Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon went 2-for-4 with a double and a strikeout in a 3-0 shutout loss to the San Diego Padres. Blackmon was the only member of the Rockies to pick up multiple hits as Joe Musgrove and the Padres bullpen were locked in on Thursday. The veteran outfielder is slashing a solid .316/.350/.509 with two home runs, nine RBI, and two stolen bases over the last 15 games (57 at-bats). His power has been sapped this season but he's still a solid mixed league OF option with his on-base skills. Overall, he's batting .272 with a .763 OPS, six home runs, 48 RBI, and two swipes over 328 at-bats.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Luis Patiño outpitched Gerrit Cole, Brett Phillips hit a grand slam during a 10-run sixth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays avoided a three-game sweep by routing the New York Yankees 14-0 on Thursday. Patiño (2-2) allowed three hits in six innings. The 21-year-old right-hander, acquired in the trade that sent Blake Snell to San Diego last December, struck out eight and walked two. Cole (10-6) gave up a season-high eight runs — seven earned — on six hits over 5 1/3 innings and saw his ERA jump from 2.74 to 3.11. He had 10 strikeouts and two walks. Austin Meadows homered twice and drove in five runs for the Rays. Louis Head and Ryan Sherriff completed a four-hitter. All nine batters in the Rays’ lineup reached base in the sixth. It was the biggest scoring inning by Tampa Bay since a 10-run fifth at Miami on June 5, 2008. NATIONALS 3, PHILLIES 1, GAME 1 PHILLIES 11, NATIONALS 8, 8 INNINGS, GAME 2 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Max Scherzer delivered a signature performance in... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers hit two home runs, including a go-ahead blast in the fifth inning, to help the Boston Red Sox best New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for the second straight time at Fenway Park in a 6-2 victory Friday night. Devers followed his two-run with a three-run homer in the seventh — the 100th of his career — to help Boston improve to 9-2 against New York this season. The Red Sox maintained their one-game AL East lead over Tampa Bay and increased their lead to nine games over the third-place Yankees. Yacksel Rios (3-0) got the victory, pitching two scoreless innings to cap a strong night from the bullpen after starter Eduardo Rodriguez left in the second inning after experiencing migraine symptoms. Cole (10-5) started strong for New York, but was pulled after fiving innings, giving up three runs off six hits, striking out eight and walking two. METS 3, BLUE JAYS 0 NEW YORK (AP) — Tylor Megill threw six scoreless innings for his first big league victory and got his first... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alcides Escobar homered in the eighth inning and hit a winning single in the ninth Sunday as the Washington Nationals wrapped up a disturbing weekend with an 8-7 win over the San Diego Padres. A day after the game was suspended in the sixth inning because of a shooting outside Nationals Park, the Padres completed a 10-4 victory. Washington then came back to end a six-game losing streak. Tres Barrera singled off Mark Melancon (2-2) with one out in the ninth and, after failing on a bunt attempt, Victor Robles was hit by pitch. Escobar hit a flyball that center fielder Trent Grisham couldn’t corral and Barrera scored. Brad Hand (5-2) earned the victory. Juan Soto joined Josh Harrison with three hits and added a two-run homer. Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer and Jackson Profar homered for the Padres. Nationals ace Max Scherzer allowed four runs on four hits in seven innings. He struck out eight. In the completion of Saturday's suspended game, Fernando Tatis Jr. had his third four-hit... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alcides Escobar homered in the eighth inning and hit a winning single in the ninth Sunday as the Washington Nationals wrapped up a disturbing weekend with an 8-7 win over the San Diego Padres. A day after the game was suspended in the sixth inning because of a shooting outside Nationals Park, the Padres completed a 10-4 victory. Washington then came back to end a six-game losing streak. Tres Barrera singled off Mark Melancon (2-2) with one out in the ninth and, after failing on a bunt attempt, Victor Robles was hit by pitch. Escobar hit a flyball that center fielder Trent Grisham couldn’t corral and Barrera scored. Brad Hand (5-2) earned the victory. Juan Soto joined Josh Harrison with three hits and added a two-run homer. Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer and Jackson Profar homered for the Padres. Nationals ace Max Scherzer allowed four runs on four hits in seven innings. He struck out eight. In the completion of Saturday's suspended game, Fernando Tatis Jr. had his third four-hit... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth hit for the cycle for the first time in his major league career Friday night against the Washington Nationals. After lining out in the first inning, Cronenworth had a two-run double in the second, an RBI triple in the third, a solo homer in the fifth and an infield single against the shift in the sixth. Cronenworth’s cycle was the third in Padres' history, following Matt Kemp (2015) and Wil Myers (2017). Charlie Blackmon of the Rockies is the only other player to hit for the cycle against the Nationals (2005-present), accomplishing the feat on the final day of the 2018 season. The 27-year-old Cronenworth is batting .276 with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. will have season-ending surgery to repair a completely torn ACL in his right knee after he was injured during Atlanta’s 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday. An MRI showed the severity of the injury and the Braves made the announcement shortly before midnight that their three-time All-Star will be out until at least next year. Acuña landed awkwardly on his right leg after jumping on the warning track in right field to try to catch a drive from Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the fifth inning. The 23-year-old slammed into the outfield wall and crumbled on the warning track, immediately grabbing his right knee while Chisholm sprinted out an inside-the-park homer. The 23-year-old Acuña did not put any weight on his right leg and had to be helped to a cart before being taken from the field. Freddie Freeman had a two-run homer and an RBI single, while Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley ripped doubles as the first three Braves reached base off All-Star pitcher... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story said Monday he will compete in this year's Home Run Derby at Coors Field. Story became the fourth player to confirm his participation in the event, joining Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, Trey Mancini of the Baltimore Orioles and Pete Alonso of the New York Mets. Alonso won the most recent Home Run Derby in 2019. The competition will be held on July 12, the night before the All-Star Game. Story was batting .254 with nine homers and 34 RBIs heading into Monday's game against Pittsburgh. He will be the 14th Rockies player to compete in the derby and the first since Charlie Blackmon in 2017. “I like Trevor’s chances as much as anybody,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “He’s got power and I think this ballpark will help him. This is his home park. So the sight lines and the background are something that he’s used to. But there’s no doubt there’s a little bit of pressure. Every guy has told me that. ... But Trevor, he can match anybody and he can win this thing for sure.” ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Gio Urshela stayed in the game despite a shard of a broken bat hitting his right eye in the second inning and hit a go-ahead homer eighth as the New York Yankees rallied from a three-run deficit in a 7-5 victory Saturday that stopped the Oakland Athletics’ seven-game winning streak. Aroldis Chapman struck out Matt Chapman on a 103.4 mph pitch to strand two runners in the ninth for his 15th save. Urshela singled in New York’s first run in the fourth and put the Yankees ahead 5-4 in the eighth when he lifted a 98.6 mph fastball from Jesús Luzardo (2-4) into the netting above Monument Park in center. DJ LeMahieu added a two-run single against Sergio Romo. Chad Green (2-4) struck out the side in the eighth. PADRES 7, REDS 5 SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Kim Ha-seong hit a tiebreaking, two-run home run with two outs in the eighth — three innings after he replaced injured star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. — and San Diego beat Cincinnati. Tatis left after apparently hurting his left... [More]

June 20 1912 — The New York Giants outslugged the Boston Braves 21-12 with the teams scoring a total of 17 runs in the ninth inning. The Giants scored seven runs to take a 21-2 lead and the Braves scored 10 runs in the ninth. 1932 — Philadelphia’s Doc Cramer hit six singles in six at-bats and Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx and Mule Haas each drove in four runs in the Athletics’ 18-11 win over the Chicago White Sox. Haas hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to put the A’s up 12-6. 1956 — Mickey Mantle hit two home runs into the right centerfield bleachers at Detroit’s Briggs Stadium. Mantle hit both blasts off Billy Hoeft in the 7-4 win. He became the first player to reach the bleachers since they were were built in the late 1930s. 1973 — San Francisco’s Bobby Bonds broke Lou Brock’s National League record for leadoff home runs. Bonds’ 22nd career leadoff home run came off Don Gullet in a 7-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. 1973 — Chicago’s Cy Acosta becomes the first American League pitcher... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom was pulled from a second straight start with an arm injury, this time leaving after three perfect innings with right shoulder soreness, but the New York Mets bullpen stepped up to finish a three-hitter in a 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. One start after being pulled from a gem against San Diego with flexor tendinitis in his right arm, deGrom went directly down the clubhouse tunnel after finishing the third against the Cubs. DeGrom said initial tests ruled out a serious issue, but he planned to get imaging and more observation Thursday. The right-hander struck out eight of the nine batters he faced and lowered his ERA to 0.54. Sean Reid-Foley (2-0) relieved deGrom and allowed one run over two innings. Anthony Rizzo ended the bid for a combined perfect game or no-hitter by homering with one out in the fourth. Kevin Pillar opened the scoring with an RBI double off Robert Stock (0-1) in the second and homered in the fifth. GIANTS 13, DIAMONDBACKS... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom was pulled from a second straight start with an arm injury, this time leaving after three perfect innings with right shoulder soreness, but the New York Mets bullpen stepped up to finish a three-hitter in a 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. One start after being pulled from a gem against San Diego with flexor tendinitis in his right arm, deGrom went directly down the clubhouse tunnel after finishing the third against the Cubs. DeGrom said initial tests ruled out a serious issue, but he planned to get imaging and more observation Thursday. The right-hander struck out eight of the nine batters he faced and lowered his ERA to 0.54. Sean Reid-Foley (2-0) relieved deGrom and allowed one run over two innings. Anthony Rizzo ended the bid for a combined perfect game or no-hitter by homering with one out in the fourth. Kevin Pillar opened the scoring with an RBI double off Robert Stock (0-1) in the second and homered in the fifth. ASTROS 8, RANGERS 4... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom was pulled from a second straight start with an arm injury, this time leaving after three perfect innings with right shoulder soreness, but the New York Mets bullpen stepped up to finish a three-hitter in a 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. One start after being pulled from a gem against San Diego with flexor tendinitis in his right arm, deGrom went directly down the clubhouse tunnel after finishing the third against the Cubs. DeGrom said initial tests ruled out a serious issue, but he planned to get imaging and more observation Thursday. The right-hander struck out eight of the nine batters he faced and lowered his ERA to 0.54. Sean Reid-Foley (2-0) relieved deGrom and allowed one run over two innings. Anthony Rizzo ended the bid for a combined perfect game or no-hitter by homering with one out in the fourth. Kevin Pillar opened the scoring with an RBI double off Robert Stock (0-1) in the second and homered in the fifth. ASTROS 8, RANGERS 4... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom was pulled from a second straight start with an arm injury, this time leaving after three perfect innings with right shoulder soreness, but the New York Mets bullpen stepped up to finish a three-hitter in a 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. One start after being pulled from a gem against San Diego with flexor tendinitis in his right arm, deGrom went directly down the clubhouse tunnel after finishing the third against the Cubs. DeGrom said initial tests ruled out a serious issue, but he planned to get imaging and more observation Thursday. The right-hander struck out eight of the nine batters he faced and lowered his ERA to 0.54. Sean Reid-Foley (2-0) relieved deGrom and allowed one run over two innings. Anthony Rizzo ended the bid for a combined perfect game or no-hitter by homering with one out in the fourth. Kevin Pillar opened the scoring with an RBI double off Robert Stock (0-1) in the second and homered in the fifth. REDS 2, BREWERS 1 MILWAUKEE... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Tyler Mahle tied his career high with 12 strikeouts, Tucker Barnhart drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the seventh inning, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Wednesday to finish a three-game sweep. Cincinnati has won six straight and 11 of 13. The Brewers dropped three straight for the first time in nearly a month and were swept for the third time this season. Milwaukee totaled nine hits and four runs in the series against the Reds. Mahle (7-2) allowed three hits and a pair of walks over six innings. Brad Brach, Sean Doolittle and Lucas Sims completed the five-hitter, with Sims getting the last four outs for his seventh save. Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta (6-2) struck out six over six innings without walking a batter. ROCKIES 8, PADRES 7 DENVER (AP) — Pinch-hitter Charlie Blackmon singled home the winning run in the ninth inning and Colorado shook off a monster homer by Fernando Tatis Jr. to beat stumbling San Diego. Tatis hit a 477-foot homer,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: AILING ACES Three of baseball's best pitchers are hurting. Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber won’t throw for at least two weeks because of a right shoulder strain, an injury that will further test Cleveland’s pitching depth. Washington right-hander Max Scherzer won't take his scheduled turn in the rotation Wednesday due to tightness in his groin. And starter Tyler Glasnow of the Tampa Bay Rays was expecting to get an MRI after leaving Monday’s game against the White Sox with right elbow inflammation. Bieber allowed a season-high 10 hits and threw 107 pitches over five innings Sunday in a loss to Seattle. The 26-year-old righty was put on the injured list for the first time in his career. “We’re still obviously reaching out for more information and sending the images to different doctors and things like that, trying to get the best information we can,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. Bieber (7-4, 3.28 ERA) leads the majors... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Tuesday: AILING ACE Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber won’t throw for at least two weeks because of a right shoulder strain, an injury that will further test Cleveland’s pitching depth. Bieber allowed a season-high 10 hits and threw 107 pitches over five innings Sunday in a loss to Seattle. The 26-year-old righty was put on the injured list for the first time in his career. “We’re still obviously reaching out for more information and sending the images to different doctors and things like that, trying to get the best information we can,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “So, for right now we know it’s no-throw for a couple of weeks.” Bieber (7-4, 3.28 ERA) leads the majors with 130 strikeouts and 90 2/3 innings. NICE START Braves rookie Tucker Davidson tries again for his first major league win after an impressive showing this season. The 25-year-old lefty is 0-0 with a 1.53 ERA in three starts, covering 17 2/3 innings. Davidson... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joc Pederson and Sergio Alcantara homered, and Jake Arrieta threw five strong innings for the Chicago Cubs, who beat former teammate Yu Darvish and the San Diego Padres 3-1 Wednesday to take two of three. The Cubs beat the Padres five times in six games in a 10-day stretch, including a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field last week. Darvish (6-2) retired the first nine Cubs batters before Pederson hit a towering home run to right-center field leading off the fourth to tie it at 1. Darvish pitched well but took the hard-luck loss when the Cubs scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on Anthony Rizzo’s double-play ball. Arrieta allowed one run and four hits in five innings, struck out six and walked one. He allowed Manny Machado’s RBI single in the third. Rex Brothers (2-0) pitched a perfect sixth for the win. Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances. ATHLETICS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 0 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sean Manaea pitched six innings of two-hit ball,... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Raimel Tapia hit two doubles, singled and scored twice, and the Colorado Rockies earned a rare road victory, beating the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Wednesday night. Charlie Blackmon had two hits and an RBI for the Rockies, who are a major league-worst 5-23 on the road — compared to 20-14 at Coors field. Tapia has eight doubles in June after he hit four over the first two months of the season. Winning pitcher Austin Gomber (5-5) allowed one run in five innings. The left-hander was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth after he scattered five hits and struck out eight on 84 pitches. “I was in the strike zone with all four pitches,” Gomber said. “I thought I had better control than command — got into some long at bats.” Colorado manager Bud Black opted for the pinch hitter because the Rockies had runners at second and third when Gomber’s spot came up, and Connor Joe came through with an RBI groundout. “Austin had one inning in him, we had a fresh bullpen and we thought that was the... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joc Pederson and Sergio Alcantara homered, and Jake Arrieta threw five strong innings for the Chicago Cubs, who beat former teammate Yu Darvish and the San Diego Padres 3-1 Wednesday to take two of three. The Cubs beat the Padres five times in six games in a 10-day stretch, including a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field last week. Darvish (6-2) retired the first nine Cubs batters before Pederson hit a towering home run to right-center field leading off the fourth to tie it at 1. Darvish pitched well but took the hard-luck loss when the Cubs scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on Anthony Rizzo’s double-play ball. Arrieta allowed one run and four hits in five innings, struck out six and walked one. He allowed Manny Machado’s RBI single in the third. Rex Brothers (2-0) pitched a perfect sixth for the win. Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances. ATHLETICS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 0 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sean Manaea pitched six innings of two-hit ball,... [More]