WASHINGTON (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have dropped their protest over the pitching delivery of Washington reliever Sean Doolittle.Cubs manager Joe Maddon made the announcement before Sunday night's game against the Nationals.Maddon came out twice in the ninth inning of a 5-2 loss Saturday night to complain to plate umpire Sam Holbrook about Doolittle. Maddon said he believed the left-handed Doolittle was tapping his right toe on the ground before coming to the plate.After being told Doolittle's delivery was legal, Maddon announced the Cubs were playing the game under protest.Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr. was informed at the end of spring training that his delivery, which featured a similar toe-tap, was illegal. That ruling miffed Maddon and the Cubs.On Sunday, Maddon said the protest was done to protect Edwards.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Astros outfielder George Springer has left Houston's game against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning with lower back stiffness.Springer, who entered Sunday leading the majors with 17 homers, took three big swings in the first and struck out against Chris Sale. On the second and third swings, Springer appeared to reach briefly for the lower right side of his back.Springer also struck out swinging in his next two at-bats — in the second and fourth — before he was removed when Houston took the field on defense in the fifth. He was replaced in the batting order by Tony Kemp.On a tear at the plate lately, Springer began the day batting .318 with 42 RBIs.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

May 201919 — Babe Ruth won a game on the mound and at the plate. He hit his first career grand slam as the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Browns 6-4.1925 — The Cleveland Indians scored six runs in the last of the ninth to beat the New York Yankees 10-9. Tris Speaker scored the winning run from first on a single.1932 — Paul Waner of the Pittsburgh Pirates hit four doubles in one game.1941 — Lefty Grove of the Boston Red Sox won his 20th consecutive game at home, the longest home park streak in the major leagues. Boston beat the Detroit Tigers, 4-2.1947 — The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Braves 4-3 in a game that featured 22 hits — all singles. The Pirates had 12 singles, the Braves 10.1948 — Joe DiMaggio hit for the cycle and drove in six runs to lead the New York Yankees to a 13-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.1953 — In the 13th game of the season, the Milwaukee Braves surpassed their 1952 attendance of 281,278, when they were in Boston.1959 — The Detroit Tigers beat the Yankees,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:ALL A'SThe Athletics try to beat Detroit for the 16th time when Mike Fiers starts at Comerica Park.A win by the A's would equal the franchise record for the longest winning streak against one team. Oakland took 16 in a row from the Yankees from 1989-91.Rookie Gregory Soto goes for his first major league win when he pitches for the Tigers. The Athletics are aiming for a four-game sweep — they host Detroit in a three-game series in early September.RE-SALERed Sox ace Chris Sale starts for the first time since striking out 17 in just seven innings against Colorado. He'll face the hard-hitting Houston Astros, who have won 10 in a row, at Fenway Park.Sale (1-5, 4.24 ERA) looks to continue his stellar revival after a rough start this year. After opening the season 0-5 with a 6.30 ERA in six starts, he has a 1.29 ERA in three starts in May.The lefty is now the only pitcher in major league history to allow no more than three hits, strike out at... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:ALL A'SThe Athletics try to beat Detroit for the 16th time when Mike Fiers starts at Comerica Park.A win by the A's would equal the franchise record for the longest winning streak against one team. Oakland took 16 in a row from the Yankees from 1989-91.Rookie Gregory Soto goes for his first major league win when he pitches for the Tigers. The Athletics are aiming for a four-game sweep — they host Detroit in a three-game series in early September.RE-SALERed Sox ace Chris Sale starts for the first time since striking out 17 in just seven innings against Colorado. He'll face hard-hitting Houston at Fenway Park.Sale (1-5, 4.24 ERA) looks to continue his stellar revival after a rough start this year. After opening the season 0-5 with a 6.30 ERA in six starts, he has a 1.29 ERA in three starts in May.The lefty is now the only pitcher in major league history to allow no more than three hits, strike out at least 14 and walk nobody in consecutive... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto threw a bullpen session Saturday, and the team was encouraged enough for manager Bruce Bochy to say the club hopes Cueto can return toward the end of this season.Cueto, who had major elbow surgery last August, was 18-5 in 2016 and selected to the All-Star game, but has since gone 11-10 in the last two years combined."I think he surprised a lot of us with where he's at," Bochy said before Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "It's all fastballs, but he's gotten himself in great shape, too. I think it's the best shape I've seen Johnny in, to be honest."From what you saw today, you've got to believe he's going to be pitching before the season's over. I'm not going to be surprised if he pitches in September."Cueto threw off flat ground Saturday, and the hope is that next week he will throw breaking balls and changeups.If Cueto comes back in September, it will be as a starting pitcher, Bochy said. Cueto, 33, has been... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke is on track to make his next scheduled start Tuesday at San Diego after throwing a bullpen session before Saturday's game, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.Greinke felt pain in his side and was diagnosed with abdominal tightness during the eighth inning of his start Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He motioned for a trainer and left the game.An MRI on Friday revealed no damage.Greinke, who would start on five days' rest if he takes the mound next week as expected, is 6-1 with a 2.78 ERA in 10 starts this season. Opponents are batting .210 against him.Also for Arizona, outfielder David Peralta, the team's leading hitter among everyday players, was scratched from the original lineup Saturday. He aggravated upper back and shoulder tightness on a dive for a ball during Friday night's game.Peralta, the Diamondbacks' leader in hits and co-leader in runs scored and RBIs, was first injured Wednesday but started Friday's game."We feel like he'll be day to day and he'll be available for (Sunday)," Lovullo said, adding that Peralta might be OK to come off the bench if needed Saturday night. "I'm willing to sacrifice today rather than seven possible days if something were wrong and he were to do more damage in there."Blake Swihart is in the lineup as the Diamondbacks' left fielder in place of Peralta against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox left-hander David Price will return to the rotation for Monday's series opener in Toronto.Manager Alex Cora confirmed the plan Saturday.Price (1-2, 3.75 ERA) has been sidelined with left elbow tendinitis since his last start on May 3.The 33-year-old lefty threw a pair of bullpens this week, and Cora said he was ready to start.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers reliever Shawn Kelley was ready to start pitching again while waiting for the results of a biopsy on two lumps that were surgically removed from his throat.Kelley said Saturday that doctors took out a couple of "decent-sized" lumps on Thursday after an initial biopsy before the surgery was inconclusive."I still don't know the results of what's in my throat, but it's out and I'm going to get back to pitching for now," he said. "We'll find out when we find out, but for now I just want to get back to playing, and physically I feel good, I feel healthy. Arm feels good, body feels good."The 35-year-old right-hander expected to get the results from the latest biopsy early next week.Kelley, who doesn't use any kind of tobacco, said he noticed the issue early this season. He had the lumps checked this month after they got bigger and bothersome while trying to sleep."The doctors, from their experience and just looking at it and feeling it and all of that stuff,... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Jonny Venters, the left-hander whose comeback from his third Tommy John surgery helped him win the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award last year, has been released by the Atlanta Braves.The 34-year-old Venters had a 17.36 ERA after giving up nine earned runs in 4 2/3 innings covering nine appearances.The release came Saturday, a day after Venters gave up four runs, none earned, on one hit and two walks while recording two outs in the Braves' 12-8 win over Milwaukee on Friday night. The bullpen gave up eight runs after the Braves led 12-0.Braves manager Brian Snitker said the decision was especially tough because "everybody respects and admires everything he went through to get back to the major leagues."The Braves recalled left-hander Jerry Blevins only four days after he was designated for assignment.Venters was a combined 5-2 with three saves and a 3.67 ERA in 50 games last season for Tampa Bay and Atlanta. An All-Star with the Braves in 2011, he hadn't pitched in the majors since 2012 before returning with the Rays last year.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers reliever Shawn Kelley had two lumps surgically removed from his throat this week.Kelley says an initial biopsy on the lumps was inconclusive, so doctors removed a couple of "decent-sized" lumps on Thursday. The 35-year-old was put on the injured list May 9, five days after he last pitched.Kelley says he noticed the issue early this season. He had the lumps checked this month after they got bigger and bothersome while trying to sleep.He's awaiting the results, but on Saturday says he feels great and is ready to return to pitching.Kelley is 3-0 with two saves and a 1.29 ERA in 14 appearances in his first season with the Rangers.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Didi Gregorius is projected to return to the New York Yankees next month, a faster recovery from Tommy John surgery than expected.Gregorius is scheduled to play shortstop on Monday at extended spring training in Tampa, Florida, his first game action since surgery on Oct. 17 to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow."It's a good step. We're getting there. Everything feels really good," Gregorius said Saturday after eight plate appearances during a simulated game in Tampa. "You've got to trust the whole thing, even though I'm impatient because I want to work. But it is what it is. Got to go with what they're saying and go with their schedule."Manager Aaron Boone does not expect Gregorius will need the equivalent of a full spring training, which is about six weeks."I think it will be shorter," Boone said Saturday. "He's been doing so much already as far as getting live ABs (at-bats), doing all this work. So he's a little further down the road than he would... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Didi Gregorius is projected to return to the New York Yankees next month, a faster recovery from Tommy John surgery than expected.Gregorius is scheduled to play shortstop on Monday at extended spring training in Tampa, Florida, his first game action since surgery on Oct. 17 to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.Manager Aaron Boone does not expect Gregorius will need the equivalent of a full spring training, which is about six weeks."I think it will be shorter," Boone said Saturday. "He's been doing so much already as far as getting live ABs (at-bats), doing all this work. So he's a little further down the road than he would be at the start of spring training."Gregorius hit .268 with a career-high 27 homers and 86 RBIs last season. He injured the elbow while making a throw from left field after a ball bounced off Fenway Park's Green Monster during Game 2 of the AL Division Series at Boston last Oct. 6. When the Yankees revealed the injury six days... [More]

May 191910 — Cy Young won the 500th game of his career as the Cleveland Indians beat the Washington Senators, 5-4, in 11 innings.1910 — Boston beat the Pirates 6-3 for the first time in 26 tries.1942 — Paul Waner of the Boston Braves got his 3,000th career hit off Pittsburgh's Rip Sewell in a 7-6, 11-inning loss to the Pirates.1956 — Pittsburgh's Dale Long hit a ninth-inning homer against the Chicago Cubs. It was Long's first of eight straight games with a homer.1962 — Stan Musial of St. Louis became the NL career hits leader. The 41-year-old got a ninth-inning single for his 3,431st hit and moved past Honus Wagner. The Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-1.1968 — After hitting 10 home runs in six games, Frank Howard of the Washington Senators was stopped by pitcher Earl Wilson of Detroit, which won the game 5-4.1981 — Pittsburgh's Jim Bibby gave up a leadoff single to Terry Harper of the Atlanta Braves, then retired the next 27 batters for a 5-0 one-hitter. Bibby also hit two doubles.2000... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:DO OVERBlake Snell makes his second straight start against the Yankees. The Rays left-handed ace was overpowering against New York on Sunday, but his 12 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball weren't enough in a 7-1 loss. Yankees righty Masahiro Tanaka got the win in that game, throwing seven innings of one-run ball while appearing to rediscover his go-to split-finger fastball. Tampa Bay entered the weekend series with a 1/2-game lead over New York in the AL East.COUNTING UP...Houston tries for its 10th straight win in a game at Fenway Park. George Springer hit his AL-leading 17th homer Friday in a 3-1 victory against the Red Sox, a go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth inning. Houston is 12-3 this month and has matched the 2017 World Series championship team for the best start in franchise history at 30-15. Corbin Martin (1-0) is set to make his second career start for Houston.RESTED RED HEADThe Dodgers expect to be without Justin... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — White Sox left-hander Manny Bañuelos has been placed on the injured list, another blow to a Chicago pitching staff that already lost Carlos Rodón and Nate Jones for the season this week.Bañuelos left the fifth inning of a 9-0 loss against Cleveland on Tuesday because of a strained left shoulder. Bañuelos said he started to feel discomfort in the fourth inning, when he couldn't extend his arm properly."I wasn't doing it because I was scared that something bad could happen to my shoulder, or something could have popped out," Bañuelos said through a translator. "I wasn't able to extend my arm as I used to. That was one of the side effects of my command right after that pitch that was in the fourth inning."Bañuelos is 2-3 with a 7.26 ERA in five starts and four relief appearances. He was scheduled to start Monday against Houston.He was put on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Wednesday."Hopefully it's a very, very short stint," manager Rick Renteria said.Right-hander José Ruiz was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte, where he has a 5.40 ERA in 11 appearances this season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed right-hander Trevor Williams on the 10-day injured list with a strain in his right side.Williams, who played at San Diego's Rancho Bernardo High, came out of Thursday night's game after just 3 2/3 innings.To take his roster spot, right-hander Clay Holmes was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday. It's Holmes' second stint with the Pirates this season.The Pirates also optioned right-hander Richard Rodríguez to Triple-A and selected the contract of right-hander Geoff Hartlieb from Indianapolis. Hartlieb has no previous big league experience.Additionally, catcher Jacob Stallings cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Indianapolis.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:DO OVERBlake Snell makes his second straight start against the Yankees. The Rays left-handed ace was overpowering against New York on Sunday, but his 12 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball weren't enough in a 7-1 loss. Yankees righty Masahiro Tanaka got the win in that game, throwing seven innings of one-run ball while appearing to rediscover his go-to split-finger fastball. Tampa Bay entered the weekend series with a 1/2-game lead over New York in the AL East.COUNTING UP...Houston tries for its 10th straight win in a game at Fenway Park. George Springer hit his AL-leading 17th homer Friday in a 3-1 victory against the Red Sox, a go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth inning. Houston is 12-3 this month and has matched the 2017 World Series championship team for the best start in franchise history at 30-15. Corbin Martin (1-0) is set to make his second career start for Houston.RESTED RED HEADThe Dodgers expect to be without Justin... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:DO OVERBlake Snell makes his second straight start against the Yankees. The Rays left-handed ace was overpowering against New York on Sunday, but his 12 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball weren't enough in a 7-1 loss. Yankees righty Masahiro Tanaka got the win in that game, throwing seven innings of one-run ball while appearing to rediscover his go-to split-finger fastball. Tampa Bay entered the weekend series with a 1/2-game lead over New York in the AL East.RESTED RED HEADThe Dodgers expect to be without Justin Turner a day after he fouled a ball off his left shin. The red-headed slugger was pulled from a 6-0 win over Cincinnati and will likely get at least a day to recover, though X-rays were negative and LA doesn't seem concerned about his long-term well-being. Walker Buehler (4-0) pitches for the Dodgers against the Reds' Tyler Mahle (0-5).FRESH FISHThe Marlins found their offensive stroke Friday against Jacob deGrom... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ian Kinsler says he regrets using profanity during an emotional outburst after hitting a pivotal three-run home run for the San Diego Padres on Thursday night and maintained he was firing up his teammates and not taking a shot at fans.Kinsler hollered and gestured as he touched the plate after hitting the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning of the 4-3 win against Pittsburgh, and again in the dugout.Kinsler has been criticized by fans as he's struggled since joining the Padres on an $8 million, two-year deal. Many fans, particularly on social media, felt the outburst was directed at them."The only thing that I do regret is doing it on the field in front of everybody, so everyone can interpret it their own way," Kinsler said before Friday night's game, when he was due to start at second base and bat leadoff.Asked if he wanted to say anything to fans who thought he was directing it at them, to clear things up, he said, "No."The 36-year-old Kinsler, in his 14th big league... [More]