OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mookie Betts made a running catch in foul territory and immediately spotted something just over the padded outfield wall at Dodger Stadium: a lonely, stray baseball.After signing a $365 million, 12-year contract, Betts apparently wasn't above a little cleanup duty in his Los Angeles debut. He leaned over the railing, scooped up the ball and tossed it behind the right-field fence.From Target Field to PNC Park and Busch Stadium, there are baseballs scattered everywhere with no fans inside to chase them down during this coronavirus-shortened 60-game season.No scrambles for souvenirs in the upper deck. No races for home run blasts in the bleachers. No jump balls for foul balls in the box seats.Some clubs have been more frugal than others when it comes to collecting baseballs. Betts, for instance, took it upon himself to grab that abandoned ball after making a nifty grab in the sixth inning of Thursday night's season opener against the San Francisco Giants.The Mets, meanwhile,... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mookie Betts made a running catch in foul territory and immediately spotted something just over the padded outfield wall at Dodger Stadium: a lonely, stray baseball. After signing a $365 million, 12-year contract, Betts apparently wasn't above a little clean-up duty in his Los Angeles debut. He leaned over the railing, scooped up the ball and tossed it behind the right-field fence.From Target Field to PNC Park and Busch Stadium, there are baseballs scattered everywhere with no fans inside to chase them down during this coronavirus-shortened 60-game season.No scrambles for souvenirs in the upper deck. No races for home run blasts in the bleachers. No jump balls for foul balls in the box seats.Without fans clamoring to claim every ball that winds up in the stands, baseballs have been left scattered everywhere. Some clubs have been more frugal than others when it comes to collecting them. Betts, for instance, took it upon himself to grab that abandoned ball after making... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Benches cleared Tuesday night during the Dodgers’ 5-2 victory over the Astros in the first game between the teams since it was revealed that Houston illegally stole signs en route to a 2017 championship that came at Los Angeles’ expense in the World Series.The fracas occurred after Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly threw high-and-tight pitches to Astros stars Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa in the sixth inning. Kelly threw an errant breaking ball over Correa’s head. Correa, who homered and finished with three hits, took off his batting helmet and stared Kelly down before continuing the at-bat. Kelly struck out Correa, then stuck out his tongue and made a face in his direction. Correa started walking toward him and the players exchanged words, prompting the benches to clear in the first such incident of this pandemic-delayed season. There was plenty of yelling and crowding — outlawed as MLB tries to play a 60-game season amid the pandemic — but no pushing or punches thrown.Order was... [More]

Angels third. Tommy La Stella walks. Max Stassi strikes out swinging. Taylor Ward singles to center field, advances to 2nd. Tommy La Stella scores. Throwing error by Kyle Lewis. David Fletcher singles to deep right field. Taylor Ward to third. Mike Trout strikes out swinging. Anthony Rendon walks. David Fletcher to second. Justin Upton reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow left field. Anthony Rendon to second. David Fletcher to third. Taylor Ward scores. Shohei Ohtani pops out to shallow right field to Shed Long Jr..2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 3 left on. Angels 2, Mariners 0.Mariners fourth. Kyle Lewis strikes out swinging. Kyle Seager grounds out to first base, Albert Pujols to Patrick Sandoval. Tim Lopes homers to right field. J.P. Crawford lines out to deep center field to Mike Trout.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Angels 2, Mariners 1.Angels fourth. Albert Pujols singles to shallow center field. Tommy La Stella walks. Albert Pujols to second. Max Stassi homers to center field. Tommy... [More]

Athletics third. Sean Murphy strikes out swinging. Tony Kemp walks. Marcus Semien singles to second base. Tony Kemp to third. Ramon Laureano out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Justin Upton. Marcus Semien to second. Tony Kemp scores. Matt Chapman doubles to deep center field. Marcus Semien scores. Matt Olson strikes out on a foul tip.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Athletics 2, Angels 0.Athletics fourth. Mark Canha homers to center field. Khris Davis strikes out swinging. Stephen Piscotty strikes out swinging. Sean Murphy flies out to deep right field to Brian Goodwin.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Athletics 3, Angels 0.

Athletics first. Marcus Semien singles to center field. Ramon Laureano walks. Marcus Semien to second. Matt Chapman walks. Ramon Laureano to second. Marcus Semien to third. Matt Olson walks. Matt Chapman to second. Ramon Laureano to third. Marcus Semien scores. Mark Canha singles to right center field. Matt Olson to second. Matt Chapman scores. Ramon Laureano scores. Robbie Grossman singles to shallow right field. Mark Canha to third. Matt Olson scores. Vimael Machin grounds out to shortstop. Robbie Grossman out at second. Mark Canha scores. Sean Murphy strikes out swinging.5 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Athletics 5, Angels 0.Angels third. Brian Goodwin singles to right field. David Fletcher singles to right center field. Brian Goodwin to second. Mike Trout homers to left field. David Fletcher scores. Brian Goodwin scores. Tommy La Stella flies out to right field to Mark Canha. Justin Upton flies out to Robbie Grossman. Jared Walsh grounds out to second base, Marcus Semien to Matt... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Daniel Bard won in his first major league game in more than seven years, pitching 1 1-3 scoreless innings in relief for the Colorado Rockies in a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. The 35-year-old Bard (1-0), whose control troubles ran him out of baseball, got the Rockies out of a jam when he took over for starter Jon Gray with two on and two outs in the fifth. The right-hander worked around two more base runners in the sixth, getting Willie Calhoun on an inning-ending flyout to cap an 11-pitch at-bat.Wade Davis worked the ninth for his first save since July 25, 2019. He gave up a run.Colorado went ahead to stay with two runs in the fourth off Mike Minor (0-1), helped by two fielder’s choice plays and two errors. Bard threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes Saturday, including his first one before Elvis Andrus flied out to end the fifth. ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in his Angels debut and... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Daniel Bard won in his first major league game in more than seven years, pitching 1 1-3 scoreless innings in relief for the Colorado Rockies in a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. The 35-year-old Bard (1-0), whose control troubles ran him out of baseball, got the Rockies out of a jam when he took over for starter Jon Gray with two on and two outs in the fifth. The right-hander worked around two more base runners in the sixth, getting Willie Calhoun on an inning-ending flyout to cap an 11-pitch at-bat.Wade Davis worked the ninth for his first save since July 25, 2019. He gave up a run.Colorado went ahead to stay with two runs in the fourth off Mike Minor (0-1), helped by two fielder’s choice plays and two errors. Bard threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes Saturday, including his first one before Elvis Andrus flied out to end the fifth. ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in his Angels debut and... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Daniel Bard won in his first major league game in more than seven years, pitching 1 1-3 scoreless innings in relief for the Colorado Rockies in a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. The 35-year-old Bard (1-0), whose control troubles ran him out of baseball, got the Rockies out of a jam when he took over for starter Jon Gray with two on and two outs in the fifth. The right-hander worked around two more base runners in the sixth, getting Willie Calhoun on an inning-ending flyout to cap an 11-pitch at-bat.Wade Davis worked the ninth for his first save since July 25, 2019. He gave up a run.Colorado went ahead to stay with two runs in the fourth off Mike Minor (0-1), helped by two fielder’s choice plays and two errors. Bard threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes Saturday, including his first one before Elvis Andrus flied out to end the fifth. ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in his Angels debut and... [More]

Angels fourth. David Fletcher grounds out to shortstop, Marcus Semien to Matt Olson. Mike Trout called out on strikes. Justin Upton homers to left field. Albert Pujols grounds out to third base, Matt Chapman to Matt Olson.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Angels 1, Athletics 0.Angels fifth. Taylor Ward singles to center field. Tommy La Stella lines out to center field to Ramon Laureano. Michael Hermosillo pops out to shallow infield to Chad Pinder. Max Stassi singles to left field. Taylor Ward to second. Andrelton Simmons doubles. Max Stassi to third. Taylor Ward scores. David Fletcher doubles to deep left center field. Andrelton Simmons scores. Max Stassi scores. Mike Trout flies out to right field to Stephen Piscotty.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Angels 4, Athletics 0.Athletics seventh. Matt Olson lines out to deep center field to Mike Trout. Khris Davis flies out to Taylor Ward. Stephen Piscotty doubles. Robbie Grossman singles to left field. Stephen Piscotty scores. Chad Pinder walks. Robbie Grossman to third. Austin Allen grounds out to second base, Tommy La Stella to Albert Pujols.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Angels 4, Athletics 1.

Angels fourth. Tommy La Stella grounds out to first base, Matt Olson to Frankie Montas. Albert Pujols walks. Jason Castro walks. Albert Pujols to second. Andrelton Simmons flies out to deep center field to Ramon Laureano. Brian Goodwin singles to deep right field. Jason Castro out at home. Albert Pujols scores.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Angels 1, Athletics 0.Athletics fourth. Marcus Semien strikes out swinging. Ramon Laureano homers to left field. Matt Chapman lines out to deep left field to Justin Upton. Khris Davis strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Angels 1, Athletics 1.Angels seventh. Andrelton Simmons reaches on error to shallow left field, advances to 2nd. Throwing error by Matt Chapman. Brian Goodwin flies out to deep right center field to Stephen Piscotty. Andrelton Simmons to third. David Fletcher out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Ramon Laureano. Andrelton Simmons scores. Mike Trout grounds out to shallow infield, Joakim Soria to Matt Olson.1... [More]

June 241936 — Rookie Joe DiMaggio hit two homers in the fifth inning and added two doubles in the New York Yankees’ 18-4 victory over the St. Louis Browns.1950 — Wes Westrum of the New York Giants hit three home runs and a triple in a 12-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.1955 — Harmon Killebrew hit his first major league homer, off Billy Hoeft at Griffith Stadium, but the Detroit Tigers beat the Washington Senators 18-7.1962 — Jack Reed, a substitute outfielder, hit a homer off Phil Regan in the 22nd inning to give the New York Yankees a 9-7 win over the Detroit Tigers in a game that lasted 7 hours, 22 minutes. It was the only homer Reed hit in the majors.1968 — Jim Northrup tied a major league record by hitting two grand slams in one game as the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 14-3.1983 — Don Sutton of the Milwaukee Brewers became the eighth pitcher in major league history to strike out 3,000 batters. Sutton’s 3,000th victim was Cleveland’s Alan Bannister in a 3-2 win over the... [More]

June 241936 — Rookie Joe DiMaggio hit two homers in the fifth inning and added two doubles in the New York Yankees’ 18-4 victory over the St. Louis Browns.1950 — Wes Westrum of the New York Giants hit three home runs and a triple in a 12-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.1955 — Harmon Killebrew hit his first major league homer, off Billy Hoeft at Griffith Stadium, but the Detroit Tigers beat the Washington Senators 18-7.1962 — Jack Reed, a substitute outfielder, hit a homer off Phil Regan in the 22nd inning to give the New York Yankees a 9-7 win over the Detroit Tigers in a game that lasted 7 hours, 22 minutes. It was the only homer Reed hit in the majors.1968 — Jim Northrup tied a major league record by hitting two grand slams in one game as the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 14-3.1983 — Don Sutton of the Milwaukee Brewers became the eighth pitcher in major league history to strike out 3,000 batters. Sutton’s 3,000th victim was Cleveland’s Alan Bannister in a 3-2 win over the... [More]

June 161916 — Tom Hughes of the Boston Braves pitched a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over Pittsburgh Pirates.1938 — Jimmie Foxx didn’t get a chance to hit when the St. Louis Browns walked him six straight times. The Boston Red Sox won anyway, 12-8.1953 — The St. Louis Browns beat New York 3-1 to break the Yankees’ 18-game winning streak and end their 14-game losing streak.1957 — Relief pitcher Dixie Howell hit two home runs in the 3 2-3 innings he pitched to lead the Chicago White Sox to an 8-6 victory in the second game of a doubleheader against the Washington Senators.1971 — The Oakland Athletics hit five solo home runs in a 5-1 win over the Washington Senators. Mike Epstein and Joe Rudi had a pair homers and Dave Duncan one. Epstein’s home runes came in his first two at-bats to give him homers in four straight at-bats over two games.1978 — After three ninth-inning near misses, Tom Seaver threw the first no-hitter of his 12-year career, sending the Cincinnati Reds past the St. Louis Cardinals... [More]

June 131905 — Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants pitched his second no-hit game, beating the Chicago Cubs and Mordecai Brown 1-0. Mathewson and Brown matched no-hitters for eight innings. The Giants got two hits in the ninth for the win.1912 — Christy Mathewson recorded his 300th career victory with a 3-2 triumph over the Chicago Cubs.1921 — Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees pitched the first five innings and hit two home runs in an 11-8 victory over the Detroit Tigers.1937 — New York’s Joe DiMaggio hit three consecutive home runs to give the Yankees an 8-8, 11-inning tie against the St. Louis Browns in the second game of a doubleheader.1947 — In the first night game played at Fenway Park, the Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3.1948 — Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium drew 49,641 fans who saw Ruth’s No. 3 retired and the Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 5-3.1957 — Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox hit three home runs and drove in five runs in a 9-3 victory over the Cleveland... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Drew Smyly was excited to pitch against several Los Angeles Angels stars on Saturday."It's a really good lineup. You want to face those guys, so that you can get better, regardless of the outcome. Seeing them in the lineup, that's good quality work," the San Francisco Giants lefty said after he pitched two scoreless innings.After giving up a scratch hit to leadoff man David Fletcher, Smyly struck out Mike Trout, retired Anthony Rendon on a flyball and fanned Justin Upton to end the first inning. He pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the second, throwing 31 pitches, 19 for strikes.Saturday's stint followed up a scoreless outing on Monday against Arizona."My fastball was pretty good today. I could tell by some of their swings," Smyly said. "I'm excited where I'm at right now."Both strikeouts were called and came on 80-mph curveballs. Trout's was on a full count."It seems like I end up facing Trout a lot," said Smyly, who until last year pitched entirely in the American League.... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Anthony Rendon had to laugh at the notion that he picked up right where he left off in helping the Washington Nationals win the World Series last year. Still, it was nice to leave his first game in a new uniform with a 1.000 batting average.Rendon went 2 for 2 in his spring training debut with the Los Angeles Angels, driving in a run and scoring one Tuesday night during a 7-3 win over Cincinnati.Back from spending time with his wife and newborn child, the All-Star third baseman played three innings in the field.“It’s inevitable. You’ve got to get out there every day to get comfortable,” Rendon said. “So Day One, you take in stride and take it slow, too. Not try to get too crazy.”Rendon, who signed a $245 million, seven-year contract as a free agent last December, was just one of the big-name Angels players to play for the first time this spring. He batted third, between AL MVP Mike Trout and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, the two-way star from Japan who also pitches.Outfielder... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League West 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:___Houston Astros Manager: Dusty Baker (first season). 2019: 107-55, first place, lost to Nationals in World Series. Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida. Park: Ballpark of Palm Beaches. First Workout: Feb. 13/17. He's Here: Manager Dusty Baker, RHP Austin Pruitt, C Dustin Garneau.He's Outta Here: Manager AJ Hinch, RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Will Harris, C Robinson Chirinos, OF Tony Kemp. Going campin': The Astros enter the spring reeling from a sign-stealing scandal that cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs. They brought in Baker to steady the team, and it gives the 70-year-old another chance to chase his first World Series title as a manager. He’ll get a crash course learning his new team this spring after being hired less than three weeks before pitchers and catchers... [More]

Anthony Rendon and agent Scott Boras had just wrapped up the third baseman’s $245 million deal to join the Los Angeles Angels last Wednesday when Mike Trout began blowing up his phone.“Based on his exclamation points in his texts, he seemed really excited,” Rendon said with a grin.Two of the majors' best hitters are forming a well-paid partnership in Orange County, and they are both excited to reward Angels owner Arte Moreno’s largesse with postseason success.The Angels formally introduced Rendon at Angel Stadium on Saturday, welcoming the championship-winning slugger to their star-studded lineup.Rendon left the Washington Nationals to team up with Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Albert Pujols, Andrelton Simmons and Justin Upton in the Angels’ loaded lineup.But the World Series star insisted his lavish new contract — a seven-year deal with the biggest average annual value ever given to a third baseman— wasn’t as important as the words he heard from Moreno, the Angels’ 73-year-old owner.“Arte and... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Manager Brad Ausmus has been fired by the Los Angeles Angels after just one difficult season in charge.Angels general manager Billy Eppler announced the decision to move on swiftly from Ausmus on Monday, a day after they finished 72-90 for the franchise's worst record since 1999.The dismissal of Ausmus immediately sparked speculation that former Angels bench coach Joe Maddon, who parted ways with the Chicago Cubs one day earlier, will return to the franchise where he spent three decades of his career.A candidate of Maddon's magnitude would be an obvious reason for such an abrupt change of plan by the Angels, who have had four consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1993-96. Maddon was with the Angels when Arte Moreno bought the ballclub in 2003, and the two have a cordial relationship.Ausmus got a three-year contract last October as the Angels' hand-picked replacement for Mike Scioscia, who spent 19 years on the Angels' bench and won their only World Series... [More]