BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts hit a grand slam on a monster night, leading Chris Sale and the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees 14-1 Tuesday for their ninth straight victory.Betts went 4 for 4, scoring five runs and driving in four. His third career slam capped a nine-run burst in the sixth inning that turned the first matchup of the season between the AL East rivals into a rout.Sale (1-0) allowed one run in six innings, striking out eight. Luis Severino (2-1) gave up five runs in five innings.Aaron Judge had three hits for the Yankees, including his third home run of the season.Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton went 2 for 4. He struck out his first two times up against Sale, and has now fanned 22 times in 46 at-bats.GIANTS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Andrew McCutchen hit a bases-loaded single for his second walk-off of San Francisco's homestand.McCutchen lined the first pitch he got from Jorge De La Rosa (0-1) for a clean single into left-center, his 10th career game-ending... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts hit a grand slam on a monster night, leading Chris Sale and the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees 14-1 Tuesday for their ninth straight victory.Betts went 4 for 4, scoring five runs and driving in four. His third career slam capped a nine-run burst in the sixth inning that turned the first matchup of the season between the AL East rivals into a rout.Sale (1-0) allowed one run in six innings, striking out eight. Luis Severino (2-1) gave up five runs in five innings.Aaron Judge had three hits for the Yankees, including his third home run of the season.Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton went 2 for 4. He struck out his first two times up against Sale, and has now fanned 22 times in 46 at-bats.BLUE JAYS 2, ORIOLES 1BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Sanchez lost his no-hit bid when Baltimore's Tim Beckham led off the eighth inning with a sharp grounder through the legs of third baseman Josh Donaldson, and Curtis Granderson hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth to carry Toronto.Seeking... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts hit a grand slam on a monster night, leading Chris Sale and the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees 14-1 Tuesday for their ninth straight victory.Betts went 4 for 4, scoring five runs and driving in four. His third career slam capped a nine-run burst in the sixth inning that turned the first matchup of the season between the AL East rivals into a rout.Sale (1-0) allowed one run in six innings, striking out eight. Luis Severino (2-1) gave up five runs in five innings.Aaron Judge had three hits for the Yankees, including his third home run of the season.Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton went 2 for 4. He struck out his first two times up against Sale, and has now fanned 22 times in 46 at-bats.BLUE JAYS 2, ORIOLES 1BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Sanchez lost his no-hit bid when Baltimore's Tim Beckham led off the eighth inning with a sharp grounder through the legs of third baseman Josh Donaldson, and Curtis Granderson hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth to carry Toronto.Seeking... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Closer Raisel Iglesias skirted the tarp-covered infield along with the rest of the Cincinnati Reds pitchers, heading for the outfield and a quick game of catch before the rains returned.That's as good at it would get on this opening day in Cincinnati.The Reds and Nationals dodged raindrops at Great American Ball Park on Thursday instead of facing off to open the season. Their first game was pushed back to Friday because of the weather. While most other major league teams got after it, they wound up watching."Disappointed," Reds leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton said. "It's not opening day."The Reds had to call off an opener because of weather for the first time since 1966. It's already an unusual start to the season in the place where professional baseball began in 1869. The traditional opening day parade was pushed back to Monday because the sponsors are busy with their Easter weekend business.So the celebration of baseball's return will last a weekend instead of only one... [More]

Capsules of National League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Chicago Cubs2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Manager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).He's Here: RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly, C Chris Gimenez.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Projected Lineup: CF Ian Happ (.253, 24 HRs, 68 RBIs, .842 OPS) or Albert Almora Jr. (.298, 8, 46), 3B Kris Bryant (.295, 29, 73, 38 2Bs, 111 runs), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.273, 32, 109, 91 BBs), C Willson Contreras (.276, 21, 74), LF Kyle Schwarber (.211, 30, 59), SS Addison Russell (.239, 12, 43), RF Jason Heyward (.259, 11, 59), 2B Javier Baez (.273, 23, 75, .796 OPS).Rotation: LH Jon Lester (13-8, 4.33 ERA, 180 Ks), RH Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03), RH Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86, 209 Ks with Rangers and Dodgers), LH Jose Quintana (11-11, 4.15, 207 Ks with White Sox and Cubs), RH Tyler Chatwood (8-15, 4.69 with Rockies).Key Relievers: RH Brandon... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The disappointment showed in manager Bryan Price's expression and his words. The Cincinnati Reds had just lost their top starter during spring training for the third year in a row, and that was only the half of it.Not only was Anthony DeSclafani headed to the disabled list with another oblique injury, left-hander Brandon Finnegan had to stop throwing because of a sore forearm.The Reds have lost 90 games and finished last in the NL Central each of the last three seasons as their rebuilding plods along, their worst such streak since the 1930s. The biggest problem is the rotation, which has been gutted by injuries the last two years. This season is starting ominously."I say that with nothing but frustration for Anthony and our club," Price said while revealing DeSclafani's injury.The injuries to DeSclafani and Finnegan left the Reds with one healthy veteran starter as the got ready to open the season — Homer Bailey, who missed time each of the last four seasons because of... [More]

Capsules of National League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Chicago Cubs2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Manager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).He's Here: RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly, C Chris Gimenez.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Projected Lineup: CF Ian Happ (.253, 24 HRs, 68 RBIs, .842 OPS) or Albert Almora Jr. (.298, 8, 46), 3B Kris Bryant (.295, 29, 73, 38 2Bs, 111 runs), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.273, 32, 109, 91 BBs), C Willson Contreras (.276, 21, 74), LF Kyle Schwarber (.211, 30, 59), SS Addison Russell (.239, 12, 43), RF Jason Heyward (.259, 11, 59), 2B Javier Baez (.273, 23, 75, .796 OPS).Rotation: LH Jon Lester (13-8, 4.33 ERA, 180 Ks), RH Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03), RH Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86, 209 Ks with Rangers and Dodgers), LH Jose Quintana (11-11, 4.15, 207 Ks with White Sox and Cubs), RH Tyler Chatwood (8-15, 4.69 with Rockies).Key Relievers: RH Brandon... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Michael Lorenzen is getting inconsistent results as he tries to win the fifth spot in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation after being used exclusively out of the bullpen the last two seasons.The right-hander has made two solid appearances and one wild one during spring games, which hasn't helped his cause. He's got a few more chances to make his case for a move back to the rotation. The alternative is to open the season as a middle-inning reliever."It's about what you're going to do about it," Lorenzen said. "It is about whether you make the most out of your own situation."Lorenzen made his major league debut in 2015 and had 21 starts along with six relief appearances for the Reds. He went 4-9 with a 5.40 ERA overall, and Cincinnati decided to move him to the bullpen.His best season was 2016, when he went 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 35 games. He was used in late-inning roles last season and was inconsistent — a 2.93 ERA before the All-Star break and 6.32 afterward. He finished... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central 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:___Chicago CubsManager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Training Town: Mesa, Arizona.Park: Sloan Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Going campin': Chicago is coming off three consecutive NLCS appearances, and it looked a little tired when its title defense came to an end with a lopsided playoff loss to Los Angeles last year. The bullpen was hit hard by the Dodgers in the NLCS, and the Cubs batted just .168 in 10 postseason games. The roster returns mostly intact, but the bullpen and coaching staff each has a new look. Morrow replaces Davis at closer after agreeing to a $21 million, two-year contract. Jim... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Can Cincinnati's rotation make it through spring training intact for once?The Reds' starting pitchers haven't done well in Arizona lately. Last year, Homer Bailey needed elbow surgery before camp even opened, and it just got worse as it went along. Anthony DeSclafani developed a sore pitching elbow and never threw an inning.Left-hander Brandon Finnegan actually made it to the season, but wound up limited to four games because of a strained back and a dislocated shoulder. Together, the Reds' top three starters managed a total of 22 starts, the biggest factor in Cincinnati's third straight 90-loss season.All three are back and healthy — for the moment — as the last-place team opens training camp hoping to finally make up some ground in the NL Central."Having a fully healthy Homer Bailey, Brandon Finnegan and Anthony DeSclafani, there's a lot of reason to believe we've finally got there," manager Bryan Price said. "The young guys are going to continue to work hard and get... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Despite pitching in the playoffs last season, reliever David Hernandez worried that he would wind up having to settle for another minor league contract and an invitation to some team's big league training camp next month. The Cincinnati Reds surprised him by offering a $5 million, two-year deal."It all kind of happened quickly, which is weird," Hernandez said Tuesday after the deal was announced.The 32-year-old right-hander will make $2.5 million annually and can earn another $1 million each year in performance bonuses. The Reds expect him to move into a set-up role for closer Raisel Iglesias, upgrading a bullpen that was their main offseason priority.Hernandez had a 3.11 ERA in 64 appearances for the Los Angeles Angels and Arizona last season and made two scoreless relief appearances against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series. He also has pitched for Baltimore and Philadelphia.Cincinnati's bullpen had the most walks and hit batters in the major leagues... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Reliever David Hernandez has agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, adding another late-inning option to a bullpen that's been a top offseason priority.The 32-year-old right-hander will make $2.5 million annually under the deal announced Tuesday. He can earn another $1 million each year in performance bonuses.He had a 3.11 ERA in 64 appearances for the Los Angeles Angels and Arizona last season and made two scoreless relief appearances against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series. He also has pitched for Baltimore and Philadelphia.Cincinnati's bullpen had the most walks and hit batters in the major leagues and it led the NL in runs. The bullpen's 4.65 ERA was second-worst in the NL.The Reds agreed in December to a $4.5 million, two-year deal with 32-year-old reliever Jared Hughes, who pitched for the Brewers last season.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

RHP Jared Hughes signed a two-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, the team announced. The deal is reportedly worth $4.5 million. There is also a $3 million club option for 2020 with a buyout of $250,000.

RHP Jared Hughes picked up his fifth victory of the season Thursday. Hughes has not allowed a run in 12 September appearances, lowering his ERA from 3.60 to 3.07.

RHP Jared Hughes struck out three in 1 1/3 scoreless innings Wednesday in Milwaukee's 4-0 victory over the Orioles. Hughes has allowed just one run over his past four games, striking out 16 with just four walks during that stretch, which covers 13 1/3 innings.

RHP Jared Hughes made his first appearance against his former club on Friday. The Pirates, his original club, ran a short video tribute. Hughes gave up one hit, walked one and struck out one in an inning of work.

RHP Jared Hughes, who signed a one-year deal earlier this month, adds a veteran arm to the Brewers' bullpen and a quality sinker. "He's been an important addition, for sure," manager Craig Counsell said. "It's another experienced player down there. He throws sinkers. The other team knows it's coming, but it's a good sinker. He keeps throwing them and getting ground balls." Opponents are batting just .188 against him.

RHP Jared Hughes (strained left lat) was activated from the 15-day disabled list after being injured in spring training.

RHP Jared Hughes was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to Saturday night's 5-1 win over Cincinnati. He had been out since straining his left lat muscle late in spring training. He pitched four times for Triple-A Indianapolis on a rehab assignment and allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings with five strikeouts and three walks.

RHP Jared Hughes (strained left lat muscle) joined the team before Friday night's game and is likely to be activated Saturday from the DL. He made four appearances for Triple-A Indianapolis on a rehab assignment and allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings with five strikeouts and three walks.