White sox third. Luis Robert homers to center field. Nomar Mazara grounds out to second base, Max Schrock to Paul Goldschmidt. Danny Mendick strikes out on a foul tip. Tim Anderson strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 1, Cardinals 0.Cardinals fourth. Paul Goldschmidt homers to left field. Tyler O'Neill strikes out swinging. Brad Miller grounds out to shallow right field, Danny Mendick to Jose Abreu. Dylan Carlson walks. Matt Wieters grounds out to shallow infield to Jose Abreu.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cardinals 1, White sox 1.White sox fourth. Yoan Moncada strikes out on a foul tip. Yasmani Grandal walks. Jose Abreu lines out to deep center field to Harrison Bader. Eloy Jimenez homers to right field. Yasmani Grandal scores. James McCann strikes out swinging.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 3, Cardinals 1.Cardinals fifth. Max Schrock singles to right center field. Harrison Bader reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Max Schrock out... [More]

Cardinals first. Kolten Wong walks. Tommy Edman singles to left field. Kolten Wong to second. Paul Goldschmidt strikes out swinging. Tyler O'Neill hit by pitch. Tommy Edman to second. Kolten Wong to third. Matt Carpenter hit by pitch. Tyler O'Neill to second. Tommy Edman to third. Kolten Wong scores. Dylan Carlson strikes out swinging. Dexter Fowler singles to shallow center field. Matt Carpenter to third. Tyler O'Neill scores. Tommy Edman scores. Andrew Knizner singles to right field. Dexter Fowler to second. Matt Carpenter scores. Harrison Bader singles to shortstop. Andrew Knizner to second. Dexter Fowler out at home.4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Cardinals 4, White sox 0.White sox third. Danny Mendick doubles to deep right center field. Tim Anderson lines out to deep center field to Harrison Bader. Danny Mendick to third. Yoan Moncada grounds out to shallow right field to Paul Goldschmidt. Danny Mendick scores. Yasmani Grandal walks. Jose Abreu reaches on a fielder's choice to... [More]

Twins second. Luis Arraez singles to right field. Miguel Sano doubles to left field. Luis Arraez to third. Byron Buxton reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Luis Arraez scores. Max Kepler singles to center field. Byron Buxton to third. Miguel Sano scores. Josh Donaldson out on a sacrifice fly to deep right center field to Dexter Fowler. Byron Buxton scores. Jorge Polanco homers to right field. Max Kepler scores. Nelson Cruz grounds out to shortstop, Kolten Wong to Paul Goldschmidt. Eddie Rosario flies out to deep center field to Harrison Bader.5 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Twins 5, Cardinals 0.Twins fourth. Byron Buxton strikes out swinging. Max Kepler grounds out to shallow infield, Carlos Martinez to Paul Goldschmidt. Josh Donaldson homers to right field. Jorge Polanco lines out to deep left field to Tyler O'Neill.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Twins 6, Cardinals 0.Cardinals fifth. Dexter Fowler singles to deep right field. Tyler O'Neill homers to center field. Dexter Fowler scores. Harrison Bader pops out to shallow infield to Miguel Sano. Kolten Wong grounds out to second base, Luis Arraez to Miguel Sano. Tommy Edman grounds out to shallow infield, Luis Arraez to Miguel Sano.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Twins 6, Cardinals 2.Cardinals eighth. Tommy Edman homers to center field. Paul Goldschmidt strikes out swinging. Paul DeJong strikes out swinging. Matt Carpenter strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Twins 6, Cardinals 3.

Cardinals first. Kolten Wong grounds out to shallow infield, Kevin Newman to Josh Bell. Tommy Edman grounds out to second base, Adam Frazier to Josh Bell. Paul Goldschmidt homers to deep left field. Paul DeJong flies out to deep right field to Cole Tucker.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Cardinals 1, Pirates 0.Pirates second. Josh Bell singles to deep right field. Colin Moran singles to deep right field. Josh Bell to second. Phillip Evans hit by pitch. Colin Moran to second. Josh Bell to third. Guillermo Heredia called out on strikes. John Ryan Murphy walks. Phillip Evans to second. Colin Moran to third. Josh Bell scores. Cole Tucker pops out to shortstop to Paul DeJong. Kevin Newman grounds out to shortstop, Paul DeJong to Paul Goldschmidt.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Pirates 1, Cardinals 1.Cardinals fourth. Paul DeJong singles to deep center field. Matt Carpenter flies out to deep left field to Bryan Reynolds. Yadier Molina singles to shallow right field. Paul DeJong to third.... [More]

Cardinals third. Tyler O'Neill homers to left field. Harrison Bader called out on strikes. Kolten Wong grounds out to first base, Josh Bell to Joe Musgrove. Tommy Edman singles to shallow infield.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Cardinals 1, Pirates 0.Cardinals fifth. Dexter Fowler homers to right field. Tyler O'Neill flies out to center field to Jarrod Dyson. Harrison Bader called out on strikes. Kolten Wong triples to deep center field, tagged out at home, Joe Musgrove to Jacob Stallings.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cardinals 2, Pirates 0.Cardinals sixth. Tommy Edman strikes out swinging. Paul Goldschmidt singles to shallow left field. Paul DeJong walks. Matt Carpenter reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Paul DeJong out at second. Paul Goldschmidt to third. Yadier Molina singles to left center field. Matt Carpenter to second. Paul Goldschmidt scores. Dexter Fowler grounds out to first base, Josh Bell to Clay Holmes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Cardinals 3, Pirates... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — So, where were we?Mid-March, a spring training exhibition between the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. Even before the final out, both sides had gotten the official word: Major League Baseball was shutting down immediately because of the coronavirus pandemic.“It felt like the most meaningless baseball game in the history of the sport,” Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter said.So now, they’ll try again.A skewed, 60-game schedule, rather than the full plate of 162, with opening day on July 23 or 24. A shortened, contorted season ordered by Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday night after billionaire owners and multimillion-dollar players couldn’t come to a new economic agreement against the backdrop of the virus outbreak.“What happens when we all get it?” Milwaukee pitcher Brett Anderson tweeted this week.From the start, a sprint to the finish. Got to come out strong. Remember last year: The Washington Nationals began 27-33 and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — So, where were we?Mid-March, a spring training exhibition between the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. Even before the final out, both sides had gotten the official word: Major League Baseball was shutting down immediately because of the coronavirus pandemic.“It felt like the most meaningless baseball game in the history of the sport,” Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter said.So now, they’ll try again.A skewed, 60-game schedule, rather than the full plate of 162, with opening day on July 23 or 24. A shortened, contorted season ordered by Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday night after billionaire owners and multimillion-dollar players couldn’t come to a new economic agreement against the backdrop of the virus outbreak.“What happens when we all get it?” Milwaukee pitcher Brett Anderson tweeted this week.From the start, a sprint to the finish. Got to come out strong. Remember last year: The Washington Nationals began 27-33 and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — So, where were we?Mid-March, a spring training exhibition between the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. Even before the final out, both sides had gotten the official word: Major League Baseball was shutting down immediately because of the coronavirus pandemic.“It felt like the most meaningless baseball game in the history of the sport,” Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter said.So now, they’ll try again.A skewed, 60-game schedule, rather than the full plate of 162, with opening day on July 23 or 24. A shortened, contorted season ordered by Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday night after billionaire owners and multimillion-dollar players couldn’t come to a new economic agreement against the backdrop of the virus outbreak.“What happens when we all get it?” Milwaukee pitcher Brett Anderson tweeted this week.From the start, a sprint to the finish. Got to come out strong. Remember last year: The Washington Nationals began 27-33 and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — So, where were we?Mid-March, a spring training exhibition between the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. Even before the final out, both sides had gotten the official word: Major League Baseball was shutting down immediately because of the coronavirus pandemic.“It felt like the most meaningless baseball game in the history of the sport,” Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter said.So now, they’ll try again.A skewed, 60-game schedule, rather than the full plate of 162, with opening day on July 23 or 24. A shortened, contorted season ordered by Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday night after billionaire owners and multimillion-dollar players couldn’t come to a new economic agreement against the backdrop of the virus outbreak.“What happens when we all get it?” Milwaukee pitcher Brett Anderson tweeted this week.From the start, a sprint to the finish. Got to come out strong. Remember last year: The Washington Nationals began 27-33 and... [More]

April 71925 — Babe Ruth collapsed in a railroad station in Asheville, N.C. He would be hospitalized in New York and operated on 10 days later for an ulcer.1964 — Shea Stadium in New York opened for the first regular season game. The Mets lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3.1969 — The Yankees spoiled the managerial debut of Ted Williams by defeating the Senators 8-4 in the opener at Washington’s RFK Stadium. President Nixon and a crowd of 45,000 attended.1969 — Dodgers relief pitcher Bill Singer was credited with the first official save. Los Angeles beat Cincinnati, 3-2. The game started with Cincinnati’s Pete Rose hitting Don Drysdale’s first pitch for a home run. Drysdale threw his next pitch to Bobby Tolan and Tolan hit it for a home run. After the first two pitches, Drysdale settled down and threw a shutout.1970 — Three weeks after moving from Seattle to Milwaukee, the former Pilots played their first game as the Brewers and lost 12-0 to the visiting California Angels.1973 — Cleveland... [More]

April 61972 — For the first time in history, the major leagues failed to open on schedule because of a player strike, which started on April 1. The traditional season opener between Houston and Cincinnati was canceled and a total of 86 games were lost before the strike was settled.1973 — Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees became the first major league designated hitter. With the bases loaded in the first inning, he was walked by pitcher Luis Tiant, but the Red Sox won 15-5.1973 — At the Oakland Coliseum, Tony Oliva became the first designated hitter to homer. The Twins DH hit a two-run shot in the first inning off of Catfish Hunter to Minnesota to an 8-3 win.1974 — Due to renovations at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees' home opener took place at Shea Stadium. It was their first home game outside Yankee Stadium since 1922.1977 — The Seattle Mariners played their first regular-season game and lost 7-0 to the California Angels at the Kingdome.1982 — A freak storm that brought subfreezing... [More]

The games are over, at least for now.There’s only so much you can say about that when people are dying and the world is in danger. The playground has always been the place to leave your troubles behind but when no place is really safe, sports can’t be either.That includes America’s pastime, as painful as that might be.Baseball may or may not be played again this year. There are no guarantees anymore, and anyone who thinks the major leagues will soon pick back up where they suddenly left off Thursday is either guessing or has a crystal ball that the rest of us have yet to properly study.That could mean no opening day anytime in 2020, as shocking as that might be. No pennant races, and no World Series to help us get the stink of the Houston Astros off our minds.Nothing except a long, hot summer without the game that means so much to so many.The great baseball philosopher Yogi Berra famously declared that it ain’t over 'till it’s over. Well, it’s over, at least for now, after the plug was... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Sidelined by an oblique strain, New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto would not speculate whether he could return for the March 26 opener against Washington.“I feel very good right now. It’s different for everybody — the timeline can be short or long,” Conforto said Wednesday.Conforto was injured Saturday against the Nationals and returned to New York on Monday night and was diagnosed with the strain on Tuesday.“I feel good, definitely feel better than a couple of days ago,” said Conforto. “My symptoms weren’t all that crazy. After a couple of days of treatment, I felt quite a bit better, and so right now I feel pretty good.”The 27-year-old outfielder got hurt when he lost a fly ball to right in the sun and felt a tug in his right side after a late sudden move to catch the ball. His right side tightened up on him later in the game.“I didn’t think anything of it — it felt like a cramp,” Conforto said. Notes: OF Pete Alonso, the NL Rookie of the Year, agreed... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Sidelined by an oblique strain, New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto would not speculate whether he could return for the March 26 opener against Washington.“I feel very good right now. It’s different for everybody — the timeline can be short or long,” Conforto said Wednesday.Conforto was injured Saturday against the Nationals and returned to New York on Monday night and was diagnosed with the strain on Tuesday.“I feel good, definitely feel better than a couple of days ago,” said Conforto. “My symptoms weren’t all that crazy. After a couple of days of treatment, I felt quite a bit better, and so right now I feel pretty good.”The 27-year-old outfielder got hurt when he lost a fly ball to right in the sun and felt a tug in his right side after a late sudden move to catch the ball. His right side tightened up on him later in the game.“I didn’t think anything of it — it felt like a cramp,” Conforto said. Notes: RHP Jacob deGrom allowed one hit over four innings... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Paul DeJong is proving he can be the answer to one of the most pressing spring training questions for the Cardinals.At the spring's midpoint, DeJong's bat is easing concerns about the lineup void created by the loss of Marcel Ozuna to free agency.“I know we lost Ozuna and there's going to be some opportunities there in the middle of the order,” DeJong said. “Me growing into who I believe I can be as a hitter, my potential, that fits right in with my opportunity this year.” DeJong's four homers entering Saturday's game against Houston was tied for the Grapefruit League lead. His 1-for-3 performance against the Astros actually hurt DeJong's spring average, dropping it below .500.It's not that the 26-year-old DeJong hasn't flashed power in the past. Last year he became the first Cardinals shortstop to hit 30 homers in a season. Home runs, however, aren't his focus — either now or during the season.Both he and the Cardinals realize they will need more than the career-high... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Lance McCullers spun a curveball that Paul Goldschmidt swung over for strike three, then looked toward the Houston dugout.That was enough on this day.So McCullers smiled, bounced the ball in and out of his glove a couple times, got a handshake from catcher Martin Maldonado, waited for manager Dusty Baker and walked off the mound.After being out of the game for more than a year, 16 pitches were plenty.Sidelined since having Tommy John surgery in November 2018, McCullers started in a spring training game against St. Louis on Sunday and faced three batters. He retired leadoff man Kolten Wong on a soft comebacker, gave up a double to Paul DeJong and fanned Goldschmidt with an 84 mph curve.“Out of the 16 pitches I threw, really only maybe one or two that I didn't execute the way I was hoping to pre-pitch,” McCullers said. “Really happy with just the way I felt overall and just being out there with the guys.”“I really wanted to face the last batter, but I think we... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Nervous or not, South Korean star Kwang Hyun Kim is proving problematic for major league hitters.The 31-year-old left-hander retired all six Miami batters he faced in his first Grapefruit League start for the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. It came after he threw one shutout inning of relief against the New York Mets on Saturday.“I was nervous today compared to my first appearance, against the Mets,” Kim said through an interpreter. "I had a long time to prepare, so that made me kind of nervous.”Kim struggled with control of his off-speed pitches in the first inning, but he found his rhythm in the second. He kept batters off balance mixing a fastball that touched 95 mph with his curve, eliciting some ugly swings and soft contact. The Marlins didn't get a ball out of the infield against Kim.“Last time against the Mets, because it was my first appearance, they tried to be patient,” Kim said. “Because I was aggressive today, pounding the strike zone, they were aggressive... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Corbin Burnes is rebuilding, just like the Milwaukee Brewers were a few years ago,The 25-year-old right-hander spent most of his offseason at the team's spring training facility trying to rebound from an awful 2019 season.Milwaukee's minor league pitcher of the year in 2017, Burnes debut the following July and quickly established himself as a key bullpen contributor. He went 7-0 with a 2.61 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 38 innings over 30 regular-season appearances, then allowed two runs in six postseason innings.While he had a 4.84 ERA in seven spring training games last year, he started the season in the rotation. He struck out 12 in his first big league start but also gave up home runs in the first inning to the Cardinals' Paul DeJong and Matt Carpenter, then another in the fourth to Paul Goldschmidt. He allowed 11 home runs with a 10.70 ERA through four starts, was dropped from the rotation and finished with a 1-5 record and 8.82 ERA in 32 games overall.Except for a weeklong... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — This was not what Matt Carpenter or the St. Louis Cardinals envisioned when he signed a new contract.Because when the three-time All-Star third baseman wasn't hurt last season, he wasn't hitting."I certainly was candid with our front office and our coaching staff at the end of the year," Carpenter said Monday. "I just wanted to apologize. I felt like I'd let them down. I was really hard on myself the way that I played. I was hopeful that they still had faith in me. We had some real good conversations.”Coming off a career-high 36 home runs in 2018 that made him an MVP candidate, Carpenter signed a $39 million, two-year deal on April 19 that included a no-trade clause.But he wasn't able to reverse a slow start. He was hitting .216 with 10 home runs when he was put on the injured list with a lower back strain July 2. Carpenter was activated on July 11, placed back on the IL after fouling a ball off his foot and was out until early August.Carpenter finished hitting just .226... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cardinals manager Mike Shildt has a new three-year contract through the 2022 season.Shildt was hired in 2018 and his initial deal ran through 2020.At its end-of-season news conference Tuesday, St. Louis announced president of baseball operations John Mozeliak received a three-year extension through 2023. The Cardinals exercised a 2020 option on general manager Mike Girsch and gave him a two-year extension through 2022."What Mo and his group have accomplished since he took over in 2008 as the head of our baseball ops is pretty impressive," Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said. "We've been in the playoffs seven times. We've had 12 consecutive winning seasons, two pennants, a world championship. ... We continue to have a robust farm system, which is not easy to do. When you have winning seasons, you don't draft high. But we've got a very strong scouting and player development group."Hired as interim manager to replace Mike Matheny on July 14, 2018, and given the job that... [More]