CLEVELAND (AP) — Greg Holland struck out the top of Cleveland's order to strand the tying run at second base and Maikel Franco hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 3-2 win over the Indians on Saturday in just the third major league game decided by the debated extra-inning runner rule.With Greg Allen on second, Holland fanned César Hernández and José Ramírez before getting All-Star Francisco Lindor to chase strike three in the dirt for the final out and the most unique save of his career.“It’s kind of strange," Holland said of Major League Baseball’s new rule designed to keep games from dragging in this condensed, 60-game season.The Royals could be heard whooping it up as they poured out of the dugout, with Mike Matheny posting his first win as Kansas City's manager — a win he knows some will say deserves an asterisk.“I love it. I hope we do it tomorrow," he said, referring to the automatic-runner rule, which has been used in the minors. "Though actually... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Greg Holland struck out the top of Cleveland's order to strand the tying run at second base and Maikel Franco hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 3-2 win over the Indians on Saturday in just the third major league game decided by the debated extra-inning runner rule.With Greg Allen on second, Holland fanned César Hernández and José Ramírez before getting All-Star Francisco Lindor to chase strike three in the dirt for the final out and the most unique save of his career.The Royals could be heard whooping it up as they poured out of the dugout, with Mike Matheny posting his first win as Kansas City's manager.Holland's performance provided a fitting ending for the Royals, who got an excellent start from Brady Singer in his big league debut. Reliever Scott Barlow struck out two in the ninth to get the win.The Indians got just one hit after the third inning and finished with four.Jorge Soler and Salvador Pérez hit back-to-back homers in the... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The moment that young right-hander Brady Singer steps onto the mound for the Kansas City Royals on Saturday in Cleveland will no doubt be surreal, the culmination of a lifelong dream hatched as a boy growing up in Florida and fostered by family and friends along the way.Too bad they won't get to see it in person.When the decision was made to play an abbreviated 60-game major league season without fans, it meant that anybody making their debut would do so without their support system there to enjoy it. Not mom and dad, who may have gotten them started in the game. Or little league and high school coaches that taught them to throw a curveball or turn a double play. Or the college coaches that may have turned their turned natural talent into the makings of a pro.Instead, like all baseball fans, they will be forced to watch on television the realization of a goal years in the making.“We've had this conversation internally,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said, “and it's... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals placed right-hander Chance Adams and left-hander Randy Rosario on the injured list and right-hander Jesse Hahn on the bereavement list as they pared their roster down to 30 players Thursday ahead of opening day in Cleveland.Backup catcher Meibrys Viloria was reinstated from the injured list and recalled, along with right-hander Ronald Bolanos and outfielder Franchy Cordero, both of whom were acquired in a recent trade with San Diego. Left-handers Foster Griffin and Gabe Speier and right-hander Kyle Zimmer also were recalled.Veteran reliever Greg Holland, who helped pitch the Royals to a pair of World Series appearances, made the club along with outfielder Erick Mejia, right-hander Tyler Zuber and catcher Oscar Hernandez.Adams and Rosario join an injured list that includes right-handers Jakob Junis and Brad Keller, infielder Ryan O'Hearn, outfielder Hunter Dozier, catcher Cam Gallagher and infielder Kelvin Gutierrez. Junis, Keller and O'Hearn tested positive for COVID-19 but have been cleared to return, while Dozier and Gallagher are still out after positive tests.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Dozier has tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the injured list before the club played its final exhibition game against the Cardinals in St. Louis on Wednesday.The 28-year-old is coming off a breakthrough season in which he hit 26 homers, tied for the American League lead in triples and had 84 RBIs. He is expected to play a big role for the Royals during their abbreviated 60-game season, which begins against the Indians on Friday night in Cleveland."I’m disappointed to say the least,” Dozier said. “I have been hit with a couple of symptoms that go with the virus, so I need to follow our medical team’s direction, get well and then work on getting back on the field. It’s disheartening because I felt things were going well on the field and I have a good feeling about the ball club we have. “To have to watch for whatever period of time that I’m out is going to painful.”Painful for the Royals, too.They still have catcher... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Major League Baseball's COVID-19 testing sweep appears to be having some success even as large swaths of the United States continue to struggle with containing the fast-spreading virus.MLB and the players' union released statistics Friday saying six of 10,548 samples were new positives in the week ending Thursday, a rate of 0.05%. In addition to five players, one staff member tested positive. That's fairly good news for a sport that's trying to begin its abbreviated 60-game schedule next week. But players and coaches are also aware that the optics of baseball's relative testing success — especially in hard-hit states like Arizona, California, Texas and Florida — might not be ideal considering demand for tests has sometimes been higher than the supply for the average person.“If they’ve deemed that players being tested is necessary to provide jobs, opportunity, entertainment, TV, all that’s going on -- if they think that’s really valuable -- then they’ve weighed it’s important... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Major League Baseball's COVID-19 testing sweep appears to be having some success even as large swaths of the United States continue to struggle with containing the fast-spreading virus.MLB and the players' union released statistics Friday saying six of 10,548 samples were new positives in the week ending Thursday, a rate of 0.05%. In addition to five players, one staff member tested positive. That's fairly good news for a sport that's trying to begin its abbreviated 60-game schedule next week. But players and coaches are also aware that the optics of baseball's relative testing success — especially in hard-hit states like Arizona, California, Texas and Florida — might not be ideal considering demand for tests has sometimes been higher than the supply for the average person.“If they’ve deemed that players being tested is necessary to provide jobs, opportunity, entertainment, TV, all that’s going on -- if they think that’s really valuable -- then they’ve weighed it’s important... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Not long ago, Tim Hill was wrapping up eight brutal months of chemotherapy to treat colon cancer.If anybody had a reason to opt out of baseball's restart, it would be him.Yet there he was, on a blazing evening at Kauffman Stadium, throwing pitches to Kansas City Royals hitters as they prepared for the start of their 60-game season next weekend in Cleveland. One after another, the tall, lanky left-hander with the easy grin, infectious personality and brutal-to-hit sinker-style delivery left the woefully out-of-sync batters baffled.Cancer couldn't keep Hill in the dugout. The threat of contracting COVID-19 wasn't going to do it, either.“It's hard to imagine a guy his age going through what he's gone through already,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said, “and I think it's another testament of faith in himself and faith in the process to keep him in a good place, and it also shows how much he loves this group and loves this team and wants to get out and compete.”Turns out... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Not long ago, Royals pitcher Tim Hill was wrapping up eight brutal months of chemotherapy to treat colon cancer.If anybody had a reason to opt out of baseball's restart, it would be him.Yet there he was, on a blazing evening at Kauffman Stadium, throwing pitches to teammates as they prepared for the start of their 60-game season next weekend in Cleveland. One after another, the lanky left-hander with the easy grin, infectious personality and brutal-to-hit sinker-style delivery left the woefully out-of-sync hitters baffled.Cancer couldn't keep him in the dugout. The threat of contracting COVID-19 wasn't going to do it, either.“It's hard to imagine a guy his age going through what he's gone through already,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said, "and I think it's another testament of faith in himself and faith in the process to keep him in a good place, and it also shows how much he loves this group and loves this team and wants to get out and compete.“When you hear stories... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Opening day is next week, and there is concern for New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom and Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo because of back issues. It looks as if New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is feeling much better.The Mets sent deGrom for an MRI on Wednesday after the right-hander pitched just one inning in a summer camp appearance due to back tightness. An MRI of Rizzo on Tuesday showed rib-head inflammation on his left side that is causing back spasms — a condition he has dealt with before in his career.“Frustrating, just because how physically in shape I felt like I was coming in,” Rizzo said. “Just can't control the flareups. The MRI getting kind of what we knew, just confirming it. Just kind of getting it to calm down and get back out there as fast as I can.”Judge has been hampered by a stiff neck, but the outfielder homered off James Paxton during New York's intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees also said Masahiro Tanaka was scheduled for a bullpen... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Opening day is next week, and there is concern for New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom and Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo because of back issues. It looks as if New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is feeling much better.The Mets sent deGrom for an MRI on Wednesday after the right-hander pitched just one inning in a summer camp appearance due to back tightness. An MRI on Rizzo on Tuesday showed rib-head inflammation on his left side that is causing back spasms — a condition he has dealt with before in his career.“Frustrating, just because how physically in shape I felt like I was coming in,” Rizzo said. “Just can't control the flareups. The MRI getting kind of what we knew, just confirming it. Just kind of getting it to calm down and get back out there as fast as I can.”Judge has been hampered by a stiff neck, but the outfielder was in the lineup for New York's intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. The Yankees also said Masahiro Tanaka was scheduled for a bullpen... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Left-hander Danny Duffy will start for the Kansas City Royals when they open the season against the Indians in Cleveland next week.The 31-year-old Duffy will make his third start on opening day, although this one is far different than the others. The game July 24 will begin a season shortened to 60 games because of the coronavirus pandemic that will last through August and September.Right-hander Brad Keller, who started on opening day last season, is sidelined after testing positive for the coronavirus. He is one of four player expected to make the Royals' initial 30-man roster that are awaiting two negative tests in a 24-hour span to return to the club. The others are first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and catchers Salvador Pérez and Cam Gallagher.Duffy went 7-6 with a 4.34 ERA in 23 starts last season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — When the coronavirus pandemic led to an overhaul of the baseball schedule, Mike Matheny had an strong suspicion he'd be headed back to St. Louis to face his former team in his first season in charge of the Kansas City Royals. Matheny probably didn't bet on seeing the Cardinals before the season even began.Yet the two clubs, separated by about 250 miles of interstate on opposite sides of Missouri, will square off in an exhibition game at Busch Stadium next week. The game on July 22 will cap a three-game exhibition slate for the Royals — they will first play a pair of games against the Houston Astros — before their 60-game regular-season starts July 24 in Cleveland.“Its going to be another opponent. It truly is,” said Matheny, who is taking over for the retired Ned Yost after a year spent working as a special adviser to the Royals — a job that came on the heels of a roller-coaster tenure in St. Louis.Matheny was hired to replace the retiring Tony La Russa not long... [More]

As baseball nears the two-week countdown to the start of its delayed season, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep more players, including Boston Red Sox projected opening day starter Eduardo Rodriguez, off the field.On Tuesday, one day after Major League Baseball released its 60-game schedule, there was continued evidence of the difficulties caused by the pandemic.The San Francisco Giants suspended workouts at Oracle Park as they awaited the results of weekend tests for the coronavirus. The Chicago Cubs' workout was delayed. Oakland left-hander Jake Diekman, who has ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune condition, said teams having to call off workouts because of delays in test results “just can't happen.”“I know they’re trying their hardest, but I don’t know if that’s good enough for right now,” Diekman said Tuesday. “It’s a little worrisome. Say we go on a 10-day road trip and we only get results one time. That’s not very good with 45 or 50 people in a clubhouse at one time.”Giants manager... [More]

As baseball nears the two-week countdown to the start of its delayed season, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep more players, including Boston Red Sox projected opening day starter Eduardo Rodriguez, off the field.On Tuesday, one day after Major League Baseball released its 60-game schedule, there was continued evidence of the difficulties caused by the pandemic.The San Francisco Giants suspended workouts at Oracle Park as they awaited the results of weekend tests for the coronavirus. The Chicago Cubs' workout was delayed. Oakland left-hander Jake Diekman, who has ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune condition, said teams having to call off workouts because of delays in test results “just can't happen.”“I know they’re trying their hardest, but I don’t know if that’s good enough for right now,” Diekman said Tuesday. “It’s a little worrisome. Say we go on a 10-day road trip and we only get results one time. That’s not very good with 45 or 50 people in a clubhouse at one time.”Giants manager... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — When the Kansas City Royals learned that spring training was over and they were headed home, with questions swirling around if and when they might start the season, Mike Matheny sent them each a copy of a book called “Legacy.”Author James Kerr tells the story of the All Blacks, the famed New Zealand rugby team that has won more than 75% of its matches going back a century. Kerr breaks down the Kiwis' success and teases out lessons for individuals and teams that have to do with accountability, leadership and developing a winning culture.It's something that Matheny, who was hired this past offseason to replace the retired Ned Yost, wouldn't have been able to do during the regular season, when the daily grind chews up everybody's day. But with the coronavirus pandemic giving his players more free time than they've had since most of them were kids, Matheny decided to take advantage by giving them a little bit of homework — and in doing so, giving them a little insight... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — As far as Tim Anderson is concerned, winning a batting title doesn't change his status. Anderson led the major leagues with a .335 average last season for the Chicago White Sox. Despite a sprained ankle that limited him to 123 games, he hit 18 homers and stole 17 bases.The 26-year-old shortstop has emerged as a leader on a White Sox team seeking the franchise's first postseason berth since 2008. When Chicago failed to sign Manny Machado ahead of the 2019 season, Anderson told teammates not to get down and said: "Ride with us or get run over."“I just felt like everybody was depending on somebody that really wasn't here,” Anderson said this week. “So when everybody saw that it's was like we took a blow — no, we didn't! I'll fill that in for you guys.”"No hate against Machado, I wish him the best, rooting for him, but we had to do what we had to do here on the South Side to get to where we're trying to go," Anderson said. "He didn't want to be a part of it, and that's... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Matheny walked through the doors of Kauffman Stadium a year ago to take a job as a special adviser with the Kansas City Royals, an out-of-the-spotlight position that allowed him to take stock of his career and his shortcomings.He had been fired by the Cardinals earlier in the summer, ending a six-year tenure highlighted by a World Series trip and lowlighted by a three-year swoon that cost him his job."When I left," Matheny recalled, "I went home to my wife and my five amazing kids and I said, 'I don't know how to explain it but this is where I'm meant to be."Turns out he'll be calling the K his office for a while.Ned Yost decided to retire near the end of the season, and the Royals finally made official what many expected: They were handing the job to Matheny, who had spent the year working side-by-side with people throughout the organization, from the farm clubs to the scouting staff."He has interacted with leadership of all levels. He's spent time in our rookie... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals hired Mike Matheny on Thursday, bringing in a manager who took the cross-state Cardinals to the World Series six years ago before a three-season swoon cost him his job.The 49-year-old Matheny went 591-474 with the Cardinals and was the first manager to reach the postseason his first four seasons. The Cardinals reached the World Series in 2013, losing to the Red Sox, but Matheny was fired in July 2018 with the team in jeopardy of missing the playoffs.Matheny was hired last November by the Royals as a special adviser for player development, and the belief among many was that he was being groomed to take over when Ned Yost retired.That happened shortly before the Royals finished another 100-loss campaign last month."Our entire organization is delighted to announce and celebrate the hiring of Mike Matheny," general manager Dayton Moore said in a statement. "Every department has had the pleasure to work and interact with him this past season. Through... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals hired Mike Matheny on Thursday, bringing in a manager who took the cross-state Cardinals to the World Series six years ago before a three-season swoon cost him his job.The 49-year-old Matheny went 591-474 with the Cardinals from 2012-18 and was the first manager to reach the postseason his first four seasons. The Cardinals reached the World Series in 2013, losing to the Boston Red Sox, but Matheny was fired in July 2018 as the team was headed toward a third straight season out of the playoffs.Matheny was hired last November by the Royals as a special adviser for player development and he was in prime position to succeed Royals manager Ned Yost, who announced his retirement last month."Our entire organization is delighted to announce and celebrate the hiring of Mike Matheny," said Dayton Moore, the Royals general manager. "Every department has had the pleasure to work and interact with him this past season. Through this interaction, it became... [More]