At Wrigley Field, misters in the back of the bleachers tried to cool the crowd. At Yankee Stadium, only one player took batting practice on the field. In Cleveland, rules were relaxed on what fans could bring into the park.Even for a sport that promotes high heat, Saturday was a scorcher across the major leagues. The National Weather Service said it was part of "a dangerous heat wave" gripping much of the country.From the Northeast through the Midwest, no player, manager or umpire was spared as temperatures soared near triple digits in big league broilers.Hours before Baltimore played Boston at sweltering Camden Yards, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde pulled aside starting catcher Chance Sisco and issued a stiff directive."I told Chance, 'Do not go outside until the game starts,'" Hyde said.Sisco went all nine innings Friday night and was in the lineup again while backup Pedro Severino recovers from an illness."I told Chance, I don't want him hustling on and off the field. I want to see him... [More]

At Wrigley Field, misters in the back of the bleachers tried to cool the crowd. At Yankee Stadium, only one player took batting practice on the field. In Cleveland, rules were relaxed on what fans could bring into the park.Even for a sport that promotes high heat, Saturday was a scorcher across the major leagues. The National Weather Service said it was part of "a dangerous heat wave" gripping much of the country.From the Northeast through the Midwest, no player, manager or umpire was spared as temperatures soared near triple digits.Hours before Baltimore played Boston at sweltering Camden Yards, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde pulled aside starting catcher Chance Sisco and issued a stiff directive."I told Chance, 'Do not go outside until the game starts,'" Hyde said.Sisco went all nine innings Friday night and was in the lineup again while backup Pedro Severino recovers from an illness."I told Chance, I don't want him hustling on and off the field. I want to see him walking," Hyde said. "When... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:BE CAREFULThe extreme heat gripping much of the country is having an effect around the major leagues. The Yankees and Rockies have called off most of the pregame activities for their afternoon game — New York is forecast to come close to its first 100-degree day since 2012.It is expected to be 100 in Baltimore, where the Orioles host Boston at night.And it was 94 at Target Field on Friday night — the second-hottest start in park's 10-year history, trailing only a 97-degree reading on July 16, 2012 — when Minnesota faced Oakland.Players appeared to have trouble at times gripping the ball. Twins starter Jake Odorizzi took off his glove during a mound visit in the first inning and peppered both arms with the rosin bag."It was only like pitching in a rain forest," Odorizzi said. "I was taking the rosin bag and going up and down my arms so I could stop the sweat coming from my hand because I was just pouring sweat. I changed my jersey after... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:BE CAREFULThe extreme heat gripping much of the country is having an effect around the major leagues. The Yankees and Rockies have called off most of the pregame activities for their afternoon game — New York is forecast to come close to its first 100-degree day since 2012.It is expected to be 100 in Baltimore, where the Orioles host Boston at night.And it was 94 at Target Field on Friday night — the second-hottest start in park's 10-year history, trailing only a 97-degree reading on July 16, 2012 — when Minnesota faced Oakland.Players appeared to have trouble at times gripping the ball. Twins starter Jake Odorizzi took off his glove during a mound visit in the first inning and peppered both arms with the rosin bag."It was only like pitching in a rain forest," Odorizzi said. "I was taking the rosin bag and going up and down my arms so I could stop the sweat coming from my hand because I was just pouring sweat. I changed my jersey after... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Mike Leake of the Seattle Mariners lost his bid to pitch a perfect game on a leadoff single in the ninth inning by rookie Luis Rengifo, then finished off the Los Angeles Angels for a 10-0 win Friday night.A week after the worst start of his career, Leake almost achieved baseball immortality.The Angels hadn't come close to a hit and Leake hadn't gone to a three-ball count before Rengifo grounded a clean hit to right field on Leake's 79th pitch.The fans gave Leake a standing ovation and he quickly waved to acknowledge their cheers.After a walk, Leake (8-8) retired the next three batters for a one-hitter, striking out Mike Trout on a full-count pitch to end it. Leake fanned six overall and walked one.Leake's second career shutout came exactly a week after he was tagged by the Angels in his previous start, giving up seven runs on eight hits and a walk while getting just two outs. The Angels pitched a combined no-hitter that night in Anaheim while the entire club wore jerseys... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Josh Donaldson's bases-loaded single off Fernando Rodney in the ninth inning lifted the Atlanta Braves over the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Friday night after Luke Jackson allowed a tying, two-run homer to Victor Robles in the top half.Ronald Acuña Jr., who had three hits, led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk off Rodney (0-3) and took second on Dansby Swanson's single. Freddie Freeman walked on four pitches, loading the bases.Nationals manager Dave Martinez brought in left fielder Juan Soto as a fifth infielder, including three on the left side against the right-handed hitting Donaldson.Donaldson hit a 2-0 pitch over Robles to center-field warning track, and the Braves boosted their NL East lead to 6½ games over the second-place Nationals. Atlanta had lost its previous five home games against Washington.YANKEES 8, ROCKIES 2NEW YORK (AP) — Edwin Encarnación hit a go-ahead grand slam, a trio of ex-Rockies beat up on their former team and New York defeated Colorado.Encarnación... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Left-hander Drew Smyly has agreed to a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies and is on track to start Sunday against Pittsburgh.Manager Gabe Kapler said Friday the agreement is pending a successful physical.Right-hander Nick Pivetta is being moved to the bullpen.The 30-year-old Smyly was 1-5 with an 8.42 ERA in nine starts and four relief appearances this year for Texas, which released him in late June.Philadelphia starters entered Friday with a 4.62 ERA, 12th in the National League.Pivetta is 4-4 with a 5.74 ERA in 13 starts this season and has made just one relief appearance in his three-year big league career.Right-hander Vince Velasquez, originally slated to start Sunday, would be pushed back in the rotation.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer won't come off the 10-day injured list to start for Washington against Atlanta this weekend.Scherzer was given a cortisone shot on Tuesday to address inflammation in the bursa sac under his right shoulder blade. Manager Dave Martinez says Scherzer still has to overcome "that last little bit" of discomfort before he can throw a bullpen session and prove he's ready to pitch in a game.The Nationals listed Scherzer's injury as a mid-back strain when he was placed on the injured list on July 13, a move retroactive to July 10.Martinez says he has told Scherzer "we don't want to push it." Right-hander Austin Voth is expected to start in Sunday's final game of the four-game series.Scherzer is 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer won't come off the 10-day injured list to start for Washington against Atlanta this weekend.Scherzer was given a cortisone shot on Tuesday to address inflammation in the bursa sac under his right shoulder blade. Manager Dave Martinez says Scherzer still has to overcome "that last little bit" of discomfort before he can throw a bullpen session and prove he's ready to pitch in a game.The Nationals listed Scherzer's injury as a mid-back strain when he was placed on the injured list on July 13, a move retroactive to July 10.Martinez says he has told Scherzer "we don't want to push it." Right-hander Austin Voth is expected to start in Sunday's final game of the four-game series.Scherzer is 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone expected to be suspended following his profane rant at a rookie umpire and opted to serve his one-game ban against the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.Boone aimed a memorable tirade at plate umpire Brennan Miller following his ejection during a doubleheader opener against Tampa Bay on Thursday. MLB executive Joe Torre announced Friday that Boone had been suspended one game and fined, neither of which surprised Boone, who acknowledged making contact with Miller with the bill of his cap."I figured I'd be getting a call at some point from Mr. Torre," he said. "And I did."Boone was ejected in the second inning for arguing from the dugout with Miller, who had called a third strike on Brett Gardner. The rant was captured by television microphones, and Boone's repeated reference to his hitters as "savages" in the batter's box went viral and was being sold online on T-shirts before the game ended.Tensions were running hot in New York's dugout, where... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi is poised to return to the Boston pitching staff as a reliever after missing three months with an elbow injury.The right-hander passed his final test Thursday, striking out the side in a one-inning rehab appearance with Triple-A Pawtucket. Barring any setback, Eovaldi will come off the 60-day injured list on Saturday in Baltimore.Signed as a free agent in December, Eovaldi made four starts for the Red Sox before being placed on the injured list on April 20.The 29-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in 2007 and 2016, and Boston will be judicious in rationing his workload.Manager Joey Cora said, "We obviously have to protect him. ... The game will dictate how we're going to use him."Cora said Eovaldi would be used "in high level situations," perhaps as a closer."Obviously we'll use him late in games," Cora said. "We know that he can do the job. He's going to help us get better."___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone has been suspended for one game for his rant that followed his ejection in a doubleheader opener against Tampa Bay.MLB executive Joe Torre also said Friday that Boone has been fined.Boone was ejected in the second inning Thursday for arguing from the dugout with rookie umpire Brennan Miller, who had called a third strike on Brett Gardner. Torre said Boone made contract with Miller during his profane rant, which was captured by television microphones.Miller was umpiring just his fifth big league game behind the plate.Boone was to serve the suspension Friday during New York's series opener against Colorado.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone got fired up at a rookie umpire in a profane rant, and New York awoke from a sleepy start to rally past the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 in a doubleheader opener Thursday.New York rallied to win the second game 5-1 and reopen an eight-game AL East lead over the second-place Rays. Luke Voit tied the score in the fifth with his first home run since June 14, and catcher Mike Zunino caused Charlie Morton to balk home the tiebreaking run in a four-run sixth that included Didi Gregorius' two-run single. The Yankees won three straight after wasting a ninth-inning lead in the series opener and improved to 34-11 against the AL East, including 12-5 against Tampa Bay.After Domingo Germán (12-2) gave up solo homers to his first two batters in the first game, Gio Urshela hit a tying home run in the second off Yonny Chirinos (9-5), and Gary Sánchez smashed a go-ahead 110 mph single off the glove of third baseman Yandy Díaz during a three-run fifth. Díaz had helped the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone got fired up at a rookie umpire in a profane rant, and New York awoke from a sleepy start to rally past the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 in a doubleheader opener Thursday.After Domingo Germán (12-2) gave up solo homers to his first two batters, Gio Urshela hit a tying home run in the second off Yonny Chirinos (9-5), and Gary Sánchez smashed a go-ahead 110 mph single off the glove of third baseman Yandy Díaz during a three-run fifth. Díaz had helped the Yankees come alive when he dropped Didi Gregorius' leadoff popup in the second for a two-base error.Boone fumed after rookie umpire Brennan Miller called Brett Gardner out on strikes in the second inning. Miller, umpiring behind the plate for the fifth time in the major leagues, had punched out Aaron Judge in the first. Gardner batted in the second after Urshela's tying, two-run homer and struck out on a 1-2 pitch.Gardner returned to the dugout, slammed his bat into the bat rack nine times, then eight times... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout is back in the Los Angeles Angels lineup after missing the previous three games due to a mildly strained right calf.The two-time AL MVP will be the designated hitter Thursday when the Angels complete a four-game series against the Houston Astros. He leads the league in home runs (30) and RBIs (75) along with a .305 batting average, which is ninth.Trout suffered the injury during Sunday's game against Seattle. Prior to the injury, he had eight home runs in seven games.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone went on a profane rant Thursday after rookie umpire Brennan Miller called Brett Gardner out on strikes in the second inning of a doubleheader opener against Tampa Bay.Miller, umpiring behind the plate for the fifth time in a major league game, called Aaron Judge out on strikes following DJ LeMahieu's leadoff double in the first.Gardner batted in the second after Gio Urshela's tying, two-run homer and was called out on a 1-2 pitch.Gardner returned to the dugout, slammed his bat into the bat rack nine times, then eight times into the dugout roof. Microphones caught Boone's yelling the pitch was outside mixed with profanities to Miller, an International League crew chief who made his big league debut April 20 as a call-up umpire.Miller said, "I heard you, Aaron," and when Boone persisted, the umpire ejected him. Boone then ran out and kept up the argument, getting close to Miller's face and clapping his hands for emphasis."My guys are f------ savages in that f------ box, right? And you're having a piece of s--- start to this game. I feel bad for you, but f------ get better," Boone said, going on to repeat his thoughts several times. He told Miller to "tighten it up right now, OK?"Boone was ejected for the third time this season and the seventh time in two years as a big league manager.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds are down to their fourth and fifth catchers after placing two more on the injured list on Thursday.Curt Casali went on the 10-day injured list with a right knee sprain that manager David Bell said could keep him out for as long as a month. Casali is expected to spend two weeks wearing a brace.Kyle Farmer was placed on the seven-day concussion list after taking two foul balls off his mask in the ninth inning of Tuesday's game against the Cubs in Chicago.Gold Glove catcher Tucker Barnhart has been out since June 28 with a right oblique strain.Juan Graterol was promoted from Triple-A Louisville and rushed to Chicago to start Wednesday's day game. The Reds shored up the position on Thursday by signing Ryan Lavarnway, one day after he was released by Yankees.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have recalled right-hander Kyle Wright from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Thursday night's game against the Washington Nationals.The Braves also reinstated outfielder Ender Inciarte from the 10-day injured list. Inciarte has been out since May 15 with a lumbar strain. He is starting in center field against Washington, with Ronald Acuña Jr. moving to left field.The team optioned right-handers Bryse Wilson and Huascar Ynoa to Gwinnett.Wright had a 1.99 ERA in his last five starts for Gwinnett. His promotion gives extra rest to starters Julio Teheran, who had been scheduled to start the series opener against the Nationals, and Mike Soroka.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Three years ago, Mike Brosseau was a college graduate surrounded by teenagers on minor league backfields in Florida. His batting gloves were tattered, his cleats falling apart and his bank account essentially empty.This week, he was batting third at Yankee Stadium, facing a Cy Young Award winner in the thick of a postseason race."I don't think anybody would admit they were thinking that would happen," Brosseau said.The thrifty, innovative Tampa Bay Rays believe they have found a hidden gem in Brosseau, an undrafted infielder from Oakland University in Michigan who signed for $1,000 — "about $600 after taxes," he noted — and bolted to the big leagues. Three weeks after his major league debut, the 25-year-old infielder has become a middle-of-the-order option for manager Kevin Cash as Tampa Bay chases the star-studded Yankees in the AL East."He forced our hand," Cash said.A slew of injuries led to Brosseau's initial call-up in late June, and in 14 games entering Thursday, he... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:BACK AT ITThe Dodgers and Phillies are facing a tight turnaround after a lengthy rain delay pushed the end of Wednesday's game close to 2 a.m. early Thursday. First pitch of the series finale is set for 12:35 p.m., and then the Dodgers are set to make the cross-country flight back to Los Angeles to start a series Friday against Miami. It's been a long week for the Dodgers, who played for 5 hours, 40 minutes Sunday night in a 12-inning win over Boston.SPORT OF APPEALSAngels pitcher Noé Ramirez is appealing his three-game suspension from MLB for throwing a pitch near the head of Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick. Ramirez was punished Wednesday, a day after drilling Marisnick between the shoulder blades during a 7-2 Angels win. Marisnick was playing his first game against Los Angeles since his violent home plate collision injured catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Marisnick was suspended two games by MLB but is also appealing, and he said he hasn't... [More]