KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Astros won their 10th straight game, with Dallas Keuchel getting three-run homers from Max Stassi and Alex Bregman to rout the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Saturday.Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the first inning to send the World Series champions on their way. The Astros had an 11-game win streak last season that ended in Kansas City.The Royals have lost five in a row and are just 2-12 in June.Keuchel (4-8) began to emerge from a monthlong funk, allowing two unearned runs and six hits in six innings. The 2015 Cy Young winner had surrendered a combined 17 runs over his last three outings, and had not won since tossing seven scoreless innings against Texas on May 13.Danny Duffy (3-7) had been pitching well of late, but the Royals left-hander allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings.YANKEES 4, RAYS 1NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino pitched eight sharp innings and also jumped to steal away a popup from catcher Gary Sanchez as New York... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Astros won their 10th straight game, with Dallas Keuchel getting three-run homers from Max Stassi and Alex Bregman to rout the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Saturday.Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the first inning to send the World Series champions on their way. The Astros had an 11-game win streak last season that ended in Kansas City.The Royals have lost five in a row and are just 2-12 in June.Keuchel (4-8) began to emerge from a monthlong funk, allowing two unearned runs and six hits in six innings. The 2015 Cy Young winner had surrendered a combined 17 runs over his last three outings, and had not won since tossing seven scoreless innings against Texas on May 13.Danny Duffy (3-7) had been pitching well of late, but the Royals left-hander allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings.YANKEES 4, RAYS 1NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino pitched eight sharp innings and also jumped to steal away a popup from catcher Gary Sanchez as New York... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer has not been able to shake the concussion-like symptoms he has experienced since hurting his neck three weeks ago.Mauer's return to the lineup hit another road block while working out Thursday before Minnesota's game against Cleveland, when continued sensitivity to light and noise while jogging around and fielding groundballs and forced him to back off."We kind of got a better feel for where I'm at, and I'm not there yet," Mauer said.The 35-year-old Mauer has also been dealing with a cervical strain resulting from a May 11 dive for a foul ball. He played for another week before departing mid-game May 18 and being placed on the disabled list the following day.Mauer said he has been told by the team's medical staff that some recurrence of symptoms is to be expected, but that didn't stem his disappointment. He planned to stay at the ballpark and watch the game from the dugout, another test of sorts of his ability to withstand the typical... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer has not been able to shake the concussion-like symptoms he has been experiencing since hurting his neck three weeks ago.Mauer's return to the lineup hit another road block while working out Thursday before Minnesota's game against Cleveland, with more sensitivity to light and noise. The 35-year-old has also been dealing with a cervical strain resulting from a dive for a foul ball on May 11. He played for another week before departing mid-game on May 18.Mauer is batting .283 with a .404 on-base percentage. Logan Morrison and Miguel Sano have been playing first base in his absence.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins acquired first baseman Chris Carter from the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations in a minor-league trade on Tuesday.The 31-year-old was hitting .255 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs in 38 games for Triple-A Salt Lake this season. He will join Minnesota's Triple-A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings.Carter, who led the National League with 41 home runs in 2016, last played in the majors on July 4, 2017 for the New York Yankees. He hit .201 with eight homers in 62 games for New York.The Twins lost first baseman Joe Mauer to the disabled list last weekend with a neck strain and concussion-like symptoms. Regular designated hitter Logan Morrison has started the past four games at first base.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani struck out nine while throwing 7 2/3 innings of excellent six-hit ball in his seventh career start, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their five-game skid with a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.Martin Maldonado homered and drove in two runs, and Zack Cozart drove in two more runs on sacrifice flies as the Angels wrapped up a disappointing 11-game homestand with only four victories — including both games started by Ohtani (4-1).Los Angeles' rookie two-way sensation had another strong outing in the longest start of his stateside career. Ohtani retired 12 straight Rays after yielding rookie Johnny Field's homer leading off the third. Blake Parker pitched the ninth for his second save.While Ohtani threw 110 pitches, reliever Sergio Romo started for Tampa Bay for the second consecutive day. He faced the Angels' first six batters and got four outs while becoming the first pitcher in 38 years to last at least one inning in back-to-back starts.... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani struck out nine while throwing 7 2/3 innings of excellent six-hit ball in his seventh career start, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their five-game skid with a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.Martin Maldonado homered and drove in two runs, and Zack Cozart drove in two more runs on sacrifice flies as the Angels wrapped up a disappointing 11-game homestand with only four victories — including both games started by Ohtani (4-1).Los Angeles' rookie two-way sensation had another strong outing in the longest start of his stateside career. Ohtani retired 12 straight Rays after yielding rookie Johnny Field's homer leading off the third. Blake Parker pitched the ninth for his second save.While Ohtani threw 110 pitches, reliever Sergio Romo started for Tampa Bay for the second consecutive day. He faced the Angels' first six batters and got four outs while becoming the first pitcher in 38 years to last at least one inning in back-to-back starts.... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Luke Maile hit two home runs, including a two-run shot in the 12th inning that gave the Toronto Blue Jays a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.Maile's drive off Boston's Brian Johnson (1-2) improved the Blue Jays to 5-0 in extra innings after they overcame an impressive outing by Red Sox starter Chris Sale.Curtis Granderson walked to begin the 12th before Maile went deep to right. Maile also hit a game-tying homer off Sale in the seventh. It was the first multihomer game of his career.Sale matched his career high by striking out 15 over a season-high nine innings.Sam Gaviglio (1-0), recalled from Triple-A Buffalo earlier Friday, pitched three innings for the win in his Blue Jays debut.METS 3, PHILLIES 1PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Conforto hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Philadelphia closer Hector Neris for New York's second win in 10 games.Phillies starter Jake Arrieta allowed five hits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings, and they led 1-0 until Neris... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Danny Farquhar joked around with fellow reliever Nate Jones. He handed out hugs to excited teammates. He even talked hopefully about throwing live batting practice soon.By all accounts, Farquhar seemed like, well, Farquhar, and that was a relief for the Chicago White Sox.Accompanied by his wife, Lexie, the reliever visited the team Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field for the first time since he collapsed in the dugout with a brain hemorrhage during a game in Chicago last month."Where he's at, he's a walking miracle," said Jones, wearing a PRAY FOR 43 t-shirt — Farquhar has worn No. 43 with the White Sox this season.The 31-year-old Farquhar spent about an hour at the ballpark before Chicago hosted Pittsburgh, and he reveled in being around his teammates again."He looks great, man. He looks amazing," pitcher James Shields said. "To go through what he did and to see him look how he does was an amazing feeling for us in the clubhouse, and I'm sure it was for him."Farquhar's brain... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Minnesota Twins players Logan Morrison and Jake Odorizzi weren't sure what to expect when they visited former teammate and current Chicago White Sox reliever Danny Farquhar at the hospital Friday.Considering Farquhar is two weeks removed from a ruptured aneurysm and recovering from brain surgery, they were encouraged by what they saw."I was really, really blown away, impressed, surprised by how well he's doing," Morrison said. "Walking around, talking, doing great."The visit at Rush University Medical Center lasted several hours. Farquhar was in good spirits and even gave his friends some grief about Chicago's 6-5 win over Minnesota on Thursday.Odorizzi said Farquhar stood from a couch and hugged him when he entered the room."Everything out of that situation couldn't have unfolded better from what we saw today," Odorizzi said. "It was the normal Farquhar with just a scar on his head. You take the scar away, he's the same guy he's always been, so pretty miraculous turnaround... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Albert Pujols had a two-run double for his 2,999th career hit, and Luis Valbuena and Andrelton Simmons drove in three runs apiece in the Los Angeles Angels' 12-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.Pujols did not get a hit in his final three plate appearances after moving to the brink of the 3,000-hit club in the second inning. He gets another chance Friday in Seattle.Angels rookie right-hander Jaime Barria (2-1) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his third career start, finishing with six innings of four-hit ball.Manny Machado drove in two runs for the last-place Orioles, who have lost 15 of 18. Chris Tillman (1-5) recorded just three outs and was charged with seven runs.MARINERS 4, ATHLETICS 1SEATTLE (AP) — Dee Gordon had a big night on the bases, Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer and the Mariners won their first game since Ichiro Suzuki was moved from the roster to the front office.Hours after the Mariners announced Suzuki's new role for the... [More]

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Eddie Rosario scored the winning run in his homeland in the 16th inning, coming around on Ryan LaMarre's single to lift the Minnesota Twins over the Cleveland Indians 2-1 on Wednesday night for a split of their two-game series in Puerto Rico.Rosario led off the 16th with a single and went to third when Logan Morrison's grounder — which could have been a double-play ball — got past second baseman Jason Kipnis.Eduardo Escobar was intentionally walked to load the bases with none out, and LaMarre finally ended the 5-hour, 13-minute marathon with a sharp liner to center.Alan Busenitz (1-0) worked two innings for the win. Josh Tomlin (0-2) got the loss in his first relief appearance since 2016.RED SOX 9, ANGELS 0ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Rafael Devers hit his first career grand slam, Rick Porcello threw six scoreless innings and Boston extended its best start in franchise history.Mitch Moreland had four RBIs, including a two-run homer in the ninth, and J.D Martinez hit... [More]

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Eddie Rosario scored the winning run in his homeland in the 16th inning, coming around on Ryan LaMarre's single to lift the Minnesota Twins over the Cleveland Indians 2-1 on Wednesday night for a split of their two-game series in Puerto Rico.Rosario led off the 16th with a single and went to third when Logan Morrison's grounder — which could have been a double-play ball — got past second baseman Jason Kipnis.Eduardo Escobar was intentionally walked to load the bases with none out, and LaMarre finally ended the 5-hour, 13-minute marathon with a sharp liner to center.Alan Busenitz (1-0) worked two innings for the win. Josh Tomlin (0-2) got the loss in his first relief appearance since 2016.RED SOX 9, ANGELS 0ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Rafael Devers hit his first career grand slam, Rick Porcello threw six scoreless innings and Boston extended its best start in franchise history.Mitch Moreland had four RBIs, including a two-run homer in the ninth, and J.D Martinez hit... [More]

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Eddie Rosario scored the winning run in his homeland in the 16th inning, coming around on Ryan LaMarre's single to lift the Minnesota Twins over the Cleveland Indians 2-1 on Wednesday night for a split of their two-game series in Puerto Rico.Rosario led off the 16th with a single and went to third when Logan Morrison's grounder — which could have been a double-play ball — got past second baseman Jason Kipnis.Eduardo Escobar was intentionally walked to load the bases with none out, and LaMarre finally ended the 5-hour, 13-minute marathon with a sharp liner to center.Alan Busenitz (1-0) worked two innings for the win. Josh Tomlin (0-2) got the loss in his first relief appearance since 2016.METS 11, NATIONALS 5NEW YORK (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes launched a grand slam during New York's nine-run outburst in the eighth inning, helping the Mets avoid a three-game sweep.Todd Frazier tied it at 4 with a two-run single and pinch-hitter Juan Lagares put New York ahead for... [More]

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:___PARTY TIMEJose Altuve and the Astros are set to celebrate their first World Series title when they play their home opener against Baltimore. Houston will unveil its championship banner before the game and give the ball to starter Charlie Morton, who was on the mound for the final out in Game 7 at Dodger Stadium. The Astros will get their World Series rings Tuesday, when Justin Verlander makes his second start this season. Altuve's swing is already in great shape — the AL MVP and three-time batting champion is 9 for 16 so far.SNOW DAYAbout 1-3 inches of snow was forecast to fall in New York ahead of the Yankees' much-anticipated home opener against Tampa Bay — though the overnight storm was supposed to stop early in the morning. "I've never really played in snow," said slugger Aaron Judge, who grew up in California. "I've played in cold conditions before. You've just got to bundle up. That's about it." Left-hander Jordan Montgomery,... [More]

A look at what's happening all around the majors Monday:___PARTY TIMEJose Altuve and the Astros are set to celebrate their first World Series title when they play their home opener against Baltimore. Houston will unveil its championship banner before the game and give the ball to starter Charlie Morton, who was on the mound for the final out in Game 7 at Dodger Stadium. The Astros will get their World Series rings Tuesday, when Justin Verlander makes his second start this season. Altuve's swing is already in great shape — the AL MVP and three-time batting champion is 9 for 16 so far.SNOW DAYAbout 1-3 inches of snow was forecast to fall in New York ahead of the Yankees' much-anticipated home opener against Tampa Bay — though the overnight storm was supposed to stop early in the morning. "I've never really played in snow," said slugger Aaron Judge, who grew up in California. "I've played in cold conditions before. You've just got to bundle up. That's about it." Left-hander Jordan Montgomery,... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — There's a vastly different vibe in the Minnesota Twins clubhouse heading into opening day.A year ago, Minnesota was coming off a 59-103 season and just hoping to be good. Now, following their first playoff appearance in seven years, the Twins can't wait to face the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday."I can tell that the guys are excited to get going and see what lies ahead for us throughout the next six months," manager Paul Molitor said Wednesday. "It's think it would be awfully fun to be part of that clubhouse right now."Minnesota finished 85-77 last season before getting ousted by the New York Yankees in the wild-card game. Although the Twins accomplished plenty, they walked away wanting more."Ask anybody in here, and they'll tell you that we thought we should have gone deeper into the postseason," infielder Brian Dozier said. "I think that made us that much hungrier to get to opening day, to kind of keep going what we set out to do last year."Well aware of the Twins turnaround,... [More]

Baseball begins again with every team opening on the same day for the first time since 1968. Here are a handful of dates to mark on the calendar:THURSDAY, MARCH 29San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers: The earliest domestic start in baseball history features one of the game's best rivalries. Clayton Kershaw makes his record eighth opening-day start for the NL champion Dodgers after going 18-4 with a 2.31 ERA in 27 starts last year. He takes on a much more challenging lineup after the Giants acquired Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen in a pair of offseason trades. It's the first opener between the clubs since 2013.MONDAY, APRIL 2Baltimore Orioles at Houston Astros: Reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve and the Astros celebrate the franchise's first championship before their home opener against Adam Jones and the Orioles. The Astros outlasted the Dodgers in a seven-game World Series last fall, and they might be even better this year after acquiring right-hander Gerrit Cole in a January trade... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Kennys Vargas has made a quick U-turn and is headed back to the Minnesota Twins.The Twins reclaimed Vargas off waivers from Cincinnati on Saturday, two days after the Reds plucked him from Minnesota.Minnesota recently cut Vargas when it ran out of roster space. The 27-year-old batted .253 with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs in 78 games last season for the Twins as a designated hitter and first baseman.The Twins had a roster spot open up when shortstop Jorge Polanco was suspended 80 games for a drug violation.Minnesota already has longtime star Joe Mauer and recently signed Logan Morrison to take up slots at first base and DH. Vargas could provide extra depth, provided there's room to keep him in the organization, possibly in the minors.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Twin Cities were the place to be this winter with the Super Bowl in town.The Twins, meanwhile, have worked hard to make Minnesota more of a long-term destination."I wanted to go somewhere where they had a chance to win no matter what," said right-hander Lance Lynn, the last in a series of shrewd moves made to upgrade a team that was already well on the upswing after reaching the American League wild card game with a collection of 25-and-under contributors.That outlook seemed unfathomable when the Twins lost a club-record 103 games in 2016 and chief baseball officer Derek Falvey and general manager Thad Levine barely touched the roster for 2017 upon taking over the front office. But that's what is happening: Players seeking a stable, successful environment have eagerly picked Minnesota."I think we can sense that," manager Paul Molitor said. "Everyone is, with good reason, excited about what lies ahead. I think this is an attractive place to come to right now, given... [More]