CLEVELAND (AP) — Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco and Josh Bell each hit a two-run homer, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cleveland Indians 9-4 on Tuesday night for their 11th straight win.The Pirates routed the Indians for the second straight night. Marte homered in the first inning, drove in three runs and extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games.Polanco homered and Corey Dickerson tripled in two runs when Pittsburgh scored five times in the second. Bell hit a home run in the fifth. The Pirates have homered in a season-high nine straight games, hitting 22 home runs in that span.Pittsburgh has won 11 in a row for the first time since Sept. 12-22, 1996. The Pirates have won 13 of 14 and are 17-8 since June 24. Pittsburgh has outscored its opponents 43-8 in the last five games.Joe Musgrove (4-4) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings for his first win since June 29.Shane Bieber (5-2), called up from Triple-A Columbus to make the start, allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings.... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco and Josh Bell each hit a two-run homer, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cleveland Indians 9-4 on Tuesday night for their 11th straight win.The Pirates routed the Indians for the second straight night. Marte homered in the first inning, drove in three runs and extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games.Polanco homered and Corey Dickerson tripled in two runs when Pittsburgh scored five times in the second. Bell hit a home run in the fifth. The Pirates have homered in a season-high nine straight games, hitting 22 home runs in that span.Pittsburgh has won 11 in a row for the first time since Sept. 12-22, 1996. The Pirates have won 13 of 14 and are 17-8 since June 24. Pittsburgh has outscored its opponents 43-8 in the last five games.Joe Musgrove (4-4) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings for his first win since June 29.Shane Bieber (5-2), called up from Triple-A Columbus to make the start, allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings.... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Yankees have acquired left-hander Zach Britton from the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles for three prospects, a trade that will bolster New York's bullpen for the stretch run.Right-hander Dillon Tate is going to the Orioles along with left-hander Josh Rogers and right-hander Cody Carroll. The teams announced the deal Tuesday night.The 30-year-old Britton will serve as a setup man for closer Aroldis Chapman, joining David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Chasen Shreve, Chad Green, Jonathan Holder and Adam Warren in an already strong bullpen."You've got to go into a new team and earn your role, especially with the guys they have over there," Britton said. "They've got some guys who are doing really well. I'm just going to try to fit in. Right now, I'm just excited to get on a winning team and hopefully do some good things."As word leaked out about the deal, the Yankees expressed excitement over the new addition."I think he's one of the best relievers in the game," Chapman said... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Yankees have acquired left-hander Zach Britton from the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles for three prospects, a deal that will bolster New York's bullpen for the stretch run.Right-hander Dillon Tate is going to the Orioles along with left-hander Josh Rogers and right-hander Cody Carroll. The teams announced the deal Tuesday night.The 30-year-old Britton will serve as a setup man for closer Aroldis Chapman, joining David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Chasen Shreve, Chad Green, Jonathan Holder and Adam Warren in an already strong bullpen."I think he's one of the best relievers in the game," Chapman said through a translator. "Having the opportunity to add somebody like that with so much talent would be very helpful."Britton is eligible to become a free agent after this season, a timely summer rental for the Yankees in their pursuit of first-place Boston in the AL East.He began the season on the disabled list after tearing his right Achilles tendon in December. He made his debut... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — A person familiar with the talks tells The Associated Press the Yankees are close to agreement on a trade to acquire left-hander Zach Britton from the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles for three prospects, a deal that would bolster New York's bullpen for the stretch run.The trade would send right-hander Dillon Tate to the Orioles along with left-hander Josh Rogers and right-hander Cody Carroll, the person said Tuesday night, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal would be subject to the teams approving medical records.The 30-year-old Britton would serve as a setup man for closer Aroldis Chapman, joining David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Chasen Shreve, Chad Green, Jonathan Holder and Adam Warren in an already strong bullpen."I think he's one of the best relievers in the game," Chapman said through a translator. "Having the opportunity to add somebody like that with so much talent would be very helpful."Britton is eligible to become a free agent after this season,... [More]

Bryce Harper had a chance to shine in front of his home fans during the All-Star break, and he took advantage by winning the Home Run Derby .Then it was back to reality for Harper and the Washington Nationals, who will need to turn things around soon if they want to avoid a disappointing season.After hosting the All-Star festivities, Washington split two home games against NL East rival Atlanta, with a postponement in between. In a loss Friday night, the Nationals' frustration seemed evident when star pitchers Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg had a heated exchange in the dugout. Even after a win Sunday, Washington is six games behind first-place Philadelphia and five behind the Braves, who are in position for the second wild card.Harper has taken a lot of the heat for Washington's underachieving, and his .218 batting average certainly sticks out. But he does have 24 homers and a .366 on-base percentage, so it's not as though his offensive approach has completely fallen apart.Harper is... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — In the latest bizarre medical development for the baffling New York Mets, ace pitcher Noah Syndergaard is headed back to the disabled list after contracting hand-foot-and-mouth disease.The team figures it's likely Syndergaard caught the contagious virus when he made an appearance at a baseball camp for kids last Thursday during the All-Star break. Mets manager Mickey Callaway said that probably explains why Syndergaard weakened and his velocity decreased during Friday night's victory at Yankee Stadium."Hand-foot-and-mouth, are you serious? I guess it's very uncommon in adults, period," Callaway said Sunday. "It's kind of odd. Maybe the first DL stint in Major League Baseball with hand-foot-and-mouth? I don't know. A record or something."According to WebMD.com, hand-foot-and-mouth disease is an infectious disease that "most often occurs in children under 10 and is characterized by a rash of small blister-like sores on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and in the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — In the latest bizarre medical development for the baffling New York Mets, ace pitcher Noah Syndergaard is headed back to the disabled list after contracting hand-foot-and-mouth disease.The team figures it's likely Syndergaard caught the contagious virus when he made an appearance at a baseball camp for kids last Thursday during the All-Star break. Mets manager Mickey Callaway said that probably explains why Syndergaard weakened and his velocity decreased during Friday night's victory at Yankee Stadium."Hand-foot-and-mouth, are you serious? I guess it's very uncommon in adults, period," Callaway said Sunday. "It's kind of odd. Maybe the first DL stint in Major League Baseball with hand-foot-and-mouth? I don't know. A record or something."According to WebMD.com, hand-foot-and-mouth disease is an infectious disease that "most often occurs in children under 10 and is characterized by a rash of small blister-like sores on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and in the... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Chris Sale struck out nine in six scoreless innings to win his fifth consecutive start, and Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a three-run homer and the Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 9-1 victory on Sunday for their 19th win in 23 games.Sale (11-4) allowed two hits, lowered his ERA to an AL-best 2.13 and won his sixth straight decision.Blaine Hardy (3-3) gave up four runs and five hits in three-plus innings.DODGERS 11, BREWERS 2MILWAUKEE (AP) — Manny Machado had a double to drive in his first run since he was acquired from Baltimore, Matt Kemp hit a pair of solo homers off Brent Suter (8-7) and Chris Taylor had three RBIs for the NL West leaders.Alex Wood (6-5) won his fifth straight decision, allowing two runs, five hits and three walks in six innings.Milwaukee has lost eight of nine, dropping 3 1/2 games behind the NL Central-leading Cubs.CUBS 7, CARDINALS 2CHICAGO (AP) — Matt Carpenter's streak of consecutive games with home runs ended at six as Jose Quintana (9-6) allowed... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — In the latest bizarre medical development for the baffling New York Mets, ace pitcher Noah Syndergaard is headed back to the disabled list after contracting hand-foot-and-mouth disease.The team figures it's likely Syndergaard caught the contagious virus when he made an appearance at a baseball camp for kids last Thursday during the All-Star break. Mets manager Mickey Callaway said that probably explains why Syndergaard weakened and his velocity decreased during Friday night's victory at Yankee Stadium."Hand-foot-and-mouth, are you serious? I guess it's very uncommon in adults, period," Callaway said Sunday. "It's kind of odd. Maybe the first DL stint in Major League Baseball with hand-foot-and-mouth? I don't know. A record or something."According to WebMD.com, hand-foot-and-mouth disease is an infectious disease that "most often occurs in children under 10 and is characterized by a rash of small blister-like sores on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and in the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — In the latest bizarre medical development for the baffling New York Mets, ace pitcher Noah Syndergaard is headed back to the disabled list after contracting hand-foot-and-mouth disease.The team figures it's likely Syndergaard caught the contagious virus when he made an appearance at a baseball camp for kids last Thursday during the All-Star break. Mets manager Mickey Callaway said that probably explains why Syndergaard weakened and his velocity decreased during Friday night's victory at Yankee Stadium."Hand-foot-and-mouth, are you serious? I guess it's very uncommon in adults, period," Callaway said Sunday. "It's kind of odd. Maybe the first DL stint in Major League Baseball with hand-foot-and-mouth? I don't know. A record or something."According to WebMD.com, hand-foot-and-mouth disease is an infectious disease that "most often occurs in children under 10 and is characterized by a rash of small blister-like sores on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and in the... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:POWER SURGEMatt Carpenter tries to homer in his seventh straight game when the Cardinals complete a five-game series against the rival Cubs at Wrigley Field. The teams split a day-night doubleheader Saturday and Carpenter homered in both ends — even though he didn't start the second game. He entered as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning and hit a solo drive in the seventh for his fifth homer in two days. He also had a solo shot in the opener after going 5 for 5 with three homers and seven RBIs while playing just six innings in St. Louis' 18-5 victory Friday. Carpenter became the first player in Cardinals history to homer in six consecutive games during one season. He matched the club record held by Mark McGwire, who connected in six straight games over two years.PRIME TIME IN THE BIG APPLEIn the rubber game of their Subway Series at Yankee Stadium, the New York Mets send All-Star ace Jacob deGrom (5-4, 1.68 ERA) to the mound against... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aroldis Chapman had flamed out, throwing three of 19 pitches for strikes and enabling the Mets to cut a four-run, ninth-inning deficit in half.Chasen Shreve to the rescue. Yes, Chasen Shreve.Maligned last month, Shreve entered with the bases loaded, got Devin Mesoraco to hit into a run-scoring, double-play grounder and retired Wilmer Flores on a slow roller in front of the mound.With his second big league save and first since August 2016, Shreve preserved a 7-6 Subway Series victory Saturday that enabled Sonny Gray (7-7) to win consecutive starts for the first time since the Yankees acquired him last summer.On another tumult-filled day for the last-place Mets, closer Jeurys Familia was traded to Oakland for a pair of minor leaguers and slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was out of the lineup because of body soreness, one game after returning from a two-month absence. Cespedes said Friday night he may need surgery on both heels that would require an eight-to-10-month recovery.Aaron... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:POWER SURGEMatt Carpenter tries to homer in his seventh straight game when the Cardinals complete a five-game series against the rival Cubs at Wrigley Field. The teams split a day-night doubleheader Saturday and Carpenter homered in both ends — even though he didn't start the second game. He entered as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning and hit a solo drive in the seventh for his fifth homer in two days. He also had a solo shot in the opener after going 5 for 5 with three homers and seven RBIs while playing just six innings in St. Louis' 18-5 victory Friday. Carpenter became the first player in Cardinals history to homer in six consecutive games during one season. He matched the club record held by Mark McGwire, who connected in six straight games over two years.PRIME TIME IN THE BIG APPLEIn the rubber game of their Subway Series at Yankee Stadium, the New York Mets send All-Star ace Jacob deGrom (5-4, 1.68 ERA) to the mound against... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aroldis Chapman had flamed out, throwing three of 19 pitches for strikes and enabling the Mets to cut a four-run, ninth-inning deficit in half.Chasen Shreve to the rescue. Yes, Chasen Shreve.Maligned last month, Shreve entered with the bases loaded, got Devin Mesoraco to hit into a run-scoring, double-play grounder and retired Wilmer Flores on a slow roller in front of the mound.With his second big league save and first since August 2016, Shreve preserved a 7-6 Subway Series victory Saturday that enabled Sonny Gray (7-7) to win consecutive starts for the first time since the Yankees acquired him last summer.On another tumult-filled day for the last-place Mets, closer Jeurys Familia was traded to Oakland for a pair of minor leaguers and slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was out of the lineup because of body soreness, one game after returning from a two-month absence. Cespedes said Friday night he may need surgery on both heels that would require an eight-to-10-month recovery.Aaron... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — After three years of missing the playoffs and dealing away fan favorites like Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Donaldson and Sonny Gray, the Oakland Athletics are trying to steer themselves in the opposite direction.They certainly took a significant step Saturday by acquiring New York Mets reliever Jeurys Familia to bolster a bullpen that includes All-Star closer Blake Treinen."You always want to be in this position where you're potentially adding," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We've had three years where it's been just the opposite. Three weeks ago, maybe this isn't a conversation. But the way the team's played in the last month put us in a position to be able to do something like this."New York gets two minor leaguers for its closer, Triple-A right-hander Bobby Wahl and Class A third baseman Will Toffey, and $1 million in international signing bonus pool allotment. Wahl appeared in seven big league games for the A's last year."This trade hits three major areas," Mets assistant... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aroldis Chapman had flamed out, throwing three of 19 pitches for strikes and enabling the Mets to cut a four-run, ninth-inning deficit in half.Chasen Shreve to the rescue. Yes, Chasen Shreve.Maligned last month, Shreve entered with the bases loaded, got Devin Mesoraco to hit into a run-scoring, double-play grounder and retired Wilmer Flores on a slow roller in front of the mound.With his second big league save and first since August 2016, Shreve preserved a 7-6 Subway Series victory Saturday that enabled Sonny Gray (7-7) to win consecutive starts for the first time since the Yankees acquired him last summer.On another tumult-filled day for the last-place Mets, closer Jeurys Familia was traded to Oakland for a pair of minor leaguers and slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was out of the lineup because of body soreness, one game after returning from a two-month absence. Cespedes said Friday night he may need surgery on both heels that would require an eight-to-10-month recovery.Aaron... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aroldis Chapman had flamed out, throwing three of 19 pitches for strikes and enabling the Mets to cut a four-run, ninth-inning deficit in half.Chasen Shreve to the rescue. Yes, Chasen Shreve.Maligned last month, Streve entered with the bases loas, bit Devin Mesoraco to hit into a run-scoring, double-play grounder and retired Wilmer Flores on a slow roller in front of the mound.With his second big league save and first since August 2016, Shreve preserved a 7-6 Subway Series victory Saturday that enabled Sonny Gray (7-7) to win consecutive starts for the first time since the Yankees acquired him last summer.On another tumult-filled day for the last-place Mets, closer Jeurys Familia was traded to Oakland for a pair of minor leaguers and slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was out of the lineup because of body soreness, one game after returning from a two-month absence. Cespedes said Friday night he may need surgery on both heels that would require an eight-to-10-month recovery.Aaron... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — A day after saying he may need surgery on both heels that would require an eight-to-10-month recovery, Yoenis Cespedes missed the Mets' 7-6 Subway Series loss Saturday because of body soreness and New York's front office did not publicly comment on his startling health revelation.Cespedes homered in Friday's win over the Yankees, his first game since May 13 after two months on the disabled list caused by with a strained right hip flexor.The 32-year-old, a two-time All-Star, revealed after the game that calcification on his heels has bothered him for 15 years and caused the lower body injuries that have limited him to 119 games in 1 1/2 seasons since he signed a $110 million, four-year contract.Mets manager Mickey Callaway was unable answer whether Cespedes will need an operation."I think that it's something that is probably a good question for the doctors as far as if he needs surgery or not," Callaway said. "We are aware of his heels issues and that they get painful, especially... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeurys Familia was traded from the New York Mets to the Oakland Athletics on Saturday for two minor leaguers and $1 million in international signing bonus pool allotment.New York gets right-hander Bobby Wahl, infielder Will Toffey for its closer."This trade hits three major areas," Mets assistant general manager John Ricco said in a statement. :We got a major league ready reliever our scouts recommended, a position player who was a high selection from the 2017 draft and strong prospect in the A's system as well as receiving international bonus pool money to help in the future."An All-Star in 2016, Familia is 4-4 with a 2.88 ERA and 17 saves in 21 chances. The 28-year-old right-hander has struck out 43 and walked 14 in 40 appearances covering 40 2/3 innings. The right-hander can become a free agent after this season.He was at Yankee Stadium on Saturday morning but left before the start of the Mets' 7-6 loss.With the Mets (40-56) languishing near the bottom of the National... [More]