ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lance Lynn pitched seven strong innings, Elvis Andrus homered and the Texas Rangers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-1 win Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Angels, who had won five in a row.Lynn (5-2), the first major league pitcher to make 10 starts this season, struck out six, walked two and limited the Angels to one run on four hits. The right-hander had lost his previous two starts, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) — more than he had allowed combined his first seven starts. Andrus put the Rangers ahead to stay with a solo shot in the second. They went ahead 3-0 with two unearned runs in the fourth on second baseman Matt Thaiss’ two-out error. Andrew Heaney (3-3) allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings. He struck out four and walked one. Heaney had won his last two starts and had pitched 10 consecutive scoreless innings before Andrus went deep. The lefty also gave up five runs (over 3 2-3 innings) in his first start at the Rangers’ new ballpark... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lance Lynn pitched seven strong innings, Elvis Andrus homered and the Texas Rangers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-1 win Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Angels, who had won five in a row.Lynn (5-2), the first major league pitcher to make 10 starts this season, struck out six, walked two and limited the Angels to one run on four hits. The right-hander had lost his previous two starts, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) — more than he had allowed combined his first seven starts. Andrus put the Rangers ahead to stay with a solo shot in the second. They went ahead 3-0 with two unearned runs in the fourth on second baseman Matt Thaiss’ two-out error. Andrew Heaney (3-3) allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings. He struck out four and walked one. Heaney had won his last two starts and had pitched 10 consecutive scoreless innings before Andrus went deep. The lefty also gave up five runs (over 3 2-3 innings) in his first start at the Rangers’ new ballpark... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lance Lynn pitched seven strong innings, Elvis Andrus homered and the Texas Rangers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-1 win Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Angels, who had won five in a row.Lynn (5-2), the first major league pitcher to make 10 starts this season, struck out six, walked two and limited the Angels to one run on four hits. The right-hander had lost his previous two starts, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) — more than he had allowed combined his first seven starts. Andrus put the Rangers ahead to stay with a solo shot in the second. They went ahead 3-0 with two unearned runs in the fourth on second baseman Matt Thaiss’ two-out error. Andrew Heaney (3-3) allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings. He struck out four and walked one. Heaney had won his last two starts and had pitched 10 consecutive scoreless innings before Andrus went deep. The lefty also gave up five runs (over 3 2-3 innings) in his first start at the Rangers’ new ballpark... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Khris Davis homered and hit an RBI double against previously unbeaten Zack Greinke, and the Oakland Athletics sent the Houston Astros to their sixth straight loss, 4-2 Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader.Ash from nearby wildfires fell inside the Coliseum as the A’s stretched their AL West lead over second-place Houston to 5 1/2 games.Robbie Grossman hit a go-ahead double in the sixth and Ramón Laureano added an RBI single for Oakland.The A’s played as the visiting team in a makeup of a postponement from Aug. 30 after pitcher Daniel Mengden’s positive coronavirus test result.Davis snapped an 0-for-8 stretch playing for the first time since Aug. 26 at Texas. He began the day 3 for 8 lifetime against Greinke with a home run and a double.Greinke (3-1) allowed four runs and seven hits over six innings. He struck out six.A’s starter Frankie Montas (3-3), 0-2 over his previous three outings, gave up two runs on six hits in five innings. Liam Hendriks finished for... [More]

Twins third. Ehire Adrianza flies out to center field to Victor Reyes. Ryan Jeffers homers to center field. LaMonte Wade Jr. doubles to shallow left field. Josh Donaldson walks. Brent Rooker singles to right field. Josh Donaldson to second. LaMonte Wade Jr. to third. Eddie Rosario doubles to shallow right field, tagged out at third, Jorge Bonifacio to Jonathan Schoop to Isaac Paredes to Willi Castro. Brent Rooker scores. Josh Donaldson scores. LaMonte Wade Jr. scores. Marwin Gonzalez grounds out to third base, Isaac Paredes to Jeimer Candelario.4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Twins 4, Tigers 0.Tigers fourth. Jonathan Schoop flies out to center field to Byron Buxton. Miguel Cabrera grounds out to shortstop, Ehire Adrianza to LaMonte Wade Jr.. Jeimer Candelario doubles. Willi Castro singles to shallow left field. Jeimer Candelario scores. Christin Stewart flies out to deep left center field to Eddie Rosario.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Twins 4, Tigers 1.Twins fourth. Byron Buxton... [More]

Tigers second. Willi Castro grounds out to shallow center field, Luis Arraez to Miguel Sano. Jorge Bonifacio doubles. Travis Demeritte singles to left field. Jorge Bonifacio scores. Grayson Greiner grounds out to shortstop. Travis Demeritte out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Tigers 1, Twins 0.Tigers third. Sergio Alcantara homers to left field. Victor Reyes pops out to shallow right field to Miguel Sano. Jonathan Schoop lines out to shallow infield to Luis Arraez. Miguel Cabrera grounds out to shortstop, Jorge Polanco to Miguel Sano.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Tigers 2, Twins 0.Twins third. Jake Cave walks. Ehire Adrianza doubles to deep right field. Jake Cave to third. Willians Astudillo singles to shallow center field. Ehire Adrianza scores. Jake Cave scores. Jorge Polanco reaches on a fielder's choice to first base. Willians Astudillo out at second. Luis Arraez singles to shallow infield. Jorge Polanco to second. Miguel Sano strikes out swinging. Eddie Rosario pops... [More]

Tigers first. Victor Reyes homers. Jonathan Schoop grounds out to shallow infield, Josh Donaldson to Miguel Sano. Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging. Jeimer Candelario strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Tigers 1, Twins 0.Twins fifth. Brent Rooker singles to right field. Miguel Sano singles to right field. Jake Cave to third. Eddie Rosario grounds out to shallow infield. Miguel Sano out at second. Jake Cave scores. Byron Buxton strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Tigers 1, Twins 1.Tigers seventh. Jonathan Schoop walks. Miguel Cabrera singles to left field. Jonathan Schoop to third. Jeimer Candelario singles to deep right field. Miguel Cabrera to second. Jonathan Schoop scores. Willi Castro singles to left field. Jeimer Candelario to second. Miguel Cabrera to third. Jorge Bonifacio singles to center field. Willi Castro to second. Jeimer Candelario to third. Miguel Cabrera scores. Christin Stewart reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield.... [More]

Tigers first. Victor Reyes doubles to deep right center field. Jonathan Schoop singles to shallow infield. Victor Reyes to third. Miguel Cabrera reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Jonathan Schoop out at second. Jeimer Candelario walks. Miguel Cabrera to second. Willi Castro singles to shallow infield. Jeimer Candelario to second. Miguel Cabrera to third. Victor Reyes scores. Christin Stewart strikes out swinging. Jorge Bonifacio doubles to deep center field. Willi Castro to third. Jeimer Candelario scores. Miguel Cabrera scores. Austin Romine grounds out to shallow infield, Adrian Houser to Justin Smoak.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Tigers 3, Brewers 0.Tigers third. Miguel Cabrera flies out to Ben Gamel. Jeimer Candelario singles to left field. Willi Castro singles to left center field. Jeimer Candelario to third. Christin Stewart singles to left field. Willi Castro to second. Jeimer Candelario scores. Jorge Bonifacio reaches on a fielder's choice to first base. Christin... [More]

Tigers third. Christin Stewart homers to right field. Grayson Greiner flies out to left field to Jace Peterson. Willi Castro doubles. Victor Reyes singles to right field. Willi Castro to third. Jonathan Schoop hit by pitch. Victor Reyes to second. Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging. Jeimer Candelario walks. Jonathan Schoop to second. Victor Reyes to third. Willi Castro scores. Niko Goodrum flies out to deep left field to Jace Peterson.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Tigers 2, Brewers 0.Tigers fourth. JaCoby Jones walks. Christin Stewart pops out to shortstop to Orlando Arcia. Grayson Greiner called out on strikes. Willi Castro triples to deep right field. JaCoby Jones scores. Victor Reyes singles to right field. Willi Castro scores. Jonathan Schoop singles to right center field. Victor Reyes to third. Miguel Cabrera reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Jonathan Schoop out at second.2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 3 left on. Tigers 4, Brewers 0.Tigers sixth. Christin Stewart singles... [More]

Tigers second. Jeimer Candelario singles to shortstop. Niko Goodrum singles to right field. Jeimer Candelario to second. JaCoby Jones grounds out to shortstop. Niko Goodrum out at second. Jeimer Candelario to third. Christin Stewart doubles to deep left field. Jeimer Candelario scores. Austin Romine strikes out swinging.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 1, Twins 0.Twins third. Max Kepler reaches on error to right field, advances to 2nd. Fielding error by Jeimer Candelario. Alex Avila strikes out swinging. Jorge Polanco out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Victor Reyes. Max Kepler scores. Miguel Sano strikes out swinging.1 run, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 left on. Twins 1, Tigers 1.Tigers third. Willi Castro singles to second base. Victor Reyes singles to center field. Willi Castro to third. Jonathan Schoop singles to shallow right field. Victor Reyes to second. Willi Castro scores. Miguel Cabrera grounds out to third base. Jonathan Schoop out at second. Victor Reyes to third. Jeimer... [More]

Cubs third. Nico Hoerner walks. Albert Almora Jr. flies out to center field to Victor Reyes. Ian Happ singles to left field. Nico Hoerner to third. Anthony Rizzo singles to shallow right field. Ian Happ to third. Nico Hoerner scores. Javier Baez out on a sacrifice fly to left center field to Jorge Bonifacio. Ian Happ scores. Kyle Schwarber lines out to left field to Jorge Bonifacio.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 2, Tigers 0.Tigers fourth. Jorge Bonifacio singles to left field. Cameron Maybin doubles to deep right field. Jorge Bonifacio to third. Austin Romine singles to right center field. Cameron Maybin to third. Jorge Bonifacio scores. Isaac Paredes reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Austin Romine to second. Cameron Maybin out at home. Victor Reyes reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Isaac Paredes out at second. Austin Romine to third. Jonathan Schoop lines out to center field to Albert Almora Jr..1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Cubs 2, Tigers 1.Cubs... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kiké Hernández hit a three-run drive and Mookie Betts went deep twice in the Dodgers’ seven-homer attack, powering Los Angeles past the Colorado Rockies 11-3 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.The Dodgers are the only team in the majors yet to lose a series, unbeaten in 11. They have won 11 of 12 games overall and own the best record in baseball at 22-8 at the halfway point of this abbreviated season.Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Will Smith and Max Muncy also homered for Los Angeles. Victor Gonzalez (1-0) earned his first major league victory.Trevor Story, Ryan McMahon and Sam Hilliard went deep for Colorado in its season-high seventh consecutive loss. Antonio Senzatela (3-1) allowed six runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.PADRES 5, ASTROS 3SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. made two spectacular plays at shortstop, Manny Machado hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, and San Diego completed a three-game series sweep. The Padres have won seven straight, all against... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kiké Hernández hit a three-run drive and Mookie Betts went deep twice in the Dodgers’ seven-homer attack, powering Los Angeles past the Colorado Rockies 11-3 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.The Dodgers are the only team in the majors yet to lose a series, unbeaten in 11. They have won 11 of 12 games overall and own the best record in baseball at 22-8 at the halfway point of this abbreviated season.Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Will Smith and Max Muncy also homered for Los Angeles. Victor Gonzalez (1-0) earned his first major league victory.Trevor Story, Ryan McMahon and Sam Hilliard went deep for Colorado in its season-high seventh consecutive loss. Antonio Senzatela (3-1) allowed six runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.PADRES 5, ASTROS 3SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. made two spectacular plays at shortstop, Manny Machado hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, and San Diego completed a three-game series sweep. The Padres have won seven straight, all against... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Yu Darvish struck out 10 in his career-high fifth consecutive victory, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1 on Sunday to stop the South Siders’ seven-game win streak.Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning as the Cubs won for just the fourth time in their last 11 games. The NL Central leaders were outscored 17-5 in the first two games of the series.José Abreu went deep for the White Sox in the second, matching a major league record with a home run in four consecutive at-bats. Abreu connected five times in the first two games against the Cubs, including three homers and four RBIs in Saturday night’s 7-4 win.Darvish (5-1) allowed one run and six hits in seven innings. Jeremy Jeffress got four outs for his third save.White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease (4-2) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings in his first game against his former team. He had won his last four starts.CARDINALS 6, REDS 2ST. LOUIS (AP) — Yadier Molina had four hits and top... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American 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:___Minnesota TwinsManager: Rocco Baldelli (second season). 2019: 101-61, first place, lost to Yankees in Division Series.Training Town: Fort Myers, Florida.Park: Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex. First Workout: Feb. 12/17.He's Here: 3B Josh Donaldson, RHP Kenta Maeda, RHP Homer Bailey, RHP Tyler Clippard, C Alex Avila, LHP Rich Hill, RHP Matt Wisler, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, LHP Blaine Hardy.He's Outta Here: RHP Brusdar Graterol, RHP Kyle Gibson, 1B C.J. Cron, 2B Jonathan Schoop, C Jason Castro, LHP Martín Pérez, RHP Ryne Harper, RHP Trevor Hildenberger, RHP Sam Dyson.Going campin': The high-priced addition of the big-swinging, slick-fielding Donaldson boosted an already deep lineup that produced a major league record 307 home runs last season. Then came the agreement this week... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Danny Farquhar took the mound in a game again. That was more than enough on Saturday.Farquhar's spring training appearance for the New York Yankees was his first game since the 32-year-old reliever collapsed in the Chicago White Sox dugout on April 20 because of a ruptured aneurysm and brain hemorrhage. The right-hander got one out and was charged with five runs in an 8-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates."I felt great out there," Farquhar said. "I was happy to be back on the mound. Obviously, the results weren't great but I call it a good day. I felt like a baseball player, again."Farquhar allowed three hits and walked two while throwing 19 pitches in the fourth inning. He is in camp with the Yankees on a minor league deal."The fact that he's on the mound and gotten to this point is pretty awesome," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "I found myself a little more emotional than I even thought. Even though it didn't go great, I think he really appreciated how special... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals lost 104 games in 2018 despite finishing the season 20-14. They hope they can begin this season like they ended the last one, and not the way they've started in recent years."These guys made a lot of progress from the middle of August all through September," Royals manager Ned Yost said Monday before the club's first full-squad workout. "They played really, really good and exciting baseball."Does that mean we're automatically going to come in here and pick up where we left off? No. We're going to have to pick up where we left off. We're going to have to work hard to continue that type of improvement. I'm real excited about it."The Royals entered May last year with a 7-21 record. In 2017, they went 7-16 in April. Each year, they endured a nine-game losing streak in the season's first month."We started to put it all together in August," said second baseman Whit Merrifield, who led the AL in hits and stolen bases. "Once we started winning games,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — One unidentified major league player tested positive for a banned stimulant in the year ending with the World Series.Under the joint drug agreement between Major League Baseball and the players' association, an initial positive test for a banned stimulant results in six additional urine tests over the next year rather than a suspension, and the identity is not announced. The positive test for an amphetamine was listed in the annual report issued Friday by the drug program's Independent Public Administrator.In the year ending with the 2017 World Series, there were two positive tests for banned stimulants that did not result in a suspension, one each for Adderall and D-Amphetamine.Players not on 40-man rosters are not covered by the union and are subject to the minor league drug program, which mandates is most cases a 50-game suspension for an initial stimulant violation.Major League Baseball conducted a record 11,526 drug tests, a 39 percent increase from two years ago, that... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals general manager Dayton Moore had seen enough progress under Ned Yost, and his manager in turn had seen enough progress in some promising young players, that there was no reason to delay what had become inevitable.So, with a simple statement issued before the Royals closed their 50th season with an unsightly 58-104 record, Yost announced he had signed an extension to return next season.The biggest question surrounding the club heading into the offseason had been answered."We're at a point in time right now where we think continuity is even more crucial than it has been in the past," Moore said. "We've seen the improvement of a lot of the players that are on the field right now. We're really pleased with the coaching staff. Most importantly, Ned's been a huge part of the success of this organization and we feel it's important to keep that together. ... I'm excited about next year."Most times, there would be little reason to feel good about a season that ended... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mookie Betts and the Boston Red Sox won their third consecutive AL East championship Thursday night, clinching on enemy turf with an 11-6 victory over the rival New York Yankees.Betts homered, doubled twice and drove in five runs, finishing with four hits as the Red Sox overcame Giancarlo Stanton's go-ahead grand slam in the fourth inning. Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a tying home run in the seventh and Xander Bogaerts put Boston ahead with a sacrifice fly.With the best record in baseball and a playoff berth already secured, Boston (104-49) closed out a once-tight division race with nine games to spare. J.D. Martinez and the Red Sox, alone in first place since July 2, will open the postseason at home on Oct. 5 against an opponent to be determined.Never before had Boston finished in first place three years in a row. The club needs one victory to match the franchise record held by the 1912 World Series champions.It took three tries, but these Red Sox finally earned their chance... [More]