OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout drove in three early runs, then made a key catch late as the Los Angeles Angels beat Oakland 4-3 Saturday to snap the Athletics’ nine-game home winning streak.The three-time MVP made a diving catch on Matt Olson’s sinking liner to center field to start the eighth inning, which had Angels reliever Ty Buttrey clapping his glove in gratitude. Buttrey got six outs for his second save.Anthony Rendon extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Angels, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Matt Andriese (1-1) relieved Griffin Canning in the fifth and pitched 2 1/3 innings for his first win with Los Angeles.Matt Chapman homered for AL West-leading Oakland. Chris Bassitt (2-1) permitted four runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.DODGERS 4, ROCKIES 3LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cody Bellinger’s home run leading off the ninth inning gave Los Angeles a win over slumping Colorado.Bellinger drove a slider from Daniel Bard (1-2) just over the glove of Rockies right... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout drove in three early runs, then made a key catch late as the Los Angeles Angels beat Oakland 4-3 Saturday to snap the Athletics’ nine-game home winning streak.The three-time MVP made a diving catch on Matt Olson’s sinking liner to center field to start the eighth inning, which had Angels reliever Ty Buttrey clapping his glove in gratitude. Buttrey got six outs for his second save.Anthony Rendon extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Angels, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Matt Andriese (1-1) relieved Griffin Canning in the fifth and pitched 2 1/3 innings for his first win with Los Angeles.Matt Chapman homered for AL West-leading Oakland. Chris Bassitt (2-1) permitted four runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.RAYS 2, BLUE JAYS 1, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pinch hitter Kevin Kiermaier singled in the 10th inning, and Tampa Bay ended Toronto’s six-game winning streak.Both teams scored a run in the fifth and it stayed 1-all... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals closer Sean Doolittle is scheduled to make a rehab appearance Friday night for Class A Potomac.Doolittle, out since Aug. 18 with right knee tendinitis, threw a simulated game Wednesday with mixed results, saying he felt fine physically but that his execution mechanically wasn't where he wanted it to be."I need to be sharper if I'm going to help this team when I come back," said Doolittle, who is slated to pitch an inning at Frederick.The Nationals did get bullpen help Friday, reinstating left-hander Roenis Elías (right hamstring strain) from the 10-day injured list and right-hander pitcher Hunter Strickland from the paternity list.Washington optioned catcher Spencer Kieboom to Double-A Harrisburg and designated left-handed reliever Matt Grace for assignment.Grace, the Nationals' eighth-round pick in the 2010 draft, went 5-4 with two saves and a 4.29 ERA in 178 career games for Washington. This season, he was 1-2 with a 6.36 ERA and one save in 51 games.___More AP baseball coverage: www.apnews.com/MLB and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Without much time to rest up for their home opener, the New York Mets were no match for Stephen Strasburg.A pinpoint Strasburg outpitched Noah Syndergaard, rookie Victor Robles homered for Washington's only hit until the ninth inning and the Nationals beat the drowsy Mets 4-0 on Thursday."Just executing the game plan. I think the biggest thing is never taking a pitch off," Strasburg said.Following a 5-1 trip to start the season, the Mets got back to New York after 2 a.m. in the wake of a 6-4 victory at Miami. They were even held up about 30-45 minutes postgame Wednesday night while Dominic Smith chugged enough water to be able to complete a drug test.But about 11 hours after arriving in Queens in the middle of the night, they were back on the field again — and their lineup looked sleepy while striking out 14 times."I don't think we were in the proper situation to win a ballgame based on the rest of the guys' sleep and travel," said Syndergaard, who traveled to New York ahead... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Strasburg outpitched Noah Syndergaard, rookie Victor Robles homered for Washington's only hit until the ninth inning and the Nationals beat the drowsy Mets 4-0 to spoil New York's home opener Thursday.Wilmer Difo drove in two runs, and Washington's struggling bullpen shined after Strasburg (1-0) struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings. Matched against Syndergaard for the second time in six days, Strasburg took a one-hitter into the seventh before giving up consecutive singles with two outs.Matt Grace threw a called third strike past pinch-hitter J.D. Davis, then Justin Miller and Tony Sipp combined to whiff three in a hitless eighth. Sean Doolittle completed the four-hitter, making Strasburg 8-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 11 starts at Citi Field.Coming in, Washington relievers ranked last in the majors with an 11.02 ERA, and opponents were batting .377 against them. But a week after getting shut out in their home opener by Jacob deGrom and the Mets, the Nationals turned the tables.The... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first boos, guttural and loud, greeted Bryce Harper during pregame introductions 15 minutes ahead of the rain-delayed first pitch Tuesday night, as he stood in the Nationals Park visitor's dugout wearing his Philadelphia Phillies uniform — and hours before he marked his second-deck homer with an epic bat flip.The jeers kept coming, filling the chilly air when Harper walked to the plate as the No. 3 hitter for Philadelphia, his initial at-bat as a Washington opponent. More hostility came while he awaited each pitch from Max Scherzer, all of that negativity interrupted only by the sheer-joy roars after each strike of his eventual whiff, which concluded with a swing-and-miss at an 85 mph changeup Harper called "nasty."Harper had said he expected a mixed reaction from spectators in his return to D.C. after leaving via free agency to sign a $330 million, 13-year deal with the Phillies. Sure sounded rather one-sided from an announced attendance of 35,920."It's a little different,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first boos, guttural and loud, greeted Bryce Harper during pregame introductions 15 minutes ahead of the rain-delayed first pitch Tuesday night, as he stood in the Nationals Park visitor's dugout wearing his Philadelphia Phillies uniform — and hours before he marked his second-deck homer with an epic bat flip.The jeers kept coming, filling the chilly air when Harper walked to the plate as the No. 3 hitter for Philadelphia, his initial at-bat as a Washington opponent. More hostility came while he awaited each pitch from Max Scherzer, all of that negativity interrupted only by the sheer-joy roars after each strike of his eventual whiff, which concluded with a swing-and-miss at an 85 mph changeup.Harper had said he expected a mixed reaction from spectators in his return to D.C. after leaving via free agency to sign a $330 million, 13-year deal with the Phillies. Sure sounded rather one-sided from an announced attendance of 35,920.Adding to the theatrics of it all, as... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first boos, guttural and loud in a mostly empty ballpark, greeted Bryce Harper during pregame introductions 15 minutes before the rain-delayed first pitch Tuesday night, as he stood in the Nationals Park visitor's dugout wearing another team's uniform.Jeers again filled the chilly air when Harper walked to the plate as the No. 3 hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning, his initial at-bat as a Nationals opponent. More hostility came while he awaited each pitch from Washington's Max Scherzer, negativity interrupted only by the sheer-joy roars after each strike of his eventual whiff, which concluded with a swing-and-miss at an 85 mph changeup.Harper had said he expected a mixed reaction from spectators in his return to D.C. after leaving via free agency to sign a $330 million, 13-year deal with the Phillies. Sure sounded rather one-sided from an announced attendance of 35,920.Adding to the theatrics of it all, as is his wont, Harper delivered a no-doubt-about-it... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first boos, guttural and loud in a mostly empty ballpark, greeted Bryce Harper during pregame introductions 15 minutes before the rain-delayed first pitch Tuesday night, as he stood in the Nationals Park visitor's dugout wearing another team's uniform.Jeers again filled the chilly air when Harper walked to the plate as the No. 3 hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning, his initial at-bat as a Nationals opponent. More came while he awaited each pitch from Washington's Max Scherzer, negativity interrupted only by the sheer-joy roars after each strike of his eventual whiff, which concluded with a swing-and-miss at an 85 mph changeup.A similar scenario — boos before each pitch, cheers after each strike — played out in the third, when Harper struck out again, this time on a 92 mph cutter he couldn't touch.He got better results later: In the fifth, he doubled to right off Scherzer, then stood on second base and waved toward the dugout in one of the Phillies'... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — From the moment Bryce Harper signed his $330 million, 13-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, this game is the one everyone has been thinking about.Tuesday night marks Harper's initial visit to Nationals Park to face his former team.What will the crowd's reaction be the first time he steps to that plate in a uniform other than Washington's?What sort of tribute will there be from the Nationals? What sort of gesture will the outfielder himself make?And how will Harper, who loves the spotlight, fare in the reunion — especially against Max Scherzer?"I'll always remember and cherish all the screaming and yelling and the exciting times that we had the last seven years. Like I've said before, I wish them nothing but the best, all the players in that clubhouse. It's a great fan base. Great city to live in," said Harper, who announced Monday on social media that his wife is expecting the couple's first baby. "Excited to go back. And excited to compete."He is off to a good... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco and Josh Bell each hit a two-run homer, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cleveland Indians 9-4 on Tuesday night for their 11th straight win.The Pirates routed the Indians for the second straight night. Marte homered in the first inning, drove in three runs and extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games.Polanco homered and Corey Dickerson tripled in two runs when Pittsburgh scored five times in the second. Bell hit a home run in the fifth. The Pirates have homered in a season-high nine straight games, hitting 22 home runs in that span.Pittsburgh has won 11 in a row for the first time since Sept. 12-22, 1996. The Pirates have won 13 of 14 and are 17-8 since June 24. Pittsburgh has outscored its opponents 43-8 in the last five games.Joe Musgrove (4-4) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings for his first win since June 29.Shane Bieber (5-2), called up from Triple-A Columbus to make the start, allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings.... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco and Josh Bell each hit a two-run homer, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cleveland Indians 9-4 on Tuesday night for their 11th straight win.The Pirates routed the Indians for the second straight night. Marte homered in the first inning, drove in three runs and extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games.Polanco homered and Corey Dickerson tripled in two runs when Pittsburgh scored five times in the second. Bell hit a home run in the fifth. The Pirates have homered in a season-high nine straight games, hitting 22 home runs in that span.Pittsburgh has won 11 in a row for the first time since Sept. 12-22, 1996. The Pirates have won 13 of 14 and are 17-8 since June 24. Pittsburgh has outscored its opponents 43-8 in the last five games.Joe Musgrove (4-4) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings for his first win since June 29.Shane Bieber (5-2), called up from Triple-A Columbus to make the start, allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings.... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals right-hander Erick Fedde left in the second inning of his start against the Boston Red Sox after throwing just 25 pitches.Training staff and manager Dave Martinez went to check on Fedde after he allowed a single to Rafael Devers to lead off the second on Wednesday. After a long conversation, Fedde walked off the field and was replaced by lefty Matt Grace.The 25-year-old was coming off his first major league victory last weekend in Philadelphia.Fedde entered the game 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA in five starts this season. His 2017 season ended in early September with a right forearm flexor strain.Washington's 2014 first-round pick had Tommy John surgery after being drafted. He's 1-4 with a 7.23 ERA in eight starts during his career with the Nationals.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

LHP Matt Grace has had an up and down year but he came through Friday against the Dodgers. He went two scoreless innings as the Nationals' bullpen did not allow a run after starter Edwin Jackson was knocked out in the third. Grace now has a 4.40 ERA for the Nationals.

LHP Matt Grace was the late substitute for Max Scherzer, when a neck injury prevented him from starting on Friday night. Grace threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing but two hits with a walk. It was his 61st appearance in the majors, but his first start.

LHP Matt Grace was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. This is the fourth trip to the majors this season for Grace, who is 0-0 with a 4.05 ERA in seven appearances spread out between a one-day trip to the Nationals on April 26 and stints that lasted from May 5-11 and May 14-28. Manager Dusty Baker said Grace could be utilized this weekend against the lefty-heavy Mets. Grace is 1-3 with a 3.66 ERA in 13 games (one start) at Syracuse.

LHP Matt Grace was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse before Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants. He has compiled a 4.05 ERA in seven appearances for the Nationals this season.

LHP Matt Grace was sent to Triple-A Syracuse. Grace, 28, has a 4.05 ERA in seven appearances out of the Nationals' bullpen this season.

LHP Matt Grace was recalled by Washington from Triple-A Syracuse. It's the fourth recall for Grace this season. He pitched a scoreless, 1-2-3 inning in the eighth. In 5 1/3 innings with the Nationals, he allowed three runs for a 5.06 ERA. Grace had a 6.00 ERA in eight games with Syracuse.

LHP Matt Grace was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday. He was called up Sunday to be the 26th man for a doubleheader against the Phillies, and he gave up one run in 1 1/3 innings during the nightcap. In three appearances for Washington this year, he is 0-0 witha 6.23 ERA.