NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmie Lee Solomon, a top executive for Major League Baseball under Commissioner Bud Selig who established youth academies and helped launch the annual Futures Game of top prospects, has died. He was 64. Solomon was among the highest-ranking Black officials in baseball when he left in 2012. His daughter, Tricia Solomon, said Friday that he was found dead at his house in Houston and the cause was not immediately known. “I am surprised and saddened by the news of the passing of our former colleague,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Jimmie Lee was passionate about providing opportunities to young athletes and advancing baseball in our communities. Our network of youth academies across the country is in large part a credit to his hard work and dedication.” Academies began in 2006 in Compton, California, and also were established in Houston and New Orleans as part of MLB’s efforts to revive the sport in inner cities and Black players in the major leagues.... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Freddie Freeman has come a long way this year. The slugging first baseman recovered from a serious bout with COVID-19 in July in time to play a full season for the Braves and help them to their first NL Championship Series since 2001. As the Braves prepare to meet the Los Angeles Dodgers starting on Monday in Arlington, Texas, Freeman was asked to reflect on everything that’s happened since the night the coronavirus caused his temperature to spike to 104.5. “I try not to think about,” he said. “I try to live in the moment ... but I was just happy to try and make opening day and now here we are eight wins away from a World Series.” Freeman and the Braves swept the Miami Marlins to end a streak of eight straight series losses in the NLDS. He admitted before the series that their losing streak in the division series was a chip on his shoulder and was thrilled to finally end it, in part so he didn’t have to hear about it anymore. “I’m just glad the narrative is changing,” he... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — If there’s a universally recognized good guy among the generally reviled Houston Astros, it’s Dusty Baker. At 71, he’s the first manager to lead five different franchises to the postseason, but is still chasing his first World Series title at the helm. The Astros have advanced to their fourth consecutive AL Championship Series, beating the Oakland Athletics in four games. Next up, starting Sunday in San Diego, is either the New York Yankees or Tampa Bay Rays with a berth in the World Series at stake. If the Astros get that far, Baker would have a shot at being the second Black manager to win a World Series, joining Cito Gaston. He would also be the second oldest to win behind 72-year-old Jack McKeon. While the Astros remain villains in many people’s eyes for their sign-stealing scandal of three years ago, few begrudge the grandfatherly Baker. He's been careful to protect his health during the coronavirus pandemic, wearing a mask and gloves. He eats oatmeal for breakfast.... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The euphoria of the San Diego Padres’ first playoff series victory in 22 seasons quickly gave way to the pain of being swept out of the playoffs by their biggest rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Spring training can’t get here soon enough for the Padres, who finally shed their rebuilding label and rode the swagger and talent of budding superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado to their first winning season since 2010 and reinvigorated a fan base that had been beaten down by so much losing. “We know how to win now,” said right fielder Wil Myers, their longest-tenured played who had a nice bounceback season at the plate. “We’re expecting to win. We’ve got great players in here. I know we came up short tonight, but there’s a lot of optimism here in San Diego. It’s going to be a great offseason for us. Ready to rock and roll and come back next year with a different mentality.” Led by rookie manager Jayce Tingler, the Padres lost 12-3 Thursday night and were swept out of... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — After an improbable run to the playoffs, the Miami Marlins confronted a hard reality in the National League Division Series: They still can’t beat the Atlanta Braves. The Marlins were sent to the sideline later than usual, but forcefully, when Atlanta completed a best-of-5 sweep with a 7-0 win Thursday. The three-game drubbing showed the Marlins their great leap forward this year left them still a ways from overtaking their NL East rivals. “You have to measure yourself with them, and have to be able to beat that club,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said. “We feel like we’re getting closer, but they let us know where we’re at.” Despite a coronavirus outbreak that nearly derailed their season, the young Marlins reached the playoffs for the first time since 2003. The breakthrough came one year after a 105-loss season as CEO Derek Jeter's blueprint to rebuild from the farm system up started to pay off. “This is just the beginning of where we’re going to go,” shortstop Miguel Rojas... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics took the next step in the playoffs at last but still fell short of their ultimate goal. They won the AL West to reach a postseason series following two straight years of losing in the one-game wild card round. Oakland lost the opener of its best-of-three wild-card round this year to the White Sox before rallying to win the next two against Chicago. The A’s season then ended Thursday with a four-game Division Series loss to the rival Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium. “Our goal was to win the World Series. You lose in the ALDS, it’s not exactly where you want to be,” shortstop Marcus Semien said. “We knew that we had the pieces to go further and our goal was always the World Series.” Oakland got outslugged. Outpitched, too. In 11 postseason trips since 2000, Oakland has advanced to the AL Championship Series just once — in 2006 before being swept by the Tigers. “Our reflection is our goals were lofty and we felt short of them," manager Bob Melvin... [More]

Oct. 10 1904 — Boston clinched the pennant on the last day of the season when Jack Chesbro of the New York Highlanders threw a wild pitch in the ninth to allow the winning run to score from third. 1920 — The Cleveland Indians beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 8-1 in the fifth game of the World Series. For the Indians, Elmer Smith hit the first Series grand slam and Jim Bagby, the winner, hit the first Series homer by a pitcher. 1924 — The Washington Senators won their only championship by defeating the Giants 4-3 in 12 innings. The winning run scored when a ball hit by Earl McNeely bounced over third baseman Fred Lindstrom’s head. 1926 — Grover Alexander, 39, saved Game 7 and the World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals, fanning Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded in the seventh inning and pitching 2 1-3 hitless innings. 1957 — Lew Burdette’s third victory of the World Series, a 5-0 decision over the New York Yankees, gave the Milwaukee Braves the championship. 1968 — Mickey Lolich won the World... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Padres paraded pitchers to the mound because they really didn’t have much choice. San Diego set a postseason record Thursday night by using 11 pitchers in a 12-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who swept the best-of-five NL Division Series. The Padres finished with a majors-leading 38 innings from the bullpen in six playoff games and had 51 total appearances from their hurlers. San Diego got just one inning from its top two starters in the postseason. Mike Clevinger skipped the wild-card series against St. Louis and left two pitches into the second inning of LA’s 5-1 win in Game 1 of the NLDS because of an elbow injury the right-hander had been trying to pitch through. Dinelson Lamet was left off the postseason roster in both rounds after the right-hander experienced biceps tightness in his final start of the regular season Sept. 25. The Padres were the first team to use nine pitchers in three straight games in the regular season or playoffs, doing it in the... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. bent backward from his knees and stared skyward after his wild throw became San Diego's playoff-high fifth error and gave the Los Angeles Dodgers the tying run. The 21-year-old budding superstar and the rest of the Padres will have to wait at least another year for the club's first trip past the National League Division Series since 1998. Tatis' throwing error from his knees after a diving stop on an infield single by Corey Seager came early in a five-run third inning that propelled the Dodgers to a 12-3 victory Thursday night and a sweep of the neutral-site best-of-five NLDS. No matter how many pitchers the Padres threw at their NL West rivals — 11 in a postseason record for a nine-inning game — they never really were in the series except for one bases-loaded chance for Slam Diego at the end of Game 2. The Padres couldn't add to their majors-leading seven grand slams from the regular season, although Jake Cronenworth's walk and Trent Grisham's... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ WINNER-TAKE-ALL Yankees ace Gerrit Cole and towering Tampa Bay righty Tyler Glasnow will both pitch on short rest in the deciding Game 5 of their AL Division Series. Cole earned the victory in Game 1 despite allowing two home runs, and he’ll appear on three days’ rest after throwing 97 pitches. The 6-foot-8 Glasnow will be pitching on two days’ rest after striking out 10 in Game 2. He’s expected to be used as an opener, possibly ahead of 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. “I haven’t really talked about innings or anything like that,” Glasnow said after New York won 5-1 Thursday to force Game 5. “I just know I’m starting tomorrow, but I feel good about it. I’m excited. ... As far as health goes, I feel good. I’m ready to go. I was in the ’pen today. I was ready to come out today.” The Yankees are trying to reach the ALCS for the third time in four seasons following eliminations by the Astros at that stage in 2017 and last season.... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Carlos Correa hit a go-ahead, three-run homer after Michael Brantley’s two-run shot in the fourth inning, helping the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 11-6 on Thursday to win their home-run heavy AL Division Series in four games. Correa drove in five as the Astros — October villains to many a year after their sign-stealing scandal was exposed — advanced to the AL Championship Series for the fourth consecutive season. It will be their first ALCS under Dusty Baker, their 71-year-old manager. Baker earned his first closeout win since the 2003 NL Division Series and improved to 4-13 in closeouts. Houston will play either the New York Yankees or Tampa Bay Rays in the best-of-seven ALCS in San Diego. The Rays lead their ALDS 2-1. The Astros and A’s combined for 24 homers — 12 each — the most in a postseason series of five games or fewer. Houston clinched at Dodger Stadium, where it won the 2017 World Series in seven games. The Astros’ sign-stealing scheme used during... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Manager Kevin Cash and the Tampa Bay Rays introduced the concept of an opener to modern baseball two years ago. With a chance to close out their AL Division Series against the Yankees on Thursday night, they were bitten by their own creation. The Rays fell behind in the second inning of Game 4 and never caught up after rookie opener Ryan Thompson gave up two hits, three walks and two runs over 1 2/3 innings in just his second career start. The Rays couldn't come back in a 5-1 loss in San Diego, their homer-happy lineup limited to just three hits by a sublime collective pitching performance from the Yankees. But just as New York almost certainly regretted using an opener in Game 2 when Deivi García and J.A. Happ both got tagged, the Rays are probably wishing they had simply allowed Ryan Yarbrough to start instead of opening with Thompson, a 28-year-old right-handed reliever appearing in his third career playoff game. Game 5 is likely to be much less complicated: Although... [More]

After playing for three teams in 2019, Travis d'Arnaud felt sure he'd found a home when he signed with the Atlanta Braves last winter. Turns out, the fit was just right for d'Arnaud to deliver a postseason to remember. After homering in each of the first two games of the NL Division Series, d'Arnaud hit a two-run double in Atlanta's four-run third inning on Thursday that helped give the Braves a 7-0 win over the Miami Marlins and a three-game sweep of the series. D'Arnaud was 6 for 10 with two homers, two doubles and seven RBIs — the most by a catcher in a division series. He hit a high fastball from Sixto Sánchez off the fence in right-center for the two-run double. “That was like old school right there, just tomahawking the ball,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He just put an old-school hack on that thing.” Asked how he stayed on top of the high pitch, d’Arnaud said “I’m still wondering, too. I just tried to put the barrel on the ball. I got rewarded with a double that scored two... [More]

CEO Derek Jeter watched the Miami Marlins’ final game of the season from a sky box at Minute Maid Park in Houston as they underscored a point he had made a few days earlier regarding their climb toward title contention: There’s still a lot of work to do. The young Marlins achieved surprising progress in Year 3 of Jeter's rebuilding effort, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2003 and sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card round. But a drubbing in the National League Division Series showed Miami's not ready to overtake longtime NL East nemesis Atlanta. The Marlins were swept in the three-game series and shut out over the final 19 innings, including Thursday's 7-0 loss. “I'm going to take it as motivation,” shortstop Miguel Rojas said. “I'm going to take it personally. That’s the only way we can get better.” The Marlins totaled 17 hits in the series and went 3 for 20 with runners in scoring position. They played without catalyst Starling Marté, sidelined by a broken left hand.... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Oliver Drake was replaced on the AL Division Series roster by right-hander Trevor Richards just hours before Game 4 against the New York Yankees on Thursday night at Petco Park. Tampa Bay leads 2-1 in the best-of-5 series. The roster swap had to be approved by the commissioner's office. Drake would be ineligible to return if the Rays advance to the ALCS but would be eligible to return if they reach the World Series. Manager Kevin Cash said it appears to be a flexor strain. Drake pitched in Game 1 on Monday night, a 7-4 loss, and threw on the side the next day. Cash said Drake told the team he didn't feel he could pitch in Game 2. “It is frustrating and disappointing for Ollie," Cash said. “As much as anybody, he wants to pitch and believe me, if he could pitch through it, he would. This was something that we didn't feel comfortable doing." ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The price of qualifying offers for Major League Baseball free agents rose by $1.1 million to a record $18.9 million. Determined by the average of the top 125 major league contracts this year, the figure announced Thursday is based on full salaries, not the prorated pay that players received in the pandemic-shorted season. The price had dropped last offseason for the first time, by $100,000 to $17.8 million. Among the top players eligible for free agency are pitchers Trevor Bauer, Marcus Stroman, Liam Hendriks, Blake Treinen, Masahiro Tanaka, José Quintana and Alex Colomé; catcher J.T. Realmuto; outfielders George Springer and Marcell Ozuna; infielder DJ LeMahieu; designated hitter Nelson Cruz; and shortstops Didi Gregorius, Marcus Semien and Andrelton Simmons. A qualifying offer can be made through the fifth day after the World Series, and a player has a week after that to accept. If a team makes a qualifying offer to a player who signs a major league contract with another... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Slumping catcher Gary Sánchez was benched by the Yankees for the third time in four games, with New York facing elimination from the postseason in Game 4 of the AL Division Series against Tampa Bay, Kyle Higashioka was behind the plate to catch left-hander Jordan Montgomery on Thursday night. Higashioka, batting ninth, entered 2 for 7 in the series with a solo homer in New York's Game 1 win and 3 for 12 with one RBI in the postseason. Sánchez, a 27-year-old who is a two-time All-Star, hit .147 this season, which would have been lowest in the majors by far if he had enough at-bats to qualify. He was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in Game 2, dropping to 1 for 9 in the postseason. Higashioka caught ace Gerrit Cole in the opener as the Yankees won 9-3 and Masahiro Tanaka in Game 3 as New York lost 8-4. Higashioka hit .250 with four homers and 10 RBIs in 48 at-bats during the regular season and is a better defender than Sánchez. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Zack Greinke will start for the Houston Astros in their Game 4 AL Division Series matchup against the Oakland Athletics. Manger Dusty Baker made the announcement on Thursday three hours before the scheduled first pitch. The right-hander is Houston's most experienced starter but has been dealing with arm soreness. Greinke threw off flat ground after Tuesday's game and told Baker Thursday morning he was ready to go. Houston is a win away from reaching the AL Championship Series for the third straight year. “He had to hear from the doctor he didn’t have anything structurally wrong with his arm, which eased his mind. It made it easier for him to make the decision,” Baker said. The 36-year-old Greinke has struggled down the stretch. He has pitched five innings or fewer in each of his last four starts, including the wild-card series opener against Minnesota, allowing 12 earned runs over 18 2/3 innings in that span. Baker said he wasn't sure how long Greinke could go against the Athletics. His other concern is Houston's bullpen, which has been taxed during the first three games. “We hope to get as many quality innings as Greinke can give us and not have too many bullpen innings. The longer your starter can go the less mixing and matching you have to do,” Baker said. The bullpen had not allowed an earned run in its first four postseason games, but gave up five runs and six hits Wednesday. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today: OCTOBER OCTANE Maybe it’s the Southern California air or the atmosphere indoors in Texas, but the ball is really flying this postseason. With Randy Arozarena, Chad Pinder, Travis d’Arnaud and others powering up, there have been 82 home runs in 28 playoff games this year through Wednesday. That average of 2.93 homers per postseason game tops the regular-season mark of 2.57. Teams outhomering their opponents are 19-1 in the postseason. The Athletics and Astros combined to connect seven times as the A’s avoided a sweep with a 9-7 win. Houston will make another attempt to advance to its fourth consecutive ALCS in Game 4 on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. ATLANTA ARMS The Atlanta Braves try to reach the NL Championship Series for the first time since the days of Chipper Jones, the Big Three and Bobby Cox when they face the Marlins in Game 3. Kyle Wright will make his postseason debut when he starts against Miami rookie Sixto Sanchez as Atlanta... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Manny Machado tried to awaken a slumbering San Diego offense by screaming at his teammates after connecting for a homer against Clayton Kershaw. While it almost worked, the Padres fell into a 2-0 deficit in their best-of-five National League Division Series when Eric Hosmer stranded the bases loaded with a game-ending groundout off Joe Kelly in a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night. Machado's solo shot in the sixth inning was followed immediately by another from Hosmer, closing the Padres to 4-3 in their first NLDS since 2006. Fernando Tatís Jr. hit a long drive off reliever Brusdar Graterol that would have put the Padres up by a run in the seventh, but Cody Bellinger robbed the 21-year-old phenom with a leaping grab at the wall in center field. Machado's outburst, starting when he threw his bat at his own dugout after lifting a low pitch from Kershaw to left, was aimed at a San Diego offense that had been mostly silent for the first 14 innings... [More]