The Latest on Major League Baseball's trade deadline (all times Eastern):6:40 p.m.The Los Angeles Angels have acquired catcher Max Stassi from the Houston Astros in exchange for minor-league outfielders Rainier Rivas and Raider Uceta.Stassi, who has played in parts of seven seasons with the Astros, is batting .167 with a home run and three RBIs in 31 games this season. General manager Billy Eppler said the move was more about adding catching depth and Stassi's strength behind the plate. According to MLB Statcast, Stassi is the second-best pitch framer in the AL with a 54.1% strike rate.Catcher Dustin Garneau was designated for assignment before Wednesday's game against the Detroit Tigers..___5:55 p.m.Mike Minor will make his scheduled start for the Rangers after the trade deadline passed with the All-Star lefty still in Texas.Hunter Pence, the All-Star designated hitter, is also still with his hometown team and in the lineup Wednesday night when Minor and the Rangers play the Seattle Mariners,... [More]

The Latest on Major League Baseball's trade deadline (all times Eastern):5:55 p.m.Mike Minor will make his scheduled start for the Rangers after the trade deadline passed with the All-Star lefty still in Texas.Hunter Pence, the All-Star designated hitter, is also still with his hometown team and in the lineup Wednesday night when Minor and the Rangers play the Seattle Mariners, an AL West rival that traded three pitchers Wednesday.Rangers general manager Jon Daniels says his team, which has dropped a game under .500, explored a lot of different options."There were a couple of things that got close later today that I thought might come to fruition, but ultimately it didn't line up for one side or the other," Daniels said, without getting into specifics.Minor, who is signed with the Rangers through next season, drew interest from teams looking to boost their rotations.Daniels said the Rangers weren't going to force a deal, and that the future options could include Minor pitching in Texas... [More]

The Latest on Major League Baseball's trade deadline (all times Eastern):5:25 p.m.The Chicago Cubs acquired outfielder Nicholas Castellanos from the Detroit Tigers for two minor league pitchers.The 27-year-old Castellanos hit .273 with 11 home runs and 37 RBIs for Detroit this season. He's played third base and in the outfield during his career and has been considered a liability defensively, but Castellanos gives Chicago a productive bat against left-handed pitching.Detroit received right-handers Paul Richan and Alex Lange.Castellanos is tied for the major league lead with 37 doubles. He has a .347 average and a 1.026 OPS this year in 72 at-bats against lefties.___5:20 p.m.Milwaukee has acquired left-hander Drew Pomeranz and righty Ray Black from the San Francisco Giants for infield prospect Mauricio Dubon.Also Wednesday, San Francisco obtained second baseman Scooter Gennett from the Reds for a player to be named. Cincinnati will send cash to the Giants to cover part of Gennett's $9,775,000... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The NL East-leading Atlanta Braves have gotten some bullpen help, acquiring hard-throwing reliever Chris Martin from the Texas Rangers for former first-round draft pick Kolby Allard.Martin, whose fastball has averaged 96 mph this season, has 24 strikeouts and only one walk over his last 19 appearances since May 24 for his hometown Rangers. The 6-foot-8 Martin has four saves and a 3.08 ERA in 38 games this year, with 43 strikeouts and four walks in 38 innings."We felt he had as much upside as anybody on the trade market," Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday night after the deal was announced.Allard, a 21-year-old lefty, was the 14th overall pick by the Braves in the 2015 amateur draft and signed for a $3,042,400 bonus. That was the same year that Dansby Swanson, now Atlanta's shortstop, was the first overall pick by Arizona before Houston used the second pick to get Alex Bregman, the All-Star third baseman for the Astros.The Rangers were playing a... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The NL East-leading Atlanta Braves have acquired reliever Chris Martin from the Texas Rangers for minor league pitcher Kolby Allard.Texas announced the deal during its game Tuesday night, just moments after Martin was seen high-fiving teammates in the bullpen before leaving down the tunnel.Martin was 0-2 with four saves and a 3.08 ERA in 38 appearances. The 33-year-old right-hander has allowed only three earned runs over his last 19 games since May 24. The 6-foot-8 Martin has 24 strikeouts and only one walk in 18 2/3 innings over that span for his hometown Rangers.Atlanta assumes the remaining $737,903 of Martin's $2.25 million salary. He has earned $100,000 in bonuses for 15 games finished, would get another $50,000 for 20, and $100,000 each for 25 and each addition five through 40.Allard, a 21-year-old lefty, was the 14th overall pick by the Braves in the 2015 amateur draft. He was 7-5 with a 4.17 ERA in 20 starts this season for Triple-A Gwinnett. The Rangers assigned him to Triple-A Nashville.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SEATTLE (AP) — The Texas Rangers have placed closer Shawn Kelley on the 10-day injured list with biceps soreness in his right arm, but manager Chris Woodward said the injury appears far less severe than first believed.The Rangers made the move with Kelley on Monday before opening a three-game series in Seattle. Texas selected the contract of reliever Rafael Montero from Triple-A Nashville to take Kelley's roster spot and designated for assignment outfielder Carlos Tocci to clear a 40-man roster spot.Kelley left Sunday's game in Houston in the bottom of the eighth after throwing several warmup pitches. Woodward said he immediately thought the injury was serious enough Kelley's season could be over.An MRI showed no acute injury and Woodward said it was "way better than we all thought." Woodward expects Jose Leclerc and Chris Martin to handle the late-inning duties with Kelley out.Kelley, 35, is 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 33 appearances, including 11 saves.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

June 21928 — Les Bell of the Boston Braves hit three home runs and a triple at Braves Field, but the Cincinnati Reds came away with a 20-12 triumph.1928 — The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1. All the runs came from three pinch-hit home runs.1935 — Babe Ruth, 40, announces his retirement as a player.1941 — Lou Gehrig died in New York at age 37.1949 — The Philadelphia Phillies hit five homers in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Andy Seminick hit two and Del Ennis, Willie Jones, and Schoolboy Rowe hit one apiece. Seminick had homered earlier in the game.1959 — The Baltimore Orioles-Chicago White Sox game at Comiskey Park was delayed for nearly half an hour as a swarm of gnats overcame the field. Groundskeepers tried using bug sprays and torches, but the gnats wouldn't budge. A post-game fireworks display was brought in from center field and a smoke bomb was attached to the framework. The gnats left and the Orioles defeated the White Sox, 3-2.1990 —... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Michael Chavis homered, Xander Bogaerts hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox averted a series sweep against Houston with a 4-3 victory Sunday that snapped the Astros' 10-game winning streak.Mookie Betts scored three runs for Boston, which lost the first two games in its first meeting with the Astros since beating them in the 2018 AL Championship Series.Carlos Correa hit a two-run homer off Chris Sale for Houston, which is 13-4 in May.Astros outfielder George Springer, who began the day leading the American League with 17 homers, exited with lower back stiffness after striking out three times against Sale.Bogaerts' double to deep left-center off Framber Valdez (1-2) scored Betts scored from first base.Sale struck out 10 in 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs and four hits with five walks. In his previous start, he became the first major league pitcher to strike out 17 batters in seven innings.Marcus Walden (6-0) escaped a bases-loaded, one-out... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Michael Chavis homered, Xander Bogaerts hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox averted a series sweep against Houston with a 4-3 victory Sunday that snapped the Astros' 10-game winning streak.Mookie Betts scored three runs for Boston, which lost the first two games in its first meeting with the Astros since beating them in the 2018 AL Championship Series.Carlos Correa hit a two-run homer off Chris Sale for Houston, which is 13-4 in May.Astros outfielder George Springer, who began the day leading the American League with 17 homers, exited with lower back stiffness after striking out three times against Sale.Bogaerts' double to deep left-center off Framber Valdez (1-2) scored Betts scored from first base.Sale struck out 10 in 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs and four hits with five walks. In his previous start, he became the first major league pitcher to strike out 17 batters in seven innings.Marcus Walden (6-0) escaped a bases-loaded, one-out... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Wilmer Flores snapped a 13th-inning tie with an RBI single, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks end a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.Eduardo Escobar made up for a crucial throwing error, leading off the 13th with a single off Adam Kolarek (2-1) — Arizona's first hit since the fifth inning. He moved to second on a double-play grounder before scoring on Flores' two-out broken-bat hit to right field off Chaz Roe.Archie Bradley (2-3) pitched three scoreless innings to get the win. Zack Godley, the eighth Diamondbacks pitcher, worked a perfect 13th for his first career save.Arizona pitchers combined to set a franchise record with 23 strikeouts.The Rays rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force extra innings, scoring on Escobar's eighth-inning error and Kevin Kiermaier's two-out, pinch-hit single in the ninth.CUBS 3, MARLINS 2, 11 INNINGSCHICAGO (AP) — Jason Heyward homered leading off the 11th inning to lift surging Chicago... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Wilmer Flores snapped a 13th-inning tie with an RBI single, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks end a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.Eduardo Escobar made up for a crucial throwing error, leading off the 13th with a single off Adam Kolarek (2-1) — Arizona's first hit since the fifth inning. He moved to second on a double-play grounder before scoring on Flores' two-out broken-bat hit to right field off Chaz Roe.Archie Bradley (2-3) pitched three scoreless innings to get the win. Zack Godley, the eighth Diamondbacks pitcher, worked a perfect 13th for his first career save.Arizona pitchers combined to set a franchise record with 23 strikeouts.The Rays rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force extra innings, scoring on Escobar's eighth-inning error and Kevin Kiermaier's two-out, pinch-hit single in the ninth.CUBS 3, MARLINS 2, 11 INNINGSCHICAGO (AP) — Jason Heyward homered leading off the 11th inning to lift surging Chicago... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Wilmer Flores snapped a 13th-inning tie with an RBI single, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks end a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.Eduardo Escobar made up for a crucial throwing error, leading off the 13th with a single off Adam Kolarek (2-1) — Arizona's first hit since the fifth inning. He moved to second on a double-play grounder before scoring on Flores' two-out broken-bat hit to right field off Chaz Roe.Archie Bradley (2-3) pitched three scoreless innings to get the win. Zack Godley, the eighth Diamondbacks pitcher, worked a perfect 13th for his first career save.Arizona pitchers combined to set a franchise record with 23 strikeouts.The Rays rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force extra innings, scoring on Escobar's eighth-inning error and Kevin Kiermaier's two-out, pinch-hit single in the ninth.CUBS 3, MARLINS 2, 11 INNINGSCHICAGO (AP) — Jason Heyward homered leading off the 11th inning to lift surging Chicago... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Wilmer Flores snapped a 13th-inning tie with an RBI single, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks end a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.Eduardo Escobar made up for a crucial throwing error, leading off the 13th with a single off Adam Kolarek (2-1) — Arizona's first hit since the fifth inning. He moved to second on a double-play grounder before scoring on Flores' two-out broken-bat hit to right field off Chaz Roe.Archie Bradley (2-3) pitched three scoreless innings to get the win. Zack Godley, the eighth Diamondbacks pitcher, worked a perfect 13th for his first career save.Arizona pitchers combined to set a franchise record with 23 strikeouts.The Rays rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force extra innings, scoring on Escobar's eighth-inning error and Kevin Kiermaier's two-out, pinch-hit single in the ninth.BREWERS 7, NATIONALS 3MILWAUKEE (AP) — Christian Yelich hit his major leading-leading 16th home run and Milwaukee won... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was warm enough on a cool day, allowing one run in six innings for his 150th career victory, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Last year's MVP, Christian Yelich, had most of the day off but still had a chance to rescue the Brewers. He came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Jordan Hicks struck him out to pick up his seventh save in eight chances.Wainwright (2-2) matched his season low in runs allowed, and it was his first quality start in a game with a starting temperature of 60 degrees or cooler since May 27, 2017.Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina homered for the Cardinals as part of a four-run fourth.St. Louis' three-game sweep of Milwaukee was its first against its NL Central rival since July 1-3, 2016.Jhoulys Chacin (2-3) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits.PHILLIES 6, METS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Rhys Hoskins homered off reliever Jacob Rhame... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was warm enough on a cool day, allowing one run in six innings for his 150th career victory, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Last year's MVP, Christian Yelich, had most of the day off but still had a chance to rescue the Brewers. He came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Jordan Hicks struck him out to pick up his seventh save in eight chances.Wainwright (2-2) matched his season low in runs allowed, and it was his first quality start in a game with a starting temperature of 60 degrees or cooler since May 27, 2017.Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina homered for the Cardinals as part of a four-run fourth.St. Louis' three-game sweep of Milwaukee was its first against its NL Central rival since July 1-3, 2016.Jhoulys Chacin (2-3) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits.PHILLIES 6, METS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Rhys Hoskins homered off reliever Jacob Rhame... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was warm enough on a cool day, allowing one run in six innings for his 150th career victory, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Last year's MVP, Christian Yelich, had most of the day off but still had a chance to rescue the Brewers. He came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Jordan Hicks struck him out to pick up his seventh save in eight chances.Wainwright (2-2) matched his season low in runs allowed, and it was his first quality start in a game with a starting temperature of 60 degrees or cooler since May 27, 2017.Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina homered for the Cardinals as part of a four-run fourth.St. Louis' three-game sweep of Milwaukee was its first against its NL Central rival since July 1-3, 2016.Jhoulys Chacin (2-3) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits.PADRES 1, MARINERS 0SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Chris Paddack shut down baseball's... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani could have shut it down already. He could have wrapped up his singular rookie season with the Los Angeles Angels and proceeded straight to the Tommy John surgery looming for him next week.Instead, Ohtani is still slugging away in the eighth inning of a sparsely attended night game in the final days of September between two teams that won't get anywhere near the playoffs this year.He is facing Texas' Chris Martin, his teammate last season in Japan. Ohtani pounces on a pitch up in the zone and drives it the opposite way, flashing the all-fields power that still stuns.His shoot hits the top of the left field wall and bounds into the bullpen. The tiebreaking homer is his 22nd of the year, matching his best pro total with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters."You've seen him get progressively better as the season has gone on," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "This experience is invaluable to him — to be able to finish strong, see as much pitching as he can,... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Shortly after their playoff spot was assured, the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 on Albert Almora Jr.'s single with two outs in the 10th inning Wednesday night.The NL Central-leading Cubs clinched their fourth straight postseason appearance when Milwaukee beat St. Louis. The Brewers, who sealed a playoff slot with their win, are a half-game behind Chicago. One of them will win the NL Central, the other will play in the NL wild-card game.After Pittsburgh tied it in the ninth on a two-out, two-run double by Starling Marte, the Cubs bounced back to win. Ian Happ led off the 10th with a walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Terrance Gore. Mike Freeman's sacrifice moved up Gore, and he took third on a groundout. Almora singled to left on an 0-2 pitch from Richard Rodriguez (4-3).Jason Heyward homered and drove in three runs for the Cubs. Javier Baez singled for his NL-leading 111th RBI as the Cubs won after blowing a five-run lead. Star third baseman Kris Bryant... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kansas City rookie Jorge Lopez came within three outs of a perfect game before Max Kepler walked leading off the ninth inning and Robbie Grossman followed with a single in the Royals' 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.The 25-year-old right-hander made just his seventh big league start, his fifth for Kansas City since he was acquired from Milwaukee in the late-July trade that sent Mike Moustakas to the Brewers.Lopez (2-4) retired his first 24 batters before walking Kepler on a 3-1 fastball. Grossman followed with a clean single to center field on a changeup with a 1-2 count.Lopez was removed from the game after 110 pitches, 11 more than his previous high.Ehire Adrianza hit a sacrifice fly off Wily Peralta, who retired Joe Mauer and Jorge Polanco on flyouts for his ninth save, completing the one-hitter.Jose Berrios (11-11) gave up one run and three hits in six innings.ASTROS 5, RED SOX 3BOSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman hit his 30th home run, Charlie Morton returned... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kansas City rookie Jorge Lopez came within three outs of a perfect game before Max Kepler walked leading off the ninth inning and Robbie Grossman followed with a single in the Royals' 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.The 25-year-old right-hander made just his seventh big league start, his fifth for Kansas City since he was acquired from Milwaukee in the late-July trade that sent Mike Moustakas to the Brewers.Lopez (2-4) retired his first 24 batters before walking Kepler on a 3-1 fastball. Grossman followed with a clean single to center field on a changeup with a 1-2 count.Lopez was removed from the game after 110 pitches, 11 more than his previous high.Ehire Adrianza hit a sacrifice fly off Wily Peralta, who retired Joe Mauer and Jorge Polanco on flyouts for his ninth save, completing the one-hitter.Jose Berrios (11-11) gave up one run and three hits in six innings.ASTROS 5, RED SOX 3BOSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman hit his 30th home run, Charlie Morton returned... [More]