Nationals second. Asdrubal Cabrera singles to shallow right field. Kurt Suzuki singles to left center field. Asdrubal Cabrera to second. Carter Kieboom singles to right field. Kurt Suzuki to second. Asdrubal Cabrera to third. Victor Robles doubles. Carter Kieboom to third. Kurt Suzuki scores. Asdrubal Cabrera scores. Michael A. Taylor walks. Trea Turner grounds out to shortstop. Michael A. Taylor out at second. Victor Robles to third. Carter Kieboom scores. Adam Eaton flies out to left center field to Aaron Hicks.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 3, Yankees 0.Yankees third. Gio Urshela reaches on error to shortstop, advances to 2nd. Fielding error by Trea Turner. Throwing error by Trea Turner. Brett Gardner flies out to deep right field to Adam Eaton. Gio Urshela to third. DJ LeMahieu singles to deep center field. Gio Urshela scores. Aaron Judge reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. DJ LeMahieu out at second. Gleyber Torres grounds out to third base, Asdrubal Cabrera... [More]

Just like his strong arm and limber legs, Joe Girardi made good use of his mouth over 15 seasons as a big league catcher. So much so that slugger Chili Davis once told him to shut it.“He was like, ‘You’re bothering me, I’m trying to hit,’” recalled Girardi, now manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. “I said, ‘Well, I’m trying to bother you, Chili.’”Girardi doesn’t think that kind of chatter will happen as much this season amid the coronavirus pandemic.There’s some concern that home plate could become a hot spot for transmission as baseball attempts to play a shortened 60-game season starting Thursday. Social distancing elsewhere around the diamond is fairly easy. But with the batter, catcher and umpire gathered within a few feet of each other around home plate, it might not be possible for all parties to follow government guidance to avoid 10 to 15 minutes of close exposure to others.“It’s been a little weird. Just from being back there for so long, you get used to having people around,”... [More]

Just as sure as someone could take advantage of this year’s pandemic-truncated, 60-game Major League Baseball schedule to hit .400, there are bound to be players who end up with much worse stats than they’d like.After all, it's harder for a batter to make up for a bad week or a pitcher to mask a rough inning when there are only about two months to play instead of six.And that could be troublesome in 2020, particularly for those who can become free agents next offseason.“It definitely is going to go through people’s heads. It’s going to affect some guys. In a regular season, 162 games, you’re going to have hot streaks, you’re going to have extra-cold streaks, and in the end, it’s all going to balance out,” said catcher Kurt Suzuki, whose World Series champion Washington Nationals host the New York Yankees in an opener Thursday. “Now? ... You could go for a slump for, what, 20 games, and then you only have 40 to pull yourself together.”Think of it this way: In a typical season, a full-time... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker has gone from hoping aloud that fallout from his new team's sign-stealing scandal would go away quickly to accepting that the back-and-forth is lingering."You realize it's going to take a while to move on. You don't just move on, just 'cause you say, 'Move on.' We do realize that sometimes the guys have something to say. Sometimes you guys have a job to do," Baker told reporters Sunday at spring training. "Everything heals in time, and I'm just hoping that the time to heal has come and gone."Then he added: "Probably not, but I hope so."This comes 72 hours after Houston's poorly received news conference and attempts to apologize, when Baker said, "We're hoping that we don't have to continue to answer these questions, and hopefully we can get the season started because it has been a distraction." He said Sunday, he was fine with Astros shortstop Carlos Correa's vociferous defense on Saturday of teammate José Altuve and rejoinder... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Doing their best to keep as much of their World Series roster intact as possible, the Washington Nationals announced they re-signed catcher Yan Gomes and infielder Howie Kendrick on Tuesday, a day after bringing back Stephen Strasburg for $245 million.Gomes agreed to a $10 million, two-year contract with salaries of $4 million next year and $6 million in 2021. Kendrick is guaranteed $6.25 million under a deal that includes a $4 million salary next year and a $6.5 million mutual option for 2021 with a $2.25 million buyout.Mike Rizzo, Nationals general manager and president of baseball operations, said Tuesday there are on-going talks with representatives for third basemen Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson. Washington would like to bring back Rendon, a prized free agent on the open market for the first time, but must prepare a backup plan in case it doesn't happen. “We've had conversations about Anthony throughout the process. I don't get my daily update from (agent) Scott... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Doing their best to keep as much of their World Series roster intact as possible, the Washington Nationals announced they re-signed catcher Yan Gomes and infielder Howie Kendrick on Tuesday, a day after bringing back Stephen Strasburg for $245 million.Gomes agreed to a $10 million, two-year contract with salaries of $4 million next year and $6 million in 2021. Kendrick is guaranteed $6.25 million under a deal that includes a $4 million salary next year and a $6.5 million mutual option for 2021 with a $2.25 million buyout.The 32-year-old Gomes split catching duties in 2019 with Kurt Suzuki and hit .223 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs in his first season in Washington.Kendrick, 36, batted .344 with 17 home runs and 62 RBIs during the regular season, then was a major reason the Nationals won the franchise's first championship. He is expected to spend time at first base and second base next season.He hit a grand slam in the 10th inning of Washington's Game 5 victory of the NL Division... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Doing their best to keep as much of their World Series roster intact as possible, the Washington Nationals announced they re-signed catcher Yan Gomes and infielder Howie Kendrick on Tuesday, a day after bringing back Stephen Strasburg for $245 million.Gomes agreed to a $10 million, two-year deal, while Kendrick will earn $6.5 million next season under a contract that includes a mutual option for 2021.The 32-year-old Gomes split catching duties in 2019 with Kurt Suzuki and hit .223 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs in his first season in Washington.Kendrick, 36, batted .344 with 17 home runs and 62 RBIs during the regular season, then was a major reason the Nationals won the franchise's first championship. He is expected to spend time at first base and second base next season.He hit a grand slam in the 10th inning of Washington's Game 5 victory of the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, earned MVP honors in the NL Championship Series sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals,... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Travis d’Arnaud’s career appeared to be winding down. He missed nearly an entire season after blowing out his elbow. He was cut by the New York Mets and dumped by the Los Angeles Dodgers.Now, he’s back on track.At age 30, d’Arnaud has a prosperous new lease on his baseball life after agreeing to a $16 million, two-year contract with the NL East champion Atlanta Braves, his reward for an unexpected comeback season with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019.“I feel like I’ve got a lot of years left,” the catcher said Monday during a conference call. “I want to keep getting better and become the player I’m supposed to be.”D’Arnaud, a first-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies who made it to the majors with the New York Mets, played only four games in 2018 before Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.He returned last season but struggled mightily, hitting .083 in 10 games before he was let go by the Mets. He signed with the Dodgers, getting only a single at-bat before they shipped him... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):10:50 p.m.Howie Kendrick and Anthony Rendon homered in the seventh inning as the Washington Nationals overcame a two-run deficit and rocked the Houston Astros 6-2 Wednesday night in Game 7 to claim the first World Series title in franchise history.With all eyes on Max Scherzer and his remarkable recovery following an injection, the Nationals embraced their shot in a Series where the road team won every game. Even more against the odds: Juan Soto and Washington rallied from behind to win five elimination games this postseason.Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and the Nats brought the first World Series championship to the nation's capital since Walter Johnson delivered the crown for the Senators in 1924.___10:22 p.m.The Washington Nationals added to their lead going into the ninth inning of Game 7 after another hit by their young slugger.Juan Soto's RBI single in the eighth inning extended Washington's lead over the... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):10:22 p.m.The Washington Nationals added to their lead going into the ninth inning of Game 7 after another hit by their young slugger.Juan Soto's RBI single in the eighth inning extended Washington's lead over the Houston Astros to 4-2.Houston will have the top of its order coming up in the bottom of the ninth, needing at least two runs as they try to win their second World Series title in three years.Washington, with the Nationals in their 15th season, will try to take a World Series title with the visiting team winning every game.Soto, who turned 21 last Friday, has two hits in the Series finale and 18 this postseason, with only one player younger than him matching that. Miguel Cabrera had 18 hits as a 20-year-old rookie for the World Series champion Marlins in 2003.___9:53 p.m.Anthony Rendon homered off Zack Greinke and Howie Kendrick followed with a go-ahead, two-run drive against Will Harris in the seventh inning,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):9:53 p.m.Anthony Rendon homered off Zack Greinke and Howie Kendrick followed with a go-ahead, two-run drive against Will Harris in the seventh inning, giving the Washington Nationals a 3-2 lead over the Houston Astros in Game 7.Greinke cruised through six innings with a one-hit shutout, needing just 67 pitchesWith Washington trailing 2-0, Rendon drove a changeup into the left-field Crawford boxes with one out in the seventh, then Juan Soto walked on five pitches.Harris relieved and Kendrick swung past a curveball, then drove a cutter to the opposite field, where it hit off the screen attached to the right-field foul pole, stunning the crowd at Minute Maid Park.Yuli Gurriel singled off Patrick Corbin with two outs in the bottom half but became the Astros' 10th stranded runner when Yordan Álvarez grounded out.___9:16 p.m.Zack Greinke put up another zero in the sixth while Patrick Corbin took over for Max Scherzer in... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):9:16 p.m.Zack Greinke put up another zero in the sixth while Patrick Corbin took over for Max Scherzer in Game 7 with Houston leading the Nationals 2-0.Greinke breezed through a 1-2-3 sixth inning. He has allowed just one hit, walked one and has thrown 67 pitches in this efficient outing.Pinch-hitter Jake Marisnick led off Houston's sixth with a single. But Corbin struck out George Springer before Jose Altuve grounded into a double play to end the inning.___9 p.m.Zack Greinke is providing quite an assist for the Houston Astros as they try to clinch their second World Series title in three seasons.Houston leads the Washington Nationals 2-0 through five innings, and finally got a hit with a runner in scoring position.Greinke has allowed only two runners, giving up a single in the second inning and a walk in the fifth. The five-time Gold Glove-winning pitcher and former Cy Young winner, a trade deadline acquisition for... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):9 p.m.Zack Greinke is providing quite an assist for the Houston Astros as they try to clinch their second World Series title in three seasons.Houston leads the Washington Nationals 2-0 through five innings, and finally got a hit with a runner in scoring position.Greinke has allowed only two runners, giving up a single in the second inning and a walk in the fifth. The five-time Gold Glove-winning pitcher and former Cy Young winner, a trade deadline acquisition for the Astros this year, already has five fielding assists — the most by a pitcher in a World Series game since Greg Maddux's five while throwing eight scoreless innings for Atlanta against the Yankees in Game 2 in 1996.Yuli Gurriel led off the Astros second with a homer off three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.The Astros have had runners every inning, with seven hits and four walks. But they were 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position until Carlos Correa's... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):8:29 p.m.Houston's Zack Greinke pitched one-hit ball through four innings against the Nationals in World Series Game 7, facing the minimum 12 batters as the Astros maintained their 1-0 lead.Washington's Max Scherzer kept escaping trouble, failing to pitch a 1-2-3 inning but holding the Astros to 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. Houston stranded seven runners.A five-time Gold Glove winner, Greinke induced four comebackers, including one he turned into a double play following Juan Soto's leadoff single in the second, Greinke needed just 41 pitches for his first 12 outs.Scherzer allowed five hits and three walks but just the one run, on Yuli Gurriel's home run leading off the second. He threw 76 pitches,After Josh Reddick's two-out single in the fourth, George Springer walked on four pitches and José Altuve flied out to center.___8:10 p.m.Max Scherzer and Zack Greinke both threw scoreless third innings in Game... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):7:44 p.m.The Houston Astros have taken a 1-0 lead in Game 7 and missed a chance to add more runs off three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.Yuli Gurriel led off the Astros second with a homer into the Crawford Boxes in left field, sending the orange-clad crowd into a frenzy.Rookie slugger Yordan Alvarez and shortstop Carlos Correa followed with sharp singles. But Robinson Chirinos popped out on an attempted sacrifice bunt before Josh Reddick grounded out. The inning ended on George Springer's liner that was caught just off the ground by left fielder Juan Soto.With Scherzer and Zack Greinke on the mound, it is the first time Cy Young winners have matched up in Game 7 of a World Series. Neither has a strikeout through the first two innings.Greinke has allowed one hit while throwing 12 of 20 pitches for strikes. Scherzer, the Game 1 winner who missed his Game 5 start because of an irritated nerve near his neck, has... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):7:25 p.m.Washington and Houston were scoreless after a hitless first inning in Game 7.Zack Greinke need just eight pitches to retire Trea Turner on a lineout, Adam Eaton on a squib in front of the plate and Anthony Rendon on a groundout.Averaging 97 mph with his fastball, Max Scherzer retired George Springer on a flyout and José Altuve on a groundout, walked Michael Brantley, then got Alex Bregman on a flyout. Scherzer, recovered from an irritated nerve near his neck with the help of a cortisone injection, threw 15 pitches.___7:11 p.m.Texas-born actor Matthew McConaughey kicked off Game 7 of the World Series by declaring: "Let's play ball." Wearing the same orange jersey the team was wearing Wednesday night, McConaughey worked the packed crowd into a frenzy by asking: "Houston are you ready," when he took the microphone.Earlier, two of Houston's famed Killer B's, Hall of Famers Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell threw... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):5:30 p.m.Umpires apparently wouldn't have gotten much of an argument from Astros manager AJ Hinch if that disputed interference call hadn't been made in Game 6.Nationals leadoff hitter Trea Turner was ruled out on interference with the first baseman when running on his slow roller that was fielded by pitcher Brad Peacock in the seventh inning. The game was stopped for about 10 minutes, including about 4 ½ minutes with the umpires on headsets discussing the situation, before Turner was called out and another runner was returned to first base."That one I wish common sense prevails," Hinch said before Game 7, when asked if he would like to see the base running rule altered. "I actually side with Turner on this one, that I didn't think that he was getting in the way of anything. It was an errant throw."___4:55 p.m.Nationals manager Dave Martinez says Game 7 starting pitcher Max Scherzer has told him that he feels great... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):4:55 p.m.Nationals manager Dave Martinez says Game 7 starting pitcher Max Scherzer has told him that he feels great and is ready to go."He's going to go, he's going to pitch," Martinez said before the deciding game Wednesday night. "We'll see how far he will take us."Scherzer, the Game 1 winner, wasn't able to make his scheduled start in Game 5 on Sunday night because of an irritated nerve near his neck. The three-time Cy Young winner had an injection that night and threw on flat ground before Game 6. He was later seen throwing in the bullpen during that game Tuesday night.Martinez wasn't sure Scherzer would be able to pitch again in this World Series after he couldn't move Sunday. The manager even scrunched his shoulders and grimaced while trying to imitate how the pitcher looked before the shot.Scherzer will be throwing to catcher Yan Gomes instead of Kurt Suzuki, who was initially in the starting lineup for Game... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki has been scratched from Washington's starting lineup for the deciding Game 7 of the World Series against the Houston Astros.Suzuki missed the last three games while dealing with a hip flexor strain. The 36-year-old, who homered in Game 2, was initially listed in the starting lineup but was replaced again by Yan Gomes just under three hours before the first pitch.So Gomes instead of Suzuki will be behind the plate for Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young winner who was unable to make his start in Game 5 because of an irritated nerve near his neck. Scherzer is starting the finale after receiving a painkilling cortisone shot.Gomes was listed eighth, the same spot Suzuki was to bat, and center fielder Victor Robles hit ninth. They were reversed for Game 6 that Washington won.Houston used a familiar lineup against the right-hander, led off by 2017 World Series MVP George Springer.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):5:35 p.m.Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki has been scratched from Washington's starting lineup for the deciding Game 7 of the World Series against the Houston Astros.Suzuki missed the last three games while dealing with a hip flexor strain. The 36-year-old was initially listed in the starting lineup but was replaced again by Yan Gomes just under three hours before the first pitch.Gomes will be behind the plate for Max Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young winner who was unable to make his start in Game 5 because of an irritated nerve near his neck. Scherzer is starting the finale after a cortisone shot.Gomes was listed eighth, the same spot Suzuki was to bat.___5:20 p.m.Alex Bregman and Houston manager AJ Hinch spoke three times Tuesday night about the third baseman carrying his bat to first base after hitting a home run in the first inning.Hinch said he talked to Bregman about it during the game, after the game at the stadium... [More]