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]

A look at what's happening in the majors on Monday:PENALTIES POSSIBLEThe Athletics try for their 10th straight win when they start a series on the road against the Angeles. In the meantime, outfielder Ramon Laureano and the A’s -- along with the Houston Astros -- will see if Major League Baseball will issue any discipline for their dust-up.Laureano charged toward Houston bench coach Álex Cintrón after being hit by a pitch Sunday at the Coliseum. Astros catcher Dustin Garneau left the dugout to tackle Laureano as the benches emptied.Players who were sitting in the seats, observing COVID-19 social-distancing protocols, also rushed onto the field. The skirmish came months after Houston’s sign-stealing scandal was brought to light by Oakland pitcher Mike Fiers.Less than two weeks ago, Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly was suspended by MLB for eight game after throwing two pitches near the heads of Houston hitter. Kelly is appealing the penalty.NEW NESTVladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays might... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Benches cleared during the seventh inning of the Astros-Athletics series finale 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 was hit by a pitch from Humberto Castellanos with one out in the seventh. He began exchanging words with Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron, then left first base, threw down his batting helmet and began sprinting toward Cintron.Astros catcher Dustin Garneau tackled Laureano before the A's outfielder got to the hitting coach. Players rushed out of both dugouts. Laureano was ejected by plate umpire Ted Barrett, and the umpiring crew could easily be heard yelling at the players to “get back to the dugout!” through a ballpark with no fans.AL West-leading Oakland led 6-2 at the time and was riding an eight-game winning streak. The three-time reigning division champion Astros were riding a four-game losing streak.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Athletics first. Marcus Semien homers. Ramon Laureano called out on strikes. Matt Chapman singles to shallow center field. Mark Canha singles to shallow left field. Matt Chapman to second. Matt Olson flies out to center field to Myles Straw. Chad Pinder strikes out swinging.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Athletics 1, Astros 0.Athletics sixth. Marcus Semien singles to shallow center field. Ramon Laureano called out on strikes. Marcus Semien steals second, advances to third. Throwing error by Dustin Garneau. Matt Chapman grounds out to shallow infield, Alex Bregman to Yuli Gurriel. Marcus Semien scores. Mark Canha walks. Matt Olson reaches on error to shallow right field, advances to 2nd. Mark Canha out at home. Fielding error by Jose Altuve.1 run, 1 hit, 2 errors, 1 left on. Athletics 2, Astros 0.Athletics eighth. Ramon Laureano called out on strikes. Matt Chapman homers to right field. Mark Canha singles to left field. Matt Olson grounds out to second base. Mark Canha out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Athletics 3, Astros 0.Astros ninth. Kyle Tucker doubles to deep right field. Jose Altuve grounds out to shortstop, Marcus Semien to Matt Olson. Kyle Tucker to third. Alex Bregman singles to center field. Kyle Tucker scores. Michael Brantley strikes out swinging. Yuli Gurriel grounds out to second base, Chad Pinder to Matt Olson.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Athletics 3, Astros 1.

Astros second. Michael Brantley walks. Yuli Gurriel walks. Josh Reddick walks. Yuli Gurriel to second. Michael Brantley to third. Kyle Tucker strikes out on a foul tip. Jack Mayfield called out on strikes. Dustin Garneau walks. Josh Reddick to second. Yuli Gurriel to third. Michael Brantley scores. George Springer walks. Dustin Garneau to second. Josh Reddick to third. Yuli Gurriel scores. Jose Altuve reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Dustin Garneau out at third.2 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Astros 2, Angels 0.Angels third. David Fletcher walks. Luis Rengifo strikes out swinging. David Fletcher steals second. Anthony Rendon called out on strikes. Justin Upton walks. Brian Goodwin walks. Justin Upton to second. David Fletcher to third. Albert Pujols homers to left field. Brian Goodwin scores. Justin Upton scores. David Fletcher scores. Taylor Ward grounds out to second base, Jose Altuve to Yuli Gurriel.4 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Angels 4, Astros 2.Astros seventh.... [More]

Mariners third. Shed Long Jr. walks. J.P. Crawford walks. Kyle Lewis walks. J.P. Crawford to second. Shed Long Jr. to third. Kyle Seager grounds out to shallow infield. Kyle Lewis out at second. J.P. Crawford to third. Shed Long Jr. scores. Evan White homers to center field. J.P. Crawford scores. Jose Marmolejos singles to center field. Austin Nola walks. Jose Marmolejos to second. Tim Lopes pops out to second base to Jose Altuve.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mariners 3, Astros 0.Astros third. Kyle Tucker reaches on error. Fielding error by Kyle Seager. Dustin Garneau walks. George Springer strikes out swinging. Jose Altuve doubles. Dustin Garneau to third. Kyle Tucker scores. Alex Bregman homers to left field. Jose Altuve scores. Dustin Garneau scores. Michael Brantley strikes out swinging. Yuli Gurriel grounds out to shallow infield, Shed Long Jr. to Evan White.4 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 0 left on. Astros 4, Mariners 3.Astros fourth. Carlos Correa flies out to deep center field to... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston's Alex Bregman was hit on the back by a breaking ball from St. Louis reliever Ramon Santos on Wednesday, the seventh Astros player plunked in five spring training games.“It was a splitter,” Bregman said. “It just got away from him.”Some opposing players have called for retaliation against the Astros following Major League Baseball's finding that Houston broke rules against electronic sign-stealing en route to its 2017 World Series title and again in 2018.Dustin Garneau was hit Sunday against Washington, and José Altuve was grazed Monday against Detroit, when Osvaldo Duarte and Alex De Goti also were hit. Aledmys Díaz and Jake Meyers were hit Tuesday by Miami.Santos' 1-0 pitch in the fifth inning struck Bregman on the left shoulder blade. The two-time All-Star trotted to first, then was replaced by a pinch runner.“I think I got hit like 10 times last year, or something like that,” Bregman said. “One of them got me good last year, but that one was just... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American 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:___Houston Astros Manager: Dusty Baker (first season). 2019: 107-55, first place, lost to Nationals in World Series. Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida. Park: Ballpark of Palm Beaches. First Workout: Feb. 13/17. He's Here: Manager Dusty Baker, RHP Austin Pruitt, C Dustin Garneau.He's Outta Here: Manager AJ Hinch, RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Will Harris, C Robinson Chirinos, OF Tony Kemp. Going campin': The Astros enter the spring reeling from a sign-stealing scandal that cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs. They brought in Baker to steady the team, and it gives the 70-year-old another chance to chase his first World Series title as a manager. He’ll get a crash course learning his new team this spring after being hired less than three weeks before pitchers and catchers... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Catcher Dustin Garneau is guaranteed just $100,000 as part of his one-year contract with the Houston Astros.Garneau, who figures to compete for a backup role, would get a $650,000 salary in the major leagues and $300,000 in the minors as part of the agreement announced Tuesday.He could earn an additional $75,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances and innings on defense: $25,000 each for 75 plate appearances or 200 innings and for 150 or 300 and 225 or 400.The 32-year-old Garneau hit .244 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 35 games this year for the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland, which claimed him off waivers on Aug. 3.A five-year major league veteran, he also has played for Colorado and the Chicago White Sox.Houston catchers Robinson Chirinos and Martín Maldonado became free agents.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — Catcher Dustin Garneau has agreed to a one-year contract with the Houston Astros, where he figures to compete for a backup role.Robinson Chirinos and Martín Maldonado became free agents, and Tuesday's agreement likely will not be the final catching move for the AL champions.The 32-year-old Garneau hit .244 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 35 games this year for the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland, which claimed him off waivers on Aug. 3.A five-year major league veteran, he also has played for Colorado and the Chicago White Sox.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Aug. 111907 — In the second game of a doubleheader, shortened by agreement, Ed Karger of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a seven-inning perfect game, beating the Boston Braves 4-0.1926 — Tris Speaker of Cleveland hit his 700th career double but the Indians lost to the Chicago White Sox, 7-2. The double came in the third inning off Joe Edwards.1929 — Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run in the second inning off Willis Hudlin at Cleveland's League Park. The homer was Ruth's 30th of the year, but it wasn't enough as the Indians beat the Yankees 6-5.1951 — Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Giants 4-0, dropping the Giants 13 1/2 games behind the first-place Brooklyn Dodgers.1961 — Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves scattered six hits to beat the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, for his 300th career victory.1970 — Philadelphia's Jim Bunning beat the Houston Astros 6-5 to become the first pitcher to win 100 games in both leagues since Cy Young.1986 — Cincinnati player-manager... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber became the first pitcher this season to throw three complete games, leading the Cleveland Indians over the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 Sunday for a three-game sweep.Bieber (11-4) allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked none. Bieber, the All-Star Game MVP, is 9-2 in his last 15 starts.Cleveland is 37-15 since June 4, the best record in the major leagues in that span. After trailing by as many as 11½ games in early June, the Indians started Sunday three games back of AL Central-leading Minnesota.Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor and rookie Oscar Mercado homered off Jaime Barria (4-5), who gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Barria is 2-4 with a 10.13 ERA on the road.Kole Calhoun homered and Albert Pujols had an RBI single for Los Angeles, which lost its fourth straight.YANKEES 7, RED SOX 4NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge homered early and a makeshift New York Yankees lineup pounded David Price in a victory that sent the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber became the first pitcher this season to throw three complete games, leading the Cleveland Indians over the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 Sunday for a three-game sweep.Bieber (11-4) allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked none. Bieber, the All-Star Game MVP, is 9-2 in his last 15 starts.Cleveland is 37-15 since June 4, the best record in the major leagues in that span. After trailing by as many as 11½ games in early June, the Indians started Sunday three games back of AL Central-leading Minnesota.Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor and rookie Oscar Mercado homered off Jaime Barria (4-5), who gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Barria is 2-4 with a 10.13 ERA on the road.Kole Calhoun homered and Albert Pujols had an RBI single for Los Angeles, which lost its fourth straight.ASTROS 3, MARINERS 1HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander struck out 10 in another dominant Houston pitching performance, and the Astros completed a three-game sweep.A day after Astros newcomer Aaron... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber became the first pitcher this season to throw three complete games, leading the Cleveland Indians over the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 Sunday for a three-game sweep.Bieber (11-4) allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked none. Bieber, the All-Star Game MVP, is 9-2 in his last 15 starts.Cleveland is 37-15 since June 4, the best record in the major leagues in that span. After trailing by as many as 11½ games in early June, the Indians started Sunday three games back of AL Central-leading Minnesota.Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor and rookie Oscar Mercado homered off Jaime Barria (4-5), who gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Barria is 2-4 with a 10.13 ERA on the road.Kole Calhoun homered and Albert Pujols had an RBI single for Los Angeles, which lost its fourth straight.ASTROS 3, MARINERS 1HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander struck out 10 in another dominant Houston pitching performance, and the Astros completed a three-game sweep.A day after Astros newcomer Aaron... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have activated outfielder Stephen Piscotty from the injured list and claimed catcher Dustin Garneau off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.Piscotty had been out since June 30 with a sprained right knee. He played five games in the minors while rehabbing and batted .304 with one home run and three RBIs.To make room on the roster, the A's optioned second baseman Franklin Barreto to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday. Additionally, right-hander Ryan Dull was designated for assignment and pitcher Andrew Triggs was released.Garneau batted .232 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 28 games this season with the Angels.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

The Latest on Major League Baseball's trade deadline (all times Eastern):6:40 p.m.The Los Angeles Angels have acquired catcher Max Stassi from the Houston Astros in exchange for minor-league outfielders Rainier Rivas and Raider Uceta.Stassi, who has played in parts of seven seasons with the Astros, is batting .167 with a home run and three RBIs in 31 games this season. General manager Billy Eppler said the move was more about adding catching depth and Stassi's strength behind the plate. According to MLB Statcast, Stassi is the second-best pitch framer in the AL with a 54.1% strike rate.Catcher Dustin Garneau was designated for assignment before Wednesday's game against the Detroit Tigers..___5:55 p.m.Mike Minor will make his scheduled start for the Rangers after the trade deadline passed with the All-Star lefty still in Texas.Hunter Pence, the All-Star designated hitter, is also still with his hometown team and in the lineup Wednesday night when Minor and the Rangers play the Seattle Mariners,... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The shrine that has become Tyler Skaggs' locker in the Los Angeles clubhouse had a new addition Saturday — the ball from the final out of the no-hitter the Angels pitched while wearing their late teammate's jersey.As they prepared to face Seattle on what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, the Angels were still trying to take in everything that transpired a day earlier in a remarkable 13-0 victory.Taylor Cole started with two perfect innings and Félix Peña held the Mariners hitless the rest of the way in the Angels' first home game since Skaggs was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Texas on July 1.Cole was wearing a T-shirt with Skaggs' catchphrase — "We're Nasty" — in the clubhouse before the game. He said he was still hyped up after the win."I feel great to have been a part of history and helping this city cope a little bit," he said. "When you can comfort and help people heal, and help people realize that there is something more to this than baseball,... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jonathan Lucroy can't remember what happened after he reached out to catch the throw at the plate in Houston last week.The Los Angeles Angels catcher is recovering from the third diagnosed concussion of his baseball career after that nasty collision with the Astros' Jake Marisnick.Lucroy isn't sure when he'll be ready to return to action, but he is grateful his injuries weren't even more serious."The last thing I remember is inching up the line and waiting for the baseball," Lucroy said Friday. "The first thing I remember after that is they put me on the golf cart. He knocked me out."Lucroy also got a broken nose and a black eye in the collision, and he was placed on the seven-day concussion list Friday. Marisnick received a two-game suspension for the dangerous play.Despite his latest concussion and his more visible injuries, Lucroy was remarkably upbeat about his prospects before the Angels' first game back from the All-Star break. Lucroy, a 10-year major league... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Charlie Morton allowed five hits in seven innings, extending his unbeaten streak to 20 starts and leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.Morton (7-0) hasn't lost since Aug. 11, and only Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, at 21 starts, has a longer active unbeaten streak. Morton struck out eight with no walks and needed just 83 pitches to complete seven innings.Austin Meadows tripled and scored on a throwing error in the third to open the scoring. Tampa Bay scored two more runs in the fifth and snapped its four-game losing streak.Spencer Turnbull (3-5) allowed three runs in five innings.METS 7, GIANTS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Vargas pitched his first shutout in two years, Amed Rosario hit a three-run homer and New York won despite losing Robinson Canó hours after his return from the injured list.Michael Conforto and Adeiny Hechavarría each had a solo homer for the Mets, who ended a three-game skid with their second win in seven games.Canó... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Very little has slowed the Minnesota Twins of late. A rare Southern California rain shower did the trick Wednesday night.The Twins had their series finale against the Los Angeles Angels postponed because of weather and unplayable field conditions. It has been rescheduled for Thursday.It is only the third postponement at Angel Stadium since 1995 and the 12th since the stadium opened in 1966. The last postponement occurred on July 19, 2015, against Boston.Minnesota is 31-16 and has a seven-game lead over Cleveland in the AL Central, which is the earliest it has been up that much in the division. The previous earliest was June 24, 2002, when they were seven games ahead of the Chicago White Sox.The Twins — who haven't won a division title since 2010 — have taken five of six on this road trip and are trying to get a sweep in Anaheim for the first time since 1996.Manager Rocco Baldelli wasn't thrilled with the decision to postpone the game, but he also said he realized... [More]