A look at what's happening around the majors today:INJURED FANProtective netting at ballparks is again under scrutiny after a young girl was struck in Houston by a foul ball. Albert Almora Jr. of the Chicago Cubs hit a line drive into the stands down the third base line and almost immediately put his hands on his head in horror. The girl who got hit was picked up by a man who appeared to be with her, and he dashed up the stairs not long after she was struck. The Astros said the fan was taken to a hospital, but did not disclose any further details. A photo taken by The Associated Press showed the girl apparently conscious and crying as she was whisked away and nearby fans looked on.Like all major league stadiums, Minute Maid Park has netting to protect fans near the field from foul balls. On the third base side in Houston, it extends to the end of the visiting team's dugout. The girl was sitting in what looked to be the third or fourth row about 10 feet past where the netting ends. Following... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:INJURED FANProtective netting at ballparks is again under scrutiny after a young girl was struck in Houston by a foul ball. Albert Almora Jr. of the Chicago Cubs hit a line drive into the stands down the third base line and almost immediately put his hands on his head in horror. The girl who got hit was picked up by a man who appeared to be with her, and he dashed up the stairs not long after she was struck. The Astros said the fan was taken to a hospital, but did not disclose any further details. A photo taken by The Associated Press showed the girl apparently conscious and crying as she was whisked away and nearby fans looked on.Like all major league stadiums, Minute Maid Park has netting to protect fans near the field from foul balls. On the third base side in Houston, it extends to the end of the visiting team's dugout. The girl was sitting in what looked to be the third or fourth row about 10 feet past where the netting ends. Following... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros shortstop Carlos Correa says his rib was fractured during a massage.The 2015 AL Rookie of the Year is expected to be sidelined four-to-six weeks.He issued a statement through the team on Wednesday that says "I sustained the rib fracture during a massage at my home on Tuesday. To sustain an injury in such an unusual way makes it even more frustrating."Correa last played on Sunday and that was followed by what manager AJ Hinch called a scheduled day. Hinch said Correa reported soreness around his ribs on Tuesday morning and was kept out of the lineup.Correa was sent for evaluation, and general manager Jeff Luhnow announced Wednesday that Correa was being placed on the 10-day injured list.Correa's injury is the latest blow to the first-place Astros, already without injured stars George Springer and Jose Altuve.Utility infielder Aledmys Diaz, catcher Max Stassi and right-hander Collin McHugh are also on the injured list, forcing the Astros to rely on several players who have little to no major league experience.Correa is batting .295 this season with 11 homers and 35 RBIs.The Astros recalled INF/OF Myles Straw from Triple-A Round Rock to take Correa's spot on the roster.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros shortstop Carlos Correa has a fractured rib that will keep him out 4-6 weeks.It is unclear when or how Correa was injured. He played on Sunday that was followed by what manager AJ Hinch called a scheduled day. Hinch said Correa reported soreness around his ribs on Tuesday morning and was kept out of the lineup.Correa was sent for evaluation, and general manager Jeff Luhnow announced Wednesday that Correa was being placed on the 10-day injured list.Correa's injury is the latest blow to the first-place Astros, already without injured stars George Springer and Jose Altuve.Utility infielder Aledmys Diaz, catcher Max Stassi and right-hander Collin McHugh are also on the injured list, forcing the Astros to rely on several players who have little to no major league experience.Correa, the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year, is batting .295 season with 11 homers and 35 RBIs.The Astros recalled INF/OF Myles Straw from Triple-A Round Rock to take Correa's spot on the roster.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Sandy León hit a three-run homer off Oliver Pérez after the Indians reliever caused an odd stoppage asking for new footwear, J.D. Martinez homered twice and the Boston Red Sox beat Cleveland 12-5 Monday.Jackie Bradley Jr. added two RBI doubles, and Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts each had two hits and scored twice for the Red Sox, who have won 18 of 26.Boston held a moment of silence and showed highlights of former player Bill Buckner, who died Monday. He was 69.Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia revealed before the game that he will take an indefinite leave in his long struggle to recover from knee trouble, putting in doubt whether he'll play again in the majors.The Indians have lost seven of eight, and even the team's equipment is having a rough go of it.Pérez put Fenway Park into a strange delay when he relieved during Boston's six-run fifth inning. The 37-year-old left-hander noticed something amiss with his spikes while warming up and signaled for a replacement pair,... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Sandy León hit a three-run homer off Oliver Pérez after the Indians reliever caused an odd stoppage asking for new footwear, J.D. Martinez homered twice and the Boston Red Sox beat Cleveland 12-5 Monday.Jackie Bradley Jr. added two RBI doubles, and Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts each had two hits and scored twice for the Red Sox, who have won 18 of 26.Boston held a moment of silence and showed highlights of former player Bill Buckner, who died Monday. He was 69.Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia revealed before the game that he will take an indefinite leave in his long struggle to recover from knee trouble, putting in doubt whether he'll play again in the majors.The Indians have lost seven of eight, and even the team's equipment is having a rough go of it.Pérez put Fenway Park into a strange delay when he relieved during Boston's six-run fifth inning. The 37-year-old left-hander noticed something amiss with his spikes while warming up and signaled for a replacement pair,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros placed outfielder George Springer on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left hamstring strain, but could be close to getting star second baseman Jose Altuve back from injury.Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow said Springer suffered a Grade 2 sprain, but would not give a timetable for how long the outfielder would be out.Houston manager AJ Hinch said Springer will miss more than 10 days."Our doctors have told us that he's injured, but it's not as dramatic as we have feared," Hinch said. "He's going to be out a little while, and he's going to exceed the ten days, but they were encouraged by their findings and observations. He's really sore. He's not going to do anything for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, if the initial diagnosis is right, we avoided the catastrophe."Springer, who is batting .308 this season with an AL-leading 17 home runs and 43 RBIs, suffered the injury trying to make a sliding catch on a foul ball in the eighth inning of Friday's... [More]

Take away George Springer and Jose Altuve, and maybe the Houston Astros start to look a little more beatable.Maybe.The Boston Red Sox finally snapped Houston's 10-game winning streak Sunday with a 4-3 victory after Springer left the game with lower back stiffness. The Astros were already playing without Altuve, on the injured list with a strained left hamstring, but that injury did little to slow Houston. Even after Sunday's loss, the Astros have the best record and best run differential in the major leagues. They lead the AL West by 8 ½ games.Altuve hasn't played since May 10, so Houston's recent torrid stretch took place largely without him. That's a scary thought for the rest of the American League. In their first four games without their star second baseman, the Astros scored 45 runs against the Rangers and Tigers."Our guys are seeing the ball really well and making it tough on them," Houston manager AJ Hinch said while the Astros were in Detroit. "Driving the pitch counts through the... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:CENTRAL CONFLICTThe Cubs and Brewers conclude a three-game series in prime time following Chicago's 15-inning, 2-1 win Saturday. Milwaukee righty Jhoulys Chacin will make his first start at Wrigley Field since last year's NL Central tiebreaker, when he dominated in a 3-1 victory that gave the Brewers their first division title since 2011. Jon Lester is up for the Cubs. He's allowed three runs — one earned — over 18 innings in three starts since returning from a strained left hamstring.ATHLETIC FEATSOakland is set to finish up a most memorable homestand against Cleveland. The A's have gotten walkoff hits in consecutive games against the Indians, giving them three in a five-day span that also included Mike Fiers' no-hitter against Cincinnati. Oakland got some help with Saturday's game-ender — Cleveland right fielder Jordan Luplow slipped trying to catch Ramon Laureano's ninth-inning bloop, allowing Matt Olson to score from third. A's manager... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Willson Contreras homered in the 15th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.Contreras turned on a 1-2 pitch from Burch Smith (0-1), sending a long shot to left field that gave Chicago its 11th win in 13 games. He spun and flipped his bat toward the Cubs' dugout as the ball sailed toward the bleachers and was mobbed by teammates when he crossed the plate.Chicago moved back ahead of the Brewers for the NL Central lead after falling into a virtual tie with Friday's 7-0 loss. Milwaukee had its season-high seven-game win streak snapped.Tyler Chatwood (2-0) struck out seven in four innings to cap a strong effort by the bullpen after Cole Hamels worked seven solid innings.Hamels gave up a run and three hits in his fourth straight no-decision. Seven relievers combined to give up one hit the rest of the way.RAYS 7, YANKEES 2ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Willy Adames and Ji-Man Choi hit run-scoring infield singles in the sixth after tempers... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros star Jose Altuve has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring.Manager AJ Hinch announced the move after an 11-4 win over Texas on Saturday night. Altuve was injured in the first inning of a 3-0 win Friday, leaving in the first inning after beating out an infield single.Hinch had said before Saturday's game he was "not optimistic" the 2017 AL MVP could avoid the IL.Altuve says it's "very frustrating" but his priority is to be 100% healthy later in the season, when Houston expects to be competing for a postseason spot.In an uncharacteristically sluggish start to the season, Altuve is batting .243 with nine home runs and 21 RBIs. He has hit .162 (11 for 68) since April 19.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:HAMSTRUNGThe Astros are awaiting word on star second baseman Jose Altuve, but the prognosis doesn't seem great. Altuve was pulled from a game Friday with left hamstring discomfort, and manager AJ Hinch said Saturday he's "not optimistic" the 2017 AL MVP can avoid the injured list. Altuve was sent for testing Saturday, and Houston was waiting to get a complete diagnosis.CENTRAL CONFLICTThe Cubs and Brewers conclude a three-game series in prime time following Chicago's 15-inning, 2-1 win Saturday. Milwaukee righty Jhoulys Chacin will make his first start at Wrigley Field since last year's NL Central tiebreaker, when he dominated in a 3-1 victory that gave the Brewers their first division title since 2011. Jon Lester is up for the Cubs. He's allowed three runs — one earned — over 18 innings in three starts since returning from a strained left hamstring.ATHLETIC FEATSOakland is set to finish up a most memorable homestand against Cleveland.... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros star Jose Altuve seems likely to end up on the 10-day injured list after straining his left hamstring Friday.Houston manager AJ Hinch said Saturday he's "not optimistic" the 2017 AL MVP can avoid an IL stint.Altuve was pulled during the first inning of a 3-0 win over the Texas Rangers with hamstring discomfort after beating out an infield single. He was sent for tests Saturday, and the team is still awaiting a complete diagnosis.Hinch says the injury might not be as severe as the team had originally feared, but Altuve could still miss extended time. Hinch says the second baseman is "feeling OK, not great."In an uncharacteristically sluggish start to the season, Altuve is batting .243 with nine home runs and 21 RBIs. He has batted .162 (11 for 68) since April 19.___More AP MLB: https://apenws.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros star Jose Altuve has been pulled from a game with left hamstring discomfort.The second baseman left in the first inning Friday night against the Texas Rangers. Houston says the 2017 AL MVP is day to day.Altuve beat out an infield single in the first. With a 3-0 count on the next batter, manager AJ Hinch and a trainer came out to talk to him. After a short conversation, Altuve walked off the field.Aledmys Díaz pinch-ran for Altuve and replaced him at second base.Altuve entered the game batting .238 with nine home runs and 21 RBIs. He has batted .149 (10 for 67) since April 19.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale remained winless after five starts but struck out a season-high 10 in five innings as the Detroit Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox 7-4 Tuesday to start their first doubleheader sweep at Fenway Park since August 1965.Spencer Turnbull (1-2) pitched five shutout innings for his first major league win, leading the Tigers to a 4-2 victory in the nightcap that left the World Series champions at 9-15.Brandon Dixon greeted Marcus Walden with a three-run double after the Tigers loaded the bases against Hector Velázquez (0-2), and the Red Sox were swept in a twin-bill for the first time since the Los Angeles Angels accomplished the feat on July 20, 2015.Sale gave up two runs, five hits and two walks, lowering his ERA from 8.50 to 7.43. The 30-year-old, who signed a $160 million, six-year contract late in spring training, had never gone his first five starts in a big league season without a victory.In the first game, Matthew Boyd (2-1) combined with three relievers on a five-hitter... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale remained winless after five starts but struck out a season-high 10 in five innings as the Detroit Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox 7-4 Tuesday to start their first doubleheader sweep at Fenway Park since August 1965.Spencer Turnbull (1-2) pitched five shutout innings for his first major league win, leading the Tigers to a 4-2 victory in the nightcap that left the World Series champions at 9-15.Brandon Dixon greeted Marcus Walden with a three-run double after the Tigers loaded the bases against Hector Velázquez (0-2), and the Red Sox were swept in a twin-bill for the first time since the Los Angeles Angels accomplished the feat on July 20, 2015.Sale gave up two runs, five hits and two walks, lowering his ERA from 8.50 to 7.43. The 30-year-old, who signed a $160 million, six-year contract late in spring training, had never gone his first five starts in a big league season without a victory.In the first game, Matthew Boyd (2-1) combined with three relievers on a five-hitter... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Christian Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, and the Boston Red Sox completed an uplifting three-game sweep of the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 victory Sunday.Rafael Devers singled off Jose Alvarado (0-2) to start the 11th and went to second when Michael Chavis walked.Both runners moved up a base on Jackie Bradley's sacrifice bunt and Vazquez followed with his fly that Kevin Kiermaier ran down in center field.Marcus Walden (3-0) allowed an infield hit over two scoreless innings and Ryan Brasier worked the 11th to get his sixth save.After starting the season by losing eight of 10, the defending World Series champions are 7-5 over the last 12 games and went from eight to five games behind the Rays.DODGERS 6, BREWERS 5MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cody Bellinger reached over the right field wall to rob Christian Yelich in the eighth inning of yet another home run, then hit a solo drive off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to lift Los Angeles over... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Christian Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, and the Boston Red Sox completed an uplifting three-game sweep of the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 victory Sunday.Rafael Devers singled off Jose Alvarado (0-2) to start the 11th and went to second when Michael Chavis walked.Both runners moved up a base on Jackie Bradley's sacrifice bunt and Vazquez followed with his fly that Kevin Kiermaier ran down in center field.Marcus Walden (3-0) allowed an infield hit over two scoreless innings and Ryan Brasier worked the 11th to get his sixth save.After starting the season by losing eight of 10, the defending World Series champions are 7-5 over the last 12 games and went from eight to five games behind the Rays.DODGERS 6, BREWERS 5MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cody Bellinger reached over the right field wall to rob Christian Yelich in the eighth inning of yet another home run, then hit a solo drive off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to lift Los Angeles over... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Davis ended his record slump at 0 for 54 and drew applause from rival fans at Fenway Park, getting three hits and driving in four runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 9-5 on Saturday to end a four-game losing streak.Davis walked to the plate in the first inning to what mostly appeared to be mock cheers when he was announced. But many of those quickly changed when he lined a bases-loaded, two-run single over the head of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, ending the longest hitless streak ever by a position player. Once he safely reached first, Davis tipped his cap to the Orioles dugout and many of his teammates raised their arms and hollered in support. He smiled and made a motion that he wanted to ball, which he got.Davis, a former two-time major league home run champion, later hit two doubles. He had been 0 for 33 this season. The all-time record for a hitless streak by any player is an 0-for-85 drought by pitcher Bob Buhl in 1962-63.Christian Vázquez hit... [More]

April 141910 — William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to throw out the first ball at a baseball opener in Washington.1910 — Chicago's Frank Smith pitched a one-hitter in the season opener to give the White Sox a win over the St. Louis Browns.1915 — In the opening game at Philadelphia, left-hander Herb Pennock of the A's blanked the Red Sox 5-0. He gave up only one hit — a scratch single by Harry Hooper with two outs in the ninth.1917 — Ed Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns.1925 — The Cleveland Indians opened the season with a 21-14 victory over the St. Louis Browns, the most runs scored by one club on opening day. The Indians scored 12 runs in the eighth inning when the Browns made five errors. Browns first baseman George Sisler had four errors in the game.1967 — Boston rookie Bill Rohr lost a no-hit bid in his first major league start when Elston Howard singled in the ninth inning for the New York Yankees' only hit in a 3-0... [More]