ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 3 of the World Series (all times local): 7:25 p.m. Justin Turner put the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead 1-0 in the first inning, homering on Charlie Morton’s 14th pitch. After taking a curveball with a 1-1 count for a strike with two outs, Turner turned on a high 94.8 mph fastball and drove it 397 feet over the left-field wall. Turner’s home run, the Dodgers’ team record 24th this season, was his 11th postseason home run over 69 games with the Dodgers from 2014 to 2020. That tied the team record set by Duke Snider over 36 games with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1954 to 1959. Max Muncy singled with two outs but was stranded when Morton struck out Will Smith. Dodgers ace Walker Buehler struck out two in a perfect bottom of the first that required 11 pitches, half Morton’s total. ___ 7:10 p.m. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the visiting team for Game 3 of the World Series, and batting first. Los Angeles, which had the best record in the majors... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 3 of the World Series (all times local): 6:25 p.m. The roof is closed for Game 3 of the World Series after it cooled down significantly in Texas. That could also affect how many runs are scored. It is the first time in 13 postseason games that the roof has not been open at the new $1.2 billion Globe Life Field — and the Los Angels Dodgers have played in all of them. The Tampa Bay Rays played their American League series in San Diego. An average of 10.42 runs have been scored in the postseason games in Arlington, including 21 total runs in the first two World Series games. The roof was closed for 24 of the 30 regular-season home games the Texas Rangers played in their new ballpark this year. An average of 8.21 runs per game were scored with the roof closed, down from 11.83 runs a game when open. Major League Baseball decided earlier in the day to close the roof because of the forecast for cooler temperatures, a wind chill and the possibility of... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 2 of the World Series (all times local): 10:50 p.m. Brandon Lowe hit two home runs to break out of an extended postseason slump and the Tampa Bay Rays held off the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4, tying the World Series at one game apiece. Down 5-0, the Dodgers closed within 6-4 on Corey Seager’s solo homer in the eighth. Aaron Loup relieved and struck out Cody Bellinger with a runner on base to prevent further damage. Joey Wendle also drove in three runs for Tampa Bay. Will Smith and Chris Taylor homered to help the Dodgers rally. After a day off, Game 3 will be Friday night at neutral site Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers. Charlie Morton starts for the Rays against Walker Buehler in a matchup of pitchers who have both excelled in October outings. ___ 10:33 p.m. Corey Seager hit a leadoff drive in the eighth inning for his seventh homer this postseason, and the Los Angeles Dodgers trimmed Tampa Bay’s lead to 6-4 heading to the ninth in Game... [More]

Randy Arozarena was a one-man show getting the Tampa Bay Rays to the World Series. Big swings, bat flips, bustin' moves — he did it all — and his fast hands and fanciful feet didn't need much help capturing an AL pennant. Winning the Fall Classic, though, that could take an ensemble cast — something Brandon Lowe and the rest of the Rays' lineup finally began to provide Wednesday night. After being carried through this postseason by its breakout rookie, Tampa Bay's offense turned in a top-to-bottom team effort in a 6-4 Game 2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night that evened the Series at a game apiece. Lowe homered twice, Joey Wendle drove in three and the Rays combined for 10 hits — their biggest output since closing out the wild-card round against Toronto on Sept. 30. “I think today was a little bit better indicator of the kind of team that we are,” Wendle said. “Just a complete win, complete team win, everybody contributing at different parts of the game.” Only one... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 2 of the World Series (all times local): 5:20 p.m. The Los Angeles Dodgers have certainly settled into the new ballpark deep in the heart of Texas. Game 2 of the World Series will be the Dodgers’ 15th game at the $1.2 billion Globe Life Field. That is already half as many as the 30 games the Texas Rangers have played in their new home, which opened during the pandemic-shortened season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Wednesday night’s game that all the experience there has made it feel more like a home field and is definitely an advantage. Los Angeles, which had the best record in the majors during the regular season, has been in the home clubhouse and home dugout for more than two weeks. That run began with a three-game sweep of San Diego in the National League Division Series, then a seven-game National League Championship Series win over Atlanta before facing Tampa Bay in the World Series The Dodgers were on the other side for a three-game... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Friday: GETTING TIGHTER Ji-Man Choi and the Rays will try for the third day in a row to reach the World Series. A pair of losses to Houston has narrowed Tampa Bay’s lead in the AL Championship Series to 3-2 at Petco Park in San Diego. Game 6 will be a rematch of the opener when Blake Snell pitched the Rays past Framber Valdéz and the Astros 2-1. GUSTY GAME Braves slugger Freddie Freeman and Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw seemed to having trouble seeing in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series because of windy conditions in a stadium with a retractable roof. Major League Baseball said it wanted to keep the roof open at Globe Life Field — barring rain — when the agreement was reached for the new home of the Texas Rangers to host three rounds of the playoffs in the pandemic-shortened season. Freeman reached for his eyes after striking out swinging in the first inning Thursday, and Fox reported he said, “I can’t see,” when he got back... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Except for an occasional homer, the Tampa Bay Rays’ offense has fallen largely silent on the brink of the World Series. For all their superb pitching, sublime defense, tactical innovation and relentless cheerleading from the dugout, the Rays might not go any farther if they can’t simply put some men on base and score a few more old-fashioned runs than the Houston Astros. Tampa Bay hit three solo homers and stranded nine runners in a 4-3 loss Thursday in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series, failing to finish off the series for the second straight day while absorbing back-to-back defeats for the first time since Sept. 8-10. “That big hit has continued to elude us with guys on base,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. With Carlos Correa's walkoff homer against formidable Tampa Bay reliever Nick Anderson, the Astros avoided elimination and trimmed the Rays’ once-daunting series lead to 3-2 after a string of missed offensive opportunities for the AL East champions. Given two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Whether they're in the field or at the plate, the Houston Astros are finding it tough to summon their usual postseason proficiency so far in the AL Championship Series. Almost as tough as José Altuve is finding it to throw to first base from shallow right field. Altuve's two throwing errors were the lowlight of Houston's 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 on Monday, with his first error prolonging the first inning and leading directly to Manuel Margot's decisive three-run homer. “We’re very surprised,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “That’s his first throwing error all year, and he hit two of them today." Altuve's mistakes and another quiet day at the plate have put the defending AL champion Astros in a 2-0 series hole in less than 24 hours in San Diego. Houston is facing an 0-2 series deficit for only the second time during its current run of four consecutive playoff appearances with two AL pennants. The Astros lost the first two games of last year's World Series... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton hit a grand slam in the ninth inning for New York’s fourth home run of the game, and the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-3 Monday night in the opener of their AL Division Series at Petco Park. Stanton homered to straightaway center field on a 2-2 pitch from John Curtiss with one out. The slugger took several steps with his bat still in his hands as he watched the ball sail through the warm San Diego night before beginning his trot. Kyle Higashioka and Aaron Judge hit the tying and go-ahead home runs off Blake Snell in the fifth inning. Clint Frazier hit an impressive shot into the second deck in left in the third. The Bronx Bombers became the first team in American League history to hit a grand slam in back-to-back playoff games. Gio Urshela did it in Game 2 of the first-round sweep of Cleveland. Two NL teams have done it, the 1977 Dodgers and 2011 Diamondbacks. The Yankees set a franchise record by hitting at least three home runs in three straight... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Rookie left-hander Shane McClanahan was a surprise addition to the 28-man roster the Tampa Bay Rays announced for the AL first-round series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. McClanahan was a first-round pick in the amateur draft two years ago who pitched at Class A and Double-A in 2019. He joined first baseman Ji-Man Choi and infielder Yandy Diaz, who have been on the injured list, in being added to the active roster before Game 1 of the best-of-three series. To make room on the 40-man roster for McClanahan, lefty reliever Sean Gilmartin was designated for assignment. Gilmartin is the husband of White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Three players who were on the regular season-ending roster — catcher Kevan Smith, left-handed starter Josh Fleming and lefty reliever Ryan Sherriff — were not included on the roster against Toronto. They remain in the 60-man postseason eligible player pool and can be added in future rounds. Tampa Bay’s 28-man roster... [More]

A capsule look at the best-of-three playoff series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Florida, beginning Tuesday. ___ TORONTO BLUE JAYS Record: 32-28. Playoff Entry: AL wild card. Playoff Seed: No. 8. Manager: Charlie Montoyo (second season). Projected Rotation: RHP Matt Shoemaker (0-1, 4.71 ERA), LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (5-2, 2.69), RHP Taijuan Walker (4-3, 2.70 with Seattle and Toronto). Top Hitters: OF Teoscar Hernandez (.289, 16 HRs, 34 RBIs), OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (.308, 11, 33), OF Randal Grichuk (.273, 12, 35). Top Relievers: RHP Anthony Bass (2-3, 3.51 ERA, 7 saves), RHP Rafael Dolis (2-2, 1.50, 5 saves). Series Summary: The Blue Jays make their eighth trip to the postseason and first since 2016, when they lost in the ALCS for the second straight year. Barred from playing home games north of the border because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blue Jays began the season with an extended road trip before moving into Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, home of... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: HOW DOES IT FEEL? American League playoff teams get only one day off to assess injuries and make roster decisions before the first round begins Tuesday. Minnesota has a couple of ailing hitters in third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf) and center fielder Byron Buxton (mild concussion symptoms). Both have missed two straight games. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton is improving and the team hopes he’ll be ready for the postseason opener. White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez sprained his right foot on a slide Thursday but was “improving exponentially,” manager Rick Renteria said Sunday. Jiménez sat out the weekend series against the Cubs. Tampa Bay left-hander José Alvarado (left shoulder inflammation), first baseman Ji-Man Choi (left hamstring strain) and infielder Yandy Díaz (right hamstring strain) are set to participate in a simulated game. Brett Phillips exited Sunday’s game with right hamstring tightness, and fellow outfielder... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday: HOW DOES IT FEEL? American League playoff teams get only one day off to assess injuries and make roster decisions before the first round begins Tuesday. Minnesota has a couple of ailing hitters in third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf) and center fielder Byron Buxton (mild concussion symptoms). Both have missed two straight games. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton is improving and the team hopes he’ll be ready for the postseason opener. White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez sprained his right foot on a slide Thursday but was “improving exponentially,” manager Rick Renteria said Sunday. Jiménez sat out the weekend series against the Cubs. Tampa Bay left-hander José Alvarado (left shoulder inflammation), first baseman Ji-Man Choi (left hamstring strain) and infielder Yandy Díaz (right hamstring strain) are set to participate in a simulated game. Brett Phillips exited Sunday’s game with right hamstring tightness, and fellow outfielder... [More]

Rays first. Austin Meadows homers to right field. Brandon Lowe grounds out to first base to Michael Chavis. Randy Arozarena grounds out to shallow infield, Christian Arroyo to Michael Chavis. Ji-Man Choi doubles to deep left field. Joey Wendle hit by pitch. Willy Adames strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rays 1, Red sox 0.Red sox third. Michael Chavis homers to center field. Christian Arroyo lines out to deep center field to Manuel Margot. Alex Verdugo grounds out to shortstop, Willy Adames to Nate Lowe. Rafael Devers grounds out to first base to Nate Lowe.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Red sox 1, Rays 1.Red sox fourth. Xander Bogaerts walks. J.D. Martinez lines out to deep left field to Austin Meadows. Kevin Plawecki singles to deep center field. Xander Bogaerts scores. Jackie Bradley Jr. reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Kevin Plawecki out at second. Yairo Munoz flies out to center field to Manuel Margot.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Red sox... [More]

Rays second. Yoshi Tsutsugo homers to center field. Nate Lowe strikes out swinging. Brett Phillips grounds out to shallow right field, Christian Arroyo to Bobby Dalbec. Michael Perez singles to shallow center field. Austin Meadows grounds out to shallow infield, Christian Arroyo to Bobby Dalbec.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 1, Red sox 0.Rays third. Joey Wendle singles to left field. Brandon Lowe singles to center field. Joey Wendle to second. Ji-Man Choi lines out to deep center field to Jackie Bradley Jr.. Kevin Kiermaier grounds out to second base, Xander Bogaerts to Bobby Dalbec. Brandon Lowe to third. Joey Wendle scores. Yoshi Tsutsugo lines out to left field to Michael Chavis.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 2, Red sox 0.Rays fourth. Nate Lowe singles to left field. Brett Phillips strikes out swinging. Michael Perez walks. Nate Lowe to second. Austin Meadows doubles to deep center field. Michael Perez scores. Nate Lowe scores. Joey Wendle walks. Brandon Lowe grounds... [More]

Red sox third. Bobby Dalbec strikes out swinging. Christian Arroyo flies out to deep left field to Austin Meadows. Alex Verdugo singles to left field. Rafael Devers homers to right field. Alex Verdugo scores. Xander Bogaerts walks. J.D. Martinez reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Xander Bogaerts out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Red sox 2, Rays 0.Rays fourth. Hunter Renfroe homers to center field. Brandon Lowe homers to center field. Willy Adames strikes out swinging. Kevan Smith strikes out swinging. Joey Wendle grounds out to second base, Christian Arroyo to Bobby Dalbec.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Red sox 2, Rays 2.Red sox fifth. Bobby Dalbec homers to right field. Christian Arroyo singles to right field. Alex Verdugo reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Christian Arroyo out at second. Rafael Devers singles to right center field. Alex Verdugo to second. Xander Bogaerts pops out to shallow center field to Brandon Lowe. J.D. Martinez strikes out... [More]

Nationals first. Victor Robles hit by pitch. Adam Eaton out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Yoshi Tsutsugo to Ji-Man Choi. Victor Robles to second. Trea Turner walks. Juan Soto grounds out to shallow infield, Yoshi Tsutsugo to Ji-Man Choi. Trea Turner to third. Victor Robles scores. Kurt Suzuki grounds out to second base, Ji-Man Choi to Ryan Yarbrough.1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 1, Rays 0.Nationals second. Asdrubal Cabrera strikes out swinging. Josh Harrison flies out to deep left center field to Randy Arozarena. Brock Holt doubles to deep right field. Carter Kieboom doubles to deep left field. Brock Holt scores. Victor Robles flies out to center field to Kevin Kiermaier.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 2, Rays 0.Nationals third. Adam Eaton flies out to center field to Kevin Kiermaier. Trea Turner doubles to deep left field. Juan Soto singles to second base. Trea Turner to third. Kurt Suzuki hit by pitch. Juan Soto to second. Asdrubal Cabrera out on... [More]

Nationals second. Kurt Suzuki flies out to deep right field to Brandon Lowe. Josh Harrison walks. Eric Thames singles to deep center field. Josh Harrison to third. Carter Kieboom reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Eric Thames out at second. Josh Harrison scores. Michael A. Taylor grounds out to second base, Joey Wendle to Ji-Man Choi.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 1, Rays 0.Nationals third. Victor Robles doubles to deep left center field. Adam Eaton flies out to Brandon Lowe. Victor Robles to third. Trea Turner singles to left field. Victor Robles scores. Brock Holt lines out to left field to Austin Meadows. Kurt Suzuki doubles to deep left field. Trea Turner scores. Josh Harrison pops out to Yoshi Tsutsugo.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 3, Rays 0.Nationals sixth. Brock Holt doubles to deep right field. Kurt Suzuki singles to shallow right field. Brock Holt to third. Josh Harrison singles to deep right field. Kurt Suzuki to second. Brock Holt... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer off a struggling Jon Lester, and the St. Louis Cardinals gained ground in the NL Central race by beating the Chicago Cubs 7-3 on Sunday night.St. Louis pulled within 1 1/2 games of Chicago with its third consecutive win over the division leaders. The longtime rivals have one game left in their pandemic-shortened season series on Monday.Dakota Hudson (2-2) worked five innings of three-run ball, shrugging off a shaky start.Chicago dropped to 10-15 since its 13-3 start. Anthony Rizzo and Jason Kipnis homered for the Cubs, but Lester (2-2) lasted just 3 1/3 innings in another lackluster performance.ANGELS 9, ASTROS 5ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anthony Rendon homered, Jared Walsh and Justin Upton delivered key hits during a four-run eighth inning and Los Angeles swept the four-game series.The Angels have a won a season-high five straight. They trailed by at least three runs in each game against Houston before rallying.Mike Mayers (1-0), the fifth... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer off a struggling Jon Lester, and the St. Louis Cardinals gained ground in the NL Central race by beating the Chicago Cubs 7-3 on Sunday night.St. Louis pulled within 1 1/2 games of Chicago with its third consecutive win over the division leaders. The longtime rivals have one game left in their pandemic-shortened season series on Monday.Dakota Hudson (2-2) worked five innings of three-run ball, shrugging off a shaky start.Chicago dropped to 10-15 since its 13-3 start. Anthony Rizzo and Jason Kipnis homered for the Cubs, but Lester (2-2) lasted just 3 1/3 innings in another lackluster performance.ANGELS 9, ASTROS 5ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anthony Rendon homered, Jared Walsh and Justin Upton delivered key hits during a four-run eighth inning and Los Angeles swept the four-game series.The Angels have a won a season-high five straight. They trailed by at least three runs in each game against Houston before rallying.Mike Mayers (1-0), the fifth... [More]