, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Michael Feliz, INF Colin Moran.Going campin': This team is basically set after retaining almost every key player from last season's championship squad. The two strongest areas are the middle infield, where shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve, last year's AL MVP, return to anchor the middle of the order. Correa hit .315 with 24 homers — both career highs — and Altuve had his finest season, hitting a career-best and major... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Relievers Jake Diekman and Keone Kela and infielder Jurickson Profar agreed one-year contracts with the Texas Rangers, who avoided arbitration with all of their eligible players.Diekman gets $2,712,500 under Friday's agreement, a raise from $2.55 million. Kela's salary is $1.2 million, up from $543,210, and Profar will make $1.05 million, an increase from $1,005,000.A 30-year-old left-hander, Diekman is coming off a season shortened to the final month because of three surgeries to replace his colon to ease ulcerative colitis, a digestive condition he has dealt with much of his life. Diekman was scoreless in 10 of 11 appearances after his season debut Sept. 1 and finished with a 2.53 ERA.The 24-year-old Kela is a candidate to be the Texas closer. The right-hander led AL relievers by holding opponents to a .135 batting average. He missed about two months with two stints on the disabled list with right shoulder soreness.Once considered the team's top prospect, the 24-year-old Profar appeared in 22 games last season after playing five positions in 2016. He was 19 when he made his major league debut and has a .229 average in 206 games.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers outfielder Ryan Rua has agreed to an $870,000, one-year contract to avoid salary arbitration.In four stints with Texas last season, Rua hit .217 with three home runs and 12 RBIs over 63 games. The right-hander, who has spent parts of the last four seasons with the Rangers, played left field and also appeared some at first base last year. He had a major league salary of $544,740.Texas still has three arbitration-eligible players after Tuesday's deal with Rua: infielder Jurickson Profar and pitchers Jake Diekman and Keone Kela.Players and teams are scheduled to swap proposed salaries Friday.The Rangers have not had an arbitration hearing with a player since Lee Stevens in 2000.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

RHP Jake Diekman could see more opportunities in the closer role, but Rangers manager Jeff Banister said the pitcher's health would take priority after he missed much of the season recovering from colon surgery. "The way we use Diek is to pay attention to what Diek is telling us, how he feels," Banister said. "I want to pay attention to how he feels -- period -- before I start saying this is what we're going to do with him." Diekman, who recorded his first save in 2017 on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels, pitched two-thirds of an inning on Tuesday night.

LHP Jake Diekman was activated from the 60-day disabled list and made his first outing of the year as he retired all three batters he faced in the seventh inning. Diekman hadn't pitched for the Rangers this season after undergoing surgery to have his colon removed. Diekman, 30, made a total of six rehab appearances between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock.

LHP Jake Diekman (colitis) was activated off the 60-day disabled list on Friday. He went 4-2 with a 3.40 ERA last season.

LHP Jake Diekman was sent on a rehab assignment to Double-A Frisco, where he pitched one inning for the RoughRiders Monday, allowing one run on two hits. Diekman has been on the disabled list all season after having his colon removed.

LHP Jake Diekman (ulcerative colitis surgery) has yet to allow a hit or run in four rehab appearances, but will make at least one more rehab appearance before being recalled, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said Saturday. "This guy's missed significant time," Banister said. "I think he needs to go through the process of the buildup and the arm strength. This guy's going to be a significant player for a while. I don't want to put his career in jeopardy." Diekman threw 1 1/3 scoreless inning Friday night for Triple-A Round Rock against Nashville. "Seemed to be very efficient, stuff was sharp," Banister said. "Making progress. He's getting closer."

LHP Jake Diekman (ulcerative colitis surgery) made a rehab appearance Friday night for Triple-A Round Rock at Nashville. Diekman allowed no hits and no runs in 1 1/3 innings, striking out two. Diekman's first three rehab appearances were for Double-A Frisco. He allowed no runs or hits in three innings with four strikeouts for Frisco.

LHP Jake Diekman, who has been on the disabled list all season after having his colon removed, made his first rehab outing of the year. Diekman pitched a perfect inning for Double-A Frisco, striking out two and throwing eight of his 13 pitches for strikes.

LHP Jake Diekman, out all season after three surgeries on his colon, will begin a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Frisco on Thursday. He is slated to throw 15 pitches.

LHP Jake Diekman, out all season after stomach surgery, threw 25 pitches of live batting practice on Monday. No decision has been made on next steps, which include a minor-league rehabilitation stint. "Today was probably his best day," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "Seemed like his strength was really close. Energy was great. Velocity was much better, it was sharper."

LHP Jake Diekman threw 31 pitches in a live batting practice session on Saturday, but manager Jeff Banister told reporters Sunday that the reliever isn't ready to begin a rehab assignment soon. Diekman has missed the entire season after surgeries for ulcerative colitis.

LHP Jake Diekman threw a live bullpen session before Saturday's game. Diekman has missed the entire season after surgery for ulcerative colitis. Diekman was a big part of the Rangers' bullpen the past two seasons, including last year when he had a 3.40 ERA while pitching in 66 games.

LHP Jake Diekman, who hasn't pitched this season after having surgery to remove his colon, threw live batting practice for the first time this year. He's slated to throw another one Saturday. "I feel good," Diekman said. "I feel fine."