Marcus Stroman pitched one-hit ball for eight innings, Dominic Smith launched a grand slam and the New York Mets cruised to a 7-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Stroman (7-8) gave up a leadoff single to Aristides Aquino in the third inning and little else. He struck out seven and walked one while giving New York’s beleaguered bullpen precious rest going into Thursday’s day off. Jeurys Familia struck out three in a hitless ninth. Luis Guillorme hit his first homer of the season and Jonathan Villar also connected for the NL East leaders. Mets manager Luis Rojas returned to the dugout after serving a two-game suspension for excessive arguing on Sunday. Jeff Hoffman (3-5) came off the 10-day injured list to make his first start since May 26 and lasted four innings, allowing seven hits — including Smith's slam — and five runs with three walks. PADRES 3, BRAVES 2, 1ST GAME ATLANTA (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a two-run homer, starter Chris Paddack reversed his recent struggles and... [More]

Marcus Stroman pitched one-hit ball for eight innings, Dominic Smith launched a grand slam and the New York Mets cruised to a 7-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Stroman (7-8) gave up a leadoff single to Aristides Aquino in the third inning and little else. He struck out seven and walked one while giving New York’s beleaguered bullpen precious rest going into Thursday’s day off. Jeurys Familia struck out three in a hitless ninth. Luis Guillorme hit his first homer of the season and Jonathan Villar also connected for the NL East leaders. Mets manager Luis Rojas returned to the dugout after serving a two-game suspension for excessive arguing on Sunday. Jeff Hoffman (3-5) came off the 10-day injured list to make his first start since May 26 and lasted four innings, allowing seven hits — including Smith's slam — and five runs with three walks. PADRES 3, BRAVES 2, 1ST GAME ATLANTA (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a two-run homer, starter Chris Paddack reversed his recent struggles and... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today: SUSPENSION AFTER SHOOTING The San Diego Padres and Washington will resume their game after it was suspended because of a shooting outside Nationals Park. The game Saturday night was halted in the sixth inning with the Padres ahead 8-4. The shooting caused echoes of gunfire inside the stadium and prompted many fans to clear the seats and sent some scrambling for safety in the San Diego dugout. The shooting, an exchange of gunfire between people in two cars, left three people injured, according to Ashan Benedict, the Metropolitan Police Department’s executive assistant police chief. One of the people who was shot was a woman who was attending the game and who was struck while she was outside the stadium, he said. Her injuries weren’t considered life-threatening. Two people who were in one of the cars later walked into a local hospital with gunshot wounds and were being questioned by investigators, Benedict said, and the extent of their injuries... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors Sunday: SUSPENSION AFTER SHOOTING The San Diego Padres and Washington will resume their game after it was suspended because of a shooting outside Nationals Park. The game Saturday night was halted in the sixth inning with the Padres ahead 8-4. The shooting caused echoes of gunfire inside the stadium and prompted many fans to clear the seats and sent some scrambling for safety in the San Diego dugout. The shooting, an exchange of gunfire between people in two cars, left three people injured, according to Ashan Benedict, the Metropolitan Police Department’s executive assistant police chief. One of the people who was shot was a woman who was attending the game and who was struck while she was outside the stadium, he said. Her injuries weren’t considered life-threatening. Two people who were in one of the cars later walked into a local hospital with gunshot wounds and were being questioned by investigators, Benedict said, and the extent of their... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors Sunday: ANOTHER CHANCE Washington ace Max Scherzer gets another look at Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres when the Nationals close out a weekend series against San Diego. Scherzer was hit hard by the Padres on July 8, giving up a grand slam to reliever Daniel Camarena during Washington's 9-8 loss. Scherzer (7-4, 2.66 ERA) had been pitching well before that no-decision, going 6-2 with a 1.68 ERA in his previous 11 outings. He started the All-Star Game for the National League on Tuesday and tossed a perfect inning. Joe Musgrove (5-7, 2.93) takes the ball for San Diego. A-OK Athletics All-Star Chris Bassitt (10-2, 3.28 ERA) takes a 10-game winning streak into a matchup with Cleveland at the Coliseum. The 32-year-old righty dropped his first two starts of the year and hasn’t lost in 17 outings since. Bassitt’s streak is the longest by an Oakland pitcher since Mike Fiers won 12 straight in 2019. Indians right-hander Zach Plesac (4-3, 4.11) has won... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — New York Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor is out indefinitely with a strained oblique and ace Jacob deGrom is sidelined with forearm tightness, the NL East leaders announced Saturday in their latest round of health setbacks. The Mets didn't put a timetable on Lindor's return, but such injuries can often take a month or more to heal. “I’d love to say I’m day-to-day, but I’m not," Lindor said. DeGrom felt discomfort Friday while throwing a bullpen in Pittsburgh. An MRI hours later revealed forearm tightness but no structural damage. The two-time Cy Young Award winner hasn't yet been slotted back into the rotation and there is no projection on when he might pitch again. “Right now, we’re treating the player for what he feels,” manager Luis Rojas said. “That’s how we’re approaching day to day until he feels good and can throw." DeGrom is 7-2 with a major league-leading 1.08 ERA in 15 starts this season despite being hampered by multiple ailments. The right-hander last... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — New York Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor is out indefinitely with a strained oblique and ace Jacob deGrom is sidelined with forearm tightness, the NL East leaders announced Saturday in their latest round of health setbacks. The Mets didn't put a timetable on Lindor's return, but such injuries can often take a month or more to heal. “I’d love to say I’m day-to-day, but I’m not," Lindor said. DeGrom felt discomfort Friday while throwing a bullpen season at Pittsburgh. An MRI hours later showed there was forearm tightness but no structural damage. The right-hander hasn't yet been slotted back into the rotation and there is no projection on when deGrom might pitch again. “Right now, we’re treating the player for what he feels,” manager Luis Rojas said. “That’s how we’re approaching day to day until he feels good and can throw." DeGrom is 7-2 with a major league-leading 1.08 ERA in 15 starts this season despite being hampered by multiple ailments. He last pitched July... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola struck out 10 straight New York Mets batters Friday, tying a major league record that stood alone for more than five decades. Hall of Fame ace Tom Seaver fanned his final 10 hitters for the Mets in a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres at Shea Stadium on April 22, 1970. That mark for consecutive strikeouts held for 51 years until Nola whiffed Michael Conforto leading off the fourth inning in the first game of a doubleheader at Citi Field, which replaced Shea Stadium as the Mets' home in 2009 on the same site in Queens. Featuring a nasty knuckle curve, Nola started and ended his streak with punchouts of Conforto, who came off the injured list Wednesday. With the late-afternoon crowd chanting his name, Pete Alonso halted the astounding run of Ks when he reached across the plate to poke a 1-2 slider inside the right-field line for a line-drive double. Nola got off to an inauspicious start. He hit leadoff batter Jeff McNeil with a curveball... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Marcus Stroman is optimistic he can make his next scheduled start for the New York Mets after an MRI showed no damage to his sore left hip. That was good news for the depleted Mets, who reinstated right fielder Michael Conforto from the injured list Wednesday — one of eight roster moves the banged-up NL East leaders made before their series finale against Atlanta. Conforto had been sidelined since straining his right hamstring on May 16. He was ready to return Tuesday but wasn't activated after Triple-A Syracuse’s game was postponed to allow for more COVID-19 testing and contact tracing within the organization. Conforto spent last weekend on a rehab assignment with Syracuse, so the Mets said they decided not to reinstate him Tuesday “out of an abundance of caution.” “It was definitely a rollercoaster,” Conforto said. “Super excited yesterday. Fortunately, everything was fine.” The outfielder said Wednesday he tested negative three times and was feeling good. He batted third... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Marcus Stroman is optimistic he can make his next scheduled start for the New York Mets after an MRI showed no damage to his sore left hip. That was good news for the depleted Mets, who reinstated right fielder Michael Conforto from the injured list Wednesday — one of eight roster moves the banged-up NL East leaders made before their series finale against Atlanta. Conforto had been sidelined since straining his right hamstring on May 16. He was ready to return Tuesday but wasn't activated after Triple-A Syracuse’s game was postponed to allow for more COVID-19 testing and contact tracing within the organization. Conforto spent last weekend on a rehab assignment with Syracuse, so the Mets said they decided not to reinstate him Tuesday “out of an abundance of caution.” “It was definitely a rollercoaster,” Conforto said. “Super excited yesterday. Fortunately, everything was fine.” The outfielder said Wednesday he tested negative three times and was feeling good. He batted third... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — New York Mets manager Luis Rojas said Tuesday that he expects infielder Jeff McNeil to begin a rehab assignment by the end of the weekend. McNeil hasn't played since May 16 because of a strained left hamstring. He's hitting .242 with three home runs and eight RBIs on the season, but he batted over .300 each of his first three years in the big leagues, and the injury-plagued Mets could certainly use him back. Rojas also said outfielder Michael Conforto (right hamstring strain) is probably a couple weeks from starting his rehab assignment, but he's been able to hit and do defensive work. Outfielder Albert Almora (bruised left shoulder) was set to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday night, and infielder Luis Guillorme (right oblique strain) could be activated for the weekend. McNeil was expected to be out until late June, but Rojas said he's responded well to treatment and has been able to take grounders, run and swing the bat. Despite their injuries, the Mets entered Tuesday night's game at Baltimore with a 3 1/2-game lead in the NL East. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets right fielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Jeff McNeil have hamstring injuries that are likely to keep them out of action for another month. “They’re significant hamstring strains,” New York general manager Zack Scott said Monday during a lengthy recounting of the Mets’ MASH unit, which currently has a major league-high 16 players on the injured list plus right-hander Jordan Yamamoto set to join. “If I’m putting a timeframe on that, we’re probably looking at late June.” Three innings after rookie Johneshwy Fargas was hurt crashing into the center-field wall on Monday night, Mets owner Steve Cohen tweeted: “Anybody want to suit up?” Conforto and McNeil both got hurt on April 30. Right-hander Carlos Carrasco, sidelined by a strained right hamstring, won’t be ready to pitch for the Mets until late June or early July, Scott said. The six-week timetable from now is the same as the projection when Carrasco first got hurt on March 18. When Carrasco was moved from the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets right fielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Jeff McNeil have hamstring injuries that are likely to keep them out of action for another month. “They’re significant hamstring strains,” New York general manager Zack Scott said Monday during a lengthy recounting of the Mets’ MASH unit, which currently has a major league-high 16 players on the injured list plus right-hander Jordan Yamamoto set to join. “If I’m putting a timeframe on that, we’re probably looking at late June.” Three innings after rookie Johneshwy Fargas was hurt crashing into the center-field wall on Monday night, Mets owner Steve Cohen tweeted: “Anybody want to suit up?” Conforto and McNeil both got hurt on April 30. Right-hander Carlos Carrasco, sidelined by a strained right hamstring, won’t be ready to pitch for the Mets until late June or early July, Scott said. The six-week timetable from now is the same as the projection when Carrasco first got hurt on March 18. When Carrasco was moved from the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets right fielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Jeff McNeil have hamstring injuries that are likely to keep them out of action for another month. “They’re significant hamstring strains,” New York general manager Zack Scott said Monday during a lengthy recounting of the Mets’ MASH unit, which currently has a major league-high 16 players on the injured list plus right-hander Jordan Yamamoto set to join. “If I’m putting a timeframe on that, we’re probably looking at late June.” Conforto and McNeil both got hurt on April 30. Right-hander Carlos Carrasco, sidelined by a strained right hamstring, won’t be ready to pitch for the Mets until late June or early July, Scott said. The six-week timetable from now is the same as the projection when Carrasco first got hurt on March 18. When Carrasco was moved from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on May 9, Scott said there had not been a setback. “Probably when I spoke before, the word ‘setback’ to me implied something more... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets right fielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Jeff McNeil have hamstring injuries that are likely to keep them out of action for another month. “They’re significant hamstring strains,” general manager Zack Scott during Monday a lengthy recounting on the Mets’ MASH unit, which currently has a major league-high 16 players on the injured list with right-hander Jordan Yamamoto set to join. “If I’m putting a timeframe on that, we’re probably looking at late June.” Conforto and McNeil both got hurt on April 30. Right-hander Carlos Carrasco, sidelined by a strained right hamstring, won’t be ready to pitch for the Mets until late June or early July, Scott said. The six-week timetable from now is the same as the projection when Carrasco first got hurt on March 18. When Carrasco was moved from the 10-day to the 60-day IL on May 9, Scott said there had not been a setback. “Probably when I spoke before, the word ‘setback’ to me implied something more specific,” Scott... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Taijuan Walker and Kevin Pillar joined a long list of injured New York Mets players as both were forced to leave Monday night's 3-1 win against the Atlanta Braves. Walker pitched only three innings, allowing one hit and no runs, before exiting with tightness in his left side. With the bases loaded in the seventh, Pillar was hit square in the face by a 95 mph fastball from Jacob Webb. The veteran outfielder was knocked to the ground with blood pouring from his nose. Pillar was quickly helped to his feet with towels covering his face as he was escorted off the field. After the game, Mets manager Luis Rojas said Pillar was taken to the hospital for a CT scan. Pillar then provided an encouraging update on his Twitter account. “Thanks to everyone that has reached out! Scary moment but I’m doing fine!” he posted. Braves players, including Webb, watched the scary scene in shock. As members of the Atlanta grounds crew covered the blood left in the batter's box area, Webb was removed... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Taijuan Walker and Kevin Pillar joined a long list of injured New York Mets players as both were forced to leave Monday night's game against the Atlanta Braves. Walker pitched only three innings, allowing one hit and no runs, before exiting with tightness in his left side. With the bases loaded in the seventh, Pillar was hit square in the face by a pitch from Jacob Webb. The veteran outfielder was knocked to the ground with blood pouring from his nose. Pillar was quickly helped to his feet with towels covering his face as he was escorted off the field. There was no immediate update from the Mets on his condition. Braves players, including Webb, watched the frightening scene in shock. As members of the Atlanta grounds crew covered the blood left in the batter's box area, Webb was removed from the game. The injuries to Walker and Pillar came after the Mets added two regulars to the injured list before the game. Ace starter Jacob deGrom already is on the IL, recovering from... [More]

Phillies reliever José Alvarado thumped his glove and gestured at Dominic Smith after a strikeout ended a rally. Smith pulled off his helmet and the Mets left fielder seemed ready to fight back against the jabbering pitcher until both teams spilled out of the dugout and broke up the dust up before punches were thrown. Miguel Castro responded with a pair of inside heaters that had Phillies slugger Rhys Hoskins momentarily steamed. The Mets and Phillies turned the eighth inning into a bench-emptying, trash-talking, finger-pointing commotion that spiced up a routine game -- and could ignite more sparks this weekend -- in the Phillies’ 2-1 win on Friday night. “He made a big pitch, he got me out and he wanted to express his emotions,” Smith said. Mets manager Luis Rojas said Alvarado — who hit Michael Conforto and riled up Smith and the Mets with gestures earlier this month — was to blame. “You could tell that it was instigating. he was trying to get his attention, trying to start things,"... [More]

The Mets and Phillies turned the eighth inning into a bench-emptying, trash-talking, finger-pointing commotion that spiced up a routine game -- and could ignite more sparks this weekend -- in the Phillies’ 2-1 win on Friday night. The benches cleared in the eighth inning when Phillies reliever José Alvarado jawed at Dominic Smith after he struck him out to end a rally. Alvarado -- who riled up the Mets with gestures earlier this month -- mixed it up with New York but nothing came of the heated words. Mets reliever Miguel Castro then chased Rhys Hoskins down the line in the bottom of the inning and the benches again emptied. The fireworks fizzled faster than a Mets’ rally: New York has scored an MLB-low 58 runs, including two or fewer in nine of 20 games this season. Sam Coonrod worked a scoreless ninth for his first save. Chase Anderson swung and missed at a passed ball on a third strike that let two runs score, and he tossed five solid innings to lead the Phillies. Odúbel Herrera received... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeff McNeil launched a tying homer in the bottom of the ninth inning on his 29th birthday and the New York Mets were handed the winning run on a disputed hit by pitch for a bizarre 3-2 victory over the Miami Marlins in their home opener Thursday. With the bases loaded and one out, a scuffling Michael Conforto appeared to stick out his right elbow pad just enough to get it grazed by a 1-2 breaking ball from closer Anthony Bass that looked to be in the strike zone. Plate umpire and crew chief Ron Kulpa at first signaled strike, then quickly ruled Conforto was hit by the pitch. Conforto headed toward first base as Luis Guillorme scored and the Mets celebrated a comeback win in front of the first crowd at Citi Field in 557 days. Marlins players and manager Don Mattingly argued with Kulpa before a replay review was initiated. The review lasted 58 seconds, and the call was upheld. According to baseball rules, if a batter is hit by a pitch in the strike zone, the pitch should be... [More]