April 181899 — John McGraw, only 26, made his managerial debut with the Orioles. He led them to a 5-3 victory over the New York Giants, a team he later managed for more than 30 years.1916 — Philadelphia’s Grover Alexander pitched his first of 16 shutouts of the season with a win over the Boston Braves.1923 — In the first game played in Yankee Stadium, a record crowd of 72,400 watched Babe Ruth lead the Yankees to victory over the Red Sox with a home run.1945 — In his major league debut, one-armed outfielder Pete Gray got one hit in four at-bats in the St. Louis Browns’ 7-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.1950 — The first opening night game was held in St. Louis. The Cardinals, behind a complete game by Gerry Staley and home runs from Red Schoendienst and Stan Musial, beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2.1970 — Nolan Ryan allowed one hit — a leadoff single by Denny Doyle — and struck out 15 in the New York Mets’ 7-0 win over Philadelphia.1982 — The Atlanta Braves defeated the Astros 6-5 in Houston... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mookie Betts and the Boston Red Sox won their third consecutive AL East championship Thursday night, clinching on enemy turf with an 11-6 victory over the rival New York Yankees.Betts homered, doubled twice and drove in five runs, finishing with four hits as the Red Sox overcame Giancarlo Stanton's go-ahead grand slam in the fourth inning. Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a tying home run in the seventh and Xander Bogaerts put Boston ahead with a sacrifice fly.With the best record in baseball and a playoff berth already secured, Boston (104-49) closed out a once-tight division race with nine games to spare. J.D. Martinez and the Red Sox, alone in first place since July 2, will open the postseason at home on Oct. 5 against an opponent to be determined.Never before had Boston finished in first place three years in a row. The club needs one victory to match the franchise record held by the 1912 World Series champions.It took three tries, but these Red Sox finally earned their chance... [More]

On the day the Kansas City Royals welcomed back Mike Moustakas, they found out Jorge Bonifacio will miss half the season.Bonifacio was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Saturday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.The outfielder was banned after a positive test for Boldenone. The ban will begin on opening day."It really kind of made me sick to my stomach," Royals manager Ned Yost said.The 24-year-old Bonifacio made his major league debut last season, hitting .255 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs in 113 games.Bonifacio's suspension cleared a roster spot for Moustakas, who re-signed with the Royals this week after becoming a free agent last fall.Moustakas set a Royals record with 38 home runs last season, then rejected a $17.4 million offer from the team. But the third baseman never received the multiyear, mega-million dollar contract he and his agent Scott Boras anticipated.The Royals signed Moustakas to a one-year $6.5 million contract with a mutual option... [More]

Shohei Ohtani went only one way in his spring training debut for the Los Angeles Angels and got pulled early.The Japanese star pitcher and hitter was scheduled to throw two innings in his start Saturday, but was taken out after giving up two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings during a 6-5 win over Milwaukee.Angels manager Mike Scioscia didn't put Ohtani in the batting order.The 23-year-old righty struck out two and his fastball reached 97 mph. He allowed one run, on a homer by Keon Broxton. Ohtani threw 31 pitches, 17 for strikes."Besides the results, I mean, I had a lot of fun out there, so I think it went all well," Ohtani said through a translator.Ohtani has been hitting some long home runs in batting practice."I had a lot of fun out there today and obviously I'm excited to hit and pitch again, and I just want to keep on getting better and have good results from here on out," he said.Scioscia said Ohtani will hit early in the week, as the designated hitter."It was great to see him,"... [More]

Shohei Ohtani went only one way in his spring training debut for the Los Angeles Angels and got pulled early.The Japanese star pitcher and hitter was scheduled to throw two innings in his start Saturday, but was taken out after giving up two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings during a 6-5 win over Milwaukee.Angels manager Mike Scioscia didn't put Ohtani in the batting order.The 23-year-old righty struck out two and his fastball reached 97 mph. He allowed one run, on a homer by Keon Broxton. Ohtani threw 31 pitches, 17 for strikes."Besides the results, I mean, I had a lot of fun out there, so I think it went all well," Ohtani said through a translator.Ohtani has been hitting some long home runs in batting practice."I had a lot of fun out there today and obviously I'm excited to hit and pitch again, and I just want to keep on getting better and have good results from here on out," he said.Scioscia said Ohtani will hit early in the week, as the designated hitter."It was great to see him,"... [More]

OF Ryan Raburn (left trap strain) was moved to the 60-day disabled list Tuesday. He has missed 35 games since going on the disabled list July 26. He is hitting .262 in 65 at-bats for the Nationals.

OF Ryan Raburn (trapezius strain) was moved to the 60-day disabled list by the Washington Nationals.

OF Ryan Raburn remains on the team's bereavement list, and manager Dusty Baker does not plan to rush him back. "I told him to come back when he takes care of his business at home," Baker said.

OF Ryan Raburn was placed on the bereavement list Sunday following the death of his grandfather. Since joining Washington June 5, he is hitting .288 with 24 games and made all 14 of his starts in left field.

The Washington Nationals recalled catcher Pedro Severino and selected the contract of outfielder Andrew Stevenson from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.Outfielder Ryan Raburn was placed on the bereavement list, and outfielder Chris Heisey was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left groin strain. Additionally, outfielder Jayson Werth (left foot contusion) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.Stevenson, 23, was the Nationals' top selection in the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft (second round, No. 58 overall) out of LSU and would be making his major league debut. He is hitting .268 with two home runs and 26 RBIs in 93 minor league games this season (20 with Double-A Harrisburg, 73 with Triple-A Syracuse). It is Heisey's second trip to the disabled list after missing 40 games with a right biceps rupture earlier this year. He's hitting .162 (12-for-74) with one home run and five RBIs in 38 games off the Nationals' bench this season.Werth, 38, was placed on the disabled list June 5 (retroactive to June 4) and has missed 42 games with a left foot contusion. In 47 games before the injury, Werth hit .262 with eight home runs and 18 RBIs.

OF Ryan Raburn is set for bereavement leave starting Sunday because of the death of his grandfather. Raburn pinch hit in the ninth inning Saturday, grounding out.

WASHINGTON -- Nationals center fielder Michael A. Taylor suffered an oblique injury during Washington's 5-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.Taylor, who left in the fourth inning, is expected to go on the 10-day disabled list. The Nationals will bring back Chris Heisey from the DL, according to manager Dusty Baker."It felt like a sharp pain in my side,'' Taylor said. "I've kind of been dealing with it for a couple weeks now. I'm just trying to manage it. And then on that swing, that made it even worse."Taylor became the regular center fielder in late April when Adam Eaton strained his left knee when he hit the first base bag at Nationals Park in a weird way.Taylor is hitting .278 with 12 homers, 35 RBIs and 10 steals. Brian Goodwin moved from left to center, and Ryan Raburn took over in left for the Nationals in the top of the fourth.

OF Ryan Raburn was called up from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday to take the roster spot of RF Jayson Werth, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list. Raburn, who batted second and started in LF, went 0-for-4 and did not hit a ball out of the infield. Raburn batted .261 with a home run and five RBIs in six games at Syracuse. Raburn was acquired in a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox on May 26.

OF/IF Ryan Raburn was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday. The 36-year-old Raburn was promoted to the major leagues for the first time this season since he was acquired in a minor league trade with the Chicago White Sox on May 26.

OF Ryan Raburn was acquired by the Nationals in a trade with the Chicago White on Friday for cash considerations or a player to be named. Raburn has extensive big league time but had been with Triple-A Charlotte in the White Sox system. He will now report to Triple-A Syracuse, the top farm club of Washington.

OF Ryan Raburn was signed by the White Sox and was assigned to Triple-A Charlotte. Raburn has spent parts of 11 seasons in the major leagues. He is a career .296 hitter.

OF Ryan Raburn was signed by the White Sox and assigned to Triple-A Charlotte. Raburn has spent parts of 11 seasons in the major leagues and is a career .296 hitter.

PH Ryan Raburn hit his fourth pinch-hit homer of the season and the eighth of his career. He is tied with Jeremy Hazelbaker, Kelly Johnson and Matt Joyce for the most pinch-hit homers in the majors this season. And Raburn's four pinch-hit homers are one short of the Rockies single-season record. Mark Sweeney hit five pinch-hit homers in 2004.

OF Ryan Raburn, who left Monday's game after fouling a ball off his left big toe, said the toe was still sore. "Usually I foul it off my shin guard, that's why I wear it," Raburn said. "I don't do it much, but it seems like the times the I do, it usually goes right off my shin guard. Unfortunately this time it (went) right off my toe. It's going to be sore for a little while." Asked whether he could pinch hit, Raburn said, "Right now it's a little tender. Can't really put a whole lot of pressure on it right now. Walking around, seems to be fine, but if I put more weight on it, it starts to get a little painful."

LF Ryan Raburn made his first start since July 27 and went 1-for-3 with a double before being taken out for defensive purposes in the seventh. He had been bothered by a sore left quadriceps muscle. Manager Walt Weiss had him in the lineup against left-hander Cole Hamels because Raburn has hit left-handers well in his career -- .824 career OPS as opposed to a .695 OPS against right-handers -- and because Weiss wanted to give left-handed hitting David Dahl his first day off after playing 13 straight games to begin his career, a stretch in which the Rockies had one off day on Aug. 1.