NEW YORK (AP) — Now that he's no longer an active player, maybe Ichiro Suzuki wants to start swinging for the fences.How about at next month's Home Run Derby during All-Star festivities in Washington?What began as light-hearted banter among Seattle Mariners coaches grew into something that caused a stir in the clubhouse before Wednesday night's game against the New York Yankees."He's got power and he's been launching balls into the seats," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "A couple of coaches said the other day, 'You know, no one wants to do this Home Run Derby. Why don't we just send Ichiro? He'd be awesome.'"The idea gained momentum when Servais mentioned it on a radio show Wednesday, and suddenly a new Twitter hashtag was born — #IchiForDC.Not officially retired but unlikely to appear in another major league game, the Japanese-born Suzuki shifted to a new role with Seattle as special assistant to the chairman in early May after batting .205 in 15 games this season. The 44-year-old... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — He might not be an active player anymore, but that didn't stop rumors from swirling about the possibility of Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki taking part in next month's All-Star Home Run Derby in the nation's capital.What started as a light-hearted conversation among Seattle's coaching staff grew into something that caused a stir in the clubhouse before Wednesday's game."He's got power and he's been launching balls into the seats," manager Scott Servais said. "A couple of coaches said the other day 'You know, no one wants to do this Home Run Derby. Why don't we just send Ichiro? He'd be awesome.'"The idea gained momentum when Servais mentioned it on a radio show earlier in the day, and suddenly a new Twitter hashtag was born -- #IchiForDC.Not officially retired but unlikely to appear in another big league game, the Japanese-born Suzuki shifted to a new role as special assistant to the chairman in early May after batting .205 in 15 games. The 44-year-old travels with the club... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Jon Lester won his fifth straight start, Javier Baez backed him with three hits and two runs, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 on Wednesday.Lester (9-2) gave up five hits over seven innings. Baez had two doubles, a triple and a steal. He also made some solid plays at shortstop and second base.Kyle Schwarber hit his 14th homer, and Kris Bryant added two hits and an RBI. And the Cubs handed Ross Stripling his first loss since April 30, taking two of three in a rematch of the past two NL Championship Series.Lester walked three and struck out one batter. Anthony Bass worked the final two innings to finish the six-hitter.Stripling (6-2) had won six straight starts. The right-hander went six innings, allowing three runs and eight hits while striking out seven without a walk.PHILLIES 4, CARDINALS 3PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Odubel Herrera hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh inning, Cesar Hernandez had a two-run shot and Philadelphia beat St. Louis.Herrera ripped... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs will have to get by without closer Brandon Morrow for a little while.The Cubs placed the right-hander on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday because of lower back tightness, leaving a short-handed bullpen without its most important piece.While Morrow went on the DL, Yu Darvish threw a simulated game. Manager Joe Maddon said he looked "outstanding," and the Cubs will see how he feels Thursday before announcing the next step as he works his way back from tendinitis in his right triceps.Morrow — signed by Chicago to a $21 million, two-year contract in December after helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cubs in the NLCS — has 16 saves in 17 chances.He hurt his back taking his pants off at home early Monday morning, after the team returned from St. Louis. The Cubs put him on the DL before their game against the Dodgers and announced right-hander Justin Hancock will remain with the club after being called up from Triple-A Iowa as the 26th man for Tuesday's day-night... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Odubel Herrera hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh inning, Cesar Hernandez hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 Wednesday.Yadier Molina hit a pair of homers for the Cardinals, who lost starter Michael Wacha to injury. Both came off Phillies starter Jake Arrieta.Philadelphia's beleaguered bullpen tossed three scoreless innings after Arrieta had another so-so outing. Edubray Ramos (2-0) got five outs and Adam Morgan retired the last two batters with the tying run on second for his first career save.The Phillies took two of three to win a series against the Cardinals for the first time since August 2014.Arrieta gave up three runs and four hits in six innings to remain winless in June after posting a 0.90 ERA in five starts in May. Arrieta, who is earning $30 million this season as part of a three-year, $75 million contract, has a 6.97 ERA in four starts this month.Wacha left in the fourth with a left oblique strain.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs will have to get by without closer Brandon Morrow for at least a little while.The Cubs placed the right-hander on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday because of lower back tightness, leaving a short-handed bullpen without its most important piece.While Morrow went on the DL, Yu Darvish threw a simulated game. Manager Joe Maddon said he looked "outstanding," and the Cubs will see how he feels Thursday before announcing the next step as he works his way back from tendinitis in his right triceps.Morrow — signed by Chicago to a $21 million, two-year contract in December after helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cubs in the NLCS — has 16 saves in 17 chances.He hurt his back on Monday. The Cubs put him on the DL before their game against the Dodgers and announced right-hander Justin Hancock will remain with the club after being called up from Triple-A Iowa as the 26th man for Tuesday's day-night doubleheader."We thought it would be wise to give him a couple... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs will have to get by without closer Brandon Morrow for at least a little while.The Cubs placed the right-hander on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday because of lower back tightness, leaving a short-handed bullpen without its most important piece.While Morrow went on the DL, Yu Darvish threw a simulated game. Manager Joe Maddon said he looked "outstanding," and the Cubs will see how he feels Thursday before announcing the next step as he works his way back from tendinitis in his right triceps.Morrow — signed by Chicago to a $21 million, two-year contract in December after helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cubs in the NLCS — has 16 saves in 17 chances.He hurt his back on Monday. The Cubs put him on the DL prior to their game against the Dodgers and announced right-hander Justin Hancock will remain with the club after being called up from Triple-A Iowa as the 26th man for Tuesday's day-night doubleheader."We thought it would be wise to give him a couple... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha has left Wednesday's start against the Philadelphia Phillies with a left oblique strain.Wacha exited the game in the bottom of the fourth. He allowed three runs — one earned — in 3 2/3 innings.Wacha surrendered a two-run homer to Cesar Hernandez and pitched to one more batter before he was replaced by Mike Mayers.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs will have to get by without closer Brandon Morrow for at least a little while.The Cubs placed the right-hander on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday, leaving a short-handed bullpen without its most important piece.While Morrow went on the DL, Yu Darvish threw a simulated game. Manager Joe Maddon said he looked "outstanding," and the Cubs will see how he feels Thursday before announcing the next step as he works his way back from tendinitis in his right triceps.Morrow — signed by Chicago to a $21 million, two-year contract in December after helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cubs in the NLCS — has 16 saves in 17 chances.He hurt his back on Monday. The Cubs put him on the DL prior to their game against the Dodgers and announced right-hander Justin Hancock will remain with the club after being called up from Triple-A Iowa as the 26th man for Tuesday's day-night doubleheader."We thought it would be wise to give him a couple of days," Maddon said. "We just... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have placed closer Brandon Morrow on the 10-day disabled list because of lower back tightness.The Cubs announced the move prior to Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Right-hander Justin Hancock will remain with the club after being called up from Triple-A Iowa as the 26th man for Tuesday's day-night doubleheader.Signed by the Cubs after helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat them in the NLCS last season, Morrow has 16 saves in 17 chances.The Cubs are also missing relievers Carl Edwards Jr. (right shoulder inflammation) and Brian Duensing, who is on the bereavement list after his grandfather died on Saturday. Chicago was second in the NL Central, a half-game behind the Milwaukee Brewers.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

A look at what's happening around the majors today:NEED A HANDThe Giants are looking for answers at the back of the bullpen after closer Hunter Strickland broke his hand Monday night punching a door in frustration. Strickland blew a save in a 5-4 loss to Miami, then cost himself six to eight weeks with his postgame outburst. Manager Bruce Bochy said Strickland had shown maturity and progress keeping his emotions in check since a fight last year with Nationals star Bryce Harper, leading Bochy to feel "thoroughly disappointed" by this injury. Sam Dyson and Tony Watson will be called upon for closing duties, with one getting most of the opportunities, though Bochy didn't reveal which one that would be. The manager doesn't consider Mark Melancon — signed to a $62 million, four-year deal before last season to work the ninth — ready for the role after a series of injuries.KING OF THE BRONXFelix Hernandez (6-6, 5.44 ERA) pitches for Seattle at Yankee Stadium in the middle game of a series between... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — C.J. Cron homered early and Wilson Ramos hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to a 2-1 win on Tuesday night to snap a 12-game winning streak by the Houston Astros.Blake Snell (9-4) allowed just three hits and one run in seven innings, but had to pitch around a career-high seven walks for his fifth straight win. Sergio Romo pitched for the third straight game, taking over with one out in the ninth and allowing one hit for his third save a night after blowing the save in Houston's 5-4 win.The Astros went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position to come up one victory shy of setting the franchise record for longest winning streak in franchise history.Hector Rondon (1-2) took the loss by allowing two hits and one run in one inning.YANKEES 7, MARINERS 2NEW YORK (AP) — Domingo German pitched two-hit ball over a career-high seven innings and Giancarlo Stanton hit one of New York's four home runs in the Yankees' victory against the Mariners.Miguel... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — C.J. Cron homered early and Wilson Ramos hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to a 2-1 win on Tuesday night to snap a 12-game winning streak by the Houston Astros.Blake Snell (9-4) allowed just three hits and one run in seven innings, but had to pitch around a career-high seven walks for his fifth straight win. Sergio Romo pitched for the third straight game, taking over with one out in the ninth and allowing one hit for his third save a night after blowing the save in Houston's 5-4 win.The Astros went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position to come up one victory shy of setting the franchise record for longest winning streak in franchise history.Hector Rondon (1-2) took the loss by allowing two hits and one run in one inning.YANKEES 7, MARINERS 2NEW YORK (AP) — Domingo German pitched two-hit ball over a career-high seven innings and Giancarlo Stanton hit one of New York's four home runs in the Yankees' victory against the Mariners.Miguel... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants closer Hunter Strickland broke his pitching hand punching a door in frustration after blowing the save and taking the loss in a 5-4 defeat to the Miami Marlins on Monday night.The right-hander had surgery Tuesday and expected to be out six to eight weeks, manager Bruce Bochy said. An X-ray after the game revealed the break of Strickland's pinkie, similar to what sidelined lefty ace Madison Bumgarner to begin the season after he was hurt in his final spring training start."I'm thoroughly disappointed, trust me. I'm crushed because this guy had just grown as a pitcher and a player and a person," Bochy said. "But I know Hunter, he cares. He cares deeply. He let his emotions get away ... he had a temporary snap."Strickland blew his fourth save in 17 chances and second straight, allowing more than two runs for only the fourth time in his career.He posted an apology on Instagram and Twitter."Life has an interesting and sometimes disappointing way of opening up our... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Domingo German pitched two-hit ball over a career-high seven innings and Giancarlo Stanton hit one of New York's four home runs Tuesday night in the Yankees' 7-2 victory against the Seattle Mariners.Miguel Andujar and Aaron Hicks each belted a two-run shot off Marco Gonzales (7-4) in the fifth. Hicks homered for the third straight day and finished with three hits from the leadoff spot as the Yankees boosted baseball's best record to 48-22, moving a season-best 26 games above .500.Coming off a four-hit game, Stanton sent a solo drive to straightaway center field in the first. Aaron Judge had an RBI single in the seventh, and rookie phenom Gleyber Torres added his 14th home run in the eighth.The first two batters of the game reached against German (2-4) on a double and an error. The rookie right-hander then retired 19 in a row until Nelson Cruz homered in the seventh.DODGERS 4, CUBS 3, First GameCHICAGO (AP) — Pinch-hitter Kyle Farmer doubled sharply down the left-field line... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:NEED A HANDThe Giants are looking for answers at the back of the bullpen after closer Hunter Strickland broke his hand Monday night punching a door in frustration. Strickland blew a save in a 5-4 loss to Miami, then cost himself six to eight weeks with his postgame outburst. Manager Bruce Bochy said Strickland had shown maturity and progress keeping his emotions in check since a fight last year with Nationals star Bryce Harper, leading Bochy to feel "thoroughly disappointed" by this injury. Sam Dyson and Tony Watson will be called upon for closing duties, with one getting most of the opportunities, though Bochy didn't reveal which one that would be. The manager doesn't consider Mark Melancon — signed to a $62 million, four-year deal before last season to work the ninth — ready for the role after a series of injuries.KING OF THE BRONXFelix Hernandez (6-6, 5.44 ERA) pitches for Seattle at Yankee Stadium in the middle game of a series... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alcides Escobar's streak of making 406 consecutive starts as the Kansas City Royals shortstop is about to end.Manager Ned Yost said he plans to play Adalberto Mondesi, 22, a couple of days a week at shortstop. Escobar, 31, has been the Royals everyday shortstop since 2011 after being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the Zack Greinke trade."Esky's been our shortstop for a long time," Yost said Tuesday. "It's a pretty big change, seeing someboy different at short, but it's exciting, too because now you're starting to give other younger players opportunities to see what they can do."Escobar was an American League All-Star starter and Glove Glove winner in 2015, the year the Royals won the World Series.With the Royals in last place with a 22-50 record entering the game Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers, they are looking to the future."It's a good chance to experiment right now," Yost said. "There's nothing that is going to make or break us. You can... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Texas Rangers sent rookie left-hander Yohander Mendez back to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday for violating team rules.Mendez was supposed to start Wednesday's series finale against Kansas City. But right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx will get the ball instead."It's not criminal, nothing involving MLB or the police," general manager Jon Daniels said. "There will be a program that we'll work with Yohander on."Daniels said at least one other player was involved, but his discipline will be handled in-house.Second baseman Rougned Odor was scratched from Texas' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals, but manager Jeff Banister refused to comment on if the benching was related to the incident with Mendez, which took place after Monday night's 6-3 victory at Kansas City and away from Kauffman Stadium.Banister said Mendez will have to merit a return to the majors."Part of the development of where we are as a club is upholding a certain level of standards for veterans... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants closer Hunter Strickland broke his pitching hand punching a door in frustration after blowing the save and taking the loss in a 5-4 defeat to the Miami Marlins on Monday night.The right-hander was undergoing surgery Tuesday and expected to be out six to eight weeks, manager Bruce Bochy said. An X-ray after the game revealed the break of Strickland's pinkie, similar to what sidelined lefty ace Madison Bumgarner to begin the season after he was hurt in his final spring training start."I'm thoroughly disappointed, trust me. I'm crushed because this guy had just grown as a pitcher and a player and a person," Bochy said. "But I know Hunter, he cares. He cares deeply. He let his emotions get away ... he had a temporary snap."Strickland blew his fourth save in 17 chances and second straight, allowing more than two runs for only the fourth time in his career.Bochy said Strickland had shown maturity and made progress keeping his emotions in check since last year's fight... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Texas Rangers have optioned rookie left-hander Yohander Mendez back to Triple-A Round Rock for violating team rules.Mendez was supposed to start Wednesday's series finale against Kansas City. But right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx will get the ball instead.General manager Jon Daniels says at least one other player was involved, but his discipline will be handled in-house. He says the incident is "not criminal, nothing involving MLB or the police."Second baseman Rougned Odor was scratched from Texas' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals, but manager Jeff Banister refused to comment on if the benching was related to Mendez's punishment.The 23-year-old Mendez is 0-1 with a 14.73 ERA in two games, one start, with the Rangers this season.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball