Benches cleared and even the stands emptied during Oakland’s 7-2 victory over the Astros on Sunday, tempers flaring at last between the AL West rivals months after Houston’s sign-stealing scandal was brought to light by Oakland pitcher Mike Fiers.Oakland’s Ramon Laureano got hit by a pitch — for the third time in the three-game series — this one by Humberto Castellanos with one out in the seventh. Laureano began exchanging words with animated Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron, then left first base, threw down his batting helmet and began sprinting toward him.Astros catcher Dustin Garneau tackled Laureano before the A’s outfielder reached Cintron, and a wild scene ensued.Players rushed out of both dugouts to join the fray. A’s and Astros players who were sitting in the seats, observing COVID-19 social-distancing protocols, also rushed onto the field. Laureano was ejected by plate ump Ted Barrett. Oakland won its ninth straight, and Houston lost its fifth in a row.Matt Olson hit a three-run... [More]

Benches cleared and even the stands emptied during Oakland’s 7-2 victory over the Astros on Sunday, tempers flaring at last between the AL West rivals months after Houston’s sign-stealing scandal was brought to light by Oakland pitcher Mike Fiers.Oakland’s Ramon Laureano got hit by a pitch — for the third time in the three-game series — this one by Humberto Castellanos with one out in the seventh. Laureano began exchanging words with animated Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron, then left first base, threw down his batting helmet and began sprinting toward him.Astros catcher Dustin Garneau tackled Laureano before the A’s outfielder reached Cintron, and a wild scene ensued.Players rushed out of both dugouts to join the fray. A’s and Astros players who were sitting in the seats, observing COVID-19 social-distancing protocols, also rushed onto the field. Laureano was ejected by plate ump Ted Barrett. Oakland won its ninth straight, and Houston lost its fifth in a row.Matt Olson hit a three-run... [More]

Benches cleared and even the stands emptied during Oakland’s 7-2 victory over the Astros on Sunday, tempers flaring at last between the AL West rivals months after Houston’s sign-stealing scandal was brought to light by Oakland pitcher Mike Fiers.Oakland’s Ramon Laureano got hit by a pitch — for the third time in the three-game series — this one by Humberto Castellanos with one out in the seventh. Laureano began exchanging words with animated Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron, then left first base, threw down his batting helmet and began sprinting toward him.Astros catcher Dustin Garneau tackled Laureano before the A’s outfielder reached Cintron, and a wild scene ensued.Players rushed out of both dugouts to join the fray. A’s and Astros players who were sitting in the seats, observing COVID-19 social-distancing protocols, also rushed onto the field. Laureano was ejected by plate ump Ted Barrett. Oakland won its ninth straight, and Houston lost its fifth in a row.Matt Olson hit a three-run... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gavin Lux was expected to be the Dodgers' second baseman when summer camp started. But a late arrival and struggles at the plate mean he won't be with the team when the season opens Thursday.Los Angeles optioned Lux on Tuesday. Manager Dave Roberts said he informed Lux of the decision before the Dodgers' exhibition game Monday against Arizona but is hopeful Lux can be back on the roster soon.“I just think there is a lot that goes with him and his swing and at this point he wasn't synched up,” Roberts said before Tuesday night's exhibition finale against the Los Angeles Angels. “I want him to get right. He started playoff games for us last year. That goes to show the confidence we have in him.” The 22-year old Lux, a first-round selection in 2016, played in 23 games last year, batting .240 with two homers and nine RBIs after getting called up in September. He also was 2 for 9 with a home run and RBI in the division series against Washington.The late arrival this summer... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers have optioned infielder Gavin Lux and agreed on a one-year deal with pitcher Jake McGee.Lux arrived late to summer camp and has appeared in only a few of the team’s intrasquad games. Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernandez have also gotten starts at second base. Lux played in 23 games last year, batting .240 with two homers and nine RBIs after getting called up in September. McGee was placed on waivers by Colorado last week. The 33-year-old left-hander was 4-11 with a 4.78 ERA in 225 games in four years with the club. He was 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA last season. McGee joined the team Tuesday.McGee agreed to a $27 million, three-year deal with the Rockies ahead of the 2018 season. He is owed $3,518,519 in prorated salary this year, of which the Dodgers are responsible for the $208,704 prorated share of the minimum, and the Rockies also responsible for the $2 million buyout of his $9 million option for 2021.To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred right-hander Jimmy Nelson to the 45-day injured list. Nelson had season-ending back surgery on July 6. He signed with the team in January after spending six years with Milwaukee.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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]

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 on 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]

A team-by-team look at the National 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:___Los Angeles Dodgers Manager: Dave Roberts (fifth season). 2019: 106-56, first place, lost to Nationals in Division Series. Training Town: Glendale, Arizona. Park: Camelback Ranch. First Workout: Feb. 14/18. He's Here: OF Mookie Betts, LHP David Price, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Blake Treinen, RHP Jimmy Nelson, 2B Clayton Daniel.He's Outta Here: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, RHP Kenta Maeda, LHP Rich Hill, OF Joc Pederson, OF Alex Verdugo, 1B David Freese, RHP Yimi Garcia, 3B Jedd Gyorko, C Russell Martin, RHP JT Chargois, 2B Kristopher Negron.Going campin': In what's become a familiar refrain, the Dodgers arrive at camp still looking for their first World Series championship since 1988. After losing in two straight World Series, they were ousted by Washington in five games in the NL Division Series last fall.... [More]

Pirates first. Kevin Newman homers to center field. Bryan Reynolds singles to right field. Starling Marte lines out to deep center field to Garrett Hampson. Josh Bell reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Bryan Reynolds to third. Fielding error by Nolan Arenado. Colin Moran out on a sacrifice fly to right field to Charlie Blackmon. Bryan Reynolds scores. Jose Osuna reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Josh Bell out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Pirates 2, Rockies 0.Pirates second. Adam Frazier singles to right field. Jacob Stallings singles to right field. Adam Frazier to third. Joe Musgrove strikes out swinging. Kevin Newman singles to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Jacob Stallings to third. Adam Frazier scores. Throwing error by Tim Melville. Bryan Reynolds doubles to deep right center field. Kevin Newman scores. Jacob Stallings scores. Starling Marte walks. Josh Bell reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Starling Marte out at second. Bryan Reynolds... [More]

Pirates first. Kevin Newman homers to left field. Bryan Reynolds singles to center field. Starling Marte singles to shallow left field. Bryan Reynolds to second. Josh Bell walks. Starling Marte to second. Bryan Reynolds to third. Colin Moran doubles to deep right center field. Josh Bell to third. Starling Marte scores. Bryan Reynolds scores. Jose Osuna pops out to shallow center field to Trevor Story. Adam Frazier singles to left field. Colin Moran to third. Josh Bell scores. Jacob Stallings singles to right field. Adam Frazier to third. Colin Moran scores. Trevor Williams out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Dom Nunez to Ryan McMahon. Jacob Stallings to second. Kevin Newman singles to right field. Jacob Stallings scores. Adam Frazier scores. Bryan Reynolds grounds out to shallow infield, Yency Almonte to Daniel Murphy.7 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Pirates 7, Rockies 0.Rockies first. Trevor Story called out on strikes. Charlie Blackmon singles to right field. Nolan Arenado... [More]

Cardinals first. Dexter Fowler grounds out to first base to Daniel Murphy. Kolten Wong reaches on error. Fielding error by Ryan McMahon. Paul Goldschmidt lines out to right center field to Charlie Blackmon. Marcell Ozuna homers to center field. Kolten Wong scores. Paul DeJong walks. Yadier Molina singles to right field. Paul DeJong to second. Tommy Edman grounds out to second base, Ryan McMahon to Daniel Murphy.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Cardinals 2, Rockies 0.Cardinals fourth. Tommy Edman doubles to center field. Harrison Bader walks. Jack Flaherty out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Peter Lambert to Ryan McMahon. Harrison Bader to second. Tommy Edman to third. Dexter Fowler walks. Kolten Wong hit by pitch. Dexter Fowler to second. Harrison Bader to third. Tommy Edman scores. Paul Goldschmidt pops out to Daniel Murphy. Marcell Ozuna lines out to center field to Yonathan Daza.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 left on. Cardinals 3, Rockies 0.Cardinals fifth. Paul DeJong grounds... [More]

Aug. 41884 — Pud Galvin pitched the most lopsided no-hitter in major league history as the Buffalo Bisons routed the Detroit Wolverines 18-0. It is the second career no-hitter for Galvin.1910 — Jack Coombs of the Philadelphia A's and Ed Walsh of the Chicago White Sox hooked up in a 16-inning scoreless tie. Coombs struck out 18 and allowed three hits.1945 — Bill Salkeld of Pittsburgh hit for the cycle in a 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Pirate catcher went 5 for 5 and drove in all five runs.1945 — Boston's Tom McBride became the third player to drive in six runs in an inning as the Red Sox pounded Washington 15-4. McBride had a bases-loaded double and triple during the Red Sox's 12-run fourth inning.1953 — New York's Vic Raschi set a record for a pitcher by driving in seven runs in a 15-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.1963 — New York's Mickey Mantle, batting for the first time in two months after breaking his left foot, hit a pinch home run as the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Colorado right-hander German Márquez left Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with what the team said was full-body cramping.Márquez was completing his warmup pitches at the start of the seventh inning when he hopped off the mound favoring his right leg. He was helped off the field and into the clubhouse and relieved by left-hander Jake McGee.Márquez had allowed just two hits in a scoreless game and struck out 10 before exiting. It was the ninth game in his career and first this season with double-digit strikeouts.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies are running a little cool at second base.That opened the door for Brendan Rodgers, the team's top prospect who's swinging a hot bat.Colorado called up the 22-year-old for a weekend series in Philadelphia that started Friday. In addition to selecting the contract of the prospect from Albuquerque, the Rockies optioned right-hander DJ Johnson and infielder Pat Valaika to the Triple-A team and activated left-hander Jake McGee from the 10-day injured list after he recovered from a sprained left knee.Rodgers was hitting .356 with nine homers and 21 RBIs in 35 games this season with Triple-A Albuquerque. He was playing mostly at second base for the Isotopes with an occasional appearance at shortstop and third base.His promotion makes sense: So far this season, Colorado's second basemen are hitting .200 with no homers and 11 RBIs.Invited to spring training, Rodgers hit .222 in 18 games. Still, Rockies manager Bud Black appreciated his moxie."He's really confident... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies reinstated infielder Daniel Murphy from the 10-day injured list before their game Wednesday against the Washington Nationals.Murphy was in the starting lineup at first base and batting third.The 34-year-old fractured his left index finger diving for a grounder in the second game of the season. He was placed on the IL on April 1 and missed 20 games. He is 1 for 10 with one run scored in two games.Murphy's fractured finger was the beginning of several injuries for the Rockies. Infielder Ryan McMahon (sprained left elbow) missed 10 games, outfielder David Dahl (core injury) was out for eight and catcher Chris Iannetta (right lat strain) has been out for nine.Pitcher Tyler Anderson missed a couple of starts with left knee inflammation before being recalled Monday and ace left-hander Kyle Freeland is on the injured list with a blister on his pitching hand. Relievers Jake McGee (left knee sprain) and Chris Rusin (back strain) also are out.Murphy's return gives... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The blazing fastball of German Márquez elevated him to the big leagues. His investment in a couple of electric breaking pitches just earned him big bucks.Márquez and the Colorado Rockies agreed to a $43 million, five-year contract Saturday.The right-hander's new contract calls for a $1.5 million signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the deal's approval by the commissioner's office, and salaries of $1 million this year, $4.5 million in 2020, $7.5 million in 2021, $11 million in 2022 and $15 million in 2023. Colorado has a $16 million option for 2024 with a $2.5 million buyout."I want to continue my hard work. Nothing changes," Márquez said through a translator. "The goal is to always win a championship here. I look forward to this opportunity."Already armed with a 95-mph fastball, Márquez has steadily developed a mystifying slider and curve. He's working on a changeup that could take him to an even higher level. Márquez struck out a franchise-best 230 last season, going... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Hard-throwing righty German Márquez and the Colorado Rockies have agreed to a $43 million, five-year contract.Colorado unilaterally renewed Márquez last month for a one-year deal paying $565,000 — $10,000 above the minimum — while in the major leagues and $275,000 while in the minors.His new contract calls for a $1.5 million signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the deal's approval by the commissioner's office, and salaries of $1 million this year, $4.5 million in 2020, $7.5 million in 2021, $11 million in 2022 and $15 million in 2023. Colorado has a $16 million option for 2024 with a $2.5 million buyout.If Márquez finishes among the top three in Cy Young Award voting at least twice over the next five years, the option becomes a mutual option. His 2023 and 2024 salaries would escalate by $1 million for each prior Cy Young Award and by $500,000 for each finish from second through fifth.He would have been eligible for salary arbitration next winter and for free agency after the 2022 season.Márquez had a franchise-best 230 strikeouts last season while finishing 14-11 with a 3.77 ERA.The 24-year-old from Venezuela got the start in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against Milwaukee. He allowed two runs over five innings.Márquez was acquired by Colorado on Jan. 28, 2016, along with reliever Jake McGee in a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DENVER (AP) — Hard-throwing righty German Márquez and the Colorado Rockies have agreed to a $43 million, five-year contract.Colorado unilaterally renewed Márquez last month for a one-year deal paying $565,000 — $10,000 above the minimum — while in the major leagues and $275,000 while in the minors.His new contract calls for a $1.5 million signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the deal's approval by the commissioner's office, and salaries of $1 million this year, $4.5 million in 2020, $7.5 million in 2021, $11 million in 2022 and $15 million in 2023. Colorado has a $16 million option for 2024 with a $2.5 million buyout.If Márquez finishes among the top three in Cy Young Award voting at least twice over the next five years, the option becomes a mutual option. His salaries would escalate by $1 million for each Cy Young Award and by $500,000 for each finish from second through fifth.Márquez had a franchise-best 230 strikeouts last season while finishing 14-11 with a 3.77 ERA.The 24-year-old from Venezuela got the start in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against Milwaukee. He allowed two runs over five innings.Márquez was acquired by Colorado on Jan. 28, 2016, along with reliever Jake McGee in a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DENVER (AP) — Hard-throwing righty German Marquez and the Colorado Rockies have agreed on a contract that runs through the 2023 season.The deal also includes an option for 2024. Marquez is 1-0 in two starts this season and has allowed just one run.Marquez had a franchise-best 230 strikeouts last season while finishing 14-11 with a 3.77 ERA.The 24-year-old from Venezuela got the start in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against Milwaukee. He allowed two runs over five innings.Marquez was acquired by Colorado on Jan. 28, 2016, along with reliever Jake McGee in a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports