Sept. 81905 — The Pittsburgh Pirates stranded 18 runners in an 8-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds to set a National League record for men left on base.1939 — With his 12-1 victory over the Browns in St. Louis, 20-year-old Bob Feller became the youngest modern-era player to win 20 games.1940 — Joe Gordon of the New York Yankees hit for the cycle in a 9-4 win over the Boston Red Sox.1940 — Johnny Mize of St. Louis hit three homers and drove in six runs in a 16-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of a doubleheader. Mize became the first player to hit three homers in one game four times in a career.1955 — The Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Braves 10-2 to clinch the National League pennant with a 17-game lead.1958 — Roberto Clemente tied a major league record by hitting three triples in a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.1965 — Bert Campaneris of the Kansas City A's played all nine positions but had to leave after a ninth-inning collision with Ed Kirkpatrick of the Angels.... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ryan Zimmerman fielded his position in a drizzle before the Washington Nationals' last exhibition game. Then he joined teammates for batting practice. Even took some trips around the basepaths, expending enough energy in the chill to redden his face.And then, when it was time for what became reigning NL East champion Washington's 3-1 loss against the Minnesota Twins to begin Tuesday, Zimmerman did what he so often did during spring training this year: He sat out.Taking an unusual approach to February and March, Zimmerman hit on back fields and faced pitchers destined for the minor leagues instead of playing in Grapefruit League games. He finished with two official at-bats. The 33-year-old first baseman insists he's healthy, insists he's ready for the regular season and insists — as does Nationals manager Dave Martinez — that he will play on opening day."I practiced. I did BP every day with the team. It's not like I was sitting in the clubhouse watching TV. I did all the... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Kennys Vargas has made a quick U-turn and is headed back to the Minnesota Twins.The Twins reclaimed Vargas off waivers from Cincinnati on Saturday, two days after the Reds plucked him from Minnesota.Minnesota recently cut Vargas when it ran out of roster space. The 27-year-old batted .253 with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs in 78 games last season for the Twins as a designated hitter and first baseman.The Twins had a roster spot open up when shortstop Jorge Polanco was suspended 80 games for a drug violation.Minnesota already has longtime star Joe Mauer and recently signed Logan Morrison to take up slots at first base and DH. Vargas could provide extra depth, provided there's room to keep him in the organization, possibly in the minors.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds have claimed slugger Kennys Vargas off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.The Reds announced the acquisition Thursday. The 27-year-old Vargas batted .253 with career highs of 11 home runs and 41 RBIs in 78 games last season. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound switch-hitter made all his starts with Minnesota at either first base or designated hitter.Vargas was designated for assignment by the Twins last week to make room when Jake Cave was acquired from the New York Yankees.The Reds also optioned right-handers Jackson Stephens and Robert Stephenson to Triple-A Louisville and reassigned to minor league camp right-handers Dylan Floro and Tanner Rainey, left-hander Oliver Perez, catcher Joe Hudson, outfielders Ben Revere and Mason Williams and utility player Rosell Herrera.

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]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have acquired outfielder Jake Cave from the New York Yankees for right-hander Luis Gil in a swap of minor leaguers.To make room for Cave on the 40-man roster, the Twins designated first baseman Kennys Vargas for assignment. Vargas was originally signed by the Twins in 2009 and played parts of four seasons with Minnesota, hitting .252 with 35 home runs and 116 RBI in 236 career games.Vargas became expendable after Minnesota signed free agent first baseman Logan Morrison earlier tis year.Cave split the 2017 season between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting .305 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs. He was designated for assignment Monday when the Yankees signed free agent infielder Neil Walker.Gil was signed by the Twins in February 2015 and made 14 starts for the Dominican Summer League Twins last season.

The Minnesota Twins are adding some pop to their playoff team from last year, landing free agent slugger Logan Morrison for the lineup.Morrison and the Twins have agreed to a $6.5 million, one-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because the agreement was subject to a physical and had not been finalized.The Twins would have an option for 2019 that could vest automatically, making it a two-year deal.Either way, their patience in a slow-moving market this winter has the Twins on the cusp of scoring Morrison, who's coming off a career-high 38 home runs and 85 RBIs for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017.Morrison was drafted by the Marlins and debuted in 2010. He was traded to Seattle prior to the 2014 season, then dealt to the Rays two years later.Morrison played in a career-most 149 games last season and posted an .868 OPS, which would have been tops on the Twins. He broke in as a corner outfielder... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The turnaround for Minnesota last year was sharp, with 26 more wins than the miserable 2016 season on a march to the AL wild card game.This year, the Twins are in position to actually measure progress by postseason advancement. The entire starting lineup stayed intact, with five core players age 25 and under, and the bullpen was given a big boost with three free agent additions .For the first time in seven years, the previous appearance in the playoffs, Minnesota is a desired destination."I feel like this team is on the edge of being really good for a while," said left-hander Zach Duke, who joined right-handers Fernando Rodney and Addison Reed as veteran relievers who signed this winter. "Maybe a pitcher or two away, and it's there. It's a very exciting thing."The pitcher or two could still materialize, with Yu Darvish at the top of the list of unsigned logjam of free agents around the game. The Twins, who hold their first official workout for pitchers and catchers on... [More]

1B Kennys Vargas has some speed and fielding deficiencies but one thing he does not lack is the ability to sting a baseball. Vargas got a shot at first Sunday with Joe Mauer filling the DH role. Vargas lined a sharp single to left in the second and doubled to set up a run in the fourth.

INF Kennys Vargas was recalled on Monday from Triple-A Rochester to replace 3B Miguel Sano, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Monday with a left shin stress reaction. Vargas is making his fifth stint with the Twins and is hitting .243 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs in 51 games.

INF Kennys Vargas was recalled from Triple-A Rochester. cago White Sox. Vargas will be making his fifth stint with the Twins, hitting .243 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs in 51 games. He is batting .253 with nine home runs in 51 games with Rochester this season, including hitting .394 (13-for-33) with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs in nine games since being optioned Aug. 9.

1B/DH Kennys Vargas is headed back to Triple-A Rochester after a short stay on the Twins' big league roster. Minnesota called Vargas up Wednesday morning when LHP Adalberto Mejia was placed on the disabled list. After the Twins' 4-0 victory at Milwaukee on Wednesday night, Vargas was sent back down to Rochester to make room on the roster for the team's Thursday starter, LHP Dietrich Enns.

DH Kennys Vargas was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday. Vargas is batting .244 with eight homers and 30 RBIs in 50 games this season with the Twins. The 27-year-old is hitting .221 with eight homers during his time this season with the Red Wings as well.

The Minnesota Twins placed left-hander Adalberto Mejia on the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday with a brachialis strain to his upper pitching arm.Designated hitter Kennys Vargas was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to fill Mejia's spot on the roster.Mejia exited Tuesday's night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth inning after being plagued by pain in his upper arm. The 24-year-old Dominican allowed three runs on seven hits to receive a no-decision.Mejia owns a 4-5 mark with a 4.47 ERA in 18 starts this season.Vargas is batting .244 with eight homers and 30 RBIs in 50 games this season with the Twins. The 27-year-old is hitting .221 with eight homers during his time this season with the Red Wings as well.

DH/1B Kennys Vargas was optioned to Triple-A Rochester to make room for Tuesday's starter, Bartolo Colon. Manager Paul Molitor wanted to keep his extra pitching while needing to clear a 25-man roster spot for Colon. Vargas was optioned for the third time this season. He has a .244 average to go with eight homers and 30 RBIs in 50 games for Minnesota.

1B Kennys Vargas smacked a 452-foot solo home run to right field in the second inning off Astros RHP Mike Fiers. It was his eighth homer this season, and Vargas is batting .333 (9-for-27) with four home runs and eight RBIs in nine career games against the Astros. He did not play on Saturday night after aggravating a foot contusion in the series opener.

1B Kennys Vargas departed in the seventh inning with a left foot contusion. His status for the remainder of the series is undetermined. Vargas finished 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts. He singled in the seventh inning but was later erased on a double play and subsequently replaced by Chris Jimenez in the field.

1B Kennys Vargas was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Friday as Joe Mauer was placed on the disabled list. Vargas was at first base and batting fifth in Friday's game in which he had three hits and two RBIs. He hit two balls off the outfield wall and was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double in the second inning. Vargas is now hitting .244 in the majors this year with 29 RBIs in 45 games.

1B Kennys Vargas was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Friday. Vargas is batting .231 with seven homers in 44 games for the Twins this season.

DH/1B Kennys Vargas was optioned to Triple-A Rochester following Monday's game to make room on the roster for the return of Ehire Adrianza off the disabled list. Vargas has hit .230 with seven homers and 27 RBIs in 43 games for the Twins this season. He was 1 for 3 with a walk in Monday's game. Manager Paul Molitor said he needed to keep the extra pitching, leading to Vargas' third assignment to the minors this year.