WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer and knocked in the go-ahead run to help the Washington Nationals finish a three-game sweep of the last-place Miami Marlins with a 5-2 victory Thursday.Washington has won eight of nine and 13 of 16 to climb to a season-best four games over .500.Kurt Suzuki homered in the second inning to extend the Montreal Expos/Nationals franchise record for consecutive games with a home run to 18. Rendon hit a solo shot in the fourth off Elieser Hernández (1-3) and drove in Gerardo Parra with a single in the fifth.Washington right-hander Aníbal Sánchez (5-6) allowed one earned run and five hits in six innings. Fernando Rodney got three outs for his second save of the season.Miguel Rojas homered for Miami, and Starlin Castro had three hits.YANKEES 8, RAYS 4, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — DJ LeMahieu hit a tiebreaking two-run single and Gary Sanchez had a long three-run homer in the 10th inning, and AL East-leading New York overcome a ninth-inning... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer and knocked in the go-ahead run to help the Washington Nationals finish a three-game sweep of the last-place Miami Marlins with a 5-2 victory Thursday.Washington has won eight of nine and 13 of 16 to climb to a season-best four games over .500.Kurt Suzuki homered in the second inning to extend the Montreal Expos/Nationals franchise record for consecutive games with a home run to 18. Rendon hit a solo shot in the fourth off Elieser Hernández (1-3) and drove in Gerardo Parra with a single in the fifth.Washington right-hander Aníbal Sánchez (5-6) allowed one earned run and five hits in six innings. Fernando Rodney got three outs for his second save of the season.Miguel Rojas homered for Miami, and Starlin Castro had three hits.YANKEES 8, RAYS 4, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — DJ LeMahieu hit a tiebreaking two-run single and Gary Sanchez had a long three-run homer in the 10th inning, and AL East-leading New York overcome a ninth-inning... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks needed just 81 pitches for a four-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered for his third straight game and the Chicago Cubs beat the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 on Friday.The second-place Cubs won their season-high fifth in a row while cutting St. Louis' lead to 1½ games. The Cardinals have back-to-back losses after five consecutive victories.Hendricks (2-4) pitched his third career shutout and fourth complete game, his first since he shut out Miami on Aug. 1, 2016. The right-hander struck out three and did not walk a batter, after getting pounded in a loss at Arizona last week. Hendricks improved to 6-2 in 15 starts against St. Louis.Rizzo made it 3-0 with a three-run drive against Jack Flaherty (3-2) in the third and finished with three hits. Javier Baez added an RBI single in the seventh, and the Cubs opened a 10-game homestand with a win.Flaherty allowed three runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings.BRAVES 7, MARLINS 2MIAMI (AP) — Freddie Freeman and Brian... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks needed just 81 pitches for a four-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered for his third straight game and the Chicago Cubs beat the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 on Friday.The second-place Cubs won their season-high fifth in a row while cutting St. Louis' lead to 1½ games. The Cardinals have back-to-back losses after five consecutive victories.Hendricks (2-4) pitched his third career shutout and fourth complete game, his first since he shut out Miami on Aug. 1, 2016. The right-hander struck out three and did not walk a batter, after getting pounded in a loss at Arizona last week. Hendricks improved to 6-2 in 15 starts against St. Louis.Rizzo made it 3-0 with a three-run drive against Jack Flaherty (3-2) in the third and finished with three hits. Javier Baez added an RBI single in the seventh, and the Cubs opened a 10-game homestand with a win.Flaherty allowed three runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings.BRAVES 7, MARLINS 2MIAMI (AP) — Freddie Freeman and Brian... [More]

April 281901 — Cleveland pitcher Bock Baker gave up a record 23 singles as the Chicago White Sox beat the Indians 13-1.1930 — The first night game in organized baseball was played in Independence, Kan. In a Western Association game, Muskogee defeated Independence 13-3.1934 — Detroit's Goose Goslin hit into four double plays, but the Tigers still beat Cleveland 4-1.1956 — Cincinnati rookie Frank Robinson hit the first home run of his 586 lifetime homers in a 9-1 win over Chicago. Robinson homer came off Paul Minner in Crosley Field.1961 — Warren Spahn, at the age of 40, no-hit the San Francisco Giants 1-0 at Milwaukee.1966 — Cleveland's Sonny Siebert defeated the Angels 2-1 as the Indians tie the modern major league record with its 10th straight win since opening day.1971 — Hank Aaron connected off Gaylord Perry for his 600th career home run in the Atlanta Braves' 10-inning, 6-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants.1982 — Philadelphia's Pete Rose went 5-for-5 to tie Max Carey for the NL record... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Seattle Mariners have placed right-handers Juan Nicasio and Dan Altavilla on the 10-day disabled list, recalled infielder Daniel Vogelbach, and purchased the contract of right-hander Mike Morin from Triple-A Tacoma.Nicasio has swelling in his right knee, while Altavilla is sidelined by a right elbow UCL sprain.Mariners manager Scott Servais says Thursday he hates "to lose either one of those guys, but we've got to get them healthy, get them right."Nicasio gave up four earned runs without getting an out June 6 at Houston after not allowing a run in his previous eight games.Altavilla, 3-2 with 2.61 ERA over 22 appearances, was previously on the DL May 1-12 with right AC joint inflammation. He will be examined by team doctors in Seattle.Morin went 2-1 with three saves and a 3.24 ERA in 20 games for Tacoma.Vogelbach, in his third stint with the Mariners this season, hit .200 with two homers and five RBIs and in 22 earlier games.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

May 31927 — Brooklyn's Jesse Barnes defeated his brother Virgil Barnes for a 7-6 victory over the New York Giants. It was the first matchup of pitching brothers in major league history.1936 — Joe DiMaggio made his major league debut for the New York Yankees and had three hits in a 14-5 victory over the St. Louis Browns.1941 — Hank Gornicki of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a one-hitter in his major league debut for a 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Stan Benjamin's single was the lone hit.1951 — Rookie Gil McDougald of New York drove in six runs in one inning to tie a major league record as the Yankees beat the St. Louis Browns 17-3 at Sportsman's Park. McDougald had a two-run triple and a grand slam in an 11-run ninth inning.1959 — Detroit's Charlie Maxwell hit four consecutive homers in a doubleheader sweep of the New York Yankees, 4-2 and 8-2, at Briggs Stadium.1979 — Cleveland's Bobby Bonds hit the 300th home run of his career against Moose Haas in a 6-1 loss to the Milwaukee... [More]

Capsules of American League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Cleveland Indians2017: 102-60, first place, lost to Yankees in ALDS.Manager: Terry Francona (sixth season).He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, LF Rajai Davis, RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Projected Lineup: SS Francisco Lindor (.273, 33 HRs, 89 RBIs, 44 2Bs, 15 SBs, 10 errors), 2B Jason Kipnis (.232, 12 HRs, 35 RBIs in 90 games), 3B Jose Ramirez (.318, 29, 83, AL-leading 56 2Bs), DH Edwin Encarnacion (.258, 38, 107), 1B Yonder Alonso (.266, career-high 28 HRs, 67 RBIs with Athletics and Mariners), RF Lonnie Chisenhall (.288, 12, 53 in 82 games), C Roberto Perez (.207, 8, 38, club went 44-22 in his starts) or Yan Gomes (.232, 14, 56), CF Bradley Zimmer (.241, 8, 39, 18 SBs, 0 errors), LF Michael Brantley (.299, 9, 52 in 90 games) or Rajai Davis (.235, 5, 20, 29 SBs with Oakland and Boston).Rotation: RH Corey Kluber... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Houston AstrosManager: A.J. Hinch (fourth season).2017: 101-61, first place, won World Series.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Hector Rondon.He's Outta Here: DH Carlos Beltran, RHP Luke Gregerson, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Michael Feliz, INF Colin Moran.Going campin': This team is basically set after retaining almost every key player from last season's championship squad. The two strongest areas are the middle infield, where shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve, last year's AL MVP, return to anchor the middle of the order. Correa hit .315 with 24 homers — both career highs — and Altuve had his finest season, hitting a career-best and major... [More]

Morin was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

Morin doesn't have any problem striking guys out, but he also gives up a high number of home runs and hits in general. Look for him to get used out of the Angels' bullpen in low-leverage situations.

The Angels optioned Morin to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday, Pedro Moura of the Orange County Register reports.

Morin had just been recalled Sunday, but may have been the likely candidate to be optioned ahead of Nick Tropeano's start Thursday, as he has a 7.43 ERA this season, and has not pitched in a major league game since July 28. He will once again act as depth for the bullpen in the minors.

Morin was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake City on Sunday.

Morin will once again serve in the back end of the bullpen, as he wasn't exactly successful during his first go-around this season. A 7.43 ERA through 29 appearances is essentially all prospective fantasy owners need to hear. Nonetheless, the 24-year-old will get another chance to contribute in middle relief.

Morin was optioned to Triple-A, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Angels have not made a corresponding roster move yet, and they are expected to make an announcement Thursday. Morin has appeared in 29 games with the Angels, posting a 7.43 ERA and 26 hits in 23 innings.

Morin (oblique) was activate from the disabled list Wednesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Morin was expected to be activated Wednesday, and now the move can be considered official. The team hasn't indicated who will lose a spot on the 25-man roster, but Morin should retake a role in middle relief moving forward.

Morin (oblique) is expected to be activated Tuesday or Wednesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times reports.

Morin has finished up his rehab assignment in the Arizona Summer League, and he's now back with the team in Los Angeles. The Angels are yet to officially activate him, however, and it's unclear whether that move will come Tuesday or Wednesday. Regardless, the team will have to make another transaction to clear a spot on the 25-man roster.

Morin (oblique) will begin his rehab assignment Sunday in the Arizona summer league, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times reports.

If his summer league outing goes without incident, Morin will then join the Angels' Triple-A affiliate at Salt Lake on Wednesday. Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reported that Morin will likely need four rehab appearances before being activated from the disabled list.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Michael Morin will begin his rehab assignment Sunday in the Arizona Summer League as he recovers from from an oblique injury, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Michael Morin will begin his rehab assignment Sunday in the Arizona Summer League as he recovers from from an oblique injury, according to the Los Angeles Times. Morin could join Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Morin (oblique) is a few bullpen sessions away from a rehab assignment, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

That means Morin could potentially head out on a rehab trip by the end of the week. The 24-year-old reliever has been out since straining his oblique May 23. After he allowed 13 runs (10 earned) in 15 innings with the Angels earlier this year, there may not necessarily be a bullpen spot available for him.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Michael Morin, who has been sidelined since May 23 by a strained oblique, is a few bullpen sessions away from beginning a rehab assignment, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Michael Morin, who has been sidelined since May 23 by a strained oblique, is a few bullpen sessions away from beginning a rehab assignment, according to the Los Angeles Times. Morin allowed 13 runs, 10 earned, in 15.0 innings before being sidelined, and his potential bullpen role upon return is undetermined.

Morin (oblique) played light catch Friday, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports.

He is still weeks away from returning and will require a rehab assignment before returning to the Angels' bullpen.