Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly was talking about this week’s doubleheader sweep at Baltimore that involved a parade of relievers, including several newcomers rescued from unemployment, and after naming three of them he drew a blank. “I’ve got to remember who all we used,” Mattingly said. “Who else pitched today? I don’t know.”For the Marlins, this season has been a bit of a blur. It was halted for eight days because of a coronavirus outbreak that sidelined more than half the team, and even now, four games into the resumption of play, there's cause for eye-rubbing.The Marlins are in first place in August, a first for the franchise. In fact, at 6-1 they have the best record in baseball, staging a one-year turnaround not seen since the 1899 St. Louis Perfectos.“I’m going to have to write a book after this,” Mattingly said. “You get tested, and you persevere.” Following a decade of sub-.500 seasons, the Marlins reported for spring training with something close to a swagger in Year 3 of... [More]

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly was talking about this week’s doubleheader sweep at Baltimore that involved a parade of relievers, including several newcomers rescued from unemployment, and after naming three of them he drew a blank. “I’ve got to remember who all we used,” Mattingly said. “Who else pitched today? I don’t know.”For the Marlins, this season has been a bit of a blur. It was halted for eight days because of a coronavirus outbreak that sidelined more than half the team, and even now, five games into the resumption of play, there's cause for eye-rubbing.The Marlins are in first place in August, a first for the franchise. In fact, at 6-1 they have the best record in baseball, staging a one-year turnaround not seen since the 1899 St. Louis Perfectos.“I’m going to have to write a book after this,” Mattingly said. “You get tested, and you persevere.” Following a decade of sub-.500 seasons, the Marlins reported for spring training with something close to a swagger in Year 3 of... [More]

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]

White sox second. Yasmani Grandal strikes out swinging. Eloy Jimenez called out on strikes. Nomar Mazara singles to right field. Leury Garcia homers to right field. Nomar Mazara scores. Zack Collins lines out to deep center field to Ben Gamel.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 2, Brewers 0.Brewers third. Keston Hiura grounds out to shallow infield, Leury Garcia to Jose Abreu. Christian Yelich walks. Avisail Garcia singles to right field. Christian Yelich to second. Jedd Gyorko singles to center field, advances to 2nd. Avisail Garcia to third. Christian Yelich scores. Justin Smoak grounds out to shallow infield to Jose Abreu. Omar Narvaez lines out to shallow center field to Danny Mendick.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. White sox 2, Brewers 1.Brewers fifth. Keston Hiura grounds out to second base, Danny Mendick to Jose Abreu. Christian Yelich homers to deep left field. Avisail Garcia walks. Jedd Gyorko homers to left field. Avisail Garcia scores. Justin Smoak reaches on error.... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics bench coach Ryan Christenson has apologized for raising his arm during a postgame celebration in what looked like a Nazi salute.Christenson made the gesture while greeting closer Liam Hendriks following the A's 6-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday.Hendriks immediately pushed Christenson's arm down and cameras then showed him laughing and briefly raising his arm a second time.Christenson faced criticism after video of the gesture circulated on social media. “I made a mistake and will not deny it,” Christenson said in a statement issued through the team. “Today in the dugout I greeted players with a gesture that was offensive. In the world today of COVID, I adapted our elbow bump, which we do after wins, to create some distance with the players. My gesture unintentionally resulted in a racist and horrible salute that I do not believe in. What I did is unacceptable and I deeply apologize.”The A's called the gesture “offensive” and apologized for... [More]

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]

Royals first. Whit Merrifield called out on strikes. Jorge Soler singles to center field. Salvador Perez singles to right center field. Jorge Soler to third. Ryan O'Hearn singles to second base. Salvador Perez to second. Jorge Soler scores. Adalberto Mondesi strikes out swinging. Alex Gordon flies out to shallow center field to Javier Baez.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Royals 1, Cubs 0.Royals second. Maikel Franco doubles to deep left center field. Nicky Lopez called out on strikes. Nick Heath called out on strikes. Whit Merrifield homers. Maikel Franco scores. Jorge Soler singles to shallow infield. Salvador Perez grounds out to shallow infield, Nico Hoerner to Anthony Rizzo.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Royals 3, Cubs 0.Royals third. Ryan O'Hearn flies out to deep center field to Ian Happ. Adalberto Mondesi doubles to shallow center field. Alex Gordon doubles to deep center field. Adalberto Mondesi scores. Maikel Franco homers to left field. Alex Gordon scores. Nicky Lopez... [More]

Astros fourth. Jose Altuve singles to deep right field. Alex Bregman strikes out swinging. Michael Brantley grounds out to first base to Christian Walker. Jose Altuve to third. Yuli Gurriel singles to shallow left field. Jose Altuve scores. Carlos Correa strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 1, Diamondbacks 0.Astros sixth. George Springer lines out to deep center field to Starling Marte. Jose Altuve homers to left field. Alex Bregman doubles to shallow left field. Michael Brantley grounds out to shallow right field, Ketel Marte to Christian Walker. Alex Bregman to third. Yuli Gurriel lines out to deep left field to David Peralta.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 2, Diamondbacks 0.Diamondbacks sixth. Kole Calhoun flies out to deep center field to George Springer. Starling Marte doubles to right field. Christian Walker doubles to deep center field. Starling Marte scores. Eduardo Escobar singles to right field. Christian Walker to third. David Peralta singles... [More]

Marlins first. Jonathan Villar homers to left field. Jon Berti lines out to deep left field to Dwight Smith Jr.. Francisco Cervelli strikes out swinging. Jesus Aguilar lines out to deep right field to Anthony Santander.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Marlins 1, Orioles 0.Orioles second. Renato Nunez homers to center field. Chance Sisco doubles to deep left field. Austin Hays lines out to deep center field to Monte Harrison. Chance Sisco to third. Chris Davis strikes out swinging. Pat Valaika flies out to deep right field to Lewis Brinson.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Orioles 1, Marlins 1.Marlins second. Brian Anderson lines out to shortstop to Hanser Alberto. Lewis Brinson walks. Logan Forsythe doubles to deep left field. Lewis Brinson to third. Magneuris Sierra out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Anthony Santander. Logan Forsythe to third. Lewis Brinson scores. Monte Harrison grounds out to shallow infield, Wade LeBlanc to Chris Davis.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on.... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors Friday:___BACK IN THE SHUFFLEThe Cardinals are set to resume their season by hosting the Cubs. St. Louis has been off since last Friday, when two players returned positive coronavirus tests. Seven players in total have tested positive, including star catcher Yadier Molina. Ace Jack Flaherty (1-0, 2.57), who said he kept his arm fresh this week by throwing baseballs into a hotel mattress, is set to pitch against Chicago veteran Jon Lester (1-0, 0.82) PULLING AWAYThe season is only two weeks old, but the New York Yankees could have a commanding lead on AL East-rival Tampa Bay by the end of the weekend. The reigning AL East champions Yankees are 9-3 to start this 60-game season and four games ahead of the Rays entering their four-game weekend series. Tampa Bay was supposed to be New York’s biggest obstacle to a repeat but already has work to do. Yankees righty Masahiro Tanaka (0-0, 3.38) faces Rays lefty Blake Snell (0-0, 5.40).RED-HOT RAMIREZIndians... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. grounds out to shallow infield, Nate Pearson to Rowdy Tellez. Dansby Swanson walks. Freddie Freeman homers to center field. Dansby Swanson scores. Marcell Ozuna strikes out swinging. Nick Markakis lines out to deep center field to Randal Grichuk.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Braves 2, Blue jays 0.Blue jays fourth. Bo Bichette homers to center field. Cavan Biggio pops out to shallow infield to Johan Camargo. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubles. Rowdy Tellez pops out to shallow left field to Dansby Swanson. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. pops out to shallow right field to Freddie Freeman.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Blue jays 1.Braves fourth. Marcell Ozuna singles to deep left field. Nick Markakis grounds out to first base to Rowdy Tellez. Marcell Ozuna to third. Adam Duvall out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Lourdes Gurriel Jr.. Marcell Ozuna scores. Johan Camargo pops out to shallow center field to Bo Bichette.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left... [More]

Phillies first. Andrew McCutchen lines out to shallow left field to Gleyber Torres. Rhys Hoskins walks. Bryce Harper singles to shallow right field. Rhys Hoskins to second. J.T. Realmuto homers to left field. Bryce Harper scores. Rhys Hoskins scores. Phil Gosselin strikes out swinging. Didi Gregorius grounds out to shallow infield, Jordan Montgomery to Luke Voit.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Phillies 3, Yankees 0.Yankees second. Gleyber Torres flies out to right center field to Bryce Harper. Brett Gardner singles to shallow infield. Gio Urshela reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Brett Gardner to second. Fielding error by Scott Kingery. Gary Sanchez called out on strikes. Tyler Wade walks. Gio Urshela to second. Brett Gardner to third. Mike Tauchman singles to shallow center field. Tyler Wade to second. Gio Urshela scores. Brett Gardner scores. Luke Voit pops out to second base to Scott Kingery.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Phillies 3, Yankees 2.Phillies third.... [More]

Indians first. Cesar Hernandez strikes out swinging. Jose Ramirez homers to right field. Francisco Lindor grounds out to second base, Kyle Farmer to Joey Votto. Carlos Santana walks. Franmil Reyes strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Indians 1, Reds 0.Indians fifth. Beau Taylor grounds out to shallow infield, Kyle Farmer to Joey Votto. Delino DeShields strikes out swinging. Cesar Hernandez walks. Jose Ramirez triples to deep right field. Cesar Hernandez scores. Francisco Lindor singles to shallow right field. Jose Ramirez scores. Carlos Santana walks. Francisco Lindor to second. Franmil Reyes grounds out to shallow right field to Joey Votto.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Indians 3, Reds 0.Indians seventh. Delino DeShields singles to right field. Cesar Hernandez singles to right field. Delino DeShields to third. Jose Ramirez reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Cesar Hernandez to third. Delino DeShields out at home. Francisco Lindor... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — An apparent roster snafu forced the Toronto Blue Jays to change their pitching plans for Thursday night’s game at the Atlanta Braves.After Nate Pearson gave up three runs in five innings, manager Charlie Montoyo brought in right-hander Jacob Waguespack to open the sixth.As Waguespack walked to the mound, he was greeted by home plate umpire Alan Porter, who apparently delivered some bad news: The right-hander wasn’t on the 28-man active roster for the game.The Blue Jays optioned Waguespack and infielder Santiago Espinal to the team’s alternate training site on Thursday to reach the 28-man roster limit.Montoyo told reporters before the game Waguespack had been recalled when right-hander Trent Thornton was placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. That move apparently was not processed, leaving Waguespack off the active roster.Waguespack walked to the dugout and Montoyo brought in Rafael Dolis as the official replacement for Pearson.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SEATTLE (AP) — Shohei Ohtani homered in his first plate appearance since being shut down as a pitcher, Dylan Bundy struck out 10 in the third complete game of his career and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 on Thursday. Ohtani drove a 1-0 pitch from Seattle starter Taijuan Walker (1-2) to the opposite field just beyond the leap of left fielder Dee Gordon leading off the second inning.Max Stassi added a two-run homer in the eighth inning, his fourth of the season.Bundy (2-1) has been superb since his offseason arrival from Baltimore via trade. The right-hander has pitched at least six innings in all three of his starts, with 25 strikeouts and two walks in 21 2/3 innings.Bundy allowed four hits and picked up his 10th strikeout getting Kyle Seager leading off the ninth. His only mistake was an elevated changeup that Daniel Vogelbach lined into the right field seats for a solo home run in the fourth inning.PIRATES 6, TWINS 5PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kevin Newman’s two-run pinch-single... [More]

Rockies sixth. David Dahl strikes out swinging. Trevor Story homers to center field. Charlie Blackmon walks. Nolan Arenado lines out to deep center field to Mauricio Dubon. Matt Kemp singles to center field. Charlie Blackmon to second. Ryan McMahon lines out to deep left field to Austin Slater.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rockies 1, Giants 0.Giants seventh. Hunter Pence grounds out to shortstop, Nolan Arenado to Ryan McMahon. Darin Ruf strikes out swinging. Pablo Sandoval singles to center field. Chadwick Tromp singles to shallow center field. Pablo Sandoval to second. Mauricio Dubon homers to center field. Chadwick Tromp scores. Pablo Sandoval scores. Austin Slater strikes out swinging.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Giants 3, Rockies 1.Rockies seventh. Garrett Hampson doubles to deep left field. Chris Owings doubles. Garrett Hampson scores. Daniel Murphy pinch-hitting for Drew Butera. Daniel Murphy homers to center field. Chris Owings scores. David Dahl singles to second base.... [More]

Angels second. Shohei Ohtani homers to left field. Tommy La Stella called out on strikes. Justin Upton grounds out to third base, Kyle Seager to Evan White. Brian Goodwin strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Angels 1, Mariners 0.Angels fourth. Mike Trout singles to center field. Anthony Rendon walks. Mike Trout to second. Shohei Ohtani walks. Anthony Rendon to second. Mike Trout to third. Tommy La Stella singles to right field. Shohei Ohtani to second. Anthony Rendon to third. Mike Trout scores. Justin Upton hit by pitch. Tommy La Stella to second. Shohei Ohtani to third. Anthony Rendon scores. Brian Goodwin pops out to Kyle Seager. Max Stassi out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Dylan Moore. Tommy La Stella to third. Shohei Ohtani scores. Luis Rengifo walks. Justin Upton to second. David Fletcher reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Luis Rengifo out at second.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 4 left on. Angels 4, Mariners 0.Mariners fourth. Kyle Seager grounds... [More]

Athletics second. Mark Canha flies out to deep left field to Willie Calhoun. Matt Olson homers to right field. Chad Pinder grounds out to shallow infield, Elvis Andrus to Todd Frazier. Khris Davis lines out to shallow left field to Elvis Andrus.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Athletics 1, Rangers 0.Athletics fourth. Ramon Laureano singles to right center field. Matt Chapman walks. Ramon Laureano to second. Mark Canha singles to center field. Matt Chapman to second. Ramon Laureano scores. Matt Olson lines out to deep left field to Willie Calhoun. Chad Pinder walks. Mark Canha to second. Matt Chapman to third. Khris Davis singles to left field. Chad Pinder to third. Mark Canha scores. Matt Chapman scores. Stephen Piscotty out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Nick Solak. Chad Pinder scores. Sean Murphy lines out to deep center field to Nick Solak.4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Athletics 5, Rangers 0.Rangers fifth. Nick Solak singles to left field. Isiah Kiner-Falefa triples to... [More]

Twins first. Max Kepler grounds out to shallow infield, Adam Frazier to Colin Moran. Jorge Polanco singles to right field. Nelson Cruz pops out to Colin Moran. Eddie Rosario walks. Jorge Polanco to third. Miguel Sano homers. Eddie Rosario scores. Jorge Polanco scores. Marwin Gonzalez called out on strikes.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Twins 3, Pirates 0.Pirates second. Colin Moran singles to shallow center field. Bryan Reynolds singles to right field. Colin Moran to second. Gregory Polanco homers to center field. Bryan Reynolds scores. Colin Moran scores. JT Riddle grounds out to shallow right field to Miguel Sano. John Ryan Murphy strikes out swinging. Jarrod Dyson grounds out to shallow infield, Ehire Adrianza to Miguel Sano.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Twins 3, Pirates 3.Twins fourth. Ehire Adrianza pops out to shallow center field to JT Riddle. Alex Avila called out on strikes. Byron Buxton homers to center field. Max Kepler flies out to center field to Jarrod Dyson.1... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Limited to the batter's box for the rest of this season, Shohei Ohtani is still helping the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani homered Thursday against the Seattle Mariners in his first plate appearance since being shut down as a pitcher for the rest of the year with a right forearm strain. The two-way Japanese sensation drove a 1-0 pitch from Taijuan Walker out to the opposite field just beyond the leap of left fielder Dee Gordon. It was Ohtani’s third home run of the season, all coming against the Mariners. Ohtani homered twice last week at home against Seattle. The Angels shut down Ohtani's arm for the truncated season after he strained the flexor pronator mass near the elbow. His recovery from the strain requires him to abstain from throwing for four to six weeks, which covers most of the shortened 2020 season.Ohtani had Tommy John surgery and did not pitch during the 2019 season. He made two starts this year, struggling with his command and velocity in both.Ohtani said Wednesday that he would like to continue being a two-way player for the Angels, but if the club asked him to consider focusing on one or the other he’d listen. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports