ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kyle Schwarber doubled in a run in his delayed Washington debut, Andrew Stevenson had a pinch-hit homer and the Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 on Monday night. Schwarber, Josh Bell and Josh Harrison were in the starting lineup after being sidelined for Washington’s first six games by a coronavirus outbreak that prompted the postponement of the team’s season-opening series and left the club short-handed. The Nats ended a five-game skid, while the Cardinals have lost three straight. Stevenson hit his first homer of the season into St. Louis’ bullpen in right field to lead off the seventh, putting Washington ahead 4-2. Kyle Finnegan (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win. Brad Hand got three outs for his first save. Yadier Molina homered for St. Louis. John Gant (0-1) allowed three runs in five-plus innings. BREWERS 6, CUBS 3 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Pinch-hitter Luis Urías drove in three runs with a go-ahead double, part of a six-run sixth inning for the Brewers. Freddy... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kyle Schwarber doubled in a run in his delayed Washington debut, Andrew Stevenson had a pinch-hit homer and the Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 on Monday night. Schwarber, Josh Bell and Josh Harrison were in the starting lineup after being sidelined for Washington’s first six games by a coronavirus outbreak that prompted the postponement of the team’s season-opening series and left the club short-handed. The Nats ended a five-game skid, while the Cardinals have lost three straight. Stevenson hit his first homer of the season into St. Louis’ bullpen in right field to lead off the seventh, putting Washington ahead 4-2. Kyle Finnegan (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win. Brad Hand got three outs for his first save. Yadier Molina homered for St. Louis. John Gant (0-1) allowed three runs in five-plus innings. BREWERS 6, CUBS 3 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Pinch-hitter Luis Urías drove in three runs with a go-ahead double, part of a six-run sixth inning for the Brewers. Freddy... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kyle Schwarber doubled in a run in his delayed Washington debut, Andrew Stevenson had a pinch-hit homer and the Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 on Monday night. Schwarber, Josh Bell and Josh Harrison were in the starting lineup after being sidelined for Washington’s first six games by a coronavirus outbreak that prompted the postponement of the team’s season-opening series and left the club short-handed. The Nats ended a five-game skid, while the Cardinals have lost three straight. Stevenson hit his first homer of the season into St. Louis’ bullpen in right field to lead off the seventh, putting Washington ahead 4-2. Kyle Finnegan (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win. Brad Hand got three outs for his first save. Yadier Molina homered for St. Louis. John Gant (0-1) allowed three runs in five-plus innings. BREWERS 6, CUBS 3 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Pinch-hitter Luis Urías drove in three runs with a go-ahead double, part of a six-run sixth inning for the Brewers. Freddy... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a 451-foot homer and pitched two-hit ball into the fifth inning in a historic two-way performance, and Jared Walsh hit a walkoff homer in the Los Angeles Angels’ 7-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday night. Walsh hit two homers, including a big three-run shot off Matt Foster to end the Angels’ third win over Chicago in their four-game, season-opening series. Ohtani reached another milestone in his unique career when he took the mound and occupied the No. 2 slot in the batting order for the Angels. He was just the third pitcher in 45 seasons to hit for himself in a game with the designated hitter available, and the first to bat second since Jack Dunleavy did it for the Cardinals in 1903. In the first inning alone, Ohtani both threw the hardest pitch by any starting pitcher in baseball this season and produced the hardest hit by any batter this season. Ohtani touched 101 mph with a fastball, and his first-pitch homer off Chicago’s Dylan... [More]

Alec Bohm hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, Zach Eflin gave Philadelphia another strong start and the Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the defending NL East champion Atlanta Braves with a 2-1 win Sunday. Philadelphia’s starting trio of Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Eflin (1-0) surrendered three runs, 11 hits and one walk in 20 2/3 innings against an Atlanta lineup that led the majors in 2020 with 556 hits. The Phillies bullpen, which posted a 7.06 ERA in 2020, didn’t yield a run in 7 1/3 innings in the set. Philadelphia regained the lead in the eighth as Rhys Hoskins, Bryce Harper and Bohm hit consecutive singles off Chris Martin (0-1). Hector Neris got his first save. REDS 12, CARDINALS 1 Nick Castellanos came out swinging with his bat a day after being ejected for inciting a bench-clearing melee, hitting a three-run homer off Carlos Martinez (0-1) and triple to finish the series 6 for 11 with five RBIs. Tyler Naquin also a three-run shot for the Reds, who won two in... [More]

Alec Bohm hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, Zach Eflin gave Philadelphia another strong start and the Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the defending NL East champion Atlanta Braves with a 2-1 win Sunday. Philadelphia’s starting trio of Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Eflin (1-0) surrendered three runs, 11 hits and one walk in 20 2/3 innings against an Atlanta lineup that led the majors in 2020 with 556 hits. The Phillies bullpen, which posted a 7.06 ERA in 2020, didn’t yield a run in 7 1/3 innings in the set. Philadelphia regained the lead in the eighth as Rhys Hoskins, Bryce Harper and Bohm hit consecutive singles off Chris Martin (0-1). Hector Neris got his first save. REDS 12, CARDINALS 1 Nick Castellanos came out swinging with his bat a day after being ejected for inciting a bench-clearing melee, hitting a three-run homer off Carlos Martinez (0-1) and triple to finish the series 6 for 11 with five RBIs. Tyler Naquin also a three-run shot for the Reds, who won two in... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians' opener is Thursday in Detroit. Their closer isn't nearly as definitive. Cleveland enters the season with uncertainty at several positions, questions about whether their offense can produce enough to back a strong starting staff and manager Terry Francona deciding not to christen a closer from an interesting assortment of bullpen arms. For now, the closer's job is shared. After the Indians parted ways with All-Star Brad Hand this winter, it was assumed that hard-throwing right-hander James Karinchak, who had 53 strikeouts in 27 innings last season, would move into the vital closer spot. However, partly because of Karinchak's struggles during camp (6.10 ERA in 12 appearances) and because he has other options, Francona will use a rotation of relievers to close with Karinchak, Emmanuel Clase and Nick Wittgren all getting a turn. “It’s more how we get to a point in the game,” Francona said Wednesday on a Zoom call from Comerica Park. "I've never been real comfortable... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians entered camp in Arizona with questions at positions all over the diamond. On Friday, most of them got answered. And, one of them was pretty puzzling. With opening day less than a week away, manager Terry Francona got some needed clarity on his roster by announcing that Jake Bauers will open the season at first base despite being outperformed at the plate this spring by Bobby Bradley. Francona also said outfielder Ben Gamel, who came to camp on a minor league deal, had also made the club's opening-day roster along with veteran left-hander Oliver Pérez and utility infielder Yu Chang. Bradley was optioned to Triple-A Columbus along outfielder Bradley Zimmer and reliever Kyle Nelson. Relievers Anthony Gose and Blake Parker were informed they would not be with the club when it breaks camp next week. Francona said the Indians had a “lot of conversations” about their choice at first base, which basically came down to the 25-year-old Bauers, who spent last season at... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians entered camp in Arizona with questions at positions all over the diamond. On Friday, most of them got answered. And, one of them was pretty puzzling. With opening day less than a week away, manager Terry Francona got some needed clarity on his roster by announcing that Jake Bauers will open the season at first base despite being outperformed at the plate this spring by Bobby Bradley. Francona also said outfielder Ben Gamel, who came to camp on a minor league deal, had also made the club's opening-day roster along with veteran left-hander Oliver Pérez and utility infielder Yu Chang. Bradley was optioned to Triple-A Columbus along outfielder Bradley Zimmer and reliever Kyle Nelson. Relievers Anthony Gose and Blake Parker were informed they would not be with the club when it breaks camp next week. Francona said the Indians had a “lot of conversations” about their choice at first base, which basically came down to the 25-year-old Bauers, who spent last season at... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians traded utility infielder Mike Freeman to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday for cash. Manager Terry Francona announced the deal from the team's year-round training complex in Goodyear, Arizona, shortly after he said reigning Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber will start the opener at Detroit on April 1. "That’s probably not any big secret," Francona said. No, but dealing the 33-year-old Freeman was a little surprising as the Indians valued his versatility and experience. Freeman played 99 games and batted. 270 over the past two seasons with Cleveland, which signed him to a minor-league deal last month with a camp invitation. However, with Freeman behind Amed Rosario, who came over from the New York Mets in the Francisco Lindor deal this winter, and Yu Chang, he was probably not going to make Cleveland's roster and the club found him a fresh start. “They seem to have what they think is a better opportunity for him to maybe not only make their club, but actually play... [More]

Kohei Arihara finished what he started this time. The Texas Rangers newcomer bounced back from a shaky spring training debut, pitching three solid innings Monday in a 9-0, seven-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs. Arihara retired his final seven batters, setting down Ian Happ, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant to end his outing. Overall, he allowed a run on two singles without a strikeout or walk. Signed to a $6.2 million, two-year contract after six seasons in Japan, the 28-year-old right-hander allowed a three-run homer in the first inning of his initial spring start against the Chicago White Sox last week. He worked two innings, both of them cut short before the third out because of high pitch counts. After his three innings against the Cubs, Arihara went to the bullpen to throw additional pitches to get him up to 50 for the day. All in all, a bit different than the adrenaline and excitement of his first game against big league hitters last week. Arihara said he was just thinking about doing... [More]

Indians first. Francisco Lindor walks. Delino DeShields out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Kris Bryant to Anthony Rizzo. Francisco Lindor to second. Jose Ramirez singles to shallow right field. Francisco Lindor to third. Carlos Santana lines out to shortstop to Javier Baez. Franmil Reyes strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Indians 1, Cubs 0.Cubs second. Kyle Schwarber walks. Javier Baez singles to center field, tagged out at second, Delino DeShields to Jose Ramirez to Yu Chang. Kyle Schwarber to third. Jason Heyward singles to shallow center field. Kyle Schwarber scores. Cameron Maybin reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow center field. Jason Heyward to third. Fielding error by Jose Ramirez. Nico Hoerner grounds out to third base. Cameron Maybin out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Indians 1, Cubs 1.Cubs fourth. Willson Contreras hit by pitch. Kyle Schwarber strikes out swinging. Javier Baez reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop, advances... [More]

Indians first. Cesar Hernandez pops out to third base to Matt Carpenter. Jose Ramirez walks. Francisco Lindor singles to shallow infield. Jose Ramirez to third. Carlos Santana walks. Franmil Reyes homers to center field. Carlos Santana scores. Francisco Lindor scores. Tyler Naquin grounds out to first base, Paul Goldschmidt to Daniel Ponce de Leon. Jordan Luplow walks. Roberto Perez walks. Jordan Luplow to second. Delino DeShields strikes out swinging.4 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Indians 4, Cardinals 0.Indians second. Cesar Hernandez singles to third base. Jose Ramirez singles to shallow right field. Cesar Hernandez to third. Francisco Lindor reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Jose Ramirez out at second. Cesar Hernandez out at home. Carlos Santana homers to right field. Francisco Lindor scores. Franmil Reyes grounds out to shortstop, Paul DeJong to Paul Goldschmidt.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Indians 6, Cardinals 0.Cardinals second. Yadier Molina flies out... [More]

Tigers first. Victor Reyes doubles to deep center field. Willi Castro out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Carlos Carrasco to Carlos Santana. Victor Reyes to third. Miguel Cabrera out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Greg Allen. Victor Reyes scores. Jeimer Candelario singles to right center field. Niko Goodrum walks. Jeimer Candelario to second. JaCoby Jones strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Tigers 1, Indians 0.Indians first. Cesar Hernandez homers to center field. Jose Ramirez strikes out swinging. Francisco Lindor lines out to deep center field to JaCoby Jones. Carlos Santana walks. Franmil Reyes strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 1, Indians 1.Tigers fourth. Niko Goodrum homers to right field. JaCoby Jones doubles to deep left field. Jorge Bonifacio homers to center field. JaCoby Jones scores. Grayson Greiner lines out to shallow left field to Francisco Lindor. Isaac Paredes doubles to left field. Victor Reyes lines out... [More]

Indians first. Cesar Hernandez strikes out swinging. Jose Ramirez homers to right field. Francisco Lindor grounds out to second base, Kyle Farmer to Joey Votto. Carlos Santana walks. Franmil Reyes strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Indians 1, Reds 0.Indians fifth. Beau Taylor grounds out to shallow infield, Kyle Farmer to Joey Votto. Delino DeShields strikes out swinging. Cesar Hernandez walks. Jose Ramirez triples to deep right field. Cesar Hernandez scores. Francisco Lindor singles to shallow right field. Jose Ramirez scores. Carlos Santana walks. Francisco Lindor to second. Franmil Reyes grounds out to shallow right field to Joey Votto.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Indians 3, Reds 0.Indians seventh. Delino DeShields singles to right field. Cesar Hernandez singles to right field. Delino DeShields to third. Jose Ramirez reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Cesar Hernandez to third. Delino DeShields out at home. Francisco Lindor... [More]

Indians first. Jordan Luplow pops out to shallow center field to Danny Mendick. Jose Ramirez doubles to left field. Francisco Lindor doubles to deep left field. Jose Ramirez scores. Carlos Santana homers to left field. Francisco Lindor scores. Franmil Reyes strikes out on a foul tip. Domingo Santana grounds out to third base, Yoan Moncada to Jose Abreu.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Indians 3, White sox 0.White sox second. Zack Collins flies out to left field to Jordan Luplow. James McCann homers to left field. Luis Robert strikes out swinging. Leury Garcia grounds out to first base to Carlos Santana.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Indians 3, White sox 1.Indians fourth. Carlos Santana strikes out swinging. Franmil Reyes walks. Domingo Santana walks. Franmil Reyes to second. Yu Chang strikes out swinging. Sandy Leon walks. Domingo Santana to second. Franmil Reyes to third. Oscar Mercado singles to left field. Sandy Leon to second. Domingo Santana scores. Franmil Reyes scores. Jordan... [More]

Indians first. Cesar Hernandez grounds out to second base, Whit Merrifield to Maikel Franco. Jose Ramirez reaches on error. Throwing error by Erick Mejia. Francisco Lindor strikes out swinging. Carlos Santana walks. Jose Ramirez to second. Franmil Reyes singles to right field. Carlos Santana to third. Jose Ramirez scores. Domingo Santana singles to center field, tagged out at second, Brett Phillips to Adalberto Mondesi. Franmil Reyes to third. Carlos Santana scores.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Indians 2, Royals 0.Indians third. Cesar Hernandez singles to deep center field. Jose Ramirez singles to right field, advances to 3rd. Cesar Hernandez scores. Fielding error by Franchy Cordero. Francisco Lindor doubles to shallow left field. Jose Ramirez scores. Carlos Santana lines out to center field to Brett Phillips. Franmil Reyes reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Francisco Lindor out at third. Domingo Santana singles to left field. Franmil Reyes to second. Bradley Zimmer called... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians made one stirring comeback after another through a season scattered with adversity, misfortune, and unexpected challenges.Their last one fell short.They're stubbornly sitting out the postseason for the first time since 2015."We were on the run, and I just wanted to play in the playoffs," right-hander Mike Clevinger said after the Indians lost Sunday in Washington, concluding their taxing 2019 season with a five-game losing streak. "We didn't want that to come to an end. I wanted to pitch in October."Not this time.The Indians were officially eliminated from the playoffs on Friday, but only after they had exhausted themselves while overcoming injuries and fighting in a vain attempt to catch the homer-hammering Minnesota Twins, who clubbed Cleveland out of its three-year reign atop the AL Central.In truth, the Indians, who finished with 93 wins, played from behind since last winter when owner Paul Dolan's decision to chop payroll hollowed manager Terry Francona's... [More]

Nationals second. Ryan Zimmerman singles to left center field. Gerardo Parra singles to left center field. Ryan Zimmerman to second. Yan Gomes walks. Gerardo Parra to second. Ryan Zimmerman to third. Patrick Corbin singles to left field. Yan Gomes to second. Gerardo Parra to third. Ryan Zimmerman scores. Trea Turner strikes out swinging. Adam Eaton singles to left field. Patrick Corbin to second. Yan Gomes to third. Gerardo Parra scores. Anthony Rendon doubles to deep left field. Adam Eaton to third. Patrick Corbin scores. Yan Gomes scores. Juan Soto is intentionally walked. Asdrubal Cabrera singles to right field. Juan Soto to second. Anthony Rendon to third. Adam Eaton scores. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to right field to Franmil Reyes. Gerardo Parra homers to center field. Asdrubal Cabrera scores. Juan Soto scores. Anthony Rendon scores. Yan Gomes pops out to shallow infield to Jake Bauers.9 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 9, Indians 0.Indians fourth. Jordan Luplow homers to... [More]

White sox fourth. Jose Abreu grounds out to third base, Jose Ramirez to Carlos Santana. Yoan Moncada singles to left center field. Zack Collins walks. Yoan Moncada to second. James McCann homers to left field. Zack Collins scores. Yoan Moncada scores. Daniel Palka homers to center field. Adam Engel walks. Ryan Cordell grounds out to shortstop, Francisco Lindor to Carlos Carrasco to Carlos Santana.4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 4, Indians 0.White sox fifth. Yolmer Sanchez called out on strikes. Tim Anderson singles to right center field. Jose Abreu triples to right field. Tim Anderson scores. Yoan Moncada grounds out to shallow infield, Mike Freeman to Carlos Santana. Zack Collins doubles to deep center field. Jose Abreu scores. James McCann strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. White sox 6, Indians 0.White sox sixth. Daniel Palka homers to center field. Adam Engel grounds out to third base, Jose Ramirez to Carlos Santana. Ryan Cordell grounds out to shortstop,... [More]