CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam, Willson Contreras had two long solo homers and the Chicago Cubs kept pace in the NL wild-card race with a 17-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.Rookie Nico Hoerner hit a two-run shot for his first major league homer and had four RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago entered the day tied with Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Contreras, Hoerner and Nicholas Castellanos homered in the first with the wind blowing out as Chicago scored five times after Pittsburgh jumped on Jon Lester (13-10) for a 4-0 lead.Hoerner elevated a low pitch to the center field batter's eye in his first plate appearance at Wrigley Field. He drove in two more runs with a single in Chicago's seven-run fifth. The 22-year-old infielder made his debut with the Cubs on Monday at San Diego after the team announced All-Star shortstop Javier Báez would be out of the season with a hairline fracture in his left thumb.Alec Mills pitched the final three innings for his first... [More]

Tigers second. Ronny Rodriguez called out on strikes. Dawel Lugo singles to center field. Travis Demeritte singles to right field. Dawel Lugo to second. Jake Rogers strikes out swinging. Willi Castro hit by pitch. Travis Demeritte to second. Dawel Lugo to third. Harold Castro singles to left field. Willi Castro to second. Travis Demeritte scores. Dawel Lugo scores. Brandon Dixon strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Tigers 2, Athletics 0.Athletics second. Seth Brown lines out to center field to Harold Castro. Ramon Laureano grounds out to third base, Dawel Lugo to Brandon Dixon. Jurickson Profar homers to right field. Sean Murphy lines out to center field to Harold Castro.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Tigers 2, Athletics 1.Athletics fourth. Matt Olson singles to right field. Mark Canha hit by pitch. Matt Olson to second. Seth Brown walks. Mark Canha to second. Matt Olson to third. Ramon Laureano singles to left field. Seth Brown to second. Mark Canha to third. Matt... [More]

Indians second. Jason Kipnis homers to center field. Franmil Reyes strikes out swinging. Tyler Naquin singles to shallow infield. Roberto Perez strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Indians 1, Tigers 0.Tigers fifth. Dawel Lugo homers to center field. Brandon Dixon grounds out to third base, Yu Chang to Carlos Santana. Travis Demeritte flies out to right center field to Greg Allen. Jordy Mercer called out on strikes.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Indians 1, Tigers 1.Indians sixth. Francisco Lindor doubles to deep right center field. Greg Allen out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Jordan Zimmermann to Jordy Mercer. Francisco Lindor to third. Carlos Santana singles to deep left field. Francisco Lindor scores. Yasiel Puig reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Carlos Santana out at second. Jason Kipnis reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Yasiel Puig out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Indians 2, Tigers 1.Tigers sixth. John Hicks singles... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:MAKE DOJosé Ramírez's regular season is over. The postseason remains in play — if the Indians can make it without him.Cleveland's hard-hitting third baseman is expected to need five to seven weeks to recover after underdoing hand surgery. Ramírez, whose hot bat the past two months helped get the Indians back into playoff contention, fractured the hamate bone in his right hand while taking a hard swing Saturday.The team estimates he could be back as early as Oct. 1, when the AL playoffs open. Rookie Yu Chang and Mike Freeman will fill the spot in his absence.REMEMBER US?Yankees lefty James Paxton faces his old team when he starts at Seattle against Mariners youngster Justus Sheffield. Paxton was dealt from the Mariners to New York last November and Sheffield was the centerpiece of the trade package in return.Paxton (10-6, 4.43 ERA) won his fifth consecutive start last Friday against the Dodgers, allowing two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:MAKE DOJosé Ramírez's regular season is over. The postseason remains in play — if the Indians can make it without him.Cleveland's hard-hitting third baseman is expected to need five to seven weeks to recover after underdoing hand surgery. Ramírez, whose hot bat the past two months helped get the Indians back into playoff contention, fractured the hamate bone in his right hand while taking a hard swing Saturday.The team estimates he could be back as early as Oct. 1, when the AL playoffs open. Rookie Yu Chang and Mike Freeman will fill the spot in his absence.REMEMBER US?Yankees lefty James Paxton faces his old team when he starts at Seattle against Mariners youngster Justus Sheffield. Paxton was dealt from the Mariners to New York last November and Sheffield was the centerpiece of the trade package in return.Paxton (10-6, 4.43 ERA) won his fifth consecutive start last Friday against the Dodgers, allowing two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:WELCOME BACK, MAD MAXNationals ace Max Scherzer comes off the injured list to start at last-place Pittsburgh. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 9-5 with a 2.41 ERA in 20 starts but has pitched only once over the past six weeks because of a strained muscle in his back. His 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings lead the NL. Washington holds the league's top wild-card spot.FENWAY FREEBIEThe Boston Red Sox are offering free admission to fans under the age of 18 for the 1:05 p.m. EDT conclusion of a game against Kansas City that was suspended on Aug. 7 because of rain. An admission fee of $5 for adults will be donated to the Jimmy Fund. Play will resume in the top of the 10th inning with the score tied 4-all and Josh Taylor working with a 2-1 count on Royals catcher Meibrys Viloria.HEALTH WATCHThree-time All-Star Gerrit Cole (14-5, 2.87 ERA) makes his first start in 15 days for AL West-leading Houston after being scratched last week due to... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:WELCOME BACK, MAD MAXNationals ace Max Scherzer comes off the injured list to start at last-place Pittsburgh. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 9-5 with a 2.41 ERA in 20 starts but has pitched only once over the past six weeks because of a strained muscle in his back. His 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings lead the National League. Washington currently holds a wild-card spot.FENWAY FREEBIEThe Boston Red Sox are offering free admission to fans under the age of 18 for the 1:05 p.m. EDT conclusion of a game against Kansas City that was suspended on Aug. 7 because of rain. An admission fee of $5 for adults will be donated to the Jimmy Fund. Play will resume in the top of the 10th inning with the score tied 4-all and Josh Taylor working with a 2-1 count on Royals catcher Meibrys Viloria.HEALTH WATCHThree-time All-Star Gerrit Cole (14-5, 2.87 ERA) makes his first start in 15 days for AL West-leading Houston after being scratched last week... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Mike Leake of the Seattle Mariners lost his bid to pitch a perfect game on a leadoff single in the ninth inning by rookie Luis Rengifo, then finished off the Los Angeles Angels for a 10-0 win Friday night.A week after the worst start of his career, Leake almost achieved baseball immortality.The Angels hadn't come close to a hit and Leake hadn't gone to a three-ball count before Rengifo grounded a clean hit to right field on Leake's 79th pitch.The fans gave Leake a standing ovation and he quickly waved to acknowledge their cheers.After a walk, Leake (8-8) retired the next three batters for a one-hitter, striking out Mike Trout on a full-count pitch to end it. Leake fanned six overall and walked one.Leake's second career shutout came exactly a week after he was tagged by the Angels in his previous start, giving up seven runs on eight hits and a walk while getting just two outs. The Angels pitched a combined no-hitter that night in Anaheim while the entire club wore jerseys... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Josh Donaldson's bases-loaded single off Fernando Rodney in the ninth inning lifted the Atlanta Braves over the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Friday night after Luke Jackson allowed a tying, two-run homer to Victor Robles in the top half.Ronald Acuña Jr., who had three hits, led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk off Rodney (0-3) and took second on Dansby Swanson's single. Freddie Freeman walked on four pitches, loading the bases.Nationals manager Dave Martinez brought in left fielder Juan Soto as a fifth infielder, including three on the left side against the right-handed hitting Donaldson.Donaldson hit a 2-0 pitch over Robles to center-field warning track, and the Braves boosted their NL East lead to 6½ games over the second-place Nationals. Atlanta had lost its previous five home games against Washington.YANKEES 8, ROCKIES 2NEW YORK (AP) — Edwin Encarnación hit a go-ahead grand slam, a trio of ex-Rockies beat up on their former team and New York defeated Colorado.Encarnación... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:PINSTRIPE AUDITION?All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman (5-9, 3.18 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto at Yankee Stadium. Last month, the Long Island native strongly hinted that he wouldn't mind a trade to the Yankees.Stroman has been sidelined with a left pectoral cramp since June 29, but threw a bullpen session Friday and was cleared to return to the rotation against the AL East leaders.TRADE TIMEThe Boston Red Sox made the first significant trade since the All-Star break, getting pitcher Andrew Cashner from Baltimore. The 32-year-old righty was 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors.The Red Sox got Cashner and nearly $1.78 million in cash to help with his salary for a pair of 17-year-old prospects.This year's trade deadline is July 31 — no more swaps can be made after that to have a player eligible for the postseason.ALL-STAR ACTIONAL All-Star teammates Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios pitch against each... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:PINSTRIPE AUDITION?All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman (5-9, 3.18 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto at Yankee Stadium. Last month, the Long Island native strongly hinted that he wouldn't mind a trade to the Yankees.Stroman has been sidelined with a left pectoral cramp since June 29, but threw a bullpen session Friday and was cleared to return to the rotation against the AL East leaders.TRADE TIMEThe Boston Red Sox made the first significant trade since the All-Star break, getting pitcher Andrew Cashner from Baltimore. The 32-year-old righty was 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors.The Red Sox got Cashner and nearly $1.78 million in cash to help with his salary for a pair of 17-year-old prospects.This year's trade deadline is July 31 — no more swaps can be made after that to have a player eligible for the postseason.ALL-STAR ACTIONAL All-Star teammates Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios pitch against each... [More]

LONDON (AP) — Gary Sánchez hit a go-ahead, two-run single during a nine-run seventh inning, and the New York Yankees overcame a four-run deficit to beat the Boston Red Sox 12-8 Sunday for a two-game sweep of the groundbreaking, high-scoring trip across the pond.DJ LeMahieu doubled off Marcus Walden (6-1) leading off the seventh and hit a two-run double against Josh Taylor later in the inning as the Yankees opened an 11-4 lead, sending 14 batters to the plate in their highest-scoring inning in four years.Didi Gregorius went deep against Ryan Brasier in the eighth, extending New York's record streak of games with home runs to 31. Combined with the Yankees' 17-13 win Saturday, the teams scored 50 runs on the weekend, four more than their previous scoring mark in consecutive games against each other.Adam Ottavino (3-2), the second of six New York relievers, got the win.Before a sellout crowd of 59,059 at Olympic Stadium, Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez and Christian Vázquez became the first... [More]

LONDON (AP) — Gary Sánchez hit a go-ahead, two-run single during a nine-run seventh inning, and the New York Yankees overcame a four-run deficit to beat the Boston Red Sox 12-8 Sunday for a two-game sweep of the groundbreaking, high-scoring trip across the pond.DJ LeMahieu doubled off Marcus Walden (6-1) leading off the seventh and hit a two-run double against Josh Taylor later in the inning as the Yankees opened an 11-4 lead, sending 14 batters to the plate in their highest-scoring inning in four years.Didi Gregorius went deep against Ryan Brasier in the eighth, extending New York's record streak of games with home runs to 31. Combined with the Yankees' 17-13 win Saturday, the teams scored 50 runs on the weekend, four more than their previous scoring mark in consecutive games against each other.Adam Ottavino (3-2), the second of six New York relievers, got the win.Before a sellout crowd of 59,059 at Olympic Stadium, Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez and Christian Vázquez became the first... [More]

LONDON (AP) — Gary Sánchez hit a go-ahead, two-run single during a nine-run seventh inning, and the New York Yankees overcame a four-run deficit to beat the Boston Red Sox 12-8 Sunday for a two-game sweep of the groundbreaking, high-scoring trip across the pond.DJ LeMahieu doubled off Marcus Walden (6-1) leading off the seventh and hit a two-run double against Josh Taylor later in the inning as the Yankees opened an 11-4 lead, sending 14 batters to the plate in their highest-scoring inning in four years.Didi Gregorius went deep against Ryan Brasier in the eighth, extending New York's record streak of games with home runs to 31. Combined with the Yankees' 17-13 win Saturday, the teams scored 50 runs on the weekend, four more than their previous scoring mark in consecutive games against each other.Adam Ottavino (3-2), the second of six New York relievers, got the win.Before a sellout crowd of 59,059 at Olympic Stadium, Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez and Christian Vázquez became the first... [More]

LONDON (AP) — Gary Sánchez hit a go-ahead, two-run single during a nine-run seventh inning, and the New York Yankees overcame a four-run deficit to beat the Boston Red Sox 12-8 Sunday for a two-game sweep of the groundbreaking, high-scoring trip across the pond.DJ LeMahieu doubled off Marcus Walden (6-1) leading off the seventh and hit a two-run double against Josh Taylor later in the inning as the Yankees opened an 11-4 lead, sending 14 batters to the plate in their highest-scoring inning in four years.Didi Gregorius went deep against Ryan Brasier in the eighth, extending New York's record streak of games with home runs to 31. Combined with the Yankees' 17-13 win Saturday, the teams scored 50 runs on the weekend, four more than their previous scoring mark in consecutive games against each other.Adam Ottavino (3-2), the second of six New York relievers, got the win.Before a sellout crowd of 59,059 at Olympic Stadium, Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez and Christian Vázquez became the first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back homers to begin the bottom of the first inning, giving the Yankees a major league-record 28 straight games with a long ball, and New York held off the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Tuesday night.Gleyber Torres and Edwin Encarnación each poked a solo shot over the short right field porch for the Yankees, who shook off another injury to Giancarlo Stanton and won for the 10th time in 11 games. The AL East leaders are 8-1 on a 10-game homestand that wraps up Wednesday.Aroldis Chapman allowed a run in the ninth before retiring Freddy Galvis on an easy grounder with two aboard for his 23rd save in 25 tries.Stanton exited in the fourth with a bruised right knee and was scheduled for an MRI. He got tangled up with Toronto pitcher Clayton Richard (0-4) in the first while getting thrown out on a headfirst slide into third base.Yankees rookie Nestor Cortes Jr. (3-0) pitched 4 1/3 solid innings in relief of opener Chad Green.RED SOX 6, WHITE SOX... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back homers to begin the bottom of the first inning, giving the Yankees a major league-record 28 straight games with a long ball, and New York held off the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Tuesday night.Gleyber Torres and Edwin Encarnación each poked a solo shot over the short right field porch for the Yankees, who shook off another injury to Giancarlo Stanton and won for the 10th time in 11 games. The AL East leaders are 8-1 on a 10-game homestand that wraps up Wednesday.Aroldis Chapman allowed a run in the ninth before retiring Freddy Galvis on an easy grounder with two aboard for his 23rd save in 25 tries.Stanton exited in the fourth with a bruised right knee and was scheduled for an MRI. He got tangled up with Toronto pitcher Clayton Richard (0-4) in the first while getting thrown out on a headfirst slide into third base.Yankees rookie Nestor Cortes Jr. (3-0) pitched 4 1/3 solid innings in relief of opener Chad Green.RED SOX 6, WHITE SOX... [More]

May 191910 — Cy Young won the 500th game of his career as the Cleveland Indians beat the Washington Senators, 5-4, in 11 innings.1910 — Boston beat the Pirates 6-3 for the first time in 26 tries.1942 — Paul Waner of the Boston Braves got his 3,000th career hit off Pittsburgh's Rip Sewell in a 7-6, 11-inning loss to the Pirates.1956 — Pittsburgh's Dale Long hit a ninth-inning homer against the Chicago Cubs. It was Long's first of eight straight games with a homer.1962 — Stan Musial of St. Louis became the NL career hits leader. The 41-year-old got a ninth-inning single for his 3,431st hit and moved past Honus Wagner. The Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-1.1968 — After hitting 10 home runs in six games, Frank Howard of the Washington Senators was stopped by pitcher Earl Wilson of Detroit, which won the game 5-4.1981 — Pittsburgh's Jim Bibby gave up a leadoff single to Terry Harper of the Atlanta Braves, then retired the next 27 batters for a 5-0 one-hitter. Bibby also hit two doubles.2000... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Shohei Ohtani looked so eager to make an impact in his highly anticipated season debut that he swung so hard his helmet flew off his head more than once.He finished 0 for 4 with an RBI groundout and walked once as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 Tuesday night."I was happy to get this out of the way," Ohtani said through a translator.The Angels activated the AL Rookie of the Year from the injured list and it appeared simulated games didn't quite prepare him for the moment. Ohtani took a called third strike in his first at-bat, grounded out to help Los Angeles take a 3-0 lead in the third, struck out on a breaking pitch, lined out to third and drew a base on balls."Baseball is certainly not the type of sports that you focus on one night," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. "We're looking at using him as a DH for the vast majority of the next 4½ months. I'm not overly concerned about the immediate results, but just the long-term results."The 24-year-old two-way... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Shohei Ohtani looked so eager to make an impact in his highly anticipated season debut that he swung so hard his helmet flew off his head more than once.He finished 0 for 4 with an RBI groundout and walked once as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 Tuesday night."I was happy to get this out of the way," Ohtani said through a translator.The Angels activated the AL Rookie of the Year from the injured list and it appeared simulated games didn't quite prepare him for the moment. Ohtani took a called third strike in his first at-bat, grounded out to help Los Angeles take a 3-0 lead in the third, struck out on a breaking pitch, lined out to third and drew a base on balls."Baseball is certainly not the type of sports that you focus on one night," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. "We're looking at using him as a DH for the vast majority of the next 4½ months. I'm not overly concerned about the immediate results, but just the long-term results."The 24-year-old two-way... [More]