ATLANTA (AP) — Third baseman Pablo Sandoval has signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. Sandoval would receive a $1 million, one-year contract if he is added to the team's 40-man roster under a deal the Braves confirmed Monday. The 34-year-old Sandoval hit .214 in 84 at-bats with the Braves and San Francisco Giants in 2020. He had no hits in two at-bats with Atlanta but was kept on the team's postseason roster, and he had no hits in four plate appearances. Sandoval, whose nickname is Kung Fu Panda, will try to prove he can return to the form he showed in 2019, when he hit .268 with 14 homers with the Giants. The 2012 World Series MVP with San Francisco signed with the Braves late last season following his release by the Giants on Sept. 10, ending his second stint with the team. Austin Riley will enter spring training as the favorite to start at third base for the Braves. Riley also is an option in left field. The switch-hitting Sandoval has a career .279 batting average with 149 home runs in 13 seasons with the Giants, Boston and Atlanta. He hit .330 with 25 homers and 90 RBI for San Francisco in 2009, his second season. ___ More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Oct. 24 1911 — The World Series between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Athletics was resumed after six days of rain, and Chief Bender beat Christy Mathewson 4-2 to give the A’s a 3-1 lead. 1963 — Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first unanimous winner of the Cy Young Award. Koufax won the pitchers’ Triple Crown, leading the league in wins (25), strikeouts (306) and ERA (1.88). Koufax set a record for shutouts by a left-handed pitcher with 11, that stands to this day. Tthe previous record of nine shutouts had been held by Babe Ruth for nearly 50 years. 1985 — Danny Jackson’s five-hitter cut St. Louis’ lead to 3-2 in the World Series as the Kansas City Royals took Game 5, 6-1. Willie Wilson’s two-run triple highlighted a three-run second inning and chased starter Ken Forsch. 1987 — Kent Hrbek’s grand slam highlighted a 15-hit barrage as the Minnesota Twins pounded the St. Louis Cardinals 11-5 at the Metrodome to force the World Series to a seventh game. 1992 —... [More]

Players who have hit two or more home runs in a single World Series game (r-rookie): Three Home RunsPablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants, Oct. 24, 2012, consecutive Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals, Oct. 22, 2011, consecutive Reggie Jackson, New York Yankees, Oct. 18, 1977, consecutive Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, Oct. 9, 1928, 2 consecutive Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, Oct. 6, 1926, 2 consecutive Two Home RunsBrandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays, Oct. 21, 2020 Steve Pearce, Boston Red Sox, Oct. 28, 2018 Roberto Perez, Cleveland Indians, Oct. 25, 2016 r-Michael Conforto, New York Mets, Oct. 31, 2015, consecutive Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies, Nov. 2, 2009 Jayson Werth, Philadelphia Phillies, Oct. 31, 2009 Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies, Oct. 28, 2009, consecutive Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies, Oct. 26, 2008 Jeff Kent, San Francisco Giants, Oct. 24, 2002, consecutive Tim Salmon, Anaheim Angels, Oct. 20, 2002 Troy Glaus, Anaheim Angels, Oct. 19, 2002 Chad Curtis, New York Yankees,... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Pablo Sandoval is on the Atlanta Braves' roster for the NL wild-card series against the Cincinnati Reds. The 2012 World Series MVP joined the Braves after being released by the San Francisco Giants a couple of weeks ago. He started at third base in the final game of the regular season, going 0 for 2 with two walks in a 9-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Sandoval played 33 games for the Giants, hitting .220 with one homer and six RBIs. The Braves also brought back infielder Charlie Culberson to the big league roster and released left-handed pitcher Tommy Milone, who was acquired at the trade deadline but posted a 14.90 ERA in three starts. ___ The 28-player rosters for the best-of-three series between the Reds and the Braves: CINCINNATI Pitchers (12): RH Tejay Antone, RH Trevor Bauer, RH Archie Bradley, RH Luis Castillo, LH Amir Garrett, RH Sonny Gray, RH Raisel Iglesias, RH Michael Lorenzen, RH Tyler Mahle, LH Wade Miley, RH Lucas Sims, RH Robert Stephenson Catchers (2): Tucker... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — From a false-positive coronavirus test for outfielder Alex Dickerson that postponed a pair of road games against the Padres to getting smoked out of Seattle by the West Coast wildfires — all in a six-day span — the San Francisco Giants stressed their resiliency in September. The Giants just needed one more victory to make it all matter. San Francisco went 29-31 under new manager Gabe Kapler, missing a playoff berth on the season's final day Sunday with a 5-4 loss to playoff-bound San Diego. “We did overcome a lot. I think we did a really nice job dealing with the ups and downs of the season, just the season that all the other clubs had to deal with but I think some extra difficult circumstances for our club,” Kapler said. “You want that to lead to wins. You want that to lead to the postseason. It stings that it didn’t.” The Giants haven't reached the playoffs since losing a four-game division series in 2016 to the eventual World Series champion Cubs. “There's definitely... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: HOW DOES IT FEEL? American League playoff teams get only one day off to assess injuries and make roster decisions before the first round begins Tuesday. Minnesota has a couple of ailing hitters in third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf) and center fielder Byron Buxton (mild concussion symptoms). Both have missed two straight games. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton is improving and the team hopes he’ll be ready for the postseason opener. White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez sprained his right foot on a slide Thursday but was “improving exponentially,” manager Rick Renteria said Sunday. Jiménez sat out the weekend series against the Cubs. Tampa Bay left-hander José Alvarado (left shoulder inflammation), first baseman Ji-Man Choi (left hamstring strain) and infielder Yandy Díaz (right hamstring strain) are set to participate in a simulated game. Brett Phillips exited Sunday’s game with right hamstring tightness, and fellow outfielder... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday: HOW DOES IT FEEL? American League playoff teams get only one day off to assess injuries and make roster decisions before the first round begins Tuesday. Minnesota has a couple of ailing hitters in third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf) and center fielder Byron Buxton (mild concussion symptoms). Both have missed two straight games. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton is improving and the team hopes he’ll be ready for the postseason opener. White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez sprained his right foot on a slide Thursday but was “improving exponentially,” manager Rick Renteria said Sunday. Jiménez sat out the weekend series against the Cubs. Tampa Bay left-hander José Alvarado (left shoulder inflammation), first baseman Ji-Man Choi (left hamstring strain) and infielder Yandy Díaz (right hamstring strain) are set to participate in a simulated game. Brett Phillips exited Sunday’s game with right hamstring tightness, and fellow outfielder... [More]

Sept. 151912 — Joe Wood of the Boston Red Sox pitched his 16th consecutive victory to tie Walter Johnson’s record as he beat the St. Louis Browns 2-1.1938 — Brothers Lloyd and Paul Waner hit back-to-back homers for the Pittsburgh Pirates off Cliff Melton of the New York Giants. This was the only time brothers hit successive home runs in a major league game. It was Lloyd’s last homer.1946 — The Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 2-0 in five innings when the game was called because of gnats. The insects became such a problem for the players, umpires and fans that the game had to be stopped.1963 — All three Alou brothers — Felipe, Matty and Jesus — played in the outfield at the same time for the San Francisco Giants in a 13-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.1969 — St. Louis left-hander Steve Carlton struck out 19 Mets for a nine-inning game record. New York won the game 4-3 on two, two-run homers by Ron Swoboda.1971 — Houston pitcher Larry Yount, the older brother of Hall of Famer... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:___NOT JUSTIN, SHANEIt hasn’t taken Shane Bieber long to become Cleveland’s ace — and maybe the best pitcher in baseball this season. The right-hander looks to stay unbeaten as the Indians open a three-game series in Minnesota. Bieber, who is 7-0 with a 1.25 ERA and leads the majors in numerous categories, is already 2-0 against the Twins this year. Bieber began last season as Cleveland’s No. 5 starter, but his ascension and the trades of Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber and Mike Clevinger have solidified him as the Indians’ No. 1 starter.DODGER (BLACK AND) BLUEA couple of starting pitchers are dinged up for the major league-leading Dodgers. Walker Buehler went on the 10-day injured list Thursday because of a lingering blister on the index finger of his right hand. A little bit later, Dustin May was pulled after just one inning with a bruised left foot after he was hit by a sharp grounder against Arizona. “I think tomorrow when we get back home... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants released Pablo Sandoval on Thursday, parting ways for a second time with the former fan favorite and 2012 World Series MVP.Sandoval ends a second stint with the club after he rejoined the Giants following parts of three seasons away with the Boston Red Sox after winning a third World Series in five years with the Giants in 2014.“Such an incredible contributor to the organization, his teammates, the coaching staff, and the entire city of San Francisco," manager Gabe Kapler said. “It was very difficult to deliver that news and for Pablo to receive it. He was a pro and a gentleman, every step of the way.”The Giants posted a thank you to the Kung Fu Panda on their Twitter page. A switch-hitter, the 34-year-old Sandoval was batting .220 with one home run and six RBIs in 33 games. He had a prorated salary of $740,741.Sandoval came back this spring from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last September, after retired manager Bruce Bochy — a father... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants released Pablo Sandoval on Thursday, parting ways for a second time with the former fan favorite and 2012 World Series MVP.Sandoval ends a second stint with the club after he rejoined the Giants following parts of three seasons away with the Boston Red Sox after winning a third World Series in five years with the Giants in 2014.The Giants posted a thank you to the Kung Fu Panda on their Twitter page. A switch-hitter, the 34-year-old Sandoval was batting .220 with one home run and six RBIs in 33 games. He had a prorated salary of $740,741.He came back this spring from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last September, after retired manager Bruce Bochy — a father figure to the Venezuelan slugger — gave him one final at-bat. But Sandoval arrived at summer training in July noticeably heavier. He recently shared how his wife and children healed from the coronavirus, and manager Gabe Kapler gave him time off to monitor the situation from afar.Newly acquired infielder Justin Smoak was added to the major league roster. In addition, left-hander Drew Smyly was activated from the 10-day injured list after dealing with a sprained index finger on his pitching hand. Right-hander Rico Garcia was optioned to the team’s Sacramento alternate site.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Mariners first. J.P. Crawford walks. Dylan Moore hit by pitch. J.P. Crawford to second. Kyle Lewis grounds out to shallow infield, Logan Webb to Brandon Belt. Dylan Moore to second. J.P. Crawford to third. Kyle Seager grounds out to shallow center field, Brandon Crawford to Brandon Belt. Dylan Moore to third. J.P. Crawford scores. Ty France strikes out swinging.1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 1, Giants 0.Giants first. Mike Yastrzemski strikes out swinging. Alex Dickerson flies out to deep right field to Jose Marmolejos. Donovan Solano triples to deep right center field. Brandon Belt singles to right field. Donovan Solano scores. Wilmer Flores strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 1, Giants 1.Mariners second. Jose Marmolejos grounds out to shallow right field, Donovan Solano to Brandon Belt. Evan White singles to left center field. Luis Torrens singles to center field. Evan White to third. Shed Long Jr. walks. Luis Torrens to second. J.P. Crawford... [More]

Diamondbacks third. Nick Ahmed strikes out swinging. Daulton Varsho walks. Carson Kelly singles to right field. Daulton Varsho to second. Josh Rojas walks. Carson Kelly to second. Daulton Varsho to third. Ketel Marte reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Josh Rojas out at second. Carson Kelly to third. Daulton Varsho scores. Christian Walker strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Diamondbacks 1, Giants 0.Giants sixth. Pablo Sandoval walks. Joey Bart singles to center field. Pablo Sandoval to second. Mauricio Dubon walks. Mike Yastrzemski singles to right field. Mauricio Dubon to second. Joey Bart to third. Daniel Robertson scores. Darin Ruf singles to center field. Mike Yastrzemski to second. Mauricio Dubon scores. Joey Bart scores. Donovan Solano singles to left field. Darin Ruf to second. Mike Yastrzemski to third. Brandon Belt walks. Donovan Solano to second. Darin Ruf to third. Mike Yastrzemski scores. Wilmer Flores grounds out to third base. Brandon Belt to second. Donovan Solano to third. Darin Ruf out at home. Brandon Crawford flies out to left field to Daulton Varsho.4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Giants 4, Diamondbacks 1.Diamondbacks ninth. David Peralta homers to right field. Nick Ahmed grounds out to shallow infield, Brandon Crawford to Brandon Belt. Daulton Varsho strikes out swinging. Carson Kelly grounds out to third base, Daniel Robertson to Brandon Belt.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Giants 4, Diamondbacks 2.

Giants first. Mike Yastrzemski grounds out to shallow right field, Daniel Murphy to Jon Gray. Alex Dickerson homers. Evan Longoria singles to right center field. Brandon Belt singles to first base. Evan Longoria to third. Wilmer Flores pops out to shallow right field to Ryan McMahon. Donovan Solano doubles to deep center field. Brandon Belt scores. Evan Longoria scores. Brandon Crawford grounds out to shallow infield, Jon Gray to Daniel Murphy.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Giants 3, Rockies 0.Giants second. Joey Bart singles to center field. Mauricio Dubon flies out to deep left field to Raimel Tapia. Mike Yastrzemski strikes out swinging. Alex Dickerson homers to right field. Joey Bart scores. Evan Longoria grounds out to shortstop, Garrett Hampson to Daniel Murphy.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Giants 5, Rockies 0.Giants third. Brandon Belt doubles to deep left center field. Wilmer Flores pops out to second base to Ryan McMahon. Donovan Solano lines out to deep right field... [More]

Giants first. Mike Yastrzemski strikes out swinging. Alex Dickerson singles to shallow center field. Evan Longoria doubles to deep left center field. Alex Dickerson scores. Brandon Belt doubles to deep right field. Evan Longoria scores. Wilmer Flores strikes out swinging. Pablo Sandoval flies out to deep left field to Jon Jay.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Giants 2, Diamondbacks 0.Giants second. Brandon Crawford strikes out swinging. Joey Bart grounds out to first base to Christian Walker. Mauricio Dubon singles to center field. Mike Yastrzemski doubles to deep right center field. Mauricio Dubon scores. Alex Dickerson strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Giants 3, Diamondbacks 0.Giants third. Evan Longoria doubles to deep right center field. Brandon Belt walks. Wilmer Flores strikes out swinging. Pablo Sandoval singles to second base. Brandon Belt to second. Evan Longoria scores. Brandon Crawford singles to shallow right field. Pablo Sandoval to second. Brandon... [More]

Dodgers first. Mookie Betts called out on strikes. Corey Seager singles to right field. Justin Turner doubles to deep right field. Corey Seager to third. Cody Bellinger flies out to right center field to Mike Yastrzemski. Max Muncy homers to right field. Justin Turner scores. Corey Seager scores. AJ Pollock grounds out to shallow infield, Johnny Cueto to Brandon Belt.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Dodgers 3, Giants 0.Giants first. Mike Yastrzemski strikes out swinging. Wilmer Flores walks. Evan Longoria singles to center field. Wilmer Flores to second. Brandon Belt homers to center field. Evan Longoria scores. Wilmer Flores scores. Donovan Solano strikes out swinging. Joey Bart strikes out swinging.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Dodgers 3, Giants 3.Dodgers third. Mookie Betts lines out to second base to Donovan Solano. Corey Seager homers to center field. Justin Turner singles to left center field. Cody Bellinger doubles. Justin Turner to third. Max Muncy walks. Cody Bellinger... [More]

Giants fifth. Brandon Belt doubles to deep right field. Evan Longoria doubles to deep right field. Brandon Belt scores. Pablo Sandoval singles to right center field. Evan Longoria to third. Joey Bart reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Pablo Sandoval to second. Evan Longoria out at home. Brandon Crawford reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Joey Bart out at second. Pablo Sandoval to third. Steven Duggar strikes out swinging.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Giants 1, Diamondbacks 0.Diamondbacks sixth. Kole Calhoun walks. Ketel Marte strikes out swinging. Starling Marte doubles to center field. Kole Calhoun to third. David Peralta out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Mike Yastrzemski. Starling Marte to third. Kole Calhoun scores. Christian Walker grounds out to second base, Wilmer Flores to Brandon Belt.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Diamondbacks 1, Giants 1.Giants sixth. Mike Yastrzemski homers to center field. Alex Dickerson lines out to deep right... [More]

Brandon Lowe homered for the fifth time in six games, Austin Meadows also connected and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL East-leading New York Yankees 6-3 Tuesday night.The second-place Rays cut their deficit to 1 1/2 games in the opener of this three-game set. Tampa Bay has won four of five in the season series.Luke Voit hit his third homer in two days and Gary Sánchez also went deep, but New York ended a six-game winning streak and dropped to 10-1 at Yankee Stadium this season. Kevin Kiermaier lined a one-out triple in the third inning and scored on a hit by nine-hole hitter Michael Perez. Meadows followed with a base hit, and then Lowe drilled a three-run shot to center off Masahiro Tanaka (0-1) for a 4-0 lead.Tanaka was charged with six runs — five earned — and eight hits over four innings.Blake Snell (2-0) allowed three runs, four hits and two walks. Nick Anderson and Chaz Roe combined for a scoreless eighth and ninth, with Roe converting his first save opportunity.NATIONALS 8, BRAVES... [More]

Brandon Lowe homered for the fifth time in six games, Austin Meadows also connected and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL East-leading New York Yankees 6-3 Tuesday night.The second-place Rays cut their deficit to 1 1/2 games in the opener of this three-game set. Tampa Bay has won four of five in the season series.Luke Voit hit his third homer in two days and Gary Sánchez also went deep, but New York ended a six-game winning streak and dropped to 10-1 at Yankee Stadium this season. Kevin Kiermaier lined a one-out triple in the third inning and scored on a hit by nine-hole hitter Michael Perez. Meadows followed with a base hit, and then Lowe drilled a three-run shot to center off Masahiro Tanaka (0-1) for a 4-0 lead.Tanaka was charged with six runs — five earned — and eight hits over four innings.Blake Snell (2-0) allowed three runs, four hits and two walks. Nick Anderson and Chaz Roe combined for a scoreless eighth and ninth, with Roe converting his first save opportunity.NATIONALS 8, BRAVES... [More]

Brandon Lowe homered for the fifth time in six games, Austin Meadows also connected and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL East-leading New York Yankees 6-3 Tuesday night.The second-place Rays cut their deficit to 1 1/2 games in the opener of this three-game set. Tampa Bay has won four of five in the season series.Luke Voit hit his third homer in two days and Gary Sánchez also went deep, but New York ended a six-game winning streak and dropped to 10-1 at Yankee Stadium this season. Kevin Kiermaier lined a one-out triple in the third inning and scored on a hit by nine-hole hitter Michael Perez. Meadows followed with a base hit, and then Lowe drilled a three-run shot to center off Masahiro Tanaka (0-1) for a 4-0 lead.Tanaka was charged with six runs — five earned — and eight hits over four innings.Blake Snell (2-0) allowed three runs, four hits and two walks. Nick Anderson and Chaz Roe combined for a scoreless eighth and ninth, with Roe converting his first save opportunity.NATIONALS 8, BRAVES... [More]