SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Francisco Lindor homered in his native Puerto Rico, Corey Kluber allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings and the Cleveland Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 6-1 on Tuesday night in the first regular-season game on the island commonwealth since 2010.Michael Brantley and Jose Ramirez each had three hits for Cleveland before a sold-out crowd of 19,516 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Brantley and Ramirez hit consecutive homers in the sixth, and Yonder Alonso added a solo homer in the eighth.Kluber (2-1) allowed five hits and struck out six, lowering his ERA to 1.52. Minnesota's Jake Odorizzi (1-1) gave up four runs and six hits in five-plus innings.RED SOX 10, ANGELS 1ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mookie Betts led off with the first of his three homers, and Boston chased Shohei Ohtani just two innings into his third big-league start.Ohtani (2-1) yielded four hits and three runs on 66 pitches before exiting with a blister on his pitching hand. The two-way Japanese sensation couldn't... [More]

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Francisco Lindor homered in his native Puerto Rico, Corey Kluber allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings and the Cleveland Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 6-1 on Tuesday night in the first regular-season game on the island commonwealth since 2010.Michael Brantley and Jose Ramirez each had three hits for Cleveland before a sold-out crowd of 19,516 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Brantley and Ramirez hit consecutive homers in the sixth, and Yonder Alonso added a solo homer in the eighth.Kluber (2-1) allowed five hits and struck out six, lowering his ERA to 1.52. Minnesota's Jake Odorizzi (1-1) gave up four runs and six hits in five-plus innings.DIAMONDBACKS 1, GIANTS 0PHOENIX (AP) — Patrick Corbin lost his no-hit bid on a checked-swing infield single with two outs in the eighth inning but finished a one-hitter to lift Arizona.Corbin (3-0) walked one but otherwise was cruising toward what would have been the franchise's third no-hitter. Brandon Belt ended it with a softly... [More]

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:___SHOWTIMEShohei Ohtani makes his third major league start when the Los Angeles Angels (13-3) host David Price and the Red Sox (13-2) in a marquee matchup between the top two teams in the majors. Ohtani is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 13 innings on the mound. The two-way rookie sensation from Japan, also batting .367 with three homers and 11 RBIs, had his outing pushed back from Sunday because of a cold-weather postponement in Kansas City. Price (1-1, 2.40) pitches the opener of Boston's nine-game road trip. He left his last start Wednesday after feeling a "sensation" in his throwing hand.PUERTO RICO HOMECOMINGThe Twins and Indians begin a two-game series in Puerto Rico, a day after several players spent the off day with kids on the storm-ravaged island. Cleveland star Francisco Lindor went back to his first school in his hometown, and Minnesota pitcher Jose Berrios visited a children's hospital in San Juan with many of... [More]

A look at what's happening all around the majors Tuesday:___SHOWTIMEShohei Ohtani makes his third major league start when the Los Angeles Angels (13-3) host David Price and the Red Sox (13-2) in a marquee matchup between the top two teams in the majors. Ohtani is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 13 innings on the mound. The two-way rookie sensation from Japan, also batting .367 with three homers and 11 RBIs, had his outing pushed back from Sunday because of a cold-weather postponement in Kansas City. Price (1-1, 2.40) pitches the opener of Boston's nine-game road trip. He left his last start Wednesday after feeling a "sensation" in his throwing hand.PUERTO RICO HOMECOMINGThe Twins and Indians begin a two-game series in Puerto Rico, a day after several players spent the off day with kids on the storm-ravaged island. Cleveland star Francisco Lindor went back to his first school in his hometown, and Minnesota pitcher Jose Berrios visited a children's hospital in San Juan with many... [More]

GURABO, Puerto Rico (AP) — Cleveland star Francisco Lindor held a baseball in his hand, ready to pitch, and asked the young boy standing at home plate if he knew how to swing a bat.The kid said no.The kid might have been fibbing. Lindor's soft-toss pitch became a line drive, and the kid at Escuela Villa Marina — the same grammar school that Lindor attended years ago — looked at the All-Star shortstop and grinned as onlookers applauded."This is what it's about," Lindor said.Cleveland and Minnesota are in Puerto Rico to play a two-game series in San Juan starting Tuesday night. But the Indians and Twins also know they're serving a larger purpose on this trip, which is why many of the players from both teams ventured out among the Puerto Rican people Monday to give back to an island that was robbed of so much by Hurricane Maria last September.Lindor went back to his first school in Gurabo, his hometown. Minnesota's Jose Berrios, who will start on the mound for the Twins in his homeland on... [More]

GUYABO, Puerto Rico (AP) — Cleveland star Francisco Lindor held a baseball in his hand, ready to pitch, and asked the young boy standing at home plate if he knew how to swing a bat.The kid said no.The kid might have been fibbing. Lindor's soft-toss pitch became a line drive, and the kid at Escuela Villa Marina — the same grammar school that Lindor attended years ago — looked at the All-Star shortstop and grinned as onlookers applauded."This is what it's about," Lindor said.Cleveland and Minnesota are in Puerto Rico to play a two-game series in San Juan starting Tuesday night. But the Indians and Twins also know they're serving a larger purpose on this trip, which is why many of the players from both teams ventured out among the Puerto Rican people Monday to give back to an island that was robbed of so much by Hurricane Maria last September.Lindor went back to his first school in Guyabo, his hometown. Minnesota's Jose Berrios, who will start on the mound for the Twins in his homeland on... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have dealt with record-low temperatures, snow flurries and bone-chilling winds during their first homestand.The Indians managed to play the first eight games despite the obstacles. That run ended when Saturday's game against Toronto was postponed by rain.Heavy rain began falling about two hours before the scheduled 4:10 p.m. first pitch, and the game was called at 5:28 p.m. It was rescheduled for 1:10 p.m. on May 3, previously an off day for both teams.Sunday's series finale could also be in jeopardy because the rain is predicted to last through the weekend. The Blue Jays are making their only scheduled trip to Cleveland.Both teams will go with Saturday's scheduled starters in the series finale. Corey Kluber (1-1), the reigning AL Cy Young winner, will pitch for Indians. The right-hander struck out 13 and allowed two hits in eight innings against Detroit on Monday.Jaime Garcia (1-0) will make his third start for Toronto. He pitched into the sixth inning... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rain has forced the postponement of Saturday's game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians.Heavy rain began falling about two hours before the scheduled 4:10 p.m. first pitch, and the game was called at 5:28 p.m. It was rescheduled for 1:10 p.m. on May 3, previously an off day for both teams.Sunday's series finale could also be in jeopardy because the rain is predicted to last through the weekend. The Blue Jays are making their only scheduled trip to Cleveland.Corey Kluber (1-0), the reigning AL Cy Young winner, was scheduled to start for the Indians. The right-hander struck out 13 and allowed two hits in eight innings against Detroit on Monday. Jaime Garcia (1-0) was set to make his third start for Toronto. The Blue Jays signed the left-hander in February.The Blue Jays rallied from a 4-0 deficit to win Friday night's series opener 8-4. Teoscar Hernandez, called up from Triple-A Buffalo, hit an RBI double off relief ace Andrew Miller in the seventh inning to drive in the winning run.Aledyms Diaz hit a game-tying three-run homer in the fourth and the Indians didn't score over the final seven innings. Cleveland stranded 16 baserunners, committed two errors and saw its five-game winning streak come to an end.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Max Scherzer stole the first base of his professional career and allowed only two singles in his fifth big league shutout, and the Washington Nationals ended a five-game losing skid while getting back to .500 with a 2-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.Scherzer (2-1), the winner of the past two NL Cy Young Awards, did not let the Braves push a runner beyond first base. Kurt Suzuki got a hit in the second, and Nick Markakis did in the fifth, but neither advanced.Scherzer managed to get farther than that: He swiped second after singling off reliever Peter Moylan in the seventh.Howie Kendrick delivered all the offense Washington needed with a two-run double.Scherzer struck out 10 and walked none in his ninth complete game in 299 major league starts. And he needed only 102 pitches, a far more efficient outing than his previous time on the mound: He threw 110 over five innings in a 7-1 loss at Atlanta on April 4.Julio Teheran (0-1) went six innings for the Braves,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Max Scherzer stole the first base of his professional career and allowed only two singles in his fifth big league shutout, and the Washington Nationals ended a five-game losing skid while getting back to .500 with a 2-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.Scherzer (2-1), the winner of the past two NL Cy Young Awards, did not let the Braves push a runner beyond first base. Kurt Suzuki got a hit in the second, and Nick Markakis did in the fifth, but neither advanced.Scherzer managed to get farther than that: He swiped second after singling off reliever Peter Moylan in the seventh.Howie Kendrick delivered all the offense Washington needed with a two-run double.Scherzer struck out 10 and walked none in his ninth complete game in 299 major league starts. And he needed only 102 pitches, a far more efficient outing than his previous time on the mound: He threw 110 over five innings in a 7-1 loss at Atlanta on April 4.Julio Teheran (0-1) went six innings for the Braves,... [More]

A look at what's happening all around baseball today:___AT LASTWeather-permitting, the Chicago Cubs finally get to play their home opener when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. The Cubs closed out a 5-4 trip with a 3-0 win at Milwaukee on Sunday. It was the franchise's longest road trip to open the season since a 12-game jaunt in 1899. There is a chance for snow for the team's return to Chicago, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo also is questionable. The slugger has been sidelined by back tightness.HEALTH CONCERNSThe Boston Red Sox should know more about Xander Bogaerts after the shortstop injured his left ankle in the seventh inning of Sunday's 8-7 victory over Tampa Bay. Bogaerts got hurt while sliding down into the Tampa Bay dugout. He is hitting .368 (14 of 38) this season with two homers and nine RBIs. Boston has won eight in a row heading into Tuesday's series opener against the New York Yankees. Brock Holt could fill in if Bogaerts misses any time.CY YOUNGSReigning... [More]

A look at what's happening all around baseball Monday:___AT LASTWeather-permitting, the Chicago Cubs finally get to play their home opener when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. The Cubs closed out a 5-4 trip with a 3-0 win at Milwaukee on Sunday. It was the franchise's longest road trip to open the season since a 12-game jaunt in 1899. There is a chance for snow for the team's return to Chicago, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo also is questionable. The slugger has been sidelined by back tightness.HEALTH CONCERNSThe Boston Red Sox should know more about Xander Bogaerts after the shortstop injured his left ankle in the seventh inning of Sunday's 8-7 victory over Tampa Bay. Bogaerts got hurt while sliding down into the Tampa Bay dugout. He is hitting .368 (14 of 38) this season with two homers and nine RBIs. Boston has won eight in a row heading into Tuesday's series opener against the New York Yankees. Brock Holt could fill in if Bogaerts misses any time.CY YOUNGSReigning... [More]

TOKYO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's electrifying start with the Los Angeles Angels certainly sent a jolt of excitement through his fans back home in Japan.A slugger who can also pitch, Ohtani homered in his second straight home game Wednesday, blasting a two-run shot off AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in the fifth inning of the series finale against the Cleveland Indians.That followed a three-run homer in his first home at-bat on Tuesday.Ohtani had only four hits and no home runs in 32 at-bats during spring training with the Angels. That led to reports he may start the regular season in the minors."I think it is amazing. That's the only word that I can think of," Japanese businessman Toru Fujimori said. "He couldn't do well during the preseason and some newspapers said he may even be sent to the minor leagues. I think the team did very well to use him in the opening game despite that fact."The rookie sensation was big news in Japan, where political scandals and fears of U.S.-imposed trade tariffs... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his second homer in two games at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning, and Zack Cozart had walk-off homer in the 13th inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.One day after Ohtani hit an electrifying three-run homer in his first home plate appearance, the Japanese two-way rookie connected for a tying two-run homer off AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in his second game at the Big A.Neither team scored again after Ohtani's blast until Cozart, the Angels' new infielder, connected for his first career walk-off homer against Zach McAllister (0-1).Ohtani also singled leading off the 10th to go 2 for 5, giving him six hits this season and five in his only two home games. The Angels' rookie sensation will make his first home pitching start Sunday against Oakland, one week after beating the Athletics on the road in his big-league pitching debut.The Angels hadn't had a walk-off homer in extra innings since Aug. 9,... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his second homer in two games at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning, and Zack Cozart had walk-off homer in the 13th inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.One day after Ohtani hit an electrifying three-run homer in his first home plate appearance, the Japanese two-way rookie connected for a tying two-run homer off AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in his second game at the Big A.Neither team scored again after Ohtani's blast until Cozart, the Angels' new infielder, connected for his first career walk-off homer against Zach McAllister (0-1).Ohtani also singled leading off the 10th to go 2 for 5, giving him six hits this season and five in his only two home games. The Angels' rookie sensation will make his first home pitching start Sunday against Oakland, one week after beating the Athletics on the road in his big-league pitching debut.The Angels hadn't had a walk-off homer in extra innings since Aug. 9,... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his second homer in two games at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning, and Zack Cozart had walk-off homer in the 13th inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.One day after Ohtani hit an electrifying three-run homer in his first home plate appearance, the Japanese two-way rookie connected for a tying two-run homer off AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in his second game at the Big A.Neither team scored again after Ohtani's blast until Cozart, the Angels' new infielder, connected for his first career walk-off homer against Zach McAllister (0-1).Ohtani also singled leading off the 10th to go 2 for 5, giving him six hits this season and five in his only two home games. The Angels' rookie sensation will make his first home pitching start Sunday against Oakland, one week after beating the Athletics on the road in his big-league pitching debut.The Angels hadn't had a walk-off homer in extra innings since Aug. 9,... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his second homer in two games at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning, and Zack Cozart had walk-off homer in the 13th inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.One day after Ohtani hit an electrifying three-run homer in his first home plate appearance, the Japanese two-way rookie connected for a tying two-run homer off AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in his second game at the Big A.Neither team scored again after Ohtani's blast until Cozart, the Angels' new infielder, connected for his first career walk-off homer against Zach McAllister (0-1).Ohtani also singled leading off the 10th to go 2 for 5, giving him six hits this season and five in his only two home games. The Angels' rookie sensation will make his first home pitching start Sunday against Oakland, one week after beating the Athletics on the road in his big-league pitching debut.The Angels hadn't had a walk-off homer in extra innings since Aug. 9,... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has done it again.The Angels' two-way slugger homered in his second straight home game Wednesday, blasting a two-run shot off AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in the fifth inning of Los Angeles' series finale against Cleveland.Ohtani hit a three-run homer in his first home at-bat Tuesday night.A day later, he delivered another homer to left-center, easily clearing the wall to tie the game 2-2.The hit was Ohtani's fourth in just six at-bats at his new home.Kluber struck out Ohtani looking in the third inning, but the Japanese rookie came back with another tremendous swing.Ohtani won his first big-league start in Oakland last weekend. He will pitch against the Athletics again Sunday in his home pitching debut.___More AP baseball: www.apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

A look at what's happening all around the majors Wednesday:___ACES EARLYMight be a good day to call off from work: There are seven games starting around 1 p.m. local time or earlier, and those matchups are loaded with top-notch pitchers. Washington's Max Scherzer, the Yankees' Luis Severino, Kansas City's Danny Duffy, the Mets' Noah Syndergaard, Houston's Dallas Keuchel and Cleveland's Corey Kluber are all slated to pitch games scheduled between noon and 4 p.m. ET.NO 'CUTCH, NO COLE, NO PROBLEMThe Pirates are 4-0 for the third time in 35 years, and their young players are picking up confidence as they begin the season without traded stars Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole. Rotation linchpin Jameson Taillon overpowered Minnesota for more than five innings in Pittsburgh's 5-4 victory Monday in the home opener, and Colin Moran — acquired from Houston for Cole — hit a grand slam for his first homer as a Pirate. Ivan Nova tries to get the Pirates win No. 5 in a showdown with new Twins righty... [More]

Giancarlo Stanton and Matt Davidson gave opening day quite a jolt.A new baseball season began with a bang Thursday when Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs homered on the very first pitch.World Series MVP George Springer connected , Adam Jones and Nick Markakis hit walkoff winners and Anthony Rizzo delivered the most emotional drive of the day.Shohei Ohtani also got off to a nice start with a hit in his first at-bat .But a year after big leaguers launched a record 6,105 longballs, Stanton and Davidson staged their own long-distance home run derby.Stanton hit two hard homers and doubled in his debut with the New York Yankees during a 6-1 victory at Toronto. The reigning NL MVP led the majors with 59 home runs last year, then was traded from Miami to the Bronx."You want to get the first one out of the way and then you can relax," Stanton said.Davidson did even better, hitting three home runs for the Chicago White Sox in a 14-7 romp at Kansas City. He became the fourth player with a three-homer performance... [More]