DETROIT (AP) — Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 4 with an RBI groundout and walked once in his season debut as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 Tuesday night.The Angels activated the AL Rookie of the Year from the injured list and looking very eager to make an impact, Ohtani swung so hard at times that his helmet flew off his head.The 24-year-old two-way player isn't expected to pitch this year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery in October. But the Angels, who are under .500, are hoping Ohtani can provide a boost as their designated hitter.Griffin Canning (1-0) earned the win in his second career start, giving up two runs and four hits over 5 1/3 innings while striking out seven. Hansel Robles pitched the ninth for his third save in as many chances.Daniel Norris (1-1) took the loss.CUBS 5, MARLINS 2CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the Chicago Cubs over Miami.With runners on the corners, Bryant drove a... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ryan Braun's career-high sixth hit, a two-run single with one out in the 18th inning, lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-3 comeback victory over the New York Mets on Saturday night in the longest game in Miller Park history.Braun stood on first base with his hands raised above his head as Yasmani Grandal slid across home plate with the winning run, ending the game that lasted 5 hours and 22 minutes. A jubilant bunch of Brewers ran out to greet Braun, who was the only Milwaukee player to have multiple hits.The Mets took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 18th on Jeff McNeil's run-scoring single off Taylor Williams (1-1), who was Milwaukee's eighth and final pitcher.But the Brewers were far from done. Eric Thames drew a leadoff walk from Chris Flexen (0-2), who then got Mike Moustakas to fly out to center. Flexen, just recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day, walked Grandal and Travis Shaw to load the bases for Braun. The Brewers' longest-tenured hit a sharp grounder... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Boston Red Sox strung together 10 straight hits against White Sox left-hander Manny Bañuelos, ending one hit shy of the major league record during a nine-run third inning in a 15-2 rout of Chicago on Saturday night.Bañuelos (2-1) retired his first eight batters before Christian Vázquez opened Boston's two-out rally with a single. Xander Bogaerts, Michael Chavis and Eduardo Núñez each homered, Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez had RBI doubles, and Vázquez capped the streak with another single before White Sox manager Rick Renteria pulled Bañuelos with a 9-1 deficit. Carson Fulmer replaced Bañuelos and interrupted the hit parade by walking Andrew Benintendi. Betts flew out to right to end the inning after 14 batters.The Colorado Rockies had a major league-record 11 straight hits during a 17-2 win over the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on July 30, 2010.Chavis added another solo shot in the fifth for his first multihomer game and finished with four hits and three RBIs. All of... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Boston Red Sox strung together 10 straight hits against White Sox left-hander Manny Bañuelos, ending one hit shy of the major league record during a nine-run third inning in a 15-2 rout of Chicago on Saturday night.Bañuelos (2-1) retired his first eight batters before Christian Vázquez opened Boston's two-out rally with a single. Xander Bogaerts, Michael Chavis and Eduardo Núñez each homered, Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez had RBI doubles, and Vázquez capped the streak with another single before White Sox manager Rick Renteria pulled Bañuelos with a 9-1 deficit. Carson Fulmer replaced Bañuelos and interrupted the hit parade by walking Andrew Benintendi. Betts flew out to right to end the inning after 14 batters.The Colorado Rockies had a major league-record 11 straight hits during a 17-2 win over the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on July 30, 2010.Chavis added another solo shot in the fifth for his first multihomer game and finished with four hits and three RBIs. All of... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Robinson Chirinos hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in a four-run seventh inning to give the Houston Astros a 4-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday night.The Astros were unable to do much against Carlos Carrasco (2-3) before Yuli Gurriel's RBI double in the seventh. After an intentional walk, Chirinos sent the next pitch over the train tracks atop the wall in left field and out of the stadium on a night the retractable roof was open.The Astros won the final two games to earn a split of the four-game set with Cleveland, a rematch of last year's AL Division Series in which Houston earned a three-game sweep. Houston also moved into first place in the AL West.Wade Miley yielded six hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings to extend his streak of consecutive starts with three or fewer earned runs to 22. The left-hander struck out three and walked two.Framber Valdez (1-1) yielded one hit in two scoreless innings. Ryan Pressly allowed one hit and no runs in the ninth for his second... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale remained winless in six starts this season, giving up Daniel Robertson's two-run homer in the first inning and Yandy Diaz's two-run triple in the second as the Boston Red Sox lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 Sunday.Sale (0-5) gave up four runs — two earned — four hits and three walks in seven innings with eight strikeouts. After signing a $160 million, six-year contract in spring training, the 30-year-old left-hander gas a 6.40 ERA.Tyler Glasnow (5-0) gave up two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts. Tampa Bay improved to a major league-best 18-9 and has won eight of nine series this year.YANKEES 11, GIANTS 5SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — DJ LeMahieu and Gio Urshela became the latest Yankees to get hurt as New York completed a three-game sweep in which is outscored San Francisco 21-12.LeMahieu was removed in the bottom of the third because of right knee inflammation caused by fouling a pitch off his leg Friday, and Urshela left after he was hit on his left... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Gregory Polanco couldn't get the awkward slide into second base last September that dislocated his left shoulder out of his head. The Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder pored over the video during his lengthy rehab to the point where it simply got to be too much."It was terrible," Polanco said. "I watch it a lot of times and it was not a good feeling to watch it so I stopped."And focused on the long road back, one that reached a significant milestone on Monday when the Pirates activated the 27-year-old off the injured list and put him in the lineup in time for the opener of a four-game series with Arizona.Polanco was legging out a double against the Miami Marlins on Sept. 7 when he tried an unorthodox slide to avoid a tag. He appeared to leap in the air before extending his left leg toward the bag, tumbling forward and starting a sequence that ended with his left shoulder dislocated and the labrum in his throwing shoulder torn. He had surgery on Sept. 12, ending a season... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates activated Gregory Polanco off the 10-day injured list after the right fielder completed a lengthy rehab from a dislocated left shoulder last September that cut short his 2018 season.Polanco was to bat third for the National League Central leading Pirates on Monday night against Arizona, a welcome jolt for a team dealing with a rash of injuries to the outfield. Starling Marte, Corey Dickerson and Lonnie Chisenhall are all out indefinitely while dealing with injuries.The 27-year-old Polanco hit a career-high 23 home runs for Pittsburgh in 2018 before his season ended thanks to an awkward slide into second base against Miami on Sept. 7. He underwent surgery on Sept. 12 to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.Polanco hit .300 with five RBIs and two stolen bases during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis.To make room for Polanco, the Pirates assigned left-handed reliever Steven Brault to Triple-A.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Starling Marte and shortstop Erik Gonzalez's full-speed collision in the outfield on Friday night sent both players to the injured list.Marte will be out at least 10 days while recovering from bruises to his abdominal wall and right quadriceps. Gonzalez will miss at least two months after being put on the 60-day injured list with a fractured collarbone.Both players were injured when they ran into each other trying to chase down a fly ball by San Francisco's Yangervis Solarte in the eighth inning of Pittsburgh's 4-1 victory on Friday night. Neither appeared to see the other. The ball squirted free after the collision. Gonzalez was able to walk off the field but Marte left in a cart as a precaution.Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Marte was running 25 mph and Gonzalez 19 mph at the moment of impact.The team did not put an immediate timetable on when either player could return, though Tomczyk said both players will be... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed center fielder Starling Marte on the 10-day injured list and shortstop Erik Gonzalez on the 60-day injured list a day after the two collided in the outfield in the eighth inning of a 4-1 victory over San Francisco.The team says Marte suffered an abdominal wall contusion and Gonzalez fractured his left clavicle when the two ran into each other while trying to chase down a fly ball by San Francisco's Yangervis Solarte. Neither player appeared to see the other. The ball squirted free after the collision. Gonzalez was able to walk off the field but Marte left in a cart as a precaution.Marte is the third member of Pittsburgh's starting outfield to go on the injured list. Right fielder Gregory Polanco is still recovering from shoulder surgery last fall and leftfielder Corey Dickerson is nursing a strained right shoulder.The Pirates called up shortstop Cole Tucker and outfielder Bryan Reynolds from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill in for Gonzalez and Marte.Pittsburgh's first-round pick in 2014, the 22-year-old Tucker is hitting .333 with three home runs, seven RBIs and five stolen bases for Indianapolis. Reynolds hit .367 with five homers and 11 RBIs in 13 games at Triple A.Both will make their major league debuts on Saturday against San Francisco's Derek Holland. Tucker will beat leadoff while Reynolds will bat fifth.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have put outfielder Corey Dickerson on the 10-day injured list because of a strained right shoulder.The Pirates made the move Thursday and reinstated right-hander Jordan Lyles from the injured list.Dickerson said the injury didn't happen on any particular play and instead was something that had built up over time. He will be shut down from throwing for an indefinite amount of time, but will be able to swing and run while rehabilitating his shoulder and is not expected to require surgery.The 30-year-old Dickerson hit .300 last season and won a Gold Glove in left field. He played in each of the Pirates' first four games this season, going 2 for 13. He was not in the starting lineup Wednesday against St. Louis and grounded out as a pinch-hitter."It's better to take care of it now and be able to help the team for as many months as I can at 100% than try to manipulate and let in linger and not help the team as much as I want," Dickerson said.Pirates manager... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Pittsburgh outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall was put on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a broken right index finger, one of six Pittsburgh players sidelined to start the season.Chisenhall was hit by a pitch during an exhibition game at Houston on Monday.Pirates manager Clint Hurdle would not give a time frame for Chisenhall's return. He said Chisenhall will be evaluated in 10 days.The Pirates signed Chisenhall this month as a free agent to fill in while right fielder Gregory Polanco recovers from a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Polanco is expected to return by mid-June. Chisenhall got a $2.75 million, one-year deal to serve as his fill-in.The Pirates also put Jordan Lyles, their fifth starter, on the injured list with discomfort in his right side.Pittsburgh made the moves prior to their opener against the Cincinnati Reds.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Lonnie Chisenhall knows his new gig as the Pittsburgh Pirates' starting right fielder is likely temporary.Gregory Polanco is recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and the Pirates say he will be out until sometime between mid-April and mid-June. Chisenhall was signed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract in the offseason to serve as the fill-in.The Pirates feel Chisenhall can be a valuable option off the bench once Polanco is healthy. He began his major league career with the Cleveland Indians as a third baseman and is also capable of playing first base as well as the three outfield positions.It will mark the first time in Chisenhall's nine years in the majors that he will be a bench player."Versatility is the way the game is trending now," Chisenhall said. "Guys need to play multiple positions. You have to be able to affect the game in different areas. I'm just trying to stay the course."You have to be open-minded and willing to grow.... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates admittedly took a leap of faith when they re-signed Jung Ho Kang to a $3 million, one-year contract in November as a free agent.Kang missed the entire 2017 season because he was unable to obtain a work visa to travel to the United States following a third arrest for DUI in his native South Korea.Finally cleared to come to the U.S. last April, Kang sustained a wrist injury that required surgery while playing for Triple-A Indianapolis. He did return to the major leagues for the Pirates' season-ending three-game series at Cincinnati.So far during spring training, Kang has not looked like he was away from the major leagues for so long. He has hit three home runs and played good defense while looking to win the starting third baseman's job from incumbent Colin Moran."It was uncharted territory coming in (to spring training) but he's getting in his work and he's knocking down different markers along the way," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "You... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Some Pittsburgh Pirates were upset when Jeff Branson was fired at the end of last season after six years with the team.It helps that new hitting coach Rick Eckstein is off to a smooth start in spring training."I like him a lot," right fielder Gregory Polanco said. "He knows a lot about hitting but he explains what he's thinking to you in a way that's easy to understand. I think he's really going to help our whole team."The Pirates' offense was 19th in the major leagues last season with an average of 4.3 runs a game and 25th with 157 home runs.Manager Clint Hurdle believes by using a blend of analytics and video technology that Eckstein and new assistant hitting coach Jacob Cruz can squeeze more out of the offense in 2019."I think we've really put two new men for us into place that have their finger on the pulse of the offensive game," said Hurdle, who was a hitting coach with the Colorado Rockies and Texas Rangers. "They're more proactive than reactive. Sometimes... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Corey Dickerson was 1 for 3 with a single in three at-bats in his first spring training game for the Pittsburgh Pirates, an 8-6 loss to the New York Yankees on Thursday.Dickerson and Adam Frazier are among players being eased into game action."We're trying some different things as far as when we plug guys in and the amount of work they do and the volume of work that they do to see how they respond to it," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.Dickerson, who hit .300 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 135 games last season, was a designated hitter and could play in the outfield next week.Frazier is set to play for the first time this weekend.Pittsburgh is ensuring playing time for prospects and offseason acquisitions."That's one of the things we took into consideration when we looked at the makeup of the roster in spring training," Hurdle said. "The number of young players that we have here that we actually wanted to put eyes on. The number of guys we targeted in the offseason and brought in from the outside that we told there would be opportunities."Jung Ho Kang homered for the third time and is hitting .429 (3 for 7) in three games. ... OF Gregory Polanco, coming back from September shoulder surgery, could get at-bats before the team break camp.___More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates announced their minor league contract with outfielder Melky Cabrera, who will report to major league spring training.If added to the 40-man roster, the 34-year-old would get a one-year contract that would pay a $1.15 million salary while in the major leagues. He would have the chance to earn an additional $850,000 in performance bonuses.Cabrera has a .286 average in 14 seasons with seven big league teams. He made the All-Star team in 2012 while playing for the San Francisco Giants and was named the All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player. He was suspended 50 games later in the 2012 season following a positive test for testosterone, and he agreed to remove himself from consideration for the NL batting title he otherwise would have won.Cabrera hit .280 with six home runs and 39 RBIs in 78 games last season for Cleveland. He will get a chance to compete with Lonnie Chisenhall and others for a spot in Pittsburgh's outfield while right fielder Gregory Polanco recovers from shoulder surgery.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league camp.The Pirates announced the deal on Monday. The 34-year-old Cabrera will make $1.15 million with an additional $850,000 available in performance bonuses if he makes the 40-man roster.Cabrera is a career .286 hitter in 14 seasons split among seven different teams. He made the All-Star team in 2012 while playing for the San Francisco Giants and was named the All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player. He was suspended 50 games later in the 2012 season for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy.Cabrera hit .280 with six home runs and 39 RBIs in 78 games last season for Cleveland. He will get a chance to compete with Lonnie Chisenhall and others for a spot in Pittsburgh's outfield while right fielder Gregory Polanco recovers from shoulder surgery.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A team-by-team look at the National League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Milwaukee BrewersManager: Craig Counsell (fifth season).2018: 96-67, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Training Town: Phoenix.Park: Maryvale Baseball Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: C Yasmani Grandal, OF Ben Gamel, 2B-3B Cory Spangenberg, LHP Alex Claudio, RHP Deolis Guerra, RHP Bobby Wahl, RHP Josh Tomlin.He's Outta Here: 3B Mike Moustakas, LHP Gio Gonzalez, LHP Wade Miley, OF Keon Broxton, OF Domingo Santana, 2B Jonathan Schoop, RHP Joakim Soria, LHP Dan Jennings, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Xavier Cedeno.Going campin': The Brewers return mostly intact after making it to the NL Championship Series last year in the franchise's first playoff appearance since they also lost the NLCS in 2011. Grandal is a major upgrade behind the plate after he hit 24 homers last year with... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Milwaukee BrewersManager: Craig Counsell (fifth season).2018: 96-67, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Training Town: Phoenix.Park: Maryvale Baseball Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: C Yasmani Grandal, OF Ben Gamel, 2B-3B Cory Spangenberg, LHP Alex Claudio, RHP Deolis Guerra, RHP Bobby Wahl.He's Outta Here: 3B Mike Moustakas, LHP Gio Gonzalez, LHP Wade Miley, OF Keon Broxton, OF Domingo Santana, 2B Jonathan Schoop, RHP Joakim Soria, LHP Dan Jennings, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Xavier Cedeno.Going campin': The Brewers return mostly intact after making it to the NL Championship Series last year in the franchise's first playoff appearance since they also lost the NLCS in 2011. Grandal is a major upgrade behind the plate after he hit 24 homers last year with the Dodgers. There... [More]