ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today: ___ WESTERN STARS Buster Posey and the surprising San Francisco Giants continue their pivotal four-game series against the rival Dodgers. The star catcher hit a two-run homer his first time up Monday night after missing two weeks with a bruised left thumb, and San Francisco won the opener 7-2 in Los Angeles after putting All-Star shortstop Brandon Crawford on the 10-day injured list due to an oblique strain. The Giants, in first place since May 31, lead the NL West by two games over the defending World Series champion Dodgers. Alex Wood (8-3, 3.67 ERA) pitches for San Francisco against his former team. The funky left-hander is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA this month. ALL CLEAR Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola returns to the mound in New York against the Yankees after missing his last scheduled start because of COVID-19 contact tracing. Nola never tested positive for the coronavirus but was sidelined after teammate Alec Bohm did July... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors Tuesday: ALL CLEAR Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola returns to the mound in New York against the Yankees after missing his last scheduled start because of COVID-19 contact tracing. Nola never tested positive for the coronavirus but was sidelined after teammate Alec Bohm tested positive on July 10 in Boston. Nola is 6-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 18 starts for the Phillies, who entered Monday's play two games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East. Domingo Germán (4-5, 4.72) pitches for the Yankees. SERVING HIS TIME The NL East-leading New York Mets will continue their series at Cincinnati without manager Luis Rojas, whose outburst after a bizarre play Sunday in Pittsburgh led to a two-game suspension. Rojas was livid at umpires for calling a ball fair that starting pitcher Taijuan Walker swatted toward the dugout, thinking it was foul. The gaffe led to three Pirates crossing the plate when no Mets player went to retrieve the... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Baltimore Orioles ace John Means will return from a left shoulder strain to start Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. The left-hander, 4-2 with a 2.28 ERA in 12 starts this season, last pitched on June 5 against Cleveland. He made three minor league rehab outings, including a three-inning stint with Triple-A Norfolk last Thursday. “It felt great,” Means said on Monday. “Yeah, I'm ready to go.” Means threw a no-hitter, falling short of a perfect game because of a wild pitch on a third strike, against Seattle on May 5. “We're going to closely monitor him. I'm not going to push him in any sort of way his first couple starts,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “Once he gets settled back in after these first couple starts I hope he does finish like he did last year, that he was one of better starting pitchers in the American League. How he started the year this year, the same way." Baltimore entered Monday with an AL-worst record of 30-62. Means missed an opening... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Across the globe, everybody is watching Shohei Ohtani in awe and intrigue. Major League Baseball can only love the attention from around the world surrounding the Angels' two-way star and the spotlight he's brought to the sport. Can Ohtani keep this up? An encore to a sensational first half? He leads the majors with 33 home runs and has shown no signs of slowing down or slumping — and should soon have a healthy Mike Trout back in the lineup with him. Pitchers across the big leagues are doing their part so far, too. There have already been seven no-hitters in the majors this season, matching the mark for most in one year during the modern era. The record of eight was set in 1884, the first season overhand pitching was allowed. Will Jacob deGrom, Walker Buehler and Gerrit Cole join the list soon? And will the uproar over sticky substances tamp down? Manager Torey Lovullo and the Arizona Diamondbacks are eager for a fresh start, determined to forget that record 24-game... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Across the globe, everybody is watching Shohei Ohtani in awe and intrigue. Major League Baseball can only love the attention from around the world surrounding the Angels' two-way star and the spotlight he's brought to the sport. Can Ohtani keep this up? An encore to a sensational first half? He leads the majors with 33 home runs and has shown no signs of slowing down or slumping — and should soon have a healthy Mike Trout back in the lineup with him. Pitchers across the big leagues are doing their part so far, too. There have already been seven no-hitters in the majors this season, matching the mark for most in one year during the modern era. The record of eight was set in 1884, the first season overhand pitching was allowed. Will Jacob deGrom, Walker Buehler and Gerrit Cole join the list soon? And will the uproar over sticky substances tamp down? Manager Torey Lovullo and the Arizona Diamondbacks are eager for a fresh start, determined to forget that record 24-game... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Across the globe, everybody is watching Shohei Ohtani in awe and intrigue. Major League Baseball can only love the attention from around the world surrounding the Angels' two-way star and the spotlight he's brought to the sport. Can Ohtani keep this up? An encore to a sensational first half? He leads the majors with 33 home runs and has shown no signs of slowing down or slumping — and should soon have a healthy Mike Trout back in the lineup with him. Pitchers across the big leagues are doing their part so far, too. There have already been seven no-hitters in the majors this season, matching the mark for most in one year during the modern era. The record of eight was set in 1884, the first season overhand pitching was allowed. Will Jacob deGrom, Walker Buehler and Gerrit Cole join the list soon? And will the uproar over sticky substances tamp down? Manager Torey Lovullo and the Arizona Diamondbacks are eager for a fresh start, determined to forget that record 24-game... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today: ___ GIVING IT BACK TO THEM The Astros have planned a weekend of giveaway items at Minute Maid Park that's sure to pique the interest of the visiting New York Yankees. Star second baseman Jose Altuve and his Houston teammates were loudly heckled in May when they played at Yankee Stadium for the first time since their sign-stealing was revealed. The Astros beat New York in the 2017 AL Championship Series on their way to the World Series championship, and topped them again in the 2019 ALCS on Altuve’s game-ending home run. Fans attending the series opener in Houston this weekend will get a replica 2019 AL champions trophy. The Saturday game includes a 2019 AL champions replica ring and the Sunday matchup offers an Altuve jersey. The promotions were announced last month. Altuve and Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, meanwhile, will not play in Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Both players were chosen as reserves for the showcase in Denver. Altuve cited... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors on Friday: ___ GIVING IT BACK TO THEM The Astros have planned a weekend of giveaway items at Minute Maid Park that's sure to pique the interest of the visiting New York Yankees. Star second baseman Jose Altuve and his Houston teammates were loudly heckled in May when they played at Yankee Stadium for the first time since their sign-stealing was revealed. The Astros beat New York in the 2017 AL Championship Series on their way to the World Series championship, and topped them again in the 2019 ALCS on Altuve’s game-ending home run. Fans attending the series opener in Houston this weekend will get a replica 2019 AL champions trophy. The Saturday game includes a 2019 AL champions replica ring and the Sunday matchup offers an Altuve jersey. The promotions were announced last month. Altuve and Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, meanwhile, will not play in Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Both players were chosen as reserves for the showcase in Denver. Altuve... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco right-hander Kevin Gausman had his no-hit bid ended by St. Louis slugger Nolan Arenado's one-out single to left on Monday. Gausman — named an All-Star on Sunday — issued a one-out walk to Paul Goldschmidt in the first and didn’t allow another baserunner until Matt Carpenter walked with one out in the fifth. Gausman turned an inning-ending double play getting Harrison Bader to fly out and Carpenter was caught off first. Third baseman Wilmer Flores made a nifty diving stop of Edmundo Sosa’s hard grounder to start the sixth and fired to first to catch the speedy runner. Arenado's hit started a two-run rally in what had been a scoreless game. After Yadier Molina struck out, Tommy Edman singled before Carpenter's RBI triple. Gausman began the day with a 1.68 ERA, the lowest through 16 starts of any Giants pitcher since the team moved West in 1958. There have been seven no-hitters in the majors this season, matching the mark for most in a season since 1900.... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco right-hander Kevin Gausman hasn't allowed a hit through six innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, closing in on what would be the record-tying eighth no-hitter in the majors this season. Gausman — named an All-Star on Sunday — issued a one-out walk to Paul Goldschmidt in the first and didn’t allow another baserunner until Matt Carpenter walked with one out in the fifth. Gausman turned an inning-ending double play getting Harrison Bader to fly out and Carpenter was caught off first. Third baseman Wilmer Flores made a nifty diving stop of Edmundo Sosa’s hard grounder to start the sixth and fired to first to catch the speedy runner. Gausman began the day with a 1.68 ERA, the lowest through 16 starts of any Giants pitcher since the team moved West in 1958. The Chicago Cubs’ combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 24 was the seventh in the big leagues this season, matching the mark for most in a season since 1900. The record... [More]

American LeagueMay 19 — Corey Kluber, New York Yankees at Texas Rangers, 2-0 May 18 — Spencer Turnbull, Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners, 5-0 May 5 — John Means, Baltimore Orioles at Seattle Mariners, 6-0 April 14 — Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians, 8-0 National LeagueJune 24 — Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera (7), Andrew Chafin (8), Craig Kimbrel (9), Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-0 May 7 — Wade Miley, Cincinnati Reds at Cleveland Indians, 3-0 April 9 — Joe Musgrove, San Diego Padres at Texas Rangers, 3-0

American LeagueBaltimore — John Means, Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners, 6-0, May 5,2021 Boston — Jon Lester vs. Kansas City, 7-0, May 19, 2008 Chicago — Carlos Rodon vs. Cleveland Indians, 8-0, April 14, 2021 Cleveland — x-Len Barker vs. Toronto, 3-0, May 15, 1981 Detroit — Spencer Turnbull at Seattle, 5-0, May 18, 2021 Houston — Justin Verlander at Toronto, 2-0, Sept. 1, 2019 Kansas City — Bret Saberhagen vs. Chicago White Sox, 7-0, Aug. 26, 1991 Los Angeles — Taylor Cole, Felix Pena (3), vs. Seattle, 13-0, July 12, 2019 Minnesota — Francisco Liriano at Chicago White Sox, 1-0, May 3, 2011 New York — Corey Kluber at Texas, 2-0, May 19, 2021 Oakland — Mike Fiers vs. Cincinnati, 2-0, May 7, 2019 Seattle — James Paxton at Toronto, 5-0, May 8, 2018 Tampa Bay — Matt Garza vs. Detroit, 5-0, July 26, 2010 Texas — x-Kenny Rogers vs. California, 4-0, July 28, 1994 Toronto — Dave Stieb at Cleveland, 3-0, Sept. 2, 1990 National League Arizona — Edwin Jackson at Tampa Bay, 1-0, June 26, 2010... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Kevin Kiermaier doubled off reliever Darwinzon Hernández with one out in the eighth inning for Tampa Bay's first hit against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night. Nick Pivetta and Josh Taylor combined to hold the Rays hitless through seven innings. Hernández entered a scoreless game and struck out Francisco Mejía to begin the eighth before Kiermaier doubled to left field on a 1-1 fastball clocked at 94 mph. Pivetta was pulled with a runner on second and two outs in the seventh after throwing 100 pitches. His career high is 116. Pivetta finished with eight strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter. Austin Meadows reached with one out in the seventh when Red Sox first baseman Michael Chavis was charged with an error after misplaying a routine grounder. After Pivetta retired Yandy Díaz on a grounder, manager Alex Cora went to the mound to make a pitching change. Josh Taylor intentionally walked pinch-hitter Manuel Margot before getting a fly to left from Joey Wendle.... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Maikel Franco hit a two-run homer with one out in the eighth inning, denying the Houston Astros in their attempt to throw a combined no-hitter Monday night at Baltimore. Astros starter Jake Odorizzi and reliever Cristian Javier held the Orioles without a hit through seven innings. Then there was a 41-minute rain delay in the top of the eighth. Brandon Bielak came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth for Houston, and after he hit Austin Hays with a pitch with one out — just the second baserunner for Baltimore — Franco sent a drive to deep center field. The Astros lead 10-2. Earlier in Franco's at-bat, Bielak appeared to have thrown strike three, but he didn't get the call from plate umpire Angel Hernandez. Houston was looking to pitch the seventh no-hitter in the majors this season. That would have matched 1990, 1991, 2012 and 2015 for the most since 1900, one shy of the record eight in 1884 — the first season overhand pitching was allowed. Odorizzi pitched the first five... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Houston Astros starter Jake Odorizzi and reliever Cristian Javier held Baltimore without a hit through seven innings Monday night, and play has resumed after a 41-minute rain delay in the top of the eighth. Houston was looking to throw the seventh no-hitter in the majors this season. That would match 1990, 1991, 2012 and 2015 for the most since 1900, one shy of the record eight in 1884 — the first season overhand pitching was allowed. Odorizzi pitched the first five innings before being replaced by Javier. Odorizzi retired his first 13 batters, then walked DJ Stewart on a full count in the fifth. That was the only baserunner for the Orioles. Houston leads 9-0. The teams played for a while in a driving rain at Camden Yards in the top of the eighth, with puddles forming in the infield. Play was finally halted with one out and José Altuve batting. The start of the game was also delayed an hour because of rain. Javier retired Baltimore in order in the sixth and seventh. Pedro... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Houston Astros starter Jake Odorizzi and reliever Cristian Javier held Baltimore without a hit through seven innings Monday night, and the game was in a rain delay in the eighth. Houston was looking to throw the seventh no-hitter in the majors this season. That would match 1990, 1991, 2012 and 2015 for the most since 1900, one shy of the record eight in 1884 — the first season overhand pitching was allowed. Odorizzi pitched the first five innings before being replaced by Javier. Odorizzi retired his first 13 batters, then walked DJ Stewart on a full count. That was the only baserunner for the Orioles. Houston leads 7-0. The teams played for a while in a driving rain at Camden Yards in the top of the eighth, with puddles forming in the infield. Play was finally halted with one out and José Altuve batting. The start of the game was also delayed an hour because of rain. Javier retired Baltimore in order in the sixth and seventh. Pedro Severino hit a sharp line drive to left... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Houston Astros have held Baltimore without a hit through seven innings Monday night, with Jake Odorizzi pitching the first five and the bullpen trying to complete a combined no-hitter. Odorizzi retired his first 13 batters before walking DJ Stewart on a full count. That was the only baserunner for the Orioles. Houston leads 7-0, with the teams playing in a driving rain at Camden Yards and puddles forming in the infield. Cristian Javier retired Baltimore in order in the sixth and seventh. Pedro Severino hit a sharp line drive to left field in the sixth, but it was right at Houston's Yordan Alvarez. Ryan Mountcastle's seventh-inning liner was hit right at Astros center fielder Myles Straw. The start of the game was delayed an hour by rain, and it was raining hard between the bottom of the seventh and top of the eighth. But the rain became a bit lighter for a while, and the teams played on after the grounds crew poured sand on the mound and area around home plate. In a... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Houston Astros have held Baltimore without a hit through six innings Monday night, with Jake Odorizzi pitching the first five and the bullpen trying to complete a combined no-hitter. Odorizzi retired his first 13 batters before walking DJ Stewart on a full count. That was the only baserunner for the Orioles. Houston leads 7-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Cristian Javier retired Baltimore in order in the sixth. Pedro Severino hit a sharp line drive to left field, but it was right at Houston's Yordan Alvarez. In a season when pitchers have dominated — and on the day umpires began checking them for illegal foreign substances — Odorizzi didn't seem the least bit bothered. He struck out nine and threw 86 pitches, three shy of his season high. The 31-year-old Odorizzi missed more than a month with a strained muscle in his right arm. This was his fifth appearance and fourth start since returning. Houston was looking to pitch the seventh no-hitter in the majors this... [More]

The irony is that neither Arizona nor Baltimore has the worst road record in its league. That's of little consolation right now. The Diamondbacks have dropped 23 straight away games, setting a major league record. The Orioles aren't far behind with their 19-game skid. Both streaks are still active, so there's no telling how much longer this will go on. Baltimore has a home series with Houston before leaving on a 10-game road trip. Arizona's next road series starts Friday against a talented San Diego team. The Orioles actually had some success on the road early in the season, so their 11-25 mark away from home is not at bad as Texas' 10-27 record. And in terms of winning percentage, the Diamondbacks (9-31) don't even have the worst road mark in their own division. That belongs to Colorado, which is a woeful 5-27. But the attention right now is on Arizona, which went all of May and now over half of June without a road win. The Diamondbacks nearly got one Tuesday night in San Francisco, when... [More]