WASHINGTON (AP) — Aaron Nola outdueled Max Scherzer in a meeting of All-Star aces, Odubel Herrera hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 2-0 Thursday.Nola (15-3) was masterful in his matchup with the three-time Cy Young Award winner, allowing five hits and one walk. He escaped his biggest jam with his final pitch, striking out Bryce Harper with runners on first and second to end the eighth.Nola struck out nine and finished with a 2.13 ERA — the exact same ERA as Scherzer.Scherzer (16-6) was nearly as good in the first matchup of starters with at least 150 innings and a sub-2.25 ERA since St. Louis' John Tudor faced Mets ace Dwight Gooden on Sept. 11, 1985. Scherzer gave up two hits in seven innings and struck out 10, increasing his major league-leading total to 244.Pat Neshek pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.BRAVES 5, MARLINS 0MIAMI (AP) — Rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his 21st home run and got hit by another Miami... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Aaron Nola outdueled Max Scherzer in a meeting of All-Star aces, Odubel Herrera hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 2-0 Thursday.Nola (15-3) was masterful in his matchup with the three-time Cy Young Award winner, allowing five hits and one walk. He escaped his biggest jam with his final pitch, striking out Bryce Harper with runners on first and second to end the eighth.Nola struck out nine and finished with a 2.13 ERA — the exact same ERA as Scherzer.Scherzer (16-6) was nearly as good in the first matchup of starters with at least 150 innings and a sub-2.25 ERA since St. Louis' John Tudor faced Mets ace Dwight Gooden on Sept. 11, 1985. Scherzer gave up two hits in seven innings and struck out 10, increasing his major league-leading total to 244.Pat Neshek pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.ROCKIES 4, PADRES 3DENVER (AP) — Ian Desmond hit a two-run, two-out homer in the ninth inning, and Colorado... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies reinstated lefty Chris Rusin from the 10-day disabled list after the reliever missed time with plantar fasciitis.Rusin went on the DL on July 24. He also missed time earlier this season with a strained intercostal muscle.The 31-year-old is 0-2 with a 6.81 ERA in 35 appearances this season. Rusin made a career-high 60 appearances in 2017 and posted a 2.65 ERA.To make room on the roster, the Rockies optioned right-hander Yency Almonte to Triple-A Albuquerque. Almonte had a 1.00 ERA in seven games spanning two stints with Colorado since he made his major league debut on June 21.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge and Miguel Andujar hit two-run homers off James Paxton in the first inning that sent the New York Yankees over the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Thursday for a three-game sweep.Luis Severino and the Yankees boosted the best record in the majors to 50-22. They've won four in a row and 17 of 21. Seattle has lost a season-high four straight.Severino (11-2) wasn't at his best. He gave up Kyle Seager's two-run homer in the second and permitted eight hits overall, matching a season most. He was pulled with two outs in the sixth after Ben Gamel's RBI single cut Seattle's deficit to one run.David Robertson and Dellin Betances protected the lead, and Aroldis Chapman struck out Dee Gordon on three pitches with a runner on second for his 22nd save in 23 chances.Paxton (6-2) had been 5-0 in 10 starts since April, including a no-hitter at Toronto. He went five innings and threw 107 pitches, the same total as Severino.GIANTS 3, PADRES 0SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Madison Bumgarner pitched... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge and Miguel Andujar hit two-run homers off James Paxton in the first inning that sent the New York Yankees over the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Thursday for a three-game sweep.Luis Severino and the Yankees boosted the best record in the majors to 50-22. They've won four in a row and 17 of 21. Seattle has lost a season-high four straight.Severino (11-2) wasn't at his best. He gave up Kyle Seager's two-run homer in the second and permitted eight hits overall, matching a season most. He was pulled with two outs in the sixth after Ben Gamel's RBI single cut Seattle's deficit to one run.David Robertson and Dellin Betances protected the lead, and Aroldis Chapman struck out Dee Gordon on three pitches with a runner on second for his 22nd save in 23 chances.Paxton (6-2) had been 5-0 in 10 starts since April, including a no-hitter at Toronto. He went five innings and threw 107 pitches, the same total as Severino.RED SOX 9, TWINS 2MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rick Porcello allowed one... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge and Miguel Andujar hit two-run homers off James Paxton in the first inning that sent the New York Yankees over the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Thursday for a three-game sweep.Luis Severino and the Yankees boosted the best record in the majors to 50-22. They've won four in a row and 17 of 21. Seattle has lost a season-high four straight.Severino (11-2) wasn't at his best. He gave up Kyle Seager's two-run homer in the second and permitted eight hits overall, matching a season most. He was pulled with two outs in the sixth after Ben Gamel's RBI single cut Seattle's deficit to one run.David Robertson and Dellin Betances protected the lead, and Aroldis Chapman struck out Dee Gordon on three pitches with a runner on second for his 22nd save in 23 chances.Paxton (6-2) had been 5-0 in 10 starts since April, including a no-hitter at Toronto. He went five innings and threw 107 pitches, the same total as Severino.RED SOX 9, TWINS 2MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rick Porcello allowed one... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge and Miguel Andujar hit two-run homers off James Paxton in the first inning that sent the New York Yankees over the Seattle Mariners 4-3 Thursday for a three-game sweep.Luis Severino and the Yankees boosted the best record in the majors to 50-22. They've won four in a row and 17 of 21. Seattle has lost a season-high four straight.Severino (11-2) wasn't at his best. He gave up Kyle Seager's two-run homer in the second and permitted eight hits overall, matching a season most. He was pulled with two outs in the sixth after Ben Gamel's RBI single cut Seattle's deficit to one run.David Robertson and Dellin Betances protected the lead, and Aroldis Chapman struck out Dee Gordon on three pitches with a runner on second for his 22nd save in 23 chances.Paxton (6-2) had been 5-0 in 10 starts since April, including a no-hitter at Toronto. He went five innings and threw 107 pitches, the same total as Severino.RED SOX 9, TWINS 2MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rick Porcello allowed one hit... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joc Pederson went deep twice, Cody Bellinger hit his third home run in as many games and the Los Angeles Dodgers used nine pitchers to hold off the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7 on Thursday.Pederson led off the game with a solo blast off Jameson Taillon (3-5) and added a two-run shot in the eighth off Michael Feliz for his second multi-home run game in a week. Bellinger finished 3 for 4, including a shot just over the wall in left field in the sixth to give the Dodgers a three-run advantage, and a stream of relievers made it stand as Los Angeles won for the 15th time in its last 20 games to move back to .500 (31-31).Daniel Hudson made his first start since 2015, working only the first inning, after the Dodgers scratched rookie Dennis Santana from what would have been his first major league start. Santana experienced tightness in his right side during his pregame routine. Pedro Baez (3-3) picked up the win by getting six outs. Kenley Jansen worked around a pinch-hit homer by Francisco... [More]

Capsules of National League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Los Angeles Dodgers2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Manager: Dave Roberts (third season).He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler, LHP Scott Alexander, LHP Henry Owens.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Tony Watson, LHP Luis Avilan, LHP Scott Kazmir, LHP Adam Liberatore, OF Andre Ethier, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Grant Dayton, OF Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Josh Ravin.Projected Lineup: CF Chris Taylor (.288, 21 HRs, 72 RBIs, 17 SBs), SS Corey Seager (.295, 22, 77), 3B Justin Turner (.322, 21, 71, will start season on DL with broken left wrist), 1B Cody Bellinger (.267, 39, 97, 10 SBs), RF Yasiel Puig (.263, 28, 74), LF Matt Kemp (.276, 19, 64 in 115 games with Braves) or Joc Pederson (.212, 11, 35 in 102 games), C Austin Barnes (.289, 8, 38) or Yasmani Grandal (.247, 22, 58), 2B Logan Forsythe (.224, 6,... [More]

Capsules of National League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Los Angeles Dodgers2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Manager: Dave Roberts (third season).He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler, LHP Scott Alexander, LHP Henry Owens.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Tony Watson, LHP Luis Avilan, LHP Scott Kazmir, LHP Adam Liberatore, OF Andre Ethier, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Grant Dayton, OF Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Josh Ravin.Projected Lineup: CF Chris Taylor (.288, 21 HRs, 72 RBIs, 17 SBs), SS Corey Seager (.295, 22, 77), 3B Justin Turner (.322, 21, 71, will start season on DL with broken left wrist), 1B Cody Bellinger (.267, 39, 97, 10 SBs), RF Yasiel Puig (.263, 28, 74), LF Matt Kemp (.276, 19, 64 in 115 games with Braves) or Joc Pederson (.212, 11, 35 in 102 games), C Austin Barnes (.289, 8, 38) or Yasmani Grandal (.247, 22, 58), 2B Logan Forsythe (.224, 6,... [More]

DENVER (AP) — NL batting champion Charlie Blackmon and the Colorado Rockies avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $14 million, one-year contract on Friday.The 31-year-old center fielder hit .331 with 37 homers and 104 RBIs last year and made $7.3 million. He can become a free agent after this season.Blackmon turned in one of the most productive seasons from the leadoff spot in major league history. His 102 RBIs from the top of the order surpassed Darin Erstad's previous major league record of 100 set with the Angels in 2000. Blackmon had 383 total bases — the most by a leadoff hitter for a season.His 37 homers tied him with Marcell Ozuna and Rockies teammate Nolan Arenado for third-most in the NL.In other deals, second baseman DJ LeMahieu agreed to an $8.5 million deal after making $4.85 million in 2017. He played in a career-high 155 games last season, hit .310 and made the All-Star team.Right-hander Chad Bettis agreed to $2 million deal, up from $545,000 in 2017. He was one of the... [More]

LHP Chris Rusin gave up a homer in the sixth to San Diego's Yangervis Solarte. Rusin has allowed nine homers in 82 1/3 innings and has yielded homers in back-to-back outings for the first time this season. In his last appearance, Thursday at Arizona, Rusin surrendered a homer to J.D. Martinez.

LHP Chris Rusin relieved starter Kyle Freeland in the first inning and threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, no walks and four hits allowed in a season-high 58-pitch outing. Rusin's five strikeouts tied his career high as a reliever. He also had five strikeouts in relief Sept. 21, 2016, against St. Louis. He tied his season high as a reliever with 3 1/3 innings, having also gone that distance April 13 at San Francisco.

LHP Chris Rusin relieved RHP German Marquez with runners on first and third in the sixth and the Rockies up, 3-0. He induced Gregory Polanco to hit into a 3-4-1 double play on his first pitch. A run scored but a big inning was avoided and Rusin finished the night with a 2.25 ERA

LHP Chris Rusin pitched the final three innings to earn his first career save in his 58th relief appearance in the big leagues. It was the 18th three-inning save in Rockies history and first since Jordan Lyles did it July 9 last season against Philadelphia. Rusin threw 33 pitches, 24 strikes, while allowing one hit, an infield single, with three strikeouts. In nine relief outings this season, Rusin is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA. He has allowed six runs, five earned, and four of those runs, all earned, came in an April 26 appearance against Washington.

LHP Chris Rusin was the hero of a 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants, Rockies manager Bud Black said. Rusin, who hadn't been warming up, was summoned from the dugout to take over for RHP Jon Gray after the Colorado starting pitcher injured his foot in the fourth inning. Rusin responded with 3 1/3 strong innings, allowing just two hits and one run. Fittingly, he was rewarded with his first win of the season.

LHP Chris Rusin (right oblique strain) was activated from the 10-day disabled list, pitched two innings and allowed four hits and one unearned run in a 35-pitch outing. He was eligible to be activated Sunday, and the Rockies returned him to the roster rather than have him make a second rehab appearance for Triple-A Albuquerque. Rusin was injured in his second and final Cactus League game March 3. In his outing Thursday for Albuquerque, he threw 42 pitches in 2 2/3 scoreless innings. "We felt he was ready," manager Bud Black said. "You've got to remember this was not an arm issue. This was an oblique issue, and once he proved that he was past the oblique, we felt good about his arm and where it was. The last week to 10 days in Arizona, he threw the ball great and he threw the ball well the other night in Albuquerque, so let's get an experienced major league pitcher up here to compliment our bullpen. He's able to do a couple different things, whether it's throw three innings, 45 or 50 pitches, or whether it's a one-inning outing."

LHP Chris Rusin (right oblique strain) threw 42 pitches in 2 2/3 innings Thursday night for Triple-A Albuquerque on a rehab assignment. Manager Bud Black said Rusin's stuff was good, and the reports on him were favorable. "Chris is in a good spot," Black said. "We'll make a determination on his status in the next 24 to 48 hours whether he continues on a rehab (assignment) or not."

LHP Chris Rusin will work three innings or throw 45 pitches in Triple-A Albuquerque's season opener as he works his way back from a left oblique injury. Manager Bud Black said Rusin, who suffered the injury early in spring training, wouldn't be activated from the disabled list until he's able to work multiple innings.

LHP Chris Rusin (right oblique) strained his oblique March 3 in his second Cactus League outing and on March 22 threw a 25-pitch bullpen session. He has since thrown a second bullpen and faced hitters once. Rusin was going to be stretched out as a starter in spring training. He is expected to open the season on the disabled list and could return in early April if the Rockies slot him for a relief role, and he doesn't have to build up his pitch count to start.