ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Hunter Pence has become a free agent after a comeback season with his hometown Texas Rangers.Texas utility infielder Logan Forsythe and retiring right-handed pitcher Edinson Vólquez also became free agents Thursday, a day after the World Series ended.Relievers Shawn Kelley and Nate Jones, along with newly acquired catcher Welington Castillo, are likely to become free agents, as well, with the team not expected to exercise 2020 contract options.The 36-year-old Pence hit .297 with 18 homers and 59 RBIs in 83 games. He was voted as the starting designated hitter for the AL All-Star team, though he couldn't play in the game because of a right groin strain. He didn't play after Aug. 22 because of a lower back strain.Kelley was 5-2 with 11 saves and a 4.94 ERA in 50 games. He has a $2.5 million option with a $250,000 buyout.Texas earlier Thursday acquired Castillo, who has an $8 million option and a $500,000 buyout. The 32-year-old catcher hit .209 over 72 games last season.Jones, who has a $3.75 million club option with a $1.25 million buyout, was acquired in July from the White Sox while recovering from right forearm surgery.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — After losing 100 games in three straight seasons, the Houston Astros are in position to become the first team to win 100 in four consecutive years.A core of José Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and George Springer has been supplemented with stud starting pitchers Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke, the combination leading the Astros to their second World Series appearance in three seasons."The ability to recognize when you have a chance to win — and realistically when you have a chance to win and not — I think is one of our most important responsibilities," former Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said ahead of Tuesday's Series opener against Washington. "You can fool yourself one way or the other. Making the wise decisions is extremely important for you to try to win a championship."Houston went 56-106 in 2011 after dealing stars Lance Berkman, Michael Bourn, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence. The team was sold from Drayton McLane... [More]

Oct. 221910 — After three straight losses and trailing Philadelphia 3-2 in the ninth, the Chicago Cubs tied the score and won 4-3 in 10 innings for their only victory in a World Series won by the A's in five games.1972 — The Oakland A's won their first World Series with a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 7. It was the first championship since 1930 for the franchise, then located in Philadelphia.1975 — A ninth-inning RBI single by Joe Morgan gave the Cincinnati Reds a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox and the World Series title in seven games. It was the first title for the Reds in 35 years.1986 — Gary Carter's two home runs at Fenway Park gave New York a 6-2 victory and pulled the Mets even with Boston Red Sox in the World Series after four games.1987 — The St. Louis Cardinals won their third straight home game to take a 3-2 lead in the World Series with a 4-2 victory against the Minnesota Twins.2000 — In their first matchup since Roger Clemens beaned Mike Piazza in July,... [More]

Oct. 211959 — The Major League Players Association approved two All-Star Games in 1960, to be held at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium and New York's Yankee Stadium.1973 — Bert Campaneris and Reggie Jackson hit two-run homers in the third inning as the Oakland A's defeated the New York Mets 5-2 in Game 7 of the World Series. It was the second straight World Championship for the A's.1975 — Carlton Fisk broke up one of the best games in World Series history with a homer in the 12th inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 7-6 victory against the Cincinnati Reds, forcing a seventh game.1976 — The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series in four games with a 7-2 victory over the New York Yankees. Johnny Bench had two home runs for five RBIs. It was the Reds' second straight championship and marked the first time a team had swept the playoffs and World Series.1980 — The Philadelphia Phillies became World Series champions for the first time in their 98-year history with a 4-1 triumph over the Kansas City... [More]

Oct. 201910 — Philadelphia's Jack Coombs, on one day of rest, had a complete-game victory to beat the Chicago Cubs 12-5 and give the Athletics a 3-0 lead in the World Series. Coombs also had three hits and drove in three runs in the game.1947 — The radio rights for the World Series sold for $475,000 for three years.1972 — In the fifth game of the World Series, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds homered on the first pitch of the game from Oakland's Catfish Hunter, and the Reds went on to win 5-4.1973 — Reggie Jackson of Oakland had RBI doubles in the first and third innings to lead the A's to a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets and set up a seventh game in the World Series.1982 — The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 in Game 7 to win the World Series.1988 — Orel Hershiser pitched a four-hitter and Mickey Hatcher and Mike Davis hit two-run homers to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics and the World Series title in five games. Hershiser became... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers have left the building, the ballpark the team called home for 26 seasons.While their new stadium with a retractable roof is still being built across the street, the Rangers wrapped up their first season with manager Chris Woodward confident that a solid foundation is being laid in place for success in the future on that new field."That was the expectation this year, we were going to come in and win," Woodward said. "Next year, with everything that we've kind of put in place this year, we know the process, (players) should know the processes, they should know my expectations. Now we've got to take the next step to like put all of these processes from day one."While the Rangers finished with their third consecutive losing season at 78-84, that was an 11-win improvement over 2018.There was a full season of building relationships and trust between the players and Woodward, who as a utility player saw action at every position but catcher... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bruce Bochy once took a bat to a flat-screen TV during a San Francisco Giants team meeting to make a point to his players. It just took a few more swings than he expected because it didn't break on the first attempt as he had figured."It's not like a regular TV where it shatters, it just went thud," Bochy recalled this week.Such moments of madness were rare for Bochy, who is known more for his even-keel temperament, and that made them all the more meaningful. While his legacy in San Francisco will always be capturing those three World Series titles in a remarkable five-year span, Bochy's reputation for fairness and having a genuine way of dealing with players has been of utmost importance to him during a decorated 25-year managerial career."My hope is they know I care. I don't always get it right as far as communicating," said Bochy, who wraps up what has certainly been a Hall of Fame career this weekend. "I know there have been players who questioned how fair I was,... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Elvis Andrus has spent his entire career as a player in the Texas Rangers' ballpark, from his debut as a 20-year-old shortstop to consecutive World Series and now being the team's longest-tenured player.Hunter Pence grew up in Arlington dreaming of what it would be like to play there while watching in awe the construction of the retro-style ballpark that opened in 1994, only days before his 11th birthday. He later parked cars there as a teen, his pay being hot dogs and game tickets, before the four-time MLB All-Star this year played with his hometown Rangers for the first time.The stadium halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, first known as The Ballpark in Arlington, is down to its final homestand after more than 2,000 regular season games over 26 seasons. Kenny Rogers pitched a perfect game in the first summer there, and MLB's first interleague game was played there in 1997. An All-Star Game was played in the Texas heat, and those two World Series were among 25... [More]

White sox second. James McCann doubles to right field. Jon Jay out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Logan Forsythe to Scott Heineman. James McCann to third. Matt Skole out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Willie Calhoun. James McCann scores. Yolmer Sanchez lines out to center field to Delino DeShields.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 1, Rangers 0.White sox third. Adam Engel doubles to left center field. Leury Garcia out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Logan Forsythe to Scott Heineman. Adam Engel to third. Tim Anderson singles to right center field. Adam Engel scores. Jose Abreu lines out to right field to Hunter Pence. Yoan Moncada homers to right field. Tim Anderson scores. James McCann homers to left field. Jon Jay singles to third base. Matt Skole pops out to shallow infield to Logan Forsythe.4 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. White sox 5, Rangers 0.Rangers fourth. Delino DeShields strikes out swinging. Willie Calhoun pops out to Jose Abreu. Elvis Andrus homers to center field. Hunter Pence strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 5, Rangers 1.White sox seventh. Leury Garcia triples to deep right field. Tim Anderson grounds out to third base, Logan Forsythe to Scott Heineman. Jose Abreu out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Delino DeShields. Leury Garcia scores. Yoan Moncada grounds out to shortstop, Logan Forsythe to Scott Heineman.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 6, Rangers 1.

Rangers second. Hunter Pence strikes out swinging. Willie Calhoun homers to center field. Nick Solak doubles to deep left field. Logan Forsythe lines out to deep right field to Kole Calhoun. Delino DeShields doubles to deep left field. Nick Solak scores. Jeff Mathis strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rangers 2, Angels 0.Angels fourth. Kole Calhoun grounds out to first base to Danny Santana. Albert Pujols doubles to deep right field. Brian Goodwin doubles to center field. Albert Pujols scores. Luis Rengifo singles to left field. Brian Goodwin to third. Wilfredo Tovar grounds out to second base, Nick Solak to Danny Santana. Luis Rengifo to second. Brian Goodwin scores. Max Stassi grounds out to shortstop, Elvis Andrus to Danny Santana.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Angels 2, Rangers 2.Rangers fourth. Willie Calhoun singles to right field. Nick Solak doubles to deep left field. Willie Calhoun scores. Logan Forsythe grounds out to third base, David Fletcher to Albert... [More]

Angels first. David Fletcher singles to right field. Mike Trout homers to left field. David Fletcher scores. Brian Goodwin singles to second base. Justin Upton walks. Brian Goodwin to second. Kole Calhoun walks. Justin Upton to second. Brian Goodwin to third. Luis Rengifo strikes out swinging. Matt Thaiss reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Kole Calhoun out at second. Justin Upton to third. Brian Goodwin scores. Wilfredo Tovar grounds out to third base, Isiah Kiner-Falefa to Scott Heineman.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Angels 3, Rangers 0.Angels fifth. Brian Goodwin singles to shallow infield. Justin Upton flies out to deep right field to Hunter Pence. Kole Calhoun strikes out swinging. Luis Rengifo homers to center field. Brian Goodwin scores. Matt Thaiss flies out to deep right field to Hunter Pence.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Angels 5, Rangers 0.Rangers sixth. Jeff Mathis strikes out swinging. Delino DeShields strikes out swinging. Willie Calhoun homers to center field. Hunter Pence strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Angels 5, Rangers 1.

Angels first. David Fletcher grounds out to third base, Danny Santana to Scott Heineman. Mike Trout singles to center field. Shohei Ohtani reaches on catcher interference. Mike Trout to second. Interference error by Jose Trevino. Justin Upton doubles to deep left center field. Shohei Ohtani to third. Mike Trout scores. Kole Calhoun singles to right field. Justin Upton to third. Shohei Ohtani scores. Albert Pujols homers to left field. Kole Calhoun scores. Justin Upton scores. Luis Rengifo pops out to Jose Trevino. Wilfredo Tovar singles to right field. Max Stassi called out on strikes.5 runs, 5 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Angels 5, Rangers 0.Rangers first. Shin-Soo Choo walks. Danny Santana grounds out to shallow infield, Max Stassi to Albert Pujols. Shin-Soo Choo to second. Elvis Andrus lines out to first base to Albert Pujols. Hunter Pence singles to right field. Shin-Soo Choo to third. Rougned Odor walks. Hunter Pence to second. Nomar Mazara reaches on error. Rougned Odor to second. Hunter... [More]

Twins first. Max Kepler walks. Miguel Sano called out on strikes. Jorge Polanco singles to right field. Max Kepler to second. Eddie Rosario flies out to shallow center field to Delino DeShields. Marwin Gonzalez doubles to deep left field. Jorge Polanco scores. Max Kepler scores. Luis Arraez walks. Ehire Adrianza flies out to deep center field to Delino DeShields.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Twins 2, Rangers 0.Twins fourth. Max Kepler flies out to deep right field to Shin-Soo Choo. Miguel Sano doubles to deep left center field. Jorge Polanco walks. Eddie Rosario out on a sacrifice fly to deep left center field to Delino DeShields. Jorge Polanco to third. Miguel Sano scores. Marwin Gonzalez grounds out to first base to Danny Santana.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Twins 3, Rangers 0.Rangers fourth. Hunter Pence singles to shortstop. Rougned Odor strikes out swinging. Logan Forsythe lines out to center field to Max Kepler. Delino DeShields singles to right field. Hunter Pence to... [More]

Twins first. Max Kepler grounds out to second base, Rougned Odor to Logan Forsythe. Miguel Sano singles to left center field. Jorge Polanco singles to right field. Miguel Sano to third. Eddie Rosario reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Jorge Polanco out at second. Miguel Sano scores. Fielding error by Ariel Jurado. Mitch Garver walks. Luis Arraez singles to center field. Mitch Garver to second. Eddie Rosario scores. Marwin Gonzalez doubles to deep left center field. Luis Arraez scores. Mitch Garver scores. C.J. Cron homers to center field. Marwin Gonzalez scores. Jake Cave lines out to deep left field to Shin-Soo Choo.6 runs, 5 hits, 1 error, 0 left on. Twins 6, Rangers 0.Rangers first. Shin-Soo Choo singles to right field. Danny Santana homers to right field. Shin-Soo Choo scores. Elvis Andrus grounds out to shallow infield, Jose Berrios to C.J. Cron. Nomar Mazara strikes out swinging. Hunter Pence pops out to shallow right field to Luis Arraez.2 runs, 2... [More]

Twins second. Eddie Rosario lines out to shallow right field to Rougned Odor. C.J. Cron reaches on error. Fielding error by Logan Forsythe. Luis Arraez homers to right field. C.J. Cron scores. Marwin Gonzalez doubles to right center field. Jason Castro walks. Jake Cave doubles to deep right field. Jason Castro to third. Marwin Gonzalez scores. Max Kepler reaches on a fielder's choice to second base, advances to 2nd. Jake Cave scores. Jason Castro scores. Throwing error by Elvis Andrus. Miguel Sano strikes out swinging. Jorge Polanco grounds out to shortstop, Logan Forsythe to Danny Santana.5 runs, 3 hits, 2 errors, 1 left on. Twins 5, Rangers 0.Twins third. Eddie Rosario strikes out swinging. C.J. Cron grounds out to shallow center field, Rougned Odor to Danny Santana. Luis Arraez doubles to deep right field. Marwin Gonzalez singles to center field. Luis Arraez scores. Jason Castro flies out to deep left field to Willie Calhoun.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Twins 6, Rangers 0.Twins... [More]

The Latest on Major League Baseball's trade deadline (all times Eastern):6:40 p.m.The Los Angeles Angels have acquired catcher Max Stassi from the Houston Astros in exchange for minor-league outfielders Rainier Rivas and Raider Uceta.Stassi, who has played in parts of seven seasons with the Astros, is batting .167 with a home run and three RBIs in 31 games this season. General manager Billy Eppler said the move was more about adding catching depth and Stassi's strength behind the plate. According to MLB Statcast, Stassi is the second-best pitch framer in the AL with a 54.1% strike rate.Catcher Dustin Garneau was designated for assignment before Wednesday's game against the Detroit Tigers..___5:55 p.m.Mike Minor will make his scheduled start for the Rangers after the trade deadline passed with the All-Star lefty still in Texas.Hunter Pence, the All-Star designated hitter, is also still with his hometown team and in the lineup Wednesday night when Minor and the Rangers play the Seattle Mariners,... [More]

The Latest on Major League Baseball's trade deadline (all times Eastern):5:55 p.m.Mike Minor will make his scheduled start for the Rangers after the trade deadline passed with the All-Star lefty still in Texas.Hunter Pence, the All-Star designated hitter, is also still with his hometown team and in the lineup Wednesday night when Minor and the Rangers play the Seattle Mariners, an AL West rival that traded three pitchers Wednesday.Rangers general manager Jon Daniels says his team, which has dropped a game under .500, explored a lot of different options."There were a couple of things that got close later today that I thought might come to fruition, but ultimately it didn't line up for one side or the other," Daniels said, without getting into specifics.Minor, who is signed with the Rangers through next season, drew interest from teams looking to boost their rotations.Daniels said the Rangers weren't going to force a deal, and that the future options could include Minor pitching in Texas... [More]

July 141916 — St. Louis Browns pitcher Ernie Koob went the distance in a 17-inning 0-0 tie with the Boston Red Sox. Carl Mays went the first 15 innings for the Red Sox and Dutch Leonard finished.1946 — Cleveland player-manager Lou Boudreau hit four doubles and a home run in the first game of a doubleheader against Boston, but Ted Williams connected for three home runs and drove in eight runs for an 11-10 Red Sox victory.1956 — Mel Parnell of the Boston Red Sox pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox for a 4-0 victory at Fenway Park.1967 — Eddie Mathews of the Astros hit his 500th home run off San Francisco's Juan Marichal at Candlestick Park. Houston beat the Giants 8-6.1968 — Hank Aaron got his 500th home run off Mike McCormick as the Atlanta Braves beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2.1968 — Don Wilson of the Houston Astros struck out 18 Reds in a 6-1 victory over Cincinnati in the nightcap of a doubleheader.1969 — Oakland's Reggie Jackson knocked in 10 runs in a 21-7 win over... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vázquez, Cincinnati right-hander Sonny Gray and Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff have been added to the rosters for Tuesday's All-Star Game.They replace Toronto's Marcus Stroman, who has a strained pectoral muscle; Arizona pitcher Zack Greinke, who will be attending to a personal matter; Washington ace Max Scherzer, who pitched Saturday; and Brewers closer Josh Hader, who has back stiffness.Tanaka was selected for the 2014 AL team but didn't pitch because of a right elbow injury."It will be a great thing if I can actually pitch in the game," Tanaka said through a translator. "When you look at your baseball career, it would be something that I can be proud of."A smiling Tanaka said he was surprised by the announcement."Everything happened so fast," Tanaka said. "Obviously I'm very happy. This time around I get to actually go there and be part of the celebration."Tanaka is 5-5 with a... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vázquez and Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff have been added to the rosters for Tuesday's All-Star Game.They replace Toronto's Marcus Stroman, who has a strained pectoral muscle; Arizona pitcher Zack Greinke, who will be attending to a personal matter; and Brewers closer Josh Hader, who has back stiffness.Tanaka was selected for the 2014 AL team but didn't pitch because of a right elbow injury."It will be a great thing if I can actually pitch in the game," Tanaka said through a translator. "When you look at your baseball career, it would be something that I can be proud of."A smiling Tanaka said he was surprised by the announcement."Everything happened so fast," Tanaka said. "Obviously I'm very happy. This time around I get to actually go there and be part of the celebration."Tanaka is 5-5 with a 3.86 ERA in 18 starts.Stroman, mentioned in trade speculation, was scratched from his... [More]