BALTIMORE (AP) — Brett Gardner had four hits, homered and drove in three runs to help the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-2 Monday night for a doubleheader split.In the opener, Danny Valencia snapped an 0-for-25 skid with a three-run homer off CC Sabathia, and Baltimore ended a six-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory.The split left the Yankees a 4-4 record against Baltimore and dropped them 2½ games behind first-place Boston in the AL East.The first game ended with Gardner grounding out as a pinch hitter with the potential tying run on third base. He returned in the nightcap to torment the Orioles at the plate and in center field, where he made several fine, running catches.Gardner led off with a single off Jefry Ramirez (0-3) and scored on a double by Didi Gregorius. In the fourth, Gardner hit his seventh homer, a two-run drive that made it 3-0.That was enough offense for Luis Cessa (1-1), who allowed three hits over six shutout innings.RED SOX 5, RANGERS 0BOSTON (AP)... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants catcher Buster Posey will miss the All-Star Game because of a lingering right hip issue that needs an injection to calm the inflammation.The hip has bothered him both hitting and catching off and on all season, so Posey is hopeful the time off will allow him to heal."It's an honor to be selected to the All-Star Game. It's not something you take for granted and it's a decision I didn't come to lightly," Posey said after the Giants' 2-1, 11-inning victory over the Cubs on Monday night. "Making that decision with the training staff and the medical staff, I just felt like that was going to be in my best interest and hopefully the best interest for the team as well."Manager Bruce Bochy made the announcement before the start of the three-game series. The Giants had been discussing the possibility for about a month, Bochy said, and Posey is scheduled to have the injection after Sunday's Bay Bridge Series game against Oakland."His situation with the hip, we're hoping... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:SURGING SOXThe major league-best Boston Red Sox look for their 15th win in 18 games as they host the Texas Rangers in the middle game of their series. The Red Sox, who lead the second-place Yankees by 2 1/2 games in the AL East, send Hector Velazquez (6-0, 2.76 ERA) against the Rangers' Yovani Gallardo (3-0, 8.17). Boston's J.D. Martinez is 10 for 23 with three homers, eight runs scored and 10 RBIs the last five games.HOME COOKINGThe Tampa Bay Rays will try for their 13th win in 14 games at home when they host the Detroit Tigers in the middle game of their series. Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd (4-7, 4.58) will start against a Rays bullpen day.Daniel Robertson hit an RBI single in the 10th inning Monday night to lift the Rays to a 10-9 win in the series opener.SEEKING No. 10Houston's Justin Verlander and St. Louis' Miles Mikolas will both be seeking their 10th win of the season. Verlander (9-4, 2.15) will try to become the ninth in the... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Brett Gardner had four hits, homered and drove in three runs to help the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-2 Monday night for a doubleheader split.In the opener, Danny Valencia snapped an 0-for-25 skid with a three-run homer off CC Sabathia, and Baltimore ended a six-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory.The split left the Yankees a 4-4 record against Baltimore and dropped them 2½ games behind first-place Boston in the AL East.The first game ended with Gardner grounding out as a pinch hitter with the potential tying run on third base. He returned in the nightcap to torment the Orioles at the plate and in center field, where he made several fine, running catches.Gardner led off with a single off Jefry Ramirez (0-3) and scored on a double by Didi Gregorius. In the fourth, Gardner hit his seventh homer, a two-run drive that made it 3-0.That was enough offense for Luis Cessa (1-1), who allowed three hits over six shutout innings.RED SOX 5, RANGERS 0BOSTON (AP)... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants catcher Buster Posey will miss the All-Star game because of a lingering right hip issue that needs an injection to calm the inflammation.Manager Bruce Bochy made the announcement Monday before the start of a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs. The Giants had been discussing the possibility for about a month, Bochy said, and Posey is scheduled to have the injection after Sunday's mBay Bridge Series game against Oakland."His situation with the hip, we're hoping to get to the All-Star break and he will get an injection, but he's going to need some time after that," Bochy said. "He won't be able to participate in the game."Posey began the day batting .285 with five homers and 27 RBIs in 74 games. Bochy believes the hip has affected Posey's power.The 31-year-old Posey sat out two games in late May at Wrigley Field with soreness in the hip."It's flared up on him. He's missed some time because of it not too long ago," Bochy said. "Our hope is make it through this week and we can give him three or four days to get this thing cleared up. ... Hopefully with this injection get this thing to calm down and clear up. He's been playing with it. You can tell, all of you can tell. It's bothered him and he's been a warrior through this. He has missed some time earlier, he missed two or three days. The break will serve him well."___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Dodgers placed right fielder Yasiel Puig on the 10-day disabled list with a right oblique sprain prior to Monday's game against the San Diego Padres.Puig, who is hitting .265 with 11 home runs, was removed from Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Angels during a fifth-inning at-bat. Earlier, Puig had homered for the second consecutive game.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Puig might not return until August."It's going to be a few weeks," Roberts said. "With the time we have left in the season, we have to be very careful. Otherwise it can come back to bite you at an important time. So we are going to be patient."Andrew Toles, who was out for two months with a hamstring injury, was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was batting .326 in 34 games in the minors.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Frazier's frustrating first season with the New York Mets just hit another snag.The affable third baseman was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday with a strained muscle in his left rib cage. It's the second DL stint for Frazier since joining the struggling Mets. The 32-year-old slugger had never been on the disabled list before 2018.Frazier said he felt some discomfort his first time up Sunday against Tampa Bay and it got progressively worse as the game went on. He had an MRI and received a cortisone shot, but it's unclear how long he'll be out."It's not fun at all. It's something I never thought would happen," Frazier said. "Maybe a DL stint, but, you know, the older I get I still feel like I'm in control of my body and then something like this happens. So it's unfortunate, it stinks, but there's nothing else I can do about it. Just keep on trying to get better and hopefully this isn't a long ordeal."New York manager Mickey Callaway called Frazier's injury a... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants catcher Buster Posey will miss the All-Star game because of a lingering right hip issue that needs an injection to calm the inflammation.Manager Bruce Bochy made the announcement Monday before the start of a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs. The Giants had been discussing the possibility for about a month, Bochy said, and Posey is scheduled to have the injection after Sunday's game Bay Bridge Series game against Oakland.Posey began the day batting .285 with five homers and 27 RBIs in 74 games. Bochy believes the hip has affected Posey's power.The 31-year-old Posey sat out two games in late May at Wrigley Field with soreness in the hip.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay ace Blake Snell is frustrated by not being selected Sunday for the AL All-Star team, a squad that Rays manager Kevin Cash feels the left-hander still could end up joining."I'm optimistic that things are going to turn out OK for Blake," Cash, a member of the AL All-Star coaching staff, said Monday. "A lot of us throughout baseball feel that he's deserving. Saying that, the guys that were selected are also very deserving. It's a product of the system a little bit."Snell, 12-4 with an AL-best 2.09 ERA, said Monday that being added to the squad now would not be the same as being an original selection."I feel like being an alternate, it's not satisfying," Snell said. "I feel like I earned it but being an alternate, it doesn't feel the same."Tampa Bay catcher Wilson Ramos, voted in by the fans as the AL starting catcher, was "really, really mad" about the snubbing of Snell."It's not right," Ramos said.Ramos, a potential free agent after the season, feels it is likely he will be dealt before the trade deadline.Washington, where Ramos played from 2010-16 and the site of this year's All-Star Game, has heavily scouted Tampa Bay."I've got good memories over there," Ramos said. "If I get traded (there), it would be fun to be back there, playing for them again."Snell called the support he received from teammates "cool.""To see all of them having my back, that's special," Snell said.

NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Frazier's frustrating first season with the New York Mets just hit another snag.The affable third baseman was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday with a strained muscle in his left rib cage. It's the second DL stint for Frazier since joining the struggling Mets. The 32-year-old slugger had never been on the disabled list before 2018.Frazier said he felt some discomfort his first time up Sunday against Tampa Bay and it got progressively worse as the game went on. He had an MRI and received a cortisone shot, but it's unclear how long he'll be out."It's not fun at all. It's something I never thought would happen," Frazier said. "Maybe a DL stint, but, you know, the older I get I still feel like I'm in control of my body and then something like this happens. So it's unfortunate, it stinks, but there's nothing else I can do about it. Just keep on trying to get better and hopefully this isn't a long ordeal."New York manager Mickey Callaway called Frazier's injury a... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Washington Nationals have activated catcher Matt Wieters from the 10-day disabled list.He had been on the disabled list since May 11 and had surgery on a strained left hamstring. Before his injury, he had hit .232 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 23 games.Wieters played two rehab games with Double-A Harrisburg, a day game after a night game. He went 1 for 6 and caught 12 innings. He calls that a "pretty good test" that gives him confidence. The Nationals play the Pirates on Monday night.In his absence, Pedro Severino and rookie Spencer Kieboom saw more action. Severino was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Wieters.Washington's catchers are last in the National League in batting average (.186), on-base percentage (.276) and slugging percentage (.274).

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets third baseman Todd Frazier has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his left rib cage.It's the second DL stint for Frazier during his first season with the struggling Mets. The 32-year-old slugger had never been on the disabled list before 2018.Frazier says Monday he felt some discomfort his first time up Sunday against Tampa Bay and it got progressively worse as the game went on. He had an MRI and received a cortisone shot, but it's unclear how long he will be out.A two-time All-Star, Frazier signed a $17 million, two-year contract with New York as a free agent in February. He is batting .217 with 10 homers, 32 RBIs and a .685 OPS in 61 games. He was sidelined from May 8 to June 1 with a strained left hamstring.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

A look at what's happening around the majors today:BACK HOME IN BOSTONThe Red Sox went 7-2 on their recent road trip against the New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and Kansas City Royals. After winning six straight, they return home for a seven-game homestand leading into the All-Star break, beginning with a series against the Rangers. Eduardo Rodriguez (10-3, 3.84 ERA) starts the opener for Boston, and Mike Minor (6-4, 4.63) goes for Texas.BIG APPLE TWINBILLBoth teams from New York play a single-admission doubleheader to make up a previous postponement. Aaron Judge and the Yankees are in Baltimore to face the Orioles, who have lost six in a row and own the worst record in the majors. The struggling Mets, shut out in their past two games by Tampa Bay, host the first-place Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field.CHAMPS ON A ROLLHouston All-Star Gerrit Cole (9-2) opposes Oakland's Frankie Montas (4-2) when the World Series champion Astros try to extend their winning streak to seven games... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Thirty years ago, the Baltimore Orioles started the season 0-21, assuring themselves a place among baseball's biggest laughingstocks.This season's Orioles could turn out to be even worse.Baltimore's 10-1 loss to Minnesota on Sunday was the team's 13th in its past 14 games and dropped the Orioles to 41 games under .500. At 24-65, this year's Orioles are actually a few games behind where that dreadful 1988 team was through 89 games. That group was 29-60 — and its worst stretch was already over.The current Baltimore club has the worst record in baseball, behind even teams that entered the season with low expectations, such as the Royals and White Sox. The Orioles aren't that far removed from a postseason berth in 2016, and although they went 75-87 last year, there was still enough talent on the roster for Baltimore to believe it could compete in the AL East.In fact, that's one of the most surprising aspects of this collapse: It has happened despite the presence of stars like... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:BACK HOME IN BOSTONThe Red Sox went 7-2 on their recent road trip against the New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and Kansas City Royals. They return home for a seven-game homestand leading into the All-Star break, beginning with a series against the Texas Rangers. Eduardo Rodriguez (10-3, 3.84 ERA) starts the opener for Boston, and Mike Minor (6-4, 4.63) goes for Texas.AN EVEN DOZENPhiladelphia ace Aaron Nola tries to become the National League's first 12-game winner — and match his career high for victories — when he starts against the New York Mets. The right-hander was selected to his first All-Star Game on Sunday, and he enters the start in New York fifth in the NL in ERA (2.41) and sixth in strikeouts (116).STRUGGLING STARTERKyle Hendricks has been one of the most consistent starters for the Chicago Cubs since entering the rotation in 2014. But the right-hander has been going through a difficult stretch over his last six outings, a trend he hopes to turn around when he pitches at San Francisco. Hendricks (5-8, 4.27 ERA) has allowed 22 runs over his last 29 1/3 innings since the start of June, wining only once during that span.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is likely headed to the disabled list after leaving in the fifth inning against the Angels with what the team announced was a strained right oblique.Puig grabbed his right side after taking a swing during an at-bat and grimaced. He hunched over and was checked by a trainer and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts before leaving the game.Joc Pederson finished the at-bat and struck out."When you're talking about oblique, rib cage, we're almost certain it's a DL situation," Roberts said. "Obviously, we've got four days with the (All-Star) break to buy (time). We're going to get a scan (Monday) and we'll know more then."Puig hit a three-run homer — his 11th of the season — in the second inning. He was 1 for 2 with three RBIs."On the first swing, I felt something," Puig said. "The second swing, I tried to bat through a fastball and tried to hit it in the front and that's when I felt it more. ... I feel bad. I can't help my team win right now. I come and play little bit better and try to help my team win. Now, this has happened. The only thing I can do is rest."

Mike Trout, Aaron Judge and Mookie Betts form a dream outfield for the American League. Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer make up a not-so-gracious welcome committee for the NL.Power in the center of power. A capital-sized All-Star Game.Baseball unveiled the rosters for its midsummer showcase Sunday night, featuring an imposing AL lineup and Harper starting at his home ballpark in Washington.Reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve was one of five All-Stars from the World Series champion Houston Astros, matching the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians for most in the majors. The New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves each had four, including rookie Gleyber Torres from the Bronx Bombers and fellow second baseman Ozzie Albies from the surprising Braves."It's fun. You're playing but you're looking around because you're playing with all those big boys out there," said Altuve, who made the AL team for the sixth time.Torres is on the disabled list with a hip injury and unlikely to participate. While he and Albies... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning sent Andrew Heaney and the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.Albert Pujols also went deep for the Angels, tying the score at 3 in the sixth. Justin Upton had a two-run single.Heaney (5-6) allowed only three hits and equaled a career high with 10 strikeouts in seven innings to help the Angels take two of three at home in the Freeway Series. He gave up an early three-run homer to Yasiel Puig, who later left with an oblique injury.Ohtani drove his first career pinch-hit homer a projected 443 feet to center field off reliever JT Chargois (2-2). It also was the Angels' first pinch-hit home run of the season and Ohtani's seventh in the majors.The two-way rookie star from Japan, unavailable to pitch lately because of an elbow injury, fouled a ball off his knee one day earlier and experienced soreness. Before the game, it was unclear if he would be able to come off the bench.Justin... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday:BACK HOME IN BOSTONThe Red Sox went 7-2 on their recent road trip against the New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and Kansas City Royals. They return home for a seven-game homestand leading into the All-Star break, beginning with a series against the Texas Rangers. Eduardo Rodriguez (10-3, 3.84 ERA) starts the opener for Boston, and Mike Minor (6-4, 4.63) goes for Texas.AN EVEN DOZENPhiladelphia ace Aaron Nola tries to become the National League's first 12-game winner — and match his career high for victories — when he starts against the New York Mets. The right-hander was selected to his first All-Star Game on Sunday, and he enters the start in New York fifth in the NL in ERA (2.41) and sixth in strikeouts (116).STRUGGLING STARTERKyle Hendricks has been one of the most consistent starters for the Chicago Cubs since entering the rotation in 2014. But the right-hander has been going through a difficult stretch over his last six outings, a trend he hopes to turn around when he pitches at San Francisco. Hendricks (5-8, 4.27 ERA) has allowed 22 runs over his last 29 1/3 innings since the start of June, wining only once during that span.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CLEVELAND (AP) — Brett Anderson came off the disabled list and pitched effectively into the sixth inning before turning things over to Oakland's outstanding bullpen as the Athletics downed the Cleveland Indians 6-0 on Sunday.Anderson (1-2) had been sidelined with a shoulder strain, one of several injuries to the A's starting staff. But the left-hander looked sharp in his first start since May 18, limiting the Indians to three hits and leaving with a 4-0 lead.Stephen Piscotty hit a two-run homer off rookie Shane Bieber (4-1), and Jed Lowrie had a solo shot as Oakland won for the 10th time in 12 games to take two of three from the Indians.The A's are 18-6 against AL Central teams.Yusmeiro Petit, Ryan Buchter and Emilio Pagan finished the combined five-hitter as the A's moved 10 games over .500.ASTROS 2, WHITE SOX 1HOUSTON (AP) — Dallas Keuchel pitched seven strong innings, Jose Altuve homered and Houston manufactured the go-ahead run in the seventh to complete a four-game sweep of Chicago.Altuve's... [More]