SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

Yankees first. DJ LeMahieu homers to right field. Aaron Judge strikes out swinging. Aaron Hicks grounds out to second base, Jonathan Villar to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. Luke Voit flies out to deep center field to Randal Grichuk.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Yankees 1, Blue jays 0.Yankees third. Tyler Wade singles to shallow right field. Kyle Higashioka homers to center field. Tyler Wade scores. DJ LeMahieu walks. Aaron Judge strikes out swinging. Aaron Hicks walks. DJ LeMahieu to second. Luke Voit strikes out swinging. Gio Urshela grounds out to shallow center field, Jonathan Villar to Vladimir Guerrero Jr..2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Yankees 3, Blue jays 0.Yankees fourth. Clint Frazier homers to left field. Gary Sanchez singles to right field. Tyler Wade flies out to left center field to Lourdes Gurriel Jr.. Kyle Higashioka lines out to deep left field to Lourdes Gurriel Jr.. DJ LeMahieu homers to right field. Gary Sanchez scores. Aaron Judge strikes out swinging.3 runs, 3 hits,... [More]

Blue jays second. Randal Grichuk flies out to right field to Clint Frazier. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homers to center field. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singles to left field. Joe Panik pops out to shallow infield to Gio Urshela. Alejandro Kirk grounds out to third base, Gio Urshela to Luke Voit.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Blue jays 1, Yankees 0.Yankees second. Giancarlo Stanton grounds out to third base, Cavan Biggio to Travis Shaw. Gio Urshela doubles to left field. Clint Frazier reaches on error. Gio Urshela to third. Fielding error by Derek Fisher. Brett Gardner singles to deep right center field. Clint Frazier to second. Gio Urshela scores. Gary Sanchez called out on strikes. Tyler Wade singles to deep right field. Brett Gardner to second. Clint Frazier scores. DJ LeMahieu singles to shallow right field. Tyler Wade to third. Brett Gardner scores. Luke Voit homers to left field. DJ LeMahieu scores. Tyler Wade scores. Aaron Hicks homers to right field. Giancarlo Stanton strikes out swinging.7... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Nate Lowe hit two homers and drove in four runs as Tampa Bay fielded a lineup of all lefties, Blake Snell worked 5 1/3 scoreless innings and the AL East-leading Rays routed the cellar-dwelling Boston Red Sox 11-1 on Friday night.Tampa Bay became the first major league team since at least 1900 to use a batting order with only left-handed batters, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.Snell (4-1) gave up five hits and two walks. He struck out five.Yoshi Tsutsugo also homered for the Rays, who stopped a three-game skid. Boston rookie Bobby Dalbec had his five-game home run streak end but had an RBI double in the ninth.Rays manager Kevin Cash stacked his lineup with lefties against right-hander Andrew Triggs, who made his second start with Boston.Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke quickly countered by removing Triggs after he allowed a hit and walk in a scoreless first. However, Tsutsugo started the second with a homer off lefty Matt Hall (0-3).Kevin Kiermaier had an RBI... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Nate Lowe hit two homers and drove in four runs as Tampa Bay fielded a lineup of all lefties, Blake Snell worked 5 1/3 scoreless innings and the AL East-leading Rays routed the cellar-dwelling Boston Red Sox 11-1 on Friday night.Tampa Bay became the first major league team since at least 1900 to use a batting order with only left-handed batters, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.Snell (4-1) gave up five hits and two walks. He struck out five.Yoshi Tsutsugo also homered for the Rays, who stopped a three-game skid. Boston rookie Bobby Dalbec had his five-game home run streak end but had an RBI double in the ninth.Rays manager Kevin Cash stacked his lineup with lefties against right-hander Andrew Triggs, who made his second start with Boston.Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke quickly countered by removing Triggs after he allowed a hit and walk in a scoreless first. However, Tsutsugo started the second with a homer off lefty Matt Hall (0-3).Kevin Kiermaier had an RBI... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Nate Lowe hit two homers and drove in four runs as Tampa Bay fielded a lineup of all lefties, Blake Snell worked 5 1/3 scoreless innings and the AL East-leading Rays routed the cellar-dwelling Boston Red Sox 11-1 on Friday night.Tampa Bay became the first major league team since at least 1900 to use a batting order with only left-handed batters, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.Snell (4-1) gave up five hits and two walks. He struck out five.Yoshi Tsutsugo also homered for the Rays, who stopped a three-game skid. Boston rookie Bobby Dalbec had his five-game home run streak end but had an RBI double in the ninth.Rays manager Kevin Cash stacked his lineup with lefties against right-hander Andrew Triggs, who made his second start with Boston.Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke quickly countered by removing Triggs after he allowed a hit and walk in a scoreless first. However, Tsutsugo started the second with a homer off lefty Matt Hall (0-3).Kevin Kiermaier had an RBI... [More]

Yankees first. DJ LeMahieu homers to left field. Luke Voit singles to right field. Brett Gardner homers to right field. Luke Voit scores. Clint Frazier lines out to deep right field to DJ Stewart. Gleyber Torres lines out to deep center field to Cedric Mullins. Gary Sanchez lines out to second base to Pat Valaika.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Yankees 3, Orioles 0.Yankees second. Mike Tauchman singles to left field. Kyle Higashioka homers to left field. Mike Tauchman scores. Tyler Wade lines out to shallow infield to Alex Cobb. DJ LeMahieu grounds out to shortstop, Jose Iglesias to Pat Valaika. Luke Voit grounds out to shallow infield, Rio Ruiz to Pat Valaika.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Yankees 5, Orioles 0.Yankees sixth. Gleyber Torres doubles to left field. Gary Sanchez walks. Mike Tauchman singles to shallow center field. Gary Sanchez to third. Gleyber Torres scores. Kyle Higashioka called out on strikes. Tyler Wade pops out to shallow infield to Rio Ruiz. DJ LeMahieu lines out to third base to Rio Ruiz.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Yankees 6, Orioles 0.

Yankees first. DJ LeMahieu grounds out to second base to Rowdy Tellez. Luke Voit homers. Aaron Hicks homers. Clint Frazier reaches on error. Fielding error by Travis Shaw. Gleyber Torres strikes out swinging. Miguel Andujar grounds out to third base, Travis Shaw to Rowdy Tellez.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Yankees 2, Blue jays 0.Blue jays first. Cavan Biggio doubles to left field. Randal Grichuk lines out to left field to Brett Gardner. Rowdy Tellez doubles to shallow right field. Cavan Biggio scores. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walks. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. lines out to left field to Brett Gardner. Jonathan Villar flies out to deep center field to Aaron Hicks.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Yankees 2, Blue jays 1.Blue jays second. Travis Shaw doubles to deep left field. Santiago Espinal singles to shallow center field, advances to 2nd. Travis Shaw scores. Throwing error by Aaron Hicks. Danny Jansen grounds out to shallow infield, Luke Voit to Jordan Montgomery. Santiago Espinal to third.... [More]

Yankees second. Mike Ford grounds out to shallow right field, Todd Frazier to Pete Alonso. Gio Urshela singles to right field. Brett Gardner walks. Gio Urshela to second. Kyle Higashioka singles to shallow left field. Brett Gardner to second. Gio Urshela to third. Tyler Wade singles to shallow center field. Kyle Higashioka to second. Brett Gardner to third. Gio Urshela scores. DJ LeMahieu out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Michael Conforto. Kyle Higashioka to third. Brett Gardner scores. Luke Voit doubles to deep left field. Tyler Wade scores. Kyle Higashioka scores. Aaron Hicks walks. Clint Frazier walks. Aaron Hicks to second. Luke Voit to third. Mike Ford lines out to center field to Jake Marisnick.4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Yankees 4, Mets 0.Mets second. Todd Frazier homers to right field. Dominic Smith lines out to shortstop to Gio Urshela. Pete Alonso strikes out swinging. Jake Marisnick strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Yankees 4, Mets 1.Mets... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — If Aroldis Chapman's 101 mph brush-back pitch Tuesday night didn't push the Yankees-Rays rivalry to its boiling point, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash's threat certainly did. “Somebody’s got to be accountable," Cash said. “And the last thing I’ll say on this is I got a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 mph. Period.”Chapman threw a 101 mph fastball near the head of pinch-hitter Michael Brosseau while closing out his first save of the season, prompting the benches to empty after New York ended a six-game losing streak against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 5-3 victory. “We’re talking about a 100 mph fastball over a young man’s head,” Cash said. “It makes no sense. It’s poor judgment, poor coaching, it’s just poor teaching what they’re doing and what they’re allowing to do, the chirping from the dugout."Chapman’s first pitch to Brosseau with two outs in the ninth inning whizzed past Brosseau’s head. Umpires convened before issuing warnings to both benches, and Cash was ejected... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman threw a 101 mph fastball near the head of pinch-hitter Michael Brosseau while closing out his first save of the season, prompting the benches to empty after New York ended a six-game losing streak against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night.Chapman's first pitch to Brosseau with two outs in the ninth inning whizzed past Brosseau's head, and umpires met before issuing warnings to both benches amid a budding rivalry that's been dominated this season by Tampa Bay. The Rays are 7-2 against the Yankees and lead second-place New York by 3 1/2 games.Chapman struck out Brosseau to end it, and Brosseau began walking toward the visiting dugout before turning back to exchange words with someone on the Yankees. The dugouts and benches emptied and players gathered near home plate, but they mostly kept their distance before dispersing to their respective clubhouses.Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka hit Joey Wendle with a pitch in the first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman threw a 101 mph fastball near the head of pinch-hitter Michael Brosseau while closing out his first save of the season, prompting the benches to empty after New York ended a six-game losing streak against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night.Chapman's first pitch to Brosseau with two outs in the ninth inning whizzed past Brosseau's head, and umpires met before issuing warnings to both benches amid a budding rivalry that's been dominated this season by Tampa Bay. The Rays are 7-2 against the Yankees and lead second-place New York by 3 1/2 games.Chapman struck out Brosseau to end it, and Brosseau began walking toward the visiting dugout before turning back to exchange words with someone on the Yankees. The dugouts and benches emptied and players gathered near home plate, but they mostly kept their distance before dispersing to their respective clubhouses.“Just some back and forth with obviously the ball coming close to Brosseau... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees star shortstop Gleyber Torres is expected to miss two to three weeks while recovering from strains in his hamstring and quad and pitcher James Paxton won’t throw for 14 days because of a strained left forearm.New York manager Aaron Boone provided the updates Saturday. The team worked out at Yankee Stadium after this weekend’s Subway Series at Citi Field was postponed when two members of the Mets tested positive for the coronavirus.Torres, Paxton and reliever Luis Avilan were put on the injured list Friday. Big-hitting Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu already were on the IL, along with relievers Zack Britton and Tommy Kahnle and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka.Many pitchers around the majors have gone on the IL this season, including World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg, Justin Verlander and Madison Bumgarner.“I think it’s pretty simple,” Paxton said. “We didn’t get enough time going at a lower speed to kind of build up.”Major League Baseball shut down... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:BIG APPLE BREAKThe Subway Series scheduled for this weekend has been postponed after two members of the Mets tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday. The Mets say they won’t have any team workouts this weekend, instead letting players and coaches isolate at home while New York and Major League Baseball undertake more testing and contact tracing measures. It’s a well-timed pause in the season for the Yankees, who placed shortstop Gleyber Torres and left-hander James Paxton on their crowded injured list Friday. New York was already without star hitters Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu, as well as left-hander Zack Britton, right-hander Tommy Kahnle and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka. Judge was expected to be activated Saturday after recovering from a strained right calf.NO TITOThe Indians don’t expect to have Terry Francona on the bench this weekend for a series against Detroit after the manager had a scheduled medical procedure... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — All-Star shortstop Gleyber Torres and left-hander James Paxton have joined the New York Yankees' crowded injured list.Torres had an MRI on Friday that revealed mild strains in his left hamstring and quad, while Paxton had an MRI on Thursday that showed a low-grade strain in his left forearm flexor. Both were added to the IL on Friday.Left-hander Luis Avilán was also placed on the injured list after an MRI on Thursday revealed left shoulder inflammation.The Yankees were supposed to play three games against the crosstown Mets this weekend, but the Subway Series was postponed after two members of the Mets tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday.The Yankees are already without star hitters Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu, as well as left-hander Zack Britton, right-hander Tommy Kahnle and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka — all on the IL. Judge was expected to be activated Saturday after recovering from a strained right calf. Torres was injured running to first... [More]

Yankees first. DJ LeMahieu singles to shallow right field. Aaron Judge reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. DJ LeMahieu to second. Fielding error by Jean Segura. Aaron Hicks walks. Aaron Judge to second. DJ LeMahieu to third. Gleyber Torres grounds out to shortstop. Aaron Hicks out at second. Aaron Judge to third. DJ LeMahieu scores. Mike Ford pops out to shallow left field to Phil Gosselin.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 left on. Yankees 1, Phillies 0.Yankees second. Miguel Andujar strikes out swinging. Mike Tauchman flies out to center field to Roman Quinn. Kyle Higashioka singles to center field. Brett Gardner homers to right field. Kyle Higashioka scores. DJ LeMahieu singles to shortstop. Aaron Judge reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. DJ LeMahieu out at second.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Yankees 3, Phillies 0.Phillies third. Andrew McCutchen walks. Rhys Hoskins flies out to left field to Brett Gardner. Bryce Harper homers to center field. Andrew McCutchen scores. J.T.... [More]

Red sox third. Michael Chavis homers to left field. Jackie Bradley Jr. strikes out swinging. Jose Peraza singles to shallow center field. Kevin Pillar singles to center field. Jose Peraza to second. J.D. Martinez lines out to right center field to Aaron Judge. Kevin Pillar doubled off first.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Red sox 1, Yankees 0.Yankees third. DJ LeMahieu singles to shallow infield. Aaron Judge homers to deep right center field. DJ LeMahieu scores. Gleyber Torres grounds out to shortstop, Rafael Devers to Michael Chavis. Giancarlo Stanton flies out to deep left field to Alex Verdugo. Aaron Hicks walks. Luke Voit grounds out to shallow infield, Ryan Weber to Michael Chavis.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Yankees 2, Red sox 1.Yankees fourth. Gio Urshela homers to right field. Brett Gardner walks. Kyle Higashioka reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Brett Gardner out at second. DJ LeMahieu reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Kyle Higashioka out at second.... [More]

Nationals third. Yan Gomes strikes out swinging. Michael A. Taylor grounds out to shallow infield, DJ LeMahieu to Luke Voit. Trea Turner homers to left field. Adam Eaton grounds out to second base, DJ LeMahieu to Luke Voit.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 1, Yankees 0.Nationals fourth. Starlin Castro doubles. Howie Kendrick grounds out to shallow infield, DJ LeMahieu to Luke Voit. Starlin Castro to third. Eric Thames singles to shallow right field. Starlin Castro scores. Asdrubal Cabrera grounds out to shallow infield. Eric Thames out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 2, Yankees 0.Yankees seventh. Aaron Judge strikes out swinging. Gleyber Torres homers to left field. Giancarlo Stanton strikes out swinging. Luke Voit homers to left field. Gio Urshela walks. Miguel Andujar grounds out to second base, Starlin Castro to Eric Thames.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Yankees 2, Nationals 2.Yankees eighth. Aaron Hicks pinch-hitting for Kyle Higashioka. Aaron Hicks walks. Gary Sanchez pinch-hitting for Mike Tauchman. Gary Sanchez called out on strikes. DJ LeMahieu singles to right field. Aaron Hicks to second. Aaron Judge lines out to deep left field to Michael A. Taylor. Gleyber Torres singles to left center field. DJ LeMahieu to second. Aaron Hicks scores. Giancarlo Stanton is intentionally walked. Luke Voit strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Yankees 3, Nationals 2.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Highlighting the pitfalls of beginning the baseball season amid a pandemic, Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto tested positive for COVID-19 and was put on the injured list Thursday, hours before the 2019 World Series champions were scheduled to face the New York Yankees on opening day.Major League Baseball is the first of the four major North American team sports playing regular-season games amid the coronavirus outbreak, which is getting worse in some parts of the U.S.“You feel bad for him. He's a great player. The fans want to see him. And it affects our lineup,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said.“But what can you do about it?” Rizzo added. “You've got to play ball. ... We’re going to have to win without our best guy. It’s a challenge.”Soto, a 21-year-old left fielder who was a breakout star of last October after producing 34 homers and 110 RBIs during the regular season, will be sidelined until he can come up negative on two consecutive coronavirus tests.“Unfortunately... [More]