NEW YORK (AP) — Didi Gregorius turned on a first-pitch fastball from Gerrit Cole with two on and two outs in the fifth inning and sent it soaring toward the right-field seats. The crowd at Yankee Stadium rose and roared, hoping for a go-ahead drive."I think every flyball in 2019 is a homer," Houston manager AJ Hinch said. "It's kind of been conditioned that way."Gregorius stood at the plate, watching, then took some tentative steps toward first base as Josh Reddick gloved the ball a step in front of the right-field wall, 343 feet away."I missed it," Gregorius said. "I know I didn't have all of it."New York stranded nine during a 4-1 loss to Houston on Tuesday night that put the Yankees in a 2-1 AL Championship Series deficit, going 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.Gregorius, who hit a grand slam against Minnesota in the previous playoff round, left the bases loaded in the first when he hit an inning-ending groundout — also on the first pitch. He went 0 for 4 and saw just six pitches... [More]

Astros first. George Springer grounds out to third base, Gio Urshela to DJ LeMahieu. Jose Altuve homers to center field. Michael Brantley walks. Alex Bregman strikes out swinging. Yuli Gurriel singles to shortstop. Michael Brantley to second. Yordan Alvarez walks. Yuli Gurriel to second. Michael Brantley to third. Carlos Correa pops out to shallow center field to Gleyber Torres.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Astros 1, Yankees 0.Astros second. Josh Reddick homers to right field. Martin Maldonado strikes out swinging. George Springer strikes out swinging. Jose Altuve reaches on error. Fielding error by Luis Severino. Michael Brantley strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 left on. Astros 2, Yankees 0.Astros seventh. George Springer walks. Jose Altuve singles to right field. George Springer to third. Michael Brantley reaches on a fielder's choice to first base, advances to 2nd. Jose Altuve to third. George Springer out at home. Alex Bregman is intentionally walked. Yuli Gurriel... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Hicks returned to the New York Yankees' starting lineup on Tuesday for the first time since Aug. 3 and Giancarlo Stanton remained out for the second straight game when the AL Championship Series resumed with the Yankees and Astros tied 1-all.Hicks took over in center field and was hitting ninth against Houston's Gerrit Cole in Game 3. After being sidelined by an injured flexor near his right elbow, Hicks pinch hit for starting left fielder Cameron Maybin in Game 2 on Sunday night and grounded out leading off the 10th inning, then moved to center.Limited by injuries to 18 games during the regular season, Stanton homered in the opener and missed Game 2 because of a strained right quadriceps."Outfield is the biggest question," Stanton said during batting practice. "I can hit. I need to move around more and let's see what I got."Manager Aaron Boone said Stanton probably would be on the injured list if this were the regular season."Kind of called G in right when he got... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone moved his two left-handed hitters down in the lineup for AL Championship Series opener against Zack Greinke and the Houston Astros after using the same order for all three games in the AL Division Series.Gleyber Torres moved into the third spot in the Yankees lineup, and lefty Brett Gardner was sixth as the two switched spots from New York's three-game ALDS sweep of the Minnesota Twins. The other change for Saturday night's game was Gio Urshela moving up to bat eighth and left Didi Gregorius dropping into the ninth spot.Manager Aaron Boone said he liked that lineup against the right-handed Greinke. To keep some separation between his lefties, he dropped Gregorius in the No. 9 spot after moving Gardner from third to sixth.The Yankees had used the same batting order in three consecutive games only once during the regular season.Astros manager AJ Hinch had Kyle Tucker starting in right field and starting eighth, after the 22-year-old made only one start in their ALDS series against Tampa Bay. Josh Reddick was 1 of 10 in the ALDS.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at the best-of-seven American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Saturday, at Houston, 8:08 p.m.; Game 2, Sunday, at Houston, 8:08 p.m.; Game 3, Tuesday, at New York, 4:08 p.m; Game 4, Wednesday, at New York, 8:08 p.m.: x-Game 5, Thursday, at New York, 8:08 p.m; x-Game 6, Saturday, Oct. 19, at Houston, 4:08 p.m. or TBA; x-Game 7, Sunday, Oct. 20, at Houston, 7:38 p.m. (All games on Fox or FS1).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Astros won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Yankees: 1B DJ LeMahieu (.327, 26 HRs, 102 RBIs), RF Aaron Judge (.272, 27, 55 in 102 games), CF Brett Gardner (.251, 28, 74), DH Edwin Encarnación (.244, 34, 86 in 109 games for Mariners and Yankees), LF Giancarlo Stanton (.288, 3, 13 in 18 games), 2B Gleyber Torres (.278, 38, 90), C Gary Sánchez (.232, 34, 77 in 106 games), SS Didi Gregorius (.238, 16, 61 in 82 games), 3B Gio Urshela (.314, 21, 74 in 132 games).Astros: CF George Springer (.292,... [More]

Astros first. George Springer singles to left center field. Michael Brantley singles to left center field. George Springer to third. Jose Altuve singles to deep right center field. Michael Brantley to third. George Springer scores. Alex Bregman doubles to deep right center field. Jose Altuve scores. Michael Brantley scores. Yordan Alvarez grounds out to shallow infield, Willy Adames to Ji-Man Choi. Alex Bregman to third. Yuli Gurriel singles to left field. Alex Bregman scores. Carlos Correa strikes out swinging. Josh Reddick strikes out swinging.4 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 4, Rays 0.Rays second. Eric Sogard homers to right field. Avisail Garcia grounds out to shortstop, Carlos Correa to Yuli Gurriel. Joey Wendle strikes out swinging. Kevin Kiermaier strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 4, Rays 1.Astros eighth. Michael Brantley homers to right field. Jose Altuve homers to center field. Alex Bregman flies out to right field to Avisail Garcia. Yordan Alvarez walks. Yuli Gurriel flies out to deep left center field to Austin Meadows. Carlos Correa strikes out swinging.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 6, Rays 1.

Rays first. Austin Meadows strikes out swinging. Tommy Pham homers to center field. Ji-Man Choi walks. Avisail Garcia singles to left field. Ji-Man Choi to second. Brandon Lowe flies out to shallow left field to Michael Brantley. Travis d'Arnaud singles to left field. Avisail Garcia to second. Ji-Man Choi scores. Joey Wendle doubles to deep right field. Travis d'Arnaud to third. Avisail Garcia scores. Kevin Kiermaier strikes out swinging.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rays 3, Astros 0.Rays fourth. Willy Adames homers to center field. Austin Meadows strikes out swinging. Tommy Pham lines out to left field to Michael Brantley. Ji-Man Choi walks. Avisail Garcia singles to shallow center field. Ji-Man Choi to second. Brandon Lowe strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rays 4, Astros 0.Astros eighth. Carlos Correa grounds out to second base, Brandon Lowe to Ji-Man Choi. Aledmys Diaz pinch-hitting for Josh Reddick. Aledmys Diaz strikes out on a foul tip. Robinson Chirinos homers to center field. George Springer flies out to deep center field to Kevin Kiermaier.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 4, Astros 1.

Astros first. George Springer grounds out to shortstop, Willy Adames to Ji-Man Choi. Jose Altuve homers to center field. Michael Brantley strikes out swinging. Alex Bregman walks. Yordan Alvarez reaches on error to shortstop, advances to 2nd. Alex Bregman to third. Throwing error by Yandy Diaz. Yuli Gurriel pops out to shallow center field to Brandon Lowe.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 left on. Astros 1, Rays 0.Rays second. Ji-Man Choi grounds out to shallow right field, Jose Altuve to Yuli Gurriel. Avisail Garcia singles to center field. Brandon Lowe grounds out to second base, Jose Altuve to Yuli Gurriel. Avisail Garcia to second. Travis d'Arnaud hit by pitch. Kevin Kiermaier homers to center field. Travis d'Arnaud scores. Avisail Garcia scores. Willy Adames doubles to deep right center field. Matt Duffy pinch-hitting for Yandy Diaz. Matt Duffy grounds out to shallow infield, Zack Greinke to Yuli Gurriel.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 3, Astros 1.Rays third. Austin Meadows strikes... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — After Josh Reddick walked to get Houston's big fifth inning started in a win over Tampa Bay in Game 1 of the AL Division Series on Friday, he couldn't wait to run out of Minute Maid Park to see his new twin boys.Reddick scored the first run of the game, trotting to the plate on Jose Altuve's home run in a game the Astros won 6-2.As soon as it ended, Reddick's thoughts shifted to his sons, who were born Wednesday night.He beamed as he told reporters that his wife, Jett, sent him a picture of her and Maverick watching the game. Maverick's brother, Ryder, has had some difficulty breathing and didn't get to watch the game while getting healthy in the neonatal intensive care unit."Maverick has been spending all day with the wife, and as soon as I get back, I can't wait to head down and see the other one," Reddick said. "I can't wait to get a progress report."Reddick didn't sleep a wink on Wednesday night and missed Thursday's workout with the team to be with his family. But his... [More]

Astros fifth. Josh Reddick walks. George Springer called out on strikes. Jose Altuve homers to left field. Josh Reddick scores. Michael Brantley singles to right field. Alex Bregman doubles to deep left field. Michael Brantley to third. Yordan Alvarez strikes out swinging. Yuli Gurriel reaches on error. Alex Bregman scores. Michael Brantley scores. Fielding error by Brandon Lowe. Carlos Correa called out on strikes.4 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Astros 4, Rays 0.Astros seventh. Jose Altuve lines out to left field to Tommy Pham. Michael Brantley called out on strikes. Alex Bregman walks. Yordan Alvarez doubles to right center field. Alex Bregman scores. Yuli Gurriel doubles to right field. Yordan Alvarez scores. Carlos Correa called out on strikes.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 6, Rays 0.Rays eighth. Travis d'Arnaud lines out to right field to George Springer. Joey Wendle singles to left field. Kevin Kiermaier grounds out to second base, Carlos Correa to Yuli Gurriel. Joey Wendle to second. Eric Sogard pinch-hitting for Willy Adames. Eric Sogard singles to left field. Joey Wendle scores. Austin Meadows doubles to deep right center field. Eric Sogard scores. Tommy Pham singles to shallow infield. Austin Meadows to third. Ji-Man Choi grounds out to third base, Alex Bregman to Yuli Gurriel.2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Astros 6, Rays 2.

A look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at Houston, 2:05 p.m. (FS1); Game 2, Saturday, at Houston, 9:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 3, Monday, Oct. 7, at Tampa Bay, TBA (MLB); x-Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Tampa Bay, TBA (FS1); x-Game 5, Thursday, Oct. 10, at Houston, TBA (FS1).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Rays won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Rays: 2B Joey Wendle (.231, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs in 75 games), LF Tommy Pham (.273, 21, 68, 33 2Bs), RF Austin Meadows (.291, 33, 89 in 138 games), C Travis d'Arnaud (.263, 16, 67 in 92 games with Rays; .087, 0, 2 in 10 games with Mets, and 1 at-bat in only game with Dodgers), 1B Ji-Man Choi (.261, 19, 63) or Yandy Díaz (.267, 14, 38, .816 OPS in 79 games), DH Brandon Lowe (.270, 17, 51 in 82 games) or Avisail Garcia (.282, 20, 72, 25 2Bs in 125 games), 3B Matt Duffy (.252, 1, 12 in 46 games), CF Kevin Kiermaier (.228, 14, 55, 19 SBs in 129 games), SS Willy... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros outfielder Josh Reddick might see the Twins later in October. He’s already getting an early look at twins closer to home.Reddick and wife Jett welcomed twin boys on Wednesday night, two days before the Astros take on Tampa Bay in the AL Division Series.Reddick missed Houston's workout on Thursday to rest and be with his family. Manager AJ Hinch said Reddick would be in the lineup on Friday for Game 1.The 32-year-old Reddick announced the births in an Instagram post and shared some details about the boys. Maverick Joshua weighed 6 pounds and was 19 ¼ inches long and brother Ryder Blaze was 5 pounds, 10 ounces and 19 inches long.Reddick said Ryder had some difficulty breathing and had to spend the night in the neonatal intensive care unit, but that he was better on Thursday and had his oxygen mask removed.Reddick and the Astros could face the Twins this month. Minnesota is playing the New York Yankees in the other ALDS.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Justin Verlander didn't intend to alter his pitching strategy, not after 14 seasons as a major league ace. But then the home runs stopped making sense.A long drive by Yankees slugger Aaron Judge? The Houston Astros ace can live with that. This season, though, was full of surprises. Like when spindly utility man Ehire Adrianza drove a fastball into the right field party deck in Minnesota. Or the time light-hitting Angels infielder David Fletcher nearly put one into a parking lot beyond left field during a series in Monterrey, Mexico. Routine fly balls had become wall-scraping homers, and every hitter was suddenly strong enough to reach the second deck."The game has changed completely," Verlander said.Expect more of the same this October.Hitters smashed a record 6,776 home runs in 2019, soaring past the previous high of 6,105 from two years earlier. It's a rise of over 60% from 2014, a year before a seismic home run spike attributed to tweaks in the baseballs. Major League Baseball commissioned... [More]

Angels first. David Fletcher pops out to shallow left field to Alex Bregman. Brian Goodwin homers to center field. Albert Pujols lines out to left field to Josh Reddick. Kole Calhoun singles to center field. Andrelton Simmons pops out to Robinson Chirinos.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Angels 1, Astros 0.Angels fourth. Albert Pujols flies out to deep center field to Jake Marisnick. Kole Calhoun reaches on third strike. Andrelton Simmons homers to center field. Kole Calhoun scores. Kevan Smith singles to right field. Jared Walsh strikes out swinging. Taylor Ward strikes out swinging.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Angels 3, Astros 0.Astros sixth. George Springer walks. Jose Altuve homers to center field. Kyle Tucker scores. Alex Bregman walks. Yordan Alvarez strikes out swinging. Yuli Gurriel grounds out to third base, Kaleb Cowart to Jared Walsh. Alex Bregman to second. Aledmys Diaz hit by pitch. Josh Reddick homers to right field. Aledmys Diaz scores. Alex Bregman scores. Robinson Chirinos strikes out swinging.5 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 5, Angels 3.Astros seventh. Jake Marisnick grounds out to third base, Kaleb Cowart to Jared Walsh. Kyle Tucker walks. Jose Altuve doubles to deep left field. Kyle Tucker scores. Alex Bregman walks. Yordan Alvarez strikes out on a foul tip. Yuli Gurriel lines out to deep center field to Brian Goodwin.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Astros 6, Angels 3.

Angels first. David Fletcher grounds out to shortstop, Jack Mayfield to Aledmys Diaz. Andrelton Simmons singles to right field. Albert Pujols walks. Andrelton Simmons to second. Kole Calhoun grounds out to first base to Aledmys Diaz. Albert Pujols to second. Andrelton Simmons to third. Kevan Smith doubles to deep left center field. Albert Pujols scores. Andrelton Simmons scores. Taylor Ward strikes out swinging.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Angels 2, Astros 0.Angels second. Brian Goodwin doubles to right field. Kaleb Cowart grounds out to first base to Aledmys Diaz. Kean Wong to third. Michael Hermosillo out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Josh Reddick. Kean Wong scores. David Fletcher singles to second base. Andrelton Simmons walks. Albert Pujols reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. David Fletcher out at third.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Angels 3, Astros 0.Astros fourth. Alex Bregman lines out to shortstop to Andrelton Simmons. Kyle Tucker homers to right field.... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trea Turner's go-ahead grand slam lifted Washington to a 6-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies for a doubleheader sweep Tuesday that helped the Nationals clinch an NL wild card, capping quite a turnaround for a team that was 19-31 in late May.Turner had three hits in the day's first game, a 4-1 win for the Nationals. Washington assured itself of returning to the playoffs for the fifth time in eight years after sitting out October in 2018.Anthony Rendon delivered two sacrifice flies to raise his majors-leading RBIs total to 124 in the opening victory, a result that also eliminated Philadelphia and $330 million outfielder Bryce Harper, the ex-Nationals star, from postseason contention.In the nightcap, Washington trailed 4-2 entering the sixth, because Brad Miller managed to hit two homers off Max Scherzer (11-7).Washington loaded the bases in the sixth against Aaron Nola (12-7) with two walks and a single, setting the stage for Turner's 18th homer of the season and... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trea Turner's go-ahead grand slam lifted Washington to a 6-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies for a doubleheader sweep Tuesday that helped the Nationals clinch an NL wild card, capping quite a turnaround for a team that was 19-31 in late May.Turner had three hits in the day's first game, a 4-1 win for the Nationals. Washington assured itself of returning to the playoffs for the fifth time in eight years after sitting out October in 2018.Anthony Rendon delivered two sacrifice flies to raise his majors-leading RBIs total to 124 in the opening victory, a result that also eliminated Philadelphia and $330 million outfielder Bryce Harper, the ex-Nationals star, from postseason contention.In the nightcap, Washington trailed 4-2 entering the sixth, because Brad Miller managed to hit two homers off Max Scherzer (11-7).Washington loaded the bases in the sixth against Aaron Nola (12-7) with two walks and a single, setting the stage for Turner's 18th homer of the season and... [More]

Astros fourth. Alex Bregman homers to left field. Yuli Gurriel strikes out swinging. Kyle Tucker pops out to Kyle Seager. Aledmys Diaz walks. Martin Maldonado pops out to shallow infield to Kyle Seager.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 1, Mariners 0.Astros seventh. Kyle Tucker doubles to deep center field. Aledmys Diaz doubles to left field. Kyle Tucker scores. Martin Maldonado lines out to center field to Mallex Smith. Aledmys Diaz to third. Josh Reddick reaches on a fielder's choice to first base. Aledmys Diaz scores. George Springer walks. Josh Reddick to second. Jose Altuve grounds out to third base. George Springer out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 3, Mariners 0.

Astros first. George Springer homers to center field. Jose Altuve flies out to right field to Kole Calhoun. Michael Brantley walks. Alex Bregman flies out to right field to Kole Calhoun. Yordan Alvarez singles to right center field. Michael Brantley to second. Yuli Gurriel reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Yordan Alvarez out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Astros 1, Angels 0.Angels second. Kole Calhoun grounds out to shallow center field, Jose Altuve to Yuli Gurriel. Andrelton Simmons grounds out to third base, Aledmys Diaz to Yuli Gurriel. Jared Walsh triples to deep center field. Michael Hermosillo triples to deep center field. Jared Walsh scores. Matt Thaiss grounds out to shallow infield, Justin Verlander to Yuli Gurriel.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Angels 1, Astros 1.Astros second. Aledmys Diaz singles to right center field. Robinson Chirinos strikes out swinging. Josh Reddick pops out to Matt Thaiss. George Springer homers to left field. Aledmys Diaz... [More]

Angels first. David Fletcher homers to left field. Andrelton Simmons walks. Albert Pujols flies out to deep center field to Myles Straw. Andrelton Simmons to second. Kole Calhoun singles to left field. Andrelton Simmons to third. Kevan Smith grounds out to second base, Jose Altuve to Yuli Gurriel. Kole Calhoun to second. Andrelton Simmons scores. Taylor Ward singles to left field, advances to 2nd. Kole Calhoun scores. Justin Bour grounds out to first base, Yuli Gurriel to Wade Miley.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Angels 3, Astros 0.Angels second. Michael Hermosillo hit by pitch. Kaleb Cowart singles to right field. Michael Hermosillo to third. David Fletcher singles to shallow right field. Kaleb Cowart to second. Michael Hermosillo scores. Andrelton Simmons pops out to Yuli Gurriel. Albert Pujols pops out to shallow right field to Jose Altuve. Kole Calhoun strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Angels 4, Astros 0.Astros second. Yordan Alvarez homers to left field.... [More]