OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched just well enough to earn his 200th career win and the Houston Astros hit five home runs, beating the Oakland Athletics 9-4 Sunday to avoid a sweep and retake sole possession of the AL West lead.The surging A's had won the first two games at the Coliseum to tie shaky Houston atop the division. But Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Evan Gattis, Alex Bergman, Marwin Gonzalez and Martin Maldonado later homered for the defending World Series champions. Maldonado also tripled and doubled.Verlander (12-8) gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings while becoming the 114th pitcher with at least 200 career wins.Oakland's Sean Manaea (11-9) was charged with six runs and nine hits in four-plus innings.DODGERS 12, MARINERS 1SEATTLE (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched seven sharp innings for his 150th career win, Justin Turner homered and drove in five runs, and Los Angeles routed Seattle.Kershaw (6-5) gave up four hits, struck out seven and... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez left his start Thursday against the Washington Nationals after getting hit by the ball in the left calf.The right-hander was hit by Washington outfielder Michael Taylor's grounder with two outs in the second inning. Sanchez made the throw to first for the out but didn't return in the bottom of the third inning.Sanchez pitched two scoreless innings against the Nationals, allowing one hit and striking out one. He was replaced by right-hander Wes Parsons, who made his major league debut.Sanchez is 6-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 16 games this season. He had gone at least six innings in six consecutive starts.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs in a game for the first time in the major leagues, and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Cleveland Indians 7-4 on Friday night.Ohtani, whose four hits were also the most of his big league career, singled in the eighth and scored the go-ahead run on David Fletcher's double.The Angels won at Progressive Field for the first time since June 17, 2014, breaking a 10-game skid.Ohtani hit a two-run homer in the first and a solo home run in the third off Mike Clevinger.Justin Anderson (3-2) pitched the seventh and the Angels' bullpen held the Indians to one run over the final four innings.Cleveland's bullpen allowed four runs in the eighth to break a 3-all tie. Ohtani started the rally with a one-out single off Oliver Perez (0-1). He stole second and Albert Pujols was intentionally walked with a 3-0 count.RED SOX 4, YANKEES 1BOSTON (AP) — Rick Porcello pitched a one-hitter, Steve Pearce homered for the fourth time in two nights and Boston beat New... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs in a game for the first time in the major leagues, and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Cleveland Indians 7-4 on Friday night.Ohtani, whose four hits were also the most of his big league career, singled in the eighth and scored the go-ahead run on David Fletcher's double.The Angels won at Progressive Field for the first time since June 17, 2014, breaking a 10-game skid.Ohtani hit a two-run homer in the first and a solo home run in the third off Mike Clevinger.Justin Anderson (3-2) pitched the seventh and the Angels' bullpen held the Indians to one run over the final four innings.Cleveland's bullpen allowed four runs in the eighth to break a 3-all tie. Ohtani started the rally with a one-out single off Oliver Perez (0-1). He stole second and Albert Pujols was intentionally walked with a 3-0 count.RED SOX 4, YANKEES 1BOSTON (AP) — Rick Porcello pitched a one-hitter, Steve Pearce homered for the fourth time in two nights and Boston beat New... [More]

RHP Anibal Sanchez will not have the $16 million club option picked up by the Tigers. Instead the Tigers will pay him a $5 million buyout. Sanchez, 34, had a difficult season. He was 3-7 with a 6.41 ERA in 28 appearances, including 17 starts. He allowed 26 home runs in 105 1/3 innings.

RHP Anibal Sanchez allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings of work in Sunday's loss to Minnesota. Sanchez dropped to 3-7 on the year with a 6.41 ERA. The 33-year-old Sanchez enters the offseason as a free agent.

RHP Anibal Sanchez had thrown three straight quality starts, but is winless in his past eight starts since an Aug. 1 victory over the Yankees. He is eligible for free agency after the season. "Could be," Sanchez said on whether he thinking about free agency. "It's right there. But, I don't control the situation that I'm going to be in. I'm good with the way that I am right now. I feel healthy. I just want to finish strong. I always say that I want to finish strong and so far I do it. I don't have a problem with going to the offseason as a free agent or not. I would like to be on the (Tigers) team, though. It's something that I don't control."

RHP Anibal Sanchez was the hard-luck loser Wednesday, giving up one run on three hits while striking out eight in six innings. That was his second straight strong performance. He limited the Chicago White Sox to one run in six innings and struck out 11 on Friday. The Tigers are likely to buy out the final year of Sanchez's contract. He's due to make $16 million but can be bought for $5 million. "I'd be shocked if he didn't pitch again somewhere," Ausmus said. "I think he's showing he's got a little bit left in the tank."

RHP Anibal Sanchez was very sharp Friday night in a season that hasn't seen him sharp very often. "Sanchey, he's had a rough year and he came out and was the old Sanchey, and lights out," DH Mikie Mahtook said, "and struck out 11 and kept us in a position to win." It's widely assumed Detroit will buy his contract out at the end of the season, but performances like that -- 11 strikeouts, six hits and one run in six innings -- might induce nibbles in other quarters if the Tigers don't want him back. "I haven't talked to him about it," manager Brad Ausmus said. "But I'm assuming he wants to pitch next year, and absolutely this is a little bit of a -- I guess like a tryout, so people can see that he still has the ability to pitch. Six innings, 11 strikeouts, that's pretty good." "Changing speeds helped me a lot," Sanchez said. "It really helps when I'm able to work both sides of the strike zone. The last couple of starts I've been working on hiding the ball a little better."

RHP Anibal Sanchez will make his 13th start of the season and his 24th appearance overall Sunday in the finale of a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Sanchez faced just one batter in his start Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals when he suffered a right-calf contusion after being hit by a batted ball. He allowed one run in the start. He has faced the Blue Jays 11 times (nine starts) in his career and is 3-3 with a 5.04 ERA. He did not factor in the decision against the Blue Jays July 16 at Comerica Park when he allowed five runs on nine hits in six innings. In three career starts at the Rogers Centre, he is 0-2 with a 7.98 ERA.

RHP Anibal Sanchez departed after one batter against Kansas City on Tuesday with a right calf contusion, but he could return to action this weekend. Sanchez might start against Toronto on Sunday, as long as the bruise doesn't affect him, manager Brad Ausmus announced. Sanchez was struck by Whit Merrifield's line drive single and committed a throwing error on the play. He attempted two warmup pitches but could not continue. X-rays were negative, and he was walking around with a bandage over the affected area on Wednesday.

RHP Anibal Sanchez departed after one batter on Tuesday with a right calf contusion. He was struck in the leg by Whit Merrifield's line drive single and committed a throwing error on the play. He attempted two warmup pitches but could not continue. X-rays were negative. Sanchez just came off the disabled list Friday after recovering from a hamstring strain.

RHP Anibal Sanchez was activated off the 10-day disabled list Friday after a middling rehab appearance the night before with Class A West Michigan. Sanchez, out with hamstring and groin strains, pitched four innings Thursday night in taking a loss for the Whitecaps. He gave up three runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He is likely to return to the rotation on Tuesday against Kansas City.

RHP Anibal Sanchez (left hamstring strain) allowed three runs on five hits in four innings Thursday during a rehab start for Class A West Michigan. Sanchez has been out since Aug. 17. In 22 games, 11 starts, for the Tigers this season, he is 3-3 with a 6.95 ERA.

RHP Anibal Sanchez (left hamstring strain) is scheduled to throw 65-75 pitches Thursday for Class A West Michigan in what will be his first and only rehab start. Sanchez went on the 10-day disabled list Aug. 18, retroactive to Aug. 17. In 22 games, 11 starts, for the Tigers this season, Sanchez is 3-3 with a 6.95 ERA. Opponents are hitting .314 against Sanchez, who has allowed 103 hits in 77 2/3 innings, including 23 home runs, with 21 walks and 68 strikeouts.

RHP Anibal Sanchez (left hamstring strain) felt good throwing a bullpen Friday, manager Brad Ausmus said. Sanchez went on the 10-dayDL on Aug. 18, retroactive to Aug. 17

RHP Anibal Sanchez threw on flat ground Wednesday for the first time since going on the disabled list with a hamstring strain. He will not take his turn in the rotation on Saturday against the Chicago White Sox, and manager Brad Ausmus has yet to announce who will take his place. The club could call up someone from Triple-A Toledo or go with one of their long relievers (Warwick Saupold, Drew VerHagen). Sanchez allowed 17 earned runs, including nine homers, in his last three starts, spanning 11 1/3 innings.

RHP Anibal Sanchez was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday after suffering a left hamstring strain in his last start. Manager Brad Ausmus said Sanchez will be out longer than just 10 days. He has hit another rough patch after some good outings when he returned from a term in the minors to get him back in the starting routine earlier this year. Sanchez has allowed 23 home runs in 77 2/3 innings this season.

RHP Anibal Sanchez left in the third inning of Detroit's 12-6 loss to Texas on Wednesday with left hamstring tightness and the score tied 4-all. He gave up four runs on five hits, including two home runs, and a walk in 2 1/3 innings of a no-decision. "He did something to his hamstring," manager Brad Ausmus said. "They don't think it's serious, but we'll know more Friday."

RHP Anibal Sanchez has been plagued by the home run ball in recent years and got bit by the long ball again on Friday night. Sanchez has pitched 75 1/3 innings now and allowed 21 home runs, the last two against Minnesota and responsible for five Twins' runs. He gave up a three-run blast to Eddie Rosario in the fourth and a two-run shot to Max Kepler in the fifth. "I thought he pitched pretty well," Ausmus said of his starter, "but those two mistakes turned into five runs, and that puts us into a big hole. They were both two-seamers up. The one to Kepler was in, and that was a nice swing, but the one to Rosario was away."