SAN DIEGO (AP) — Wil Myers singled with no outs in the seventh inning to end a no-hit bid by Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Tyler Anderson on Monday night. Anderson began the seventh by walking Manny Machado before Myers singled to right. Until then, Anderson had allowed only three baserunners, two on walks and one on his error in the fifth inning. After Myers' hit, Tommy Pham hit a sacrifice fly and Austin Nola hit an RBI single with two outs to chase Anderson. Anderson walked Trent Grisham leading off the game but induced a double-play grounder from Fernando Tatis Jr., the first of 13 straight batters Anderson retired before Jake Cronenworth reached on Anderson's fielding error in the fifth. Third baseman Erik Gonzalez made a nice sliding, spinning stop of Myers' grounder and threw a two-hopper to first for the first out of the fifth. Former Pirates starter Joe Musgrove, who threw the first no-hitter in Padres history on April 9, struck out as a pinch-hitter in the third. Musgrove pinch-hit to save a position player because the Padres needed a bullpen day. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Atlanta pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval drove a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark off a Washington reliever who took over after Stephen Strasburg’s six scoreless innings Wednesday, lifting the Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Nationals and a doubleheader sweep. Sandoval drove a 96 mph fastball from Tanner Rainey (0-1) more than 400 feet following Dansby Swanson’s two-out single in the seventh and final inning. Luke Jackson (1-0) earned the win in Game 2, and Sean Newcomb got three strikeouts for the save. Ronald Acuña Jr. doubled and had a pair of singles as Atlanta won the opener 7-6. The Braves put up five runs in the second inning off Erick Fedde (0-1), then wound up barely holding on with a save by Will Smith. Andrew Stevenson grounded into a game-ending double play. Josh Tomlin (1-0) pitched two hitless innings. Washington is missing nine players because of a coronavirus outbreak that led to the postponement of the team’s first four games. Four players... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Atlanta pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval drove a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark off a Washington reliever who took over after Stephen Strasburg’s six scoreless innings Wednesday, lifting the Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Nationals and a doubleheader sweep. Sandoval drove a 96 mph fastball from Tanner Rainey (0-1) more than 400 feet following Dansby Swanson’s two-out single in the seventh and final inning. Luke Jackson (1-0) earned the win in Game 2, and Sean Newcomb got three strikeouts for the save. Ronald Acuña Jr. doubled and had a pair of singles as Atlanta won the opener 7-6. The Braves put up five runs in the second inning off Erick Fedde (0-1), then wound up barely holding on with a save by Will Smith. Andrew Stevenson grounded into a game-ending double play. Josh Tomlin (1-0) pitched two hitless innings. Washington is missing nine players because of a coronavirus outbreak that led to the postponement of the team’s first four games. Four players... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Atlanta pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval drove a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark off a Washington reliever who took over after Stephen Strasburg’s six scoreless innings Wednesday, lifting the Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Nationals and a doubleheader sweep. Sandoval drove a 96 mph fastball from Tanner Rainey (0-1) more than 400 feet following Dansby Swanson’s two-out single in the seventh and final inning. Luke Jackson (1-0) earned the win in Game 2, and Sean Newcomb got three strikeouts for the save.. Ronald Acuña Jr. doubled and had a pair of singles as Atlanta won the opener 7-6. The Braves put up five runs in the second inning off Erick Fedde (0-1), then wound up barely holding on with a save by Will Smith. Andrew Stevenson grounded into a game-ending double play. Josh Tomlin (1-0) pitched two hitless innings. Washington is missing nine players because of a coronavirus outbreak that led to the postponement of the team’s first four games. Four players... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Atlanta pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval drove a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark off a Washington reliever who took over after Stephen Strasburg’s six scoreless innings Wednesday, lifting the Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Nationals and a doubleheader sweep. Sandoval drove a 96 mph fastball from Tanner Rainey (0-1) more than 400 feet following Dansby Swanson’s two-out single in the seventh and final inning. Luke Jackson (1-0) earned the win in Game 2, and Sean Newcomb got three strikeouts for the save.. Ronald Acuña Jr. doubled and had a pair of singles as Atlanta won the opener 7-6. The Braves put up five runs in the second inning off Erick Fedde (0-1), then wound up barely holding on with a save by Will Smith. Andrew Stevenson grounded into a game-ending double play. Josh Tomlin (1-0) pitched two hitless innings. Washington is missing nine players because of a coronavirus outbreak that led to the postponement of the team’s first four games. Four players... [More]

The Atlanta Braves stopped a season-starting four-game losing streak Wednesday by edging the Washington Nationals 7-6 in a doubleheader opener as Ronald Acuña Jr. doubled and had a pair of singles The Braves put up five runs in the second inning off Erick Fedde (0-1), then wound up barely holding on with a save by Will Smith a day after he gave up a walk-off hit to Juan Soto in a 6-5 loss to Washington. Andrew Stevenson grounded into a game-ending double play. Josh Tomlin (1-0) pitched two hitless innings. Washington is missing nine players because of a coronavirus outbreak that led to the postponement of the team’s first four games. Four players tested positive for COVID-19, and another five who would have been on the 26-man roster are under quarantine. REDS 11, PIRATES 4 Tyler Naquin hit another leadoff homer, this time off Chad Kuhl (0-1), Kyle Farmer added a two-run double in the first, and Cincinnati won its fifth straight Luis Castillo (1-1) allowed four hits in seven innings, struck... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chad Kuhl's long road back from Tommy John surgery is over. More than two years removed from wondering where his career was heading after doctors reconfigured his mangled right elbow, Kuhl will be Pittsburgh's opening day starter in Chicago on Thursday when the Pirates face the Cubs. The 28-year-old is the longest-tenured starter on a staff that is largely inexperienced and largely anonymous. The void left by the offseason departures of Jameson Taillon, Joe Musgrove, Trevor Williams and Chris Archer is palpable. Kuhl knows he will play a major role in trying to fill it. “We talk about the guys that have left and there’s a lot of leadership, a lot of innings to take up, a lot of youth on this team,” he said. “So it adds to the leadership role that me and (Steven) Brault and those guys are trying to take over. It’s just trying to lead by example, do the right things.” Kuhl underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in September 2018. He missed all of 2019 and was handled largely... [More]

Oneil Cruz insists he's a shortstop. One problem: genetics. The Dominican Republic native was 6-foot-1 or so 16-year-old when the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him. The tools — particularly the power and arm strength — were evident. So was the potential. That potential has only grown over the last half-decade plus. So too, however, has Cruz's frame. The 22-year-old has stretched out to 6 feet, 7 inches during his slow steady rise through Pittsburgh's system after being acquired as part of a trade that sent reliever Tony Watson to Los Angeles. And as much as he'd love to follow in the footsteps of the late Tony Fernandez and play shortstop in the big leagues, his body might not give him the chance. Fernandez, a five-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glover winner during his 17 seasons, dazzled at the position at 6 feet, 2 inches. Cruz blew past that number long ago. “To this day I’m still praying that I stop growing,” Cruz said with a smile on Thursday. It might already be too late. While... [More]

Adam Frazier spent the winter watching the Pittsburgh teammates he came up through the minors with get flipped for prospects or flat-out released. Josh Bell. Jameson Taillon. Trevor Williams. The Pirates parted ways with all of three and a handful of others during the offseason as part of a top-to-bottom organizational overhaul. Their exits left Frazier as the team's second-highest-paid player ($4.3 million) and conceivably its last major-league-ready trade chip. While Frazier wasn't exactly sitting by the phone expecting general manager Ben Cherington or Derek Shelton to tell him he was headed elsewhere, it did cross his mind. More than once. “I wouldn’t say waiting, but I obviously read the internet so I see things like that," Frazier said Monday after the Pirates participated in their first full-squad workout in Bradenton, Florida. “You never know what’s going to come. I try to stay in conversation with Cherington and Shelton and try to expect what may be coming. None of that’s really... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad: ___ Chicago Cubs Manager: David Ross (second season). 2020: 34-26, first place, lost to Marlins in first round of playoffs. Training Town: Mesa, Arizona. Park: Sloan Park. First Workout: Feb. 17/22. He’s Here: OF Joc Pederson, RHP Zach Davies, RHP Trevor Williams, RHP Kohl Stewart, C Austin Romine, OF Jake Marisnick (deal pending), OF Phillip Ervin, RHP Jonathan Holder, RHP Robert Stock, INF Sergio Alcántara. He’s Outta Here: RHP Yu Darvish, OF Kyle Schwarber, LHP Jon Lester, LHP José Quintana, OF Albert Almora, Jr., C Victor Caratini, 2B Jason Kipnis, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Jeremy Jeffress, OF Cameron Maybin, OF Billy Hamilton, OF José Martínez. Going campin’: Ross was impressive in his first year as manager, guiding Chicago to the NL Central title during the pandemic-shortened season.... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad: ___ Chicago Cubs Manager: David Ross (second season). 2020: 34-26, first place, lost to Marlins in first round of playoffs. Training Town: Mesa, Arizona. Park: Sloan Park. First Workout: Feb. 17/22. He’s Here: OF Joc Pederson, RHP Zach Davies, RHP Trevor Williams, RHP Kohl Stewart, C Austin Romine, OF Jake Marisnick (deal pending), OF Phillip Ervin, RHP Jonathan Holder, RHP Robert Stock, INF Sergio Alcántara. He’s Outta Here: RHP Yu Darvish, OF Kyle Schwarber, LHP Jon Lester, LHP José Quintana, OF Albert Almora, Jr., C Victor Caratini, 2B Jason Kipnis, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Jeremy Jeffress, OF Cameron Maybin, OF Billy Hamilton, OF José Martínez. Going campin’: Ross was impressive in his first year as manager, guiding Chicago to the NL Central title during the pandemic-shortened season.... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad: ___ Chicago Cubs Manager: David Ross (second season). 2020: 34-26, first place, lost to Marlins in first round of playoffs. Training Town: Mesa, Arizona. Park: Sloan Park. First Workout: Feb. 17/22. He’s Here: OF Joc Pederson, RHP Zach Davies, RHP Trevor Williams, RHP Kohl Stewart, C Austin Romine, OF Phillip Ervin, RHP Jonathan Holder, RHP Robert Stock, INF Sergio Alcántara. He’s Outta Here: RHP Yu Darvish, OF Kyle Schwarber, LHP Jon Lester, LHP José Quintana, OF Albert Almora, Jr., C Victor Caratini, 2B Jason Kipnis, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Jeremy Jeffress, OF Cameron Maybin, OF Billy Hamilton, OF José Martínez. Going campin’: Ross was impressive in his first year as manager, guiding Chicago to the NL Central title during the pandemic-shortened season. But it doesn’t get any easier... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox and outfielder Adam Engel agreed Wednesday to a $1.375 million, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration. The 29-year-old Engel hit .295 with three homers and 12 RBIs last season. He recorded the final out of Lucas Giolito's no-hitter against Pittsburgh on Aug. 25 when he extended on the run to catch Erik Gonzalez’s slicing drive toward the right-field line. Engel started all three games of Chicago's wild-card series against Oakland and homered in the opener. Chicago has three players remaining eligible for arbitration — Giolito and fellow right-handers Reynaldo López and Evan Marshall. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration with pitchers Jameson Taillon and Michael Feliz as well as shortstop Erik Gonzalez on Wednesday, signing each for the 2021 season. Taillion gets $2.25 million, Feliz $1 million and Gonzalez $1,225,000. The Pirates also declined to offer a contract to reliever Clay Holmes and assigned catcher Will Craig outright to Triple-A Indianapolis. Taillon, a former first-round draft pick, is expected to return in 2021 after missing most of the last two years following Tommy John surgery. The Pirates are relying on Taillon to anchor a starting rotation that will have a new look next year after the team cut ties with Trevor Williams. Feliz pitched in just three games during the abbreviated 2020 season due to a forearm injury. He could be in the mix to find a role at the back end of the bullpen. Gonzalez faded after a hot start but drove in a career-high 20 runs last season while hitting .227 in 50 games for Pittsburgh, which finished with the worst record in the majors at 19-41. Holmes appeared in just one game for the Pirates last season before being shut down with a forearm issue. He went 2-5 with a 5.91 ERA in 47 games for Pittsburgh from 2018-20. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Reds first. Shogo Akiyama singles to left center field. Nick Castellanos singles to shallow center field. Shogo Akiyama to second. Joey Votto walks. Nick Castellanos to second. Shogo Akiyama to third. Jesse Winker reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Joey Votto to second. Nick Castellanos to third. Shogo Akiyama out at home. Mike Moustakas hit by pitch. Jesse Winker to second. Joey Votto to third. Nick Castellanos scores. Brian Goodwin out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Gregory Polanco. Joey Votto scores. Freddy Galvis singles to left field. Mike Moustakas to second. Jesse Winker scores. Jose Garcia strikes out swinging.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Reds 3, Pirates 0.Reds second. Tucker Barnhart homers. Shogo Akiyama strikes out swinging. Nick Castellanos doubles to deep center field. Joey Votto grounds out to second base, Erik Gonzalez to Colin Moran. Nick Castellanos to third. Jesse Winker strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Reds 4, Pirates 0.Pirates fourth. Bryan Reynolds grounds out to shallow infield, Freddy Galvis to Joey Votto. Ke'Bryan Hayes doubles to deep left field. Colin Moran singles to shallow infield. Ke'Bryan Hayes scores. Josh Bell singles to shallow infield. Colin Moran to second. Gregory Polanco strikes out swinging. Cole Tucker flies out to shallow infield to Shogo Akiyama.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Reds 4, Pirates 1.

Pirates first. Erik Gonzalez strikes out swinging. Adam Frazier hit by pitch. Ke'Bryan Hayes called out on strikes. Colin Moran doubles to deep left field. Adam Frazier scores. Josh Bell singles to shallow left field, tagged out at second, Shogo Akiyama to Kyle Farmer. Colin Moran to third.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Pirates 1, Reds 0.Reds second. Eugenio Suarez walks. Mike Moustakas flies out to center field to Gregory Polanco. Brian Goodwin homers to left field. Eugenio Suarez scores. Freddy Galvis flies out to shallow center field to Bryan Reynolds. Kyle Farmer walks. Curt Casali walks. Kyle Farmer to second. Shogo Akiyama grounds out to shallow infield, Kevin Newman to Josh Bell.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Reds 2, Pirates 1.Reds third. Nick Castellanos strikes out swinging. Joey Votto homers to center field. Eugenio Suarez strikes out swinging. Mike Moustakas strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Reds 3, Pirates 1.Pirates fourth. Josh Bell homers to... [More]

Royals first. Whit Merrifield homers to left field. Adalberto Mondesi strikes out swinging. Salvador Perez grounds out to shallow left field, Ke'Bryan Hayes to Josh Bell. Maikel Franco pops out to Ke'Bryan Hayes.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Royals 1, Pirates 0.Pirates second. Colin Moran flies out to Alex Gordon. Josh Bell homers to left field. Gregory Polanco lines out to right field to Nicky Lopez. Bryan Reynolds homers to center field. Kevin Newman grounds out to shallow infield to Hunter Dozier.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Pirates 2, Royals 1.Pirates third. Jacob Stallings strikes out swinging. Erik Gonzalez grounds out to shallow infield, Kelvin Gutierrez to Hunter Dozier. Adam Frazier homers to right field. Ke'Bryan Hayes grounds out to shallow center field, Adalberto Mondesi to Hunter Dozier.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Pirates 3, Royals 1.Royals third. Whit Merrifield singles to shallow right field. Adalberto Mondesi homers to center field. Whit Merrifield scores.... [More]

Royals first. Whit Merrifield grounds out to shallow infield, Ke'Bryan Hayes to Josh Bell. Adalberto Mondesi homers. Salvador Perez strikes out swinging. Maikel Franco walks. Hunter Dozier singles to shallow center field. Maikel Franco to second. Ryan McBroom strikes out on a foul tip.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Royals 1, Pirates 0.Royals third. Whit Merrifield lines out to deep left field to Adam Frazier. Adalberto Mondesi walks. Salvador Perez singles to right field. Adalberto Mondesi to third. Maikel Franco singles to shallow center field. Salvador Perez to second. Adalberto Mondesi scores. Hunter Dozier singles to center field. Maikel Franco to second. Salvador Perez to third. Ryan McBroom flies out to right field to Cole Tucker. Edward Olivares strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Royals 3, Pirates 0.Pirates fourth. Colin Moran singles to deep left field. Josh Bell singles to right center field. Colin Moran to third. Jacob Stallings doubles to deep left... [More]

White sox third. James McCann homers to center field. Nomar Mazara strikes out swinging. Nick Madrigal grounds out to shallow infield, Erik Gonzalez to Colin Moran. Tim Anderson grounds out to third base, Ke'Bryan Hayes to Colin Moran.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 1, Pirates 0.White sox fourth. Yoan Moncada singles to deep right center field, advances to 2nd. Fielding error by Gregory Polanco. Yasmani Grandal singles to shallow center field. Yoan Moncada scores. Jose Abreu singles to shallow infield. Yasmani Grandal to second. Eloy Jimenez walks. Jose Abreu to second. Yasmani Grandal to third. Luis Robert strikes out swinging. James McCann out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Bryan Reynolds. Yasmani Grandal scores. Nomar Mazara walks. Eloy Jimenez to second. Jose Abreu to third. Nick Madrigal singles to shallow center field. Nomar Mazara to second. Eloy Jimenez scores. Jose Abreu scores. Tim Anderson reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Nick Madrigal out... [More]

White sox fifth. Nomar Mazara strikes out swinging. Nick Madrigal doubles to deep left center field. Tim Anderson singles to center field, advances to 2nd. Nick Madrigal out at home. Yoan Moncada singles to shallow center field. Tim Anderson scores. Yasmani Grandal homers to right field. Yoan Moncada scores. Jose Abreu strikes out swinging.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 3, Pirates 0.Pirates fifth. Colin Moran grounds out to first base, Jose Abreu to Dylan Cease. Gregory Polanco grounds out to second base, Nick Madrigal to Jose Abreu. Josh Bell doubles to left field. Ke'Bryan Hayes triples to deep right field. Josh Bell scores. Kevin Newman singles to shallow left field. Ke'Bryan Hayes scores. Jacob Stallings flies out to shallow right field to Nomar Mazara.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. White sox 3, Pirates 2.White sox eighth. Yoan Moncada grounds out to shallow right field, Josh Bell to Chris Stratton. Yasmani Grandal grounds out to shallow infield, Chris Stratton... [More]