CLEVELAND (AP) — Didi Gregorius is back, giving the New York Yankees one of their major missing pieces.Eight months after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Gregorius was activated from the injured list and is expected to start at shortstop Friday night as the AL East-leading Yankees open a three-game series against the Indians.Gregorius got hurt making a throw in last year's Division Series against Boston and had surgery in October. He made a quicker-than-expected recovery and now rejoins a Yankees team that found a way to keep winning without him — and others.The 29-year-old Gregorius batted .268 last season with a career-high 27 homers and 86 RBIs. Beyond his offensive stats, Gregorius plays Gold Glove-caliber defense and is New York's best all-around player. His return balances a lineup missing several key players, including injured sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.Manager Aaron Boone will ease Gregorius back by not playing him every day.To make roster space... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Didi Gregorius is back at shortstop for the New York Yankees, who are winning despite a slew of major injuries.Gregorius had Tommy John surgery in October, shortly after he injured his right elbow in the playoffs against Boston.He made a quick recovery and is expected to start Friday as the AL East-leading Yankees open a three-game series against the Indians.The 29-year-old Gregorius batted .268 last season with a career-high 27 homers and 86 RBIs. Beyond his offensive stats, Gregorius plays Gold Glove-caliber defense and is New York's best all-around player. His return balances a lineup missing several key players, including injured All-Star slugger Aaron Judge.Manager Aaron Boone will ease Gregorius back by not playing him every day.To make roster space for Gregorius, the Yankees optioned infielder Thairo Estrada to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and transferred shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the 60-day injured list.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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]

BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit two homers, rookie Michael Chavis drove in five runs and the surging Boston Red Sox beat the stumbling Seattle Mariners 11-2 to complete a three-game sweep Sunday at soggy Fenway Park.The World Series champions have won five straight games and 16 of 22 following a 6-13 start.Omar Narváez homered for Seattle (20-23), which has lost four in a row and 15 of 19 after opening 13-2. The Mariners were outscored 34-8 in the series, completing a 2-8 trip.Hector Velázquez (1-2) gave up two runs in five innings for the Red Sox. Marco Gonzales (5-2) gave up four runs, two earned, in four innings.YANKEES 7, RAYS 1ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Masahiro Tanaka (3-3) matched his season high of seven innings, allowing one run and five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks to outpitch reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. New York closed back within one-half game of AL East-leading Tampa Bay.Thairo Estrada homered just after play resumed following a ninth-inning power... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit two homers, rookie Michael Chavis drove in five runs and the surging Boston Red Sox beat the stumbling Seattle Mariners 11-2 to complete a three-game sweep Sunday at soggy Fenway Park.The World Series champions have won five straight games and 16 of 22 following a 6-13 start.Omar Narváez homered for Seattle (20-23), which has lost four in a row and 15 of 19 after opening 13-2. The Mariners were outscored 34-8 in the series, completing a 2-8 trip.Hector Velázquez (1-2) gave up two runs in five innings for the Red Sox. Marco Gonzales (5-2) gave up four runs, two earned, in four innings.YANKEES 7, RAYS 1ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Masahiro Tanaka (3-3) matched his season high of seven innings, allowing one run and five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks to outpitch reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. New York closed back within one-half game of the AL East-leading Rays.Thairo Estrada homered just after play resumed following a ninth-inning power... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays were interrupted by a power outage at Tropicana Field that caused a 43-minute delay.The lights at the domed stadium went out after Austin Pruitt's first pitch to Thairo Estrada leading off the ninth inning Sunday. Both teams' television broadcasts also lost power.New York led 3-1 at the time of the delay. Estrada homered on the second pitch from Pruitt after play resumed.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays are being delayed in the ninth inning by a power outage at Tropicana Field.The lights at the dome stadium went out after Austin Pruitt's first pitch to Thairo Estrada leading off the ninth inning Sunday.Both teams' television broadcasts also lost power.New York leads 3-1.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Tauchman reported to the New York Yankees for the first time before an exhibition game at Washington, three days before opening day and two days after he was acquired from Colorado in a trade."Aaron Judge came over during batting practice, said, 'Hey man, you're here to help us win. You need anything, let me know.'" the outfielder recalled. "That's such a little thing. It took maybe 15 seconds, but it's great to know these guys really made me feel like part of a team from the minute I stepped in the clubhouse."Little did Tauchman and the Yankees know how much the club would need him.New York already has placed 16 players on the injured list this season, four shy of its disabled list total for all of last year. Still, the Yankees are 23-16, 1½ games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.Tauchman and Cameron Maybin were acquired in trades. Infielder Thairo Estrada, first baseman Mike Ford and pitcher Joseph Harvey were brought up from the minors to make their... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Tauchman reported to the New York Yankees for the first time before an exhibition game at Washington, three days before opening day and two days after he was acquired from Colorado in a trade."Aaron Judge came over during batting practice, said, 'Hey man, you're here to help us win. You need anything, let me know.'" the outfielder recalled. "That's such a little thing. It took maybe 15 seconds, but it's great to know these guys really made me feel like part of a team from the minute I stepped in the clubhouse."Little did Tauchman and the Yankees know how much the club would need him.New York already has placed 16 players on the injured list this season, four shy of its disabled list total for all of last year. Still, the Yankees started Saturday with a 23-15 record, a half-game behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.Tauchman and Cameron Maybin were acquired in trades. Infielder Thairo Estrada, first baseman Mike Ford and pitcher Joseph Harvey were brought up... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell took a perfect game into the sixth inning and Tommy Pham hit his first career grand slam, leading the Tampa Bay Rays over the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-1 on Monday night.Snell (3-3) rebounded from allowing a career-high seven runs over three innings of an 8-2 loss at Kansas City last week to hold the Diamondbacks without a hit until Ildemaro Vargas singled with two outs in the sixth. Snell got out of the inning and finished with nine strikeouts in an 83-pitch outing.Chaz Roe relieved to start the seventh and Casey Sadler allowed an unearned run in the ninth to finish a two-hitter before 8,124, the lowest at Tropicana Field since September 2017.Pham's grand slam off Merrill Kelly (3-3) finished a five-run second inning that put the AL East leaders up 6-0.PADRES 4, METS 0SAN DIEGO (AP) — Pumped-up rookie Chris Paddack struck out a career-high 11 to outduel NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, and Hunter Renfroe homered... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell took a perfect game into the sixth inning and Tommy Pham hit his first career grand slam, leading the Tampa Bay Rays over the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-1 on Monday night.Snell (3-3) rebounded from allowing a career-high seven runs over three innings of an 8-2 loss at Kansas City last week to hold the Diamondbacks without a hit until Ildemaro Vargas singled with two outs in the sixth. Snell got out of the inning and finished with nine strikeouts in an 83-pitch outing.Chaz Roe relieved to start the seventh and Casey Sadler allowed an unearned run in the ninth to finish a two-hitter before 8,124, the lowest at Tropicana Field since September 2017.Pham's grand slam off Merrill Kelly (3-3) finished a five-run second inning that put the AL East leaders up 6-0.WHITE SOX 9, INDIANS 1CLEVELAND (AP) — Tim Anderson chased Trevor Bauer after the All-Star tweeted a playful message to Anderson earlier in the day, Yoán Moncada had... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell took a perfect game into the sixth inning and Tommy Pham hit his first career grand slam, leading the Tampa Bay Rays over the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-1 on Monday night.Snell (3-3) rebounded from allowing a career-high seven runs over three innings of an 8-2 loss at Kansas City last week to hold the Diamondbacks without a hit until Ildemaro Vargas singled with two outs in the sixth. Snell got out of the inning and finished with nine strikeouts in an 83-pitch outing.Chaz Roe relieved to start the seventh and Casey Sadler allowed an unearned run in the ninth to finish a two-hitter before 8,124, the lowest at Tropicana Field since September 2017.Pham's grand slam off Merrill Kelly (3-3) finished a five-run second inning that put the AL East leaders up 6-0.WHITE SOX 9, INDIANS 1CLEVELAND (AP) — Tim Anderson chased Trevor Bauer after the All-Star tweeted a playful message to Anderson earlier in the day, Yoán Moncada had... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Christian Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, and the Boston Red Sox completed an uplifting three-game sweep of the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 victory Sunday.Rafael Devers singled off Jose Alvarado (0-2) to start the 11th and went to second when Michael Chavis walked.Both runners moved up a base on Jackie Bradley's sacrifice bunt and Vazquez followed with his fly that Kevin Kiermaier ran down in center field.Marcus Walden (3-0) allowed an infield hit over two scoreless innings and Ryan Brasier worked the 11th to get his sixth save.After starting the season by losing eight of 10, the defending World Series champions are 7-5 over the last 12 games and went from eight to five games behind the Rays.DODGERS 6, BREWERS 5MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cody Bellinger reached over the right field wall to rob Christian Yelich in the eighth inning of yet another home run, then hit a solo drive off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to lift Los Angeles over... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Christian Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, and the Boston Red Sox completed an uplifting three-game sweep of the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 victory Sunday.Rafael Devers singled off Jose Alvarado (0-2) to start the 11th and went to second when Michael Chavis walked.Both runners moved up a base on Jackie Bradley's sacrifice bunt and Vazquez followed with his fly that Kevin Kiermaier ran down in center field.Marcus Walden (3-0) allowed an infield hit over two scoreless innings and Ryan Brasier worked the 11th to get his sixth save.After starting the season by losing eight of 10, the defending World Series champions are 7-5 over the last 12 games and went from eight to five games behind the Rays.DODGERS 6, BREWERS 5MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cody Bellinger reached over the right field wall to rob Christian Yelich in the eighth inning of yet another home run, then hit a solo drive off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to lift Los Angeles over... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge won't be back with the New York Yankees anytime soon, a further blow to an injury-decimated team with a mediocre record 3½ weeks into the season.New York's biggest offensive threat and the heart of its clubhouse went on the injured list for the third time in four seasons Sunday, a day after straining the oblique muscle on the left side of his abdomen while hitting a sixth-inning single against Kansas City."Pretty significant strain in there," manager Aaron Boone said. "These next couple of weeks will kind of be a lot of just the healing process, so I think once we get through these first couple of weeks then we'll have a better timeline."Judge broke his right wrist when hit by a pitch by the Royals' Jakob Junis last July 26 and did not return until Sept. 14. The Yankees were 65-36 when Judge went on the DL, went 25-20 while he was out, then won 10 of their final 16 games en route to a second-place finish in the AL East.He became the Yankees' major league-high... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge has a "pretty significant strain" of his left oblique, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, and it will be several weeks before New York can even estimate when the slugger will return.Boone said Sunday that Judge will need to rest and allow the injury to heal. Judge was hurt Saturday while swinging at a pitch against Kansas City.He became the Yankees' 13th player on the disabled list and the 14th overall this season, joining Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, Gary Sánchez, Didi Gregorius, Miguel Andújar and Greg Bird. Those six and Judge accounted for 175 of the team's record 267 homers last year and 515 of the 821 RBIs.Judge sustained a season-ending right oblique strain while fouling off a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 13, 2016.Infielder Thairo Estrada, the only remaining healthy position player on the 40-man roster, was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Estrada, recovered from a February 2018 gunshot wound sustained in Venezuela, would make his major league debut.Sánchez, out since April 10 with a strained left calf, is scheduled to play a rehabilitation game Monday with Class A Charleston and could be activated before Wednesday's game at the Los Angeles Angels.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — Yankees shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left calf strain, the 11th New York player sidelined just a week into the season.A five-time All-Star, Tulowitzki left prior to the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against Detroit, two innings after hitting a popup in his only at-bat."I felt it on the swing coming out of the box," Tulowitzki said Thursday before the Yankees faced the Orioles. "I went out there tried to play defense. I knew I was in a little bit of trouble, so when I came in I thought it was best to get myself out of there.""I know I'll be down for a couple of days to see if the soreness goes away," he said, hoping that his time on the IL would be "not too long."Thairo Estrada was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to be a back-up infielder for a team already without starters Didi Gregorius and Miguel Andujar.Signed as a free agent at the major league minimum of $555,000 to fill in for the injured Gregorius,... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Yankees shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left calf strain, the 11th player sidelined just a week into the season.A five-time All-Star, Tulowitzki left prior to the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against Detroit. The five-time All-Star popped up in his only at-bat in the second inning."I felt it on the swing coming out of the box," he said. "I went out there tried to play defense and I knew I was in a little bit of trouble, so when I came in I thought it was best to get myself out of there.""I know I'll be down for a couple of days to see if the soreness goes away," he said, hoping that his time on the IL would be "not too long."Infielder Thairo Estrada was recalled from Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre to be a back-up infielder for a team already without starters Didi Gregorius and Miguel Andujar.Signed as a free agent at the major league minimum of $555,000 to fill in for the injured Gregorius, the 34-year-old Tulowitzki... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — The New York Yankees have placed shortstop Troy Tulowitski on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain.New York has 11 players on the IL, most in the majors.Infielder Thairo Estrada was recalled Thursday from Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre to fill out an infield already without Didi Gregorius and Miguel Andujar.Tulowitzki, a five-time All-Star, left prior to the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against Detroit.Signed as a free agent at the major league minimum of $555,000 to fill in for the injured Gregorius, Tulowitzki returned after missing all of 2018 following surgery on both heels and is hitting .182 in five games.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports