SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs optioned shortstop Addison Russell to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, about two months after he completed a suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.The struggling Russell was sent down to make room for All-Star catcher Willson Contreras, who was activated from the 10-day injured list. The NL Central leaders also scratched left-hander Jon Lester from his scheduled start against San Francisco because of illness. Right-hander Tyler Chatwood started in Lester's place in a game the Cubs won 4-1.Russell is hitting .247 with six homers, 16 RBIs and a .733 OPS in 55 games. He had a rough game Saturday against San Diego when he appeared to lose a pair of pop-ups in the sun and made multiple baserunning mistakes.The 25-year-old was suspended 40 games by Major League Baseball last fall after a series of allegations made by ex-wife Melisa Reidy. The couple, who have one child together, divorced in August 2018. Russell said in February... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs optioned shortstop Addison Russell to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, about two months after he completed a suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.The struggling Russell was sent down to make room for All-Star catcher Willson Contreras, who was activated from the 10-day injured list. Chicago also scratched left-hander Jon Lester from his scheduled start against San Francisco because of illness. Right-hander Tyler Chatwood started in Lester's place.Russell is hitting .247 with six homers, 16 RBIs and a .733 OPS in 55 games. He had a rough game Saturday against San Diego when he appeared to lose a pair of pop-ups in the sun and made multiple baserunning mistakes.The 25-year-old was suspended 40 games by Major League Baseball last fall after a series of allegations made by ex-wife Melisa Reidy. The couple, who have one child together, divorced in August 2018. Russell said in February that he was accountable for his past actions... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have optioned shortstop Addison Russell to Triple-A Iowa about two months after he completed a suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.Russell was sent down to make room for catcher Willson Contreras, who was activated from the 10-day injured list. Chicago also scratched left-hander Jon Lester from his scheduled start Wednesday against San Francisco because of illness. Right-hander Tyler Chatwood was set to start in Lester's place.Russell is hitting .247 with six homers and a .733 OPS in 55 games. The 25-year-old was suspended last fall after a series of allegations made by ex-wife Melisa Reidy.Lester (9-6) was slated to make his 400th career start but wasn't feeling well when he woke up."He's not feeling good, man," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He's got a fever and he just couldn't fight through it."Chatwood is 4-1 with a 4.30 ERA.Contreras had been out since July 14 with a right foot strain.__More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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]

June 301908 — At 41 years, 3 months, Cy Young of the Boston Red Sox pitched the third no-hitter of his career, an 8-0 win over the New York Highlanders.1948 — Cleveland's Bob Lemon pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers for the first American League no-hitter at night.1962 — Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers struck out 13 New York Mets en route to the first of four career no-hitters, a 5-0 victory at Dodger Stadium.1970 — Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati was dedicated, but Henry Aaron spoiled the show for the crowd of 51,050 with a first-inning homer off Jim McGlothlin as Atlanta beat the Reds 8-2.1978 — Willie McCovey became the 12th player in major league history to hit 500 home runs. His milestone shot off Atlanta's Jamie Easterly wasn't enough, as the Braves beat the San Francisco Giants 10-5 in the second game of a doubleheader at Fulton County Stadium.1995 — Eddie Murray of the Cleveland Indians became the second switch-hitter and the 20th player in baseball history... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is in the lineup Thursday after leaving Wednesday's game after getting hit with a pitch on the left forearm.Arenado said he was a little stiff and sore, and he would test his arm during batting practice before Thursday's game against the San Diego Padres."It's going to be stiff for a while, a little sore and bruised but something I have to play through," he said. "It's bruised but I can play through a bruise."We have a day off Monday so I should be fine the next four games and hopefully the day off will help me big time."Arenado took batting practice and fielded grounders before Thursday's game while wearing a wrap around the forearm."I'll wear something to cover it throughout the game and definitely protect it just in case something happens again," he said. "I feel fortunate in that I haven't gotten hit there before, or not in a long time. I think I'll be OK."Arenado was batting in the bottom of the third when Chicago starter Cole... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado was in the lineup Thursday, a day after being hit by a pitch on the left forearm.Arenado said he would test his arm during batting practice before the game against the San Diego Padres. He was pulled from Wednesday's game."It's going to be stiff for a while, a little sore and bruised but something I have to play through," he said. "It's bruised, but I can play through a bruise."We have a day off Monday, so I should be fine the next four games and hopefully the day off will help me big time."Arenado took batting practice and fielded grounders before Thursday's game while wearing a wrap around the forearm."I'll wear something to cover it throughout the game and definitely protect it just in case something happens again," he said. "I feel fortunate in that I haven't gotten hit there before, or not in a long time. I think I'll be OK."Arenado was batting in the bottom of the third when Chicago starter Cole Hamels hit him with a 90 mph... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is in the lineup on Thursday after leaving Wednesday's game after getting hit with a pitch on the left forearm.Arenado said he was a little stiff and sore, and he would test his arm during batting practice before Thursday's game against the San Diego Padres.Arenado was batting in the bottom of the third when Chicago starter Cole Hamels hit him with a 90 mph fastball during Colorado's 10-1 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday. Arenado looked toward the mound before bending down and taking off his shin guard. He said something to the Chicago dugout before walking to first base.Arenado stayed in the game to run the bases and was forced out at second. He played the field in the fourth, throwing out Addison Russell to start the inning, but was replaced by Ryan McMahon in the top of the fifth.X-rays on the arm showed there was no break.Arenado leads the Rockies in home runs (17) and RBIs (57) and is second in average (.330).___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado has left Wednesday's game with a left forearm contusion after getting hit by a pitch.Arenado was batting in the bottom of the third inning when Chicago Cubs starter Cole Hamels hit him with a 90-mph fastball. Arenado looked toward the mound before bending down and taking off his shin guard. He said something to the Chicago dugout before walking to first base.Colorado manager Bud Black and trainer Keith Dugger came out to check on Arenado, and Dugger wrapped Arenado's arm.Arenado stayed in the game to run the bases and was forced out at second. He played the field in the fourth, throwing out Addison Russell to start the inning, but was replaced by Ryan McMahon in the top of the fifth.Arenado, who has won the Gold Glove in each of his six seasons in the majors, leads the Rockies with a .330 average, 17 home runs and 57 RBIs.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CINCINNATI (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out a season high 15, allowing three hits over eight innings to lead the Washington Nationals over Cincinnati 4-1 on Sunday, their 12th win in 14 games against the Reds.When manager Dave Martinez visited the mound with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth, Scherzer told him emphatically to keep him in the game. Scherzer then fanned Joey Votto on three straight called strikes.Scherzer (3-5) reached double figures in strikeouts for the fourth time in 13 starts this season and 86th time in his career,Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save as Washington won for the seventh time in nine games.Sonny Gray (2-5) gave up two runs and five hits in five innings.Anthony Rendon had three hits, including an RBI single in the first, and raised his average to .331.YANKEES 8, RED SOX 5NEW YORK (AP) — David Price finally won at Yankee Stadium for the first time with the Boston Red Sox, backed by early homers from J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts.Boston... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out a season high 15, allowing three hits over eight innings to lead the Washington Nationals over Cincinnati 4-1 on Sunday, their 12th win in 14 games against the Reds.When manager Dave Martinez visited the mound with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth, Scherzer told him emphatically to keep him in the game. Scherzer then fanned Joey Votto on three straight called strikes.Scherzer (3-5) reached double figures in strikeouts for the fourth time in 13 starts this season and 86th time in his career,Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save as Washington won for the seventh time in nine games.Sonny Gray (2-5) gave up two runs and five hits in five innings.Anthony Rendon had three hits, including an RBI single in the first, and raised his average to .331.TWINS 9, RAYS 7ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jake Odorizzi (8-2) won his eighth straight decision, allowing three hits and striking out nine in six scoreless innings to lower his AL-best... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Austin Romine and Cameron Maybin each drove in two runs during New York's five-run second inning, and the Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Saturday night to complete a doubleheader sweep and run their win streak to seven in a row.Maybin also had an RBI single in the third as New York won both games after severe thunderstorms postponed Friday night's contest.Luke Voit hit a go-ahead home in the seventh inning to power the Yankees to a 7-3 victory in the opener. J.A. Happ (4-3) struck out 10 in six innings.Chance Adams (1-0) threw four innings to earn his first major league victory in the second game after Chad Green threw one inning as the Yankees' opener. Aroldis Chapman earned his 250th career save.Kansas City's Hunter Dozier doubled twice after going hitless in the opener, driving in Adalberto Mondesi in the first inning and coming around to score on Jorge Soler's double in the fourth inning.Scott Barlow (1-1) and Jorge Lopez (0-6) got the losses for... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Austin Romine and Cameron Maybin each drove in two runs during New York's five-run second inning, and the Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Saturday night to complete a doubleheader sweep and run their win streak to seven in a row.Maybin also had an RBI single in the third as New York won both games after severe thunderstorms postponed Friday night's contest.Luke Voit hit a go-ahead home in the seventh inning to power the Yankees to a 7-3 victory in the opener. J.A. Happ (4-3) struck out 10 in six innings.Chance Adams (1-0) threw four innings to earn his first major league victory in the second game after Chad Green threw one inning as the Yankees' opener. Aroldis Chapman earned his 250th career save.Kansas City's Hunter Dozier doubled twice after going hitless in the opener, driving in Adalberto Mondesi in the first inning and coming around to score on Jorge Soler's double in the fourth inning.Scott Barlow (1-1) and Jorge Lopez (0-6) got the losses for... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Austin Romine and Cameron Maybin each drove in two runs during New York's five-run second inning, and the Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Saturday night to complete a doubleheader sweep and run their win streak to seven in a row.Maybin also had an RBI single in the third as New York won both games after severe thunderstorms postponed Friday night's contest.Luke Voit hit a go-ahead home in the seventh inning to power the Yankees to a 7-3 victory in the opener. J.A. Happ (4-3) struck out 10 in six innings.Chance Adams (1-0) threw four innings to earn his first major league victory in the second game after Chad Green threw one inning as the Yankees' opener. Aroldis Chapman earned his 250th career save.Kansas City's Hunter Dozier doubled twice after going hitless in the opener, driving in Adalberto Mondesi in the first inning and coming around to score on Jorge Soler's double in the fourth inning.Scott Barlow (1-1) and Jorge Lopez (0-6) got the losses for... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Austin Hedges connected for a grand slam, and the San Diego Padres hit a franchise-record seven home runs to romp past the Toronto Blue Jays 19-4 Saturday for their fifth straight win.Wil Myers and Hunter Renfroe each hit two home runs and Ian Kinsler and Eric Hosmer also homered. The previous team record was six, set in Cincinnati on July 17, 1998.Hedges hit his first career slam and drove in five runs. Myers went 2 for 2, drove in four and scored four times, and Renfroe had four hits, scored four and drove in three.Cal Quantrill (1-2), from nearby Port Hope, Ontario, and the son of former major league pitcher Paul Quantrill, earned his first win in his fourth career start.Edwin Jackson (0-2) got the loss, allowing seven runs in four innings.PHILLIES 7, BREWERS 2MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jake Arrieta pitched eight effective innings and Andrew McCutchen homered, leading Philadelphia to its third consecutive win.César Hernández, Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto also connected for the... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Austin Hedges connected for a grand slam, and the San Diego Padres hit a franchise-record seven home runs to romp past the Toronto Blue Jays 19-4 Saturday for their fifth straight win.Wil Myers and Hunter Renfroe each hit two home runs and Ian Kinsler and Eric Hosmer also homered. The previous team record was six, set in Cincinnati on July 17, 1998.Hedges hit his first career slam and drove in five runs. Myers went 2 for 2, drove in four and scored four times, and Renfroe had four hits, scored four and drove in three.Cal Quantrill (1-2), from nearby Port Hope, Ontario, and the son of former major league pitcher Paul Quantrill, earned his first win in his fourth career start.Edwin Jackson (0-2) got the loss, allowing seven runs in four innings.PHILLIES 7, BREWERS 2MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jake Arrieta pitched eight effective innings and Andrew McCutchen homered, leading Philadelphia to its third consecutive win.César Hernández, Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto also connected for the... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Austin Hedges connected for a grand slam, and the San Diego Padres hit a franchise-record seven home runs to romp past the Toronto Blue Jays 19-4 Saturday for their fifth straight win.Wil Myers and Hunter Renfroe each hit two home runs and Ian Kinsler and Eric Hosmer also homered. The previous team record was six, set in Cincinnati on July 17, 1998.Hedges hit his first career slam and drove in five runs. Myers went 2 for 2, drove in four and scored four times, and Renfroe had four hits, scored four and drove in three.Cal Quantrill (1-2), from nearby Port Hope, Ontario, and the son of former major league pitcher Paul Quantrill, earned his first win in his fourth career start.Edwin Jackson (0-2) got the loss, allowing seven runs in four innings.TWINS 8, WHITE SOX 1MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kyle Gibson struck out nine in seven innings, and the Twins beat the White Sox 8-1 for their 10th win in 11 games.Gibson (5-2) gave up five hits and walked none. His only blemish was José Abreu's... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Cubs' Ben Zobrist and his wife, Julianna Zobrist, have filed court documents in separate states seeking to end their marriage.Ben Zobrist filed a complaint for legal separation in Tennessee, according to The Tennesseean . The couple has a home in Williamson County.Julianna Zobrist filed for divorce on Monday, according to Cook County Circuit Court records.The Cubs placed Ben Zobrist on leave for undisclosed personal reasons on May 8, prompting the team to recall Addison Russell from Triple-A Iowa a little earlier than planned.Ben Zobrist, who turns 38 on May 26, is batting .241 this season. Zobrist, who is in the final season of a four-year contract with Chicago, was the World Series MVP when the Cubs won the championship in 2016.Manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday he doesn't know when Zobrist might feel ready to return."We're going to respect his privacy," Maddon said before the Cubs' game at Cincinnati. "He'll let us know."His wife, the former Julianna Gilmore, is a Christian pop singer who has released several recordings. She has retained Chicago law firm Berger Schatz. The company represented billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin in his split with wife Anne Dias Griffin in 2014.Russell was left in the minors for extended preparation time after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Julianna Zobrist, the wife of Chicago Cubs World Series MVP Ben Zobrist, has filed for divorce.The Cubs placed Ben Zobrist on leave for undisclosed personal reasons on May 8, prompting them team to recall Addison Russell from Triple-A Iowa a little earlier than they planned.Julianna Zobrist filed for divorce on Monday, according to Cook County Circuit Court records.Ben Zobrist, who turns 38 on May 26, is batting .241 this season. He is in the final season of a four-year contract with the Cubs.His wife, the former Julianna Gilmore, is a Christian pop singer who has released several recordings. She has retained Chicago law firm Berger Schatz. The company represented billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin in his split with wife Anne Dias Griffin in 2014.Russell was left in the minors for extended preparation time after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports