WASHINGTON (AP) — Adam Eaton’s bases-loaded chopper broke a scoreless tie in the 10th inning on a close play and Asdrúbal Cabrera followed with a three-run triple, helping the Nationals snap a three-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 Wednesday night.In a quirky game befitting this pandemic-altered, upside-down season, Toronto’s team played its “home opener” at Washington — batting in the bottom half of each inning, wearing its white uniforms, playing its players’ walk-up music and even blaring the song “OK Blue Jays,” the club’s traditional seventh-inning stretch staple.Toronto’s Nate Pearson, in his big league debut, and Washington’s Max Scherzer, in his 358th start in the majors, put up plenty of zeros. So did the relievers that followed. In the top of the 10th, though, Washington moved ahead on an odd-looking play. After starting with the automatic runner on second base Washington loaded the bags with two walks from Toronto’s sixth pitcher, Shun Yamaguchi (0-2).After... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Adam Eaton’s bases-loaded chopper broke a scoreless tie in the 10th inning on a close play and Asdrúbal Cabrera followed with a three-run triple, helping the Nationals snap a three-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 Wednesday night.In a quirky game befitting this pandemic-altered, upside-down season, Toronto’s team played its “home opener” at Washington — batting in the bottom half of each inning, wearing its white uniforms, playing its players’ walk-up music and even blaring the song “OK Blue Jays,” the club’s traditional seventh-inning stretch staple.Toronto’s Nate Pearson, in his big league debut, and Washington’s Max Scherzer, in his 358th start in the majors, put up plenty of zeros. So did the relievers that followed. In the top of the 10th, though, Washington moved ahead on an odd-looking play. After starting with the automatic runner on second base Washington loaded the bags with two walks from Toronto’s sixth pitcher, Shun Yamaguchi (0-2).After... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Adam Eaton’s bases-loaded chopper broke a scoreless tie in the 10th inning on a close play and Asdrúbal Cabrera followed with a three-run triple, helping the Nationals snap a three-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 Wednesday night.In a quirky game befitting this pandemic-altered, upside-down season, Toronto’s team played its “home opener” at Washington — batting in the bottom half of each inning, wearing its white uniforms, playing its players’ walk-up music and even blaring the song “OK Blue Jays,” the club’s traditional seventh-inning stretch staple.Toronto’s Nate Pearson, in his big league debut, and Washington’s Max Scherzer, in his 358th start in the majors, put up plenty of zeros. So did the relievers that followed. In the top of the 10th, though, Washington moved ahead on an odd-looking play. After starting with the automatic runner on second base Washington loaded the bags with two walks from Toronto’s sixth pitcher, Shun Yamaguchi (0-2).After... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:___ON THE FLYThe Yankees will open a two-game series in Baltimore after their scheduled games this week in Philadelphia were postponed due to the Marlins’ coronavirus outbreak. The switch was announced Tuesday afternoon, and the Yankees had already begun driving their equipment back to New York when they got word that Major League Baseball might instead send them to Baltimore this week. “We’re drinking out of a fire hose on all this stuff right now,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. The Marlins’ season has been suspended through Sunday after the club registered at least 15 players with positive coronavirus tests. The Phillies, who hosted Miami on Sunday, have ramped up their testing and not found any positive players. Despite that, Philadelphia's season is on pause until at least Friday, when the Phillies are set to host the Blue Jays in what’s technically a home game for displaced Toronto. NOT-QUITE-HOME OPENERThe Blue Jays... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors Wednesday:___ON THE FLYThe Yankees will open a two-game series in Baltimore after their scheduled games this week in Philadelphia were postponed due to the Marlins’ coronavirus outbreak. The switch was announced Tuesday afternoon, and the Yankees had already begun driving their equipment back to New York when they got word that Major League Baseball might instead send them to Baltimore this week. “We’re drinking out of a fire hose on all this stuff right now,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. The Marlins’ season has been suspended through Sunday after the club registered at least 15 players with positive coronavirus tests. The Phillies, who hosted Miami on Sunday, have ramped up their testing and not found any positive players. Despite that, Philadelphia's season is on pause until at least Friday, when the Phillies are set to host the Blue Jays in what’s technically a “home” game for displaced Toronto. NOT-QUITE-HOME OPENERThe Blue... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas will have season-ending surgery to repair a tendon in his strained right forearm, creating an opening in the rotation. The Cardinals placed Mikolas on the 10-day injured list before their game Tuesday at Minnesota. Mikolas was supposed to start on Wednesday. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak said right-hander Daniel Ponce de Leon will take the mound against the Twins instead. The 31-year-old Mikolas pitched four innings for the Cardinals in an exhibition game last week. He missed spring training with the injury, but after nearly four more months to rest during the virus shutdown, he ramped up his activity when camp reconvened. Mikolas wasn't feeling right after his most recent bullpen, Mozeliak said, and an MRI on Monday prompted the need for a procedure. The estimated rehabilitation time is four months. The elbow ligament was deemed fully intact, but pitching through the injury this summer would have put him... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Daniel Bard won in his first major league game in more than seven years, pitching 1 1-3 scoreless innings in relief for the Colorado Rockies in a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. The 35-year-old Bard (1-0), whose control troubles ran him out of baseball, got the Rockies out of a jam when he took over for starter Jon Gray with two on and two outs in the fifth. The right-hander worked around two more base runners in the sixth, getting Willie Calhoun on an inning-ending flyout to cap an 11-pitch at-bat.Wade Davis worked the ninth for his first save since July 25, 2019. He gave up a run.Colorado went ahead to stay with two runs in the fourth off Mike Minor (0-1), helped by two fielder’s choice plays and two errors. Bard threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes Saturday, including his first one before Elvis Andrus flied out to end the fifth. ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in his Angels debut and... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Daniel Bard won in his first major league game in more than seven years, pitching 1 1-3 scoreless innings in relief for the Colorado Rockies in a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. The 35-year-old Bard (1-0), whose control troubles ran him out of baseball, got the Rockies out of a jam when he took over for starter Jon Gray with two on and two outs in the fifth. The right-hander worked around two more base runners in the sixth, getting Willie Calhoun on an inning-ending flyout to cap an 11-pitch at-bat.Wade Davis worked the ninth for his first save since July 25, 2019. He gave up a run.Colorado went ahead to stay with two runs in the fourth off Mike Minor (0-1), helped by two fielder’s choice plays and two errors. Bard threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes Saturday, including his first one before Elvis Andrus flied out to end the fifth. ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in his Angels debut and... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Daniel Bard won in his first major league game in more than seven years, pitching 1 1-3 scoreless innings in relief for the Colorado Rockies in a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. The 35-year-old Bard (1-0), whose control troubles ran him out of baseball, got the Rockies out of a jam when he took over for starter Jon Gray with two on and two outs in the fifth. The right-hander worked around two more base runners in the sixth, getting Willie Calhoun on an inning-ending flyout to cap an 11-pitch at-bat.Wade Davis worked the ninth for his first save since July 25, 2019. He gave up a run.Colorado went ahead to stay with two runs in the fourth off Mike Minor (0-1), helped by two fielder’s choice plays and two errors. Bard threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes Saturday, including his first one before Elvis Andrus flied out to end the fifth. ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in his Angels debut and... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — The health of Carlos Martinez's shoulder is even more important for the St. Louis Cardinals now that Miles Mikolas will miss the first few weeks of the season because of an inflamed flexor tendon.Shoulder weakness last spring training following off-season surgery prompted the Cardinals to shift Martinez to the bullpen. He eventually replaced injured Jordan Hicks as closer, saving 24 games in 27 chances. “We're looking for consistency in how he's doing, how he's recovering,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. “That a big thing for Carlos, making sure the strength is there.”An All-Star in 2015 and 2017, Martinez considers himself a starting pitcher.“I feel stronger,” said Martinez, who lost 15 pounds during the off-season. “The day after I throw I don't feel tired.”St. Louis has an opening for a starter in a rotation projected to include Jack Flaherty, Dakota Hudson and Adam Wainwright.“This time last year he wasn't in as good a spot from a throwing standpoint and being... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection in his ailing throwing arm, likely delaying his regular-season debut by about one month.A 2018 All-Star, Mikolas received a similar injection after last season to treat a flexor tendon issue.St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday that the injection will keep Mikolas from throwing for three to four weeks. Once he is cleared to throw, Mikolas will have to restart his throwing program from the beginning.“It gives us a better chance to be able to get him off to a healthy start and get what he's dealing with behind him,” Shildt said.The Cardinals scratched Mikolas from his second scheduled bullpen session of the spring. An MRI done over the last few days showed the arm to be no better or worse than during a similar exam taken following the 2019 season.It's possible that Mikolas will remain in Jupiter when the Cardinals break camp in late March.“I think the plan is still evolving,... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas was scratched from his second bullpen session of the spring because of a flexor tendon issue.“Best-case scenario is probably just a couple more days before he starts playing catch, starts his bullpens again,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “I can't say that's going to happen one way or the other.”Mikolas said his arm felt “tender from time to time” last season, but he was able to manage it.“I do not know what the full clinical term is,” Mikolas said. “I can tell you my elbow is a little sore.”Shildt said the Cardinals hope to have a more concrete time frame for Mikolas return to the mound in a day or two.“Is he behind? Yeah, he's behind,” Shildt said. “He's not being able to get on the mound, but he's still doing some of the things mentally and physically that he can do.”Should Mikolas only need a couple of more days of rest, he expects a brief layoff wouldn't significantly hamper his preparation for the season.“I've already... [More]

Reds second. Josh VanMeter flies out to shallow left field to Tyler O'Neill. Freddy Galvis reaches on error. Fielding error by Andrew Knizner. Jose Iglesias singles to right field. Freddy Galvis to second. Curt Casali called out on strikes. Phillip Ervin singles to right field. Jose Iglesias to third. Freddy Galvis scores. Luis Castillo grounds out to third base, Matt Carpenter to Rangel Ravelo.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Reds 1, Cardinals 0.Reds third. Nick Senzel walks. Joey Votto grounds out to first base to Rangel Ravelo. Nick Senzel to second. Eugenio Suarez reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Nick Senzel to third. Josh VanMeter out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Harrison Bader. Nick Senzel scores. Freddy Galvis strikes out swinging.1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Reds 2, Cardinals 0.Cardinals third. Harrison Bader walks. Andrew Knizner homers to left field. Harrison Bader scores. Daniel Ponce de Leon grounds out to second base, Freddy Galvis to Joey Votto.... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez left the second game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals after being hit by a pitch Sunday night.Daniel Ponce de Leon plunked Suarez on the left hand with his first pitch of the at-bat in the fifth inning. Suarez spent only a few moments with the Reds trainers on the field before going back into the dugout, throwing his helmet to the ground in apparent frustration.He hit his 40th home run in the first game of the doubleheader in a 4-3 loss. He was 0-2 in the nightcap before leaving the game.___More AP baseball: www.apnews.com/MLB and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright was scratched his scheduled start against Arizona due to back spasms.Daniel Ponce de Leon replaced the 37-year-old right-hander on Friday night.A three-time All-Star, Wainwright is 5-7 with a 4.31 ERA in 16 starts this season. The Cardinals did not put him on the injured list, and manager Mike Shildt said he could make his next start as early as Sunday.Wainwright has a $2 million base salary and has earned a $500,000 bonus for making five starts and $1 million apiece for making 10 and 15 starts. He would earn $1.5 million for 20 and $2 million apiece for 25 and 30.Ponce de Leon is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in three starts and three relief appearances this season.Arizona started left-hander Robbie Ray, who is 6-6 with a 3.96 ERA.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lance Lynn matched the major league lead with his 11th win and the Texas Rangers avoided a series sweep with a 9-3 victory over the grieving Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night, the Fourth of July game that the late Tyler Skaggs had been scheduled to start.The Angels won the first two games of the series after the 27-year-old Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in Texas on Monday, and that night's scheduled game was postponed until August.Mike Trout hit another impressive homer for Los Angeles in the first inning, his AL best-tying 25th. But Lynn (11-4) limited Los Angeles to only one more run over his seven innings and Rougned Odor homered twice to drive in five runs for the Rangers, who snapped a four-game losing streak.An emotional trip for the Angels that began with them traveling to Texas in cowboy hats and Western attire — a theme initiated by Skaggs — now takes them to Houston for three games this weekend against the Astros before the All-Star break.... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lance Lynn matched the major league lead with his 11th win and the Texas Rangers avoided a series sweep with a 9-3 victory over the grieving Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night, the Fourth of July game that the late Tyler Skaggs had been scheduled to start.The Angels won the first two games of the series after the 27-year-old Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in Texas on Monday, and that night's scheduled game was postponed until August.Mike Trout hit another impressive homer for Los Angeles in the first inning, his AL best-tying 25th. But Lynn (11-4) limited Los Angeles to only one more run over his seven innings and Rougned Odor homered twice to drive in five runs for the Rangers, who snapped a four-game losing streak.An emotional trip for the Angels that began with them traveling to Texas in cowboy hats and Western attire — a theme initiated by Skaggs — now takes them to Houston for three games this weekend against the Astros before the All-Star break.... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer and knocked in the go-ahead run to help the Washington Nationals finish a three-game sweep of the last-place Miami Marlins with a 5-2 victory Thursday.Washington has won eight of nine and 13 of 16 to climb to a season-best four games over .500.Kurt Suzuki homered in the second inning to extend the Montreal Expos/Nationals franchise record for consecutive games with a home run to 18. Rendon hit a solo shot in the fourth off Elieser Hernández (1-3) and drove in Gerardo Parra with a single in the fifth.Washington right-hander Aníbal Sánchez (5-6) allowed one earned run and five hits in six innings. Fernando Rodney got three outs for his second save of the season.Miguel Rojas homered for Miami, and Starlin Castro had three hits.YANKEES 8, RAYS 4, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — DJ LeMahieu hit a tiebreaking two-run single and Gary Sanchez had a long three-run homer in the 10th inning, and AL East-leading New York overcome a ninth-inning... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer and knocked in the go-ahead run to help the Washington Nationals finish a three-game sweep of the last-place Miami Marlins with a 5-2 victory Thursday.Washington has won eight of nine and 13 of 16 to climb to a season-best four games over .500.Kurt Suzuki homered in the second inning to extend the Montreal Expos/Nationals franchise record for consecutive games with a home run to 18. Rendon hit a solo shot in the fourth off Elieser Hernández (1-3) and drove in Gerardo Parra with a single in the fifth.Washington right-hander Aníbal Sánchez (5-6) allowed one earned run and five hits in six innings. Fernando Rodney got three outs for his second save of the season.Miguel Rojas homered for Miami, and Starlin Castro had three hits.YANKEES 8, RAYS 4, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — DJ LeMahieu hit a tiebreaking two-run single and Gary Sanchez had a long three-run homer in the 10th inning, and AL East-leading New York overcome a ninth-inning... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Hard-throwing closer Jordan Hicks is set to undergo Tommy John surgery on Wednesday.The 22-year-old Hicks was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament on Monday following a MRI. Hicks was previously diagnosed with tendinitis in his right triceps.Hicks was 2-2 with a 3.14 ERA in 29 games this season for the Cardinals. He had 14 saves in 15 opportunities.John Mozeliak, the president of baseball operations for the Cardinals, said Dr. George Paletta will perform the surgery Wednesday morning in St. Louis."Needless to stay, it's very disappointing," Mozeliak said. "Certainly, he'll be missed. We were overly optimistic on this. Then the dark clouds moved in."Hicks will miss the rest of this season and likely part of the 2020 season. The club will get a more definite timeline once Hicks is done with surgery and moves on to rehab, Mozeliak said."I want to come back strong. I want to play a long time," Hicks said. "My mentality is to stay strong in my head, work hard and... [More]