BALTIMORE (AP) — Jonathan Villar hit a first-pitch leadoff homer to spark a robust offensive performance by the Miami Marlins, who beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-7 Thursday night to complete a startling four-game sweep and make Don Mattingly the winningest manager in franchise history.Villar had three hits and Brian Anderson drove in three runs for the upstart Marlins, who emerged from a team-wide coronavirus outbreak to dominate the Orioles and forge the best winning percentage in the big leagues.Miami is 6-1 and in first place in the NL East despite putting 18 players on the injured list before the series opener Tuesday.The Marlins were the “home” team because this was a makeup of a July 28 game that was to be held in Miami but postponed in the wake of the Marlins’ COVID-19 outbreak.Batting in the bottom of the seventh, the Marlins broke a 6-6 tie with a sacrifice fly by Jesús Aguilar off Evan Phillips (1-1) and an RBI triple by Anderson.Mike Morin (1-0) pitched two shutout innings and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — This was not what Gerrit Cole had in mind for his debut in pinstripes, and yet it was.Cole extended his regular-season streak of victories to 19, leading New York over the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 on Monday night for the Yankees' seventh win in a row.With the Yankee Stadium seats empty due to the novel coronavirus, wife Amy watched from home as Cole pitched his home debut for New York.“Mom and dad had a few of neighbors over in California," Cole said. "They sent us some pictures as they were watching the game. My folks, they’re a little bummed that they couldn’t be here, to be honest.”New York improved to 8-1 for the third time after 1988 and 2003 — but it's the equivalent of 22-3 over a 162-game season. The streak of the major league-best Yankees is tantamount to a 19-game spurt.“Even though it is a shorter season, it’s a long ways to go, right” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "We need to keep grinding now."Cole (3-0) allowed one run and five hits in six innings, struck... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Jacob deGrom struck out a season-high 10 in six innings and the New York Mets snapped a five-game skid Monday night with a 7-2 victory over the Braves that was overshadowed by a season-ending injury to Atlanta ace Mike Soroka. Soroka tore his Achilles tendon in the third inning as he took a step toward first to cover the bag — a huge blow to the two-time defending NL East champions. Robinson Canó had three RBIs before leaving the game himself — one of three New York infielders who went down with injuries. Wilson Ramos added a two-run homer for the Mets, who avoided a four-game sweep and ended Atlanta’s five-game winning streak. Travis d’Arnaud homered off deGrom (1-0) in the fifth.Soroka (0-1) allowed three hits, walked four and wound up being charged with four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings, the second-shortest outing of his career.The Mets had injury concerns, too. Jeff McNeil was scratched just before the first pitch with back tightness, and Canó exited with left groin tightness... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — This was not what Gerrit Cole had in mind for his debut in pinstripes, and yet it was.Cole extended his regular-season streak of victories to 19, leading New York over the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 on Monday night for the Yankees' seventh win in a row.With the Yankee Stadium seats empty due to the novel coronavirus, wife Amy watched from home as Cole pitched his home debut for New York.“Mom and dad had a few of neighbors over in California," Cole said. "They sent us some pictures as they were watching the game. My folks, they’re a little bummed that they couldn’t be here, to be honest.”New York improved to 8-1 for the third time after 1988 and 2003 — but it's the equivalent of 22-3 over a 162-game season. The streak of the major league-best Yankees is tantamount to a 19-game spurt.“Even though it is a shorter season, it’s a long ways to go, right” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "We need to keep grinding now."Cole (3-0) allowed six hits, struck out four and walked one... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Jacob deGrom struck out a season-high 10 in six innings and the New York Mets snapped a five-game skid Monday night with a 7-2 victory over the Braves that was overshadowed by a season-ending injury to Atlanta ace Mike Soroka. Soroka tore his Achilles tendon in the third inning as he took a step toward first to cover the bag — a huge blow to the two-time defending NL East champions. Robinson Canó had three RBIs before leaving the game himself — one of three New York infielders who went down with injuries. Wilson Ramos added a two-run homer for the Mets, who avoided a four-game sweep and ended Atlanta’s five-game winning streak. Travis d’Arnaud homered off deGrom in the fifth.DeGrom (1-0) turned in another sterling effort. He threw 104 pitches.When Davis grounded the ball toward first baseman Freddie Freeman, Soroka broke in that direction to cover the bag if necessary — only to go down on his first step off the mound. Soroka (0-1) allowed three hits, walked four and wound... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Jacob deGrom struck out a season-high 10 in six innings and the New York Mets snapped a five-game skid Monday night with a 7-2 victory over the Braves that was overshadowed by a season-ending injury to Atlanta ace Mike Soroka. Soroka tore his Achilles tendon in the third inning as he took a step toward first to cover the bag — a huge blow to the two-time defending NL East champions. Robinson Canó had three RBIs before leaving the game himself — one of three New York infielders who went down with injuries. Wilson Ramos added a two-run homer for the Mets, who avoided a four-game sweep and ended Atlanta’s five-game winning streak. Travis d’Arnaud homered off deGrom in the fifth.DeGrom (1-0) turned in another sterling effort. He threw 104 pitches.When Davis grounded the ball toward first baseman Freddie Freeman, Soroka broke in that direction to cover the bag if necessary — only to go down on his first step off the mound. Soroka (0-1) allowed three hits, walked four and wound... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — This was not what Gerrit Cole had in mind for his debut in pinstripes, and yet it was.Cole won his home debut for the New York Yankees, extending his regular-season streak of victories to 19 with a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.New York improved to 8-1 for the third time after 1988 and 2003. The major league-best Yankees have won seven straight — the equivalent of a 19-game spurt over a 162-game season.Cole (3-0) allowed six hits, struck out four and walked one on 91 pitches, leaving after a 1-hour, 7-minute rain delay ahead of the seventh. His grunts could be heard in empty Yankee Stadium as easily as Rafael Nadal’s at a grand slam final.A month shy of his 30th birthday, the right-hander reached 99.3 mph, but he did not have his best arsenal. Cole threw 46 fastballs, 24 sliders, 18 knuckle-curves and three changeups.Signed to a $324 million, nine-year contract, Cole grew up a Yankees fan, and at his signing news conference in December brought... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper launched an opposite-field shot for his third homer in two days, prompting a few fans to yell "M-V-P" as he circled the bases.It's only spring training but expectations are high."I'm OK with it," manager Joe Girardi said after the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on Thursday. "He's been doing it for a long time. He was 16 when he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He's had a lot of practice. He has a personality where he's able to stay focused on what he needs to do and he doesn't get caught up with what's going on around him."Harper embraces the pressure and says he loves playing in Philadelphia because fans hold him "accountable." The star right fielder told a Philly radio station before the game that he wants "to run through a wall for this city." The 27-year-old slugger is entering his second season with the Phillies after signing a $330 million, 13-year contract last year that was the richest in baseball history until the... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper launched an opposite-field shot for his third homer in two days, prompting a few fans to yell "M-V-P" as he circled the bases.It's only spring training but expectations are high."I'm OK with it," manager Joe Girardi said after his star right fielder after the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on Thursday. "He's been doing it for a long time. He was 16 when he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He's had a lot of practice. He has a personality where he's able to stay focused on what he needs to do and he doesn't get caught up with what's going on around him."Harper embraces the pressure and says he loves playing in Philadelphia because fans hold him "accountable." He told a Philly radio station before the game that he wants "to run through a wall for this city." The 27-year-old slugger is entering his second season with the Phillies after signing a $330 million, 13-year contract last year that was the richest in baseball history... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Free agent pitcher David Phelps and the Milwaukee Brewers finalized a one-year contract on Thursday that guarantees $1.5 million and includes a club option for 2021.The 33-year-old right-hander was 2-1 with one save and a 3.41 ERA in 41 games for Toronto and Cubs last season. The reliever was traded by the Blue Jays to Chicago in late July.Phelps missed the 2018 season because of Tommy John surgery after injuring his elbow in spring training. He is 32-34 with six saves and a 3.86 ERA in seven seasons with the New York Yankees, Miami, Seattle, Toronto and the Cubs.“It seemed like this offseason, teams were really focusing on some other parts of their teams, then rounding out the bullpen at the end. Once Milwaukee showed interest, it made sense. I know some guys on the team, the team has been in the playoffs the last two years," he said. “It just seemed like a really good fit."Phelps said he talked with former Marlins teammate Christian Yelich about joining the Brewers. Yelich... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Free agent pitcher David Phelps and the Milwaukee Brewers finalized a one-year contract on Thursday that guarantees $1.5 million and includes a club option for 2021.Phelps gets a $1.25 million salary this year, and Milwaukee's option is for $4.5 million with a $250,000 buyout.He can earn $1.9 million in each year in bonuses for pitching appearances: $175,000 for 35, $200,000 for 40, $225,000 for 45, $250,000 for 50, $300,000 for 55, $350,000 for 60 and $400,000 for 65.The 33-year-old right-hander was 2-1 with one save and a 3.41 ERA in 41 games for Toronto and Cubs last season. The reliever was traded by the Blue Jays to Chicago in late July.Phelps missed the 2018 season because of Tommy John surgery after injuring his elbow in spring training. He is 32-34 with six saves and a 3.86 ERA in seven seasons with the New York Yankees, Miami, Seattle, Toronto and the Cubs.Milwaukee designated right-hander Deolis Guerra for assignment. The 30-year-old Guerra pitched in one game for Milwaukee last season, and previously played for the Pittsburgh and the Angels.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent pitcher David Phelps to a one-year contract Thursday with a club option for 2021.The 33-year-old right-hander was a combined 2-1 with one save and a 3.41 ERA in 41 games for Toronto and Cubs last season. The reliever was traded by the Blue Jays to Chicago in late July.Phelps missed the 2018 season because of Tommy John surgery after injuring his elbow in spring training. He is 32-34 with six saves and a 3.86 ERA in seven seasons with the New York Yankees, Miami, Seattle, Toronto and the Cubs.The Brewers designated right-hander Deolis Guerra for assignment. The 30-year-old Guerra pitched in one game for Milwaukee last season, and previously played for the Pittsburgh and the Angels.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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]

RHP Deolis Guerra had his contract selected from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, and he got a strikeout and walked a batter out of the Angels' bullpen. Guerra, 28, went 2-2 with a 5.66 ERA in 15 relief appearances for the Angels earlier this season. Last year he was 3-0 with a 3.21 ERA 44 appearances. This year for Salt Lake, he went 4-1 with a 1.98 ERA in 31 relief appearances. "I think with (Guerra) it's always been sensitivity to getting all his pitches harnessed," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's got a real sneaky fastball, really good changeup, came up with a little slider with the breaking ball and he refined some stuff down there and he really threw the ball very consistently down there."

RHP Deolis Guerra, who was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake, on Saturday, was outrighted to that club on Tuesday. The move takes him off the Angels' 40-man roster. He was 2-2 with a 5.66 ERA in 15 games and 20 2/3 innings for Los Angeles.

RHP Deolis Guerra was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. He was 2-2 with a 5.66 ERA in 15 games and 20 2/3 innings.

RHP Deolis Guerra can't be considered a closer but he did finish out Los Angeles' 5-0 victory Sunday over Detroit. Guerra entered with a 5-0 lead and gave up a single in a four-batter ninth. He doesn't have high-profile stuff but he mixes what he has nicely and throws solid strikes.

RHP Deolis Guerra was selected from Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday. He had a 6.75 ERA in three appearances with the Angels earlier this season. With Salt Lake, he didn't allow a run in three appearances (five innings).

RHP Deolis Guerra, designated for assignment by the Angles earlier this week, cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A Salt Lake. He made his major league debut with the Pirates last season.

RHP Deolis Guerra, designated for assignment Monday, was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday. Guerra, 27, had no decisions and a 6.75 ERA in three relief appearances for Los Angeles this season, all in the past week. The Angels acquired Guerra from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Rule 5 draft in December.