Nationals first. Trea Turner doubles to deep left field. Adam Eaton singles to shallow infield. Trea Turner scores. Fielding error by Josh Bell. Anthony Rendon doubles to deep left field. Adam Eaton to third. Juan Soto called out on strikes. Howie Kendrick grounds out to third base, Colin Moran to Josh Bell. Adam Eaton scores. Kurt Suzuki lines out to left center field to Starling Marte.2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Nationals 2, Pirates 0.Pirates third. Steven Brault strikes out swinging. Adam Frazier homers to right field. Bryan Reynolds flies out to deep right field to Adam Eaton. Starling Marte singles to third base. Josh Bell walks. Colin Moran strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Nationals 2, Pirates 1.Nationals eighth. Anthony Rendon strikes out swinging. Juan Soto walks. Howie Kendrick homers to center field. Juan Soto scores. Kurt Suzuki flies out to center field to Starling Marte. Gerardo Parra pinch-hitting for Hunter Strickland. Gerardo Parra doubles... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:STRASBURG VS. BAUERThere's quite a pitching matchup at Nationals Park for the series finale between Washington and Cincinnati: Stephen Strasburg vs. Trevor Bauer, two righties who are among the top strikeout artists in the majors this season.For Bauer, it's his third appearance for the Reds since arriving from the Indians in a three-team trade that sent Yasiel Puig to Cleveland — and came shortly after the pitcher chucked a baseball over an outfield wall when he was removed from a game. Bauer is 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA for Cincinnati, and 10-8 with a 3.74 ERA and 200 strikeouts in 168 1/3 innings overall in 2019.Strasburg leads the NL in wins at 14-5, is fourth with 181 Ks and has a 3.72 ERA. He's also 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA in his past four starts against the Reds.REMEMBER ME?Cubs lefty Cole Hamels is set to pitch at Citizens Bank Park for the first time since the Phillies traded him to Texas in July 2015.Hamels spent 10 seasons with Philadelphia... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:STRASBURG VS. BAUERThere's quite a pitching matchup at Nationals Park for the series finale between Washington and Cincinnati: Stephen Strasburg vs. Trevor Bauer, two righties who are among the top strikeout artists in the majors this season.For Bauer, it's his third appearance for the Reds since arriving from the Indians in a three-team trade that sent Yasiel Puig to Cleveland — and came shortly after the pitcher chucked a baseball over an outfield wall when he was removed from a game. Bauer is 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA for Cincinnati, and 10-8 with a 3.74 ERA and 200 strikeouts in 168 1/3 innings overall in 2019.Strasburg leads the NL in wins at 14-5, is fourth with 181 Ks and has a 3.72 ERA. He's also 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA in his past four starts against the Reds.REMEMBER ME?Cubs lefty Cole Hamels is set to pitch at Citizens Bank Park for the first time since the Phillies traded him to Texas in July 2015.Hamels spent 10 seasons with Philadelphia... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Greg Holland and the Washington Nationals are giving it another go, the latest in a long series of moves aimed at helping the team's struggling bullpen.Holland, who was with Washington last season, and the Nationals reached an agreement in principle for him to return on a minor league contract, pending the completion of a successful physical exam, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person confirmed the move to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because nothing had been announced by the team.The 33-year-old Holland was designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks last week. He was 1-2 with a 4.54 ERA and 17 saves in 22 chances this season and lost the job as Arizona's closer after a blown save in late July.His ERA was 2.33 at the end of June but then began climbing as he allowed at least one earned run in seven of his last 13 appearances for the Diamondbacks."We took the role away from him — we thought it would take some pressure... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — It's become a familiar ritual for the Washington Nationals under general manager Mike Rizzo: adding relievers at the trade deadline to address the biggest weakness on a contending team.The Nationals were at it again on Wednesday, getting Daniel Hudson from the Toronto Blue Jays and Roenis Elías and Hunter Strickland from the Seattle Mariners in an effort to improve a bullpen that's been overworked and sometimes overmatched.Washington sent minor league right-hander Kyle Johnston to Toronto for Hudson, who can become a free agent at the end of the season. The Nationals dealt three pitching prospects to Seattle for Elías and Strickland, both of whom are under team control through 2021."These aren't the sexiest names in the trade market but I think we got good quality, reliable guys with some moxie and some experience," Rizzo said. "We got guys who have accumulated a lot of saves in the past. We got a couple controllable relievers for not only this year but the foreseeable... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — It's become a familiar ritual for the Washington Nationals under general manager Mike Rizzo: adding relievers at the trade deadline to address the biggest weakness on a contending team.The Nationals were at it again on Wednesday, getting Daniel Hudson from the Toronto Blue Jays and Roenis Elías and Hunter Strickland from the Seattle Mariners in an effort to improve a bullpen that's been overworked and sometimes overmatched.Washington sent minor league right-hander Kyle Johnston to Toronto for Hudson, who can become a free agent at the end of the season. The Nationals dealt three pitching prospects to Seattle for Elías and Strickland, both of whom are under team control through 2021."These aren't the sexiest names in the trade market but I think we got good quality, reliable guys with some moxie and some experience," Rizzo said. "We got guys who have accumulated a lot of saves in the past. We got a couple controllable relievers for not only this year but the foreseeable... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals traded for three relievers in an effort to improve their shaky bullpen, getting Daniel Hudson from the Toronto Blue Jays and Roenis Elías and Hunter Strickland from the Seattle Mariners.Washington sent minor league right-hander Kyle Johnston to Toronto ahead of Wednesday's trade deadline for Hudson, who can become a free agent at the end of the season. The Nationals dealt three pitching prospects to Seattle for Elías and Strickland.Washington's bullpen has been a weak point on a team with a strong starting rotation led by Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. The Nationals signed Trevor Rosenthal in the offseason to become a setup man for closer Sean Doolittle but ended up releasing him because of persistent control issues. Rosenthal now pitches for the Detroit Tigers, with Washington still paying his $7 million salary.Washington trails the first-place Atlanta Braves by 6½ games in the NL East and is in contention for an NL wild-card... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals have acquired right-hander Daniel Hudson from the Toronto Blue Jays in an effort to improve their shaky bullpen.Washington sent minor league right-hander Kyle Johnston to Toronto ahead of Wednesday's trade deadline for Hudson, who will become a free agent at the end of the season.The 32-year-old Hudson is 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA and two saves in 45 games for the Blue Jays. He has a 3.92 ERA in 355 games over nine major league seasons.Washington's bullpen has been a weak point on a team with a strong starting rotation led by Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. The Nationals signed Trevor Rosenthal in the offseason to become a setup man for closer Sean Doolittle but ended up releasing him because of persistent control issues. Rosenthal now pitches for the Detroit Tigers, with Washington still paying his $7 million salary.The Nationals signed 42-year-old Fernando Rodney in June, and he has been getting work in the eighth inning. Last week, manager Dave Martinez used Rodney in three games in two days against the Colorado Rockies, with Rodney blowing a save and taking the loss in his third outing.Washington trails the first-place Atlanta Braves by 6½ games in the NL East and is in contention for an NL wild-card spot.The 23-year-old Johnston is 9-9 with a 4.03 ERA in 20 starts for Class A Potomac.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer in Boston's seven-run first inning, and the Red Sox pounded the AL East-leading New York Yankees 19-3 on Thursday night in the opener of their four-game series.The 19 runs were the most scored by the Red Sox against the Yankees in the 117-year history of the rivalry.Bogaerts finished with four hits, including a solo shot in the eighth. Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. had three hits apiece.New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (7-6) allowed 12 runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings. It was the most earned runs ever allowed by a Yankees pitcher against Boston since the earned run became an official stat in 1913.Rick Porcello (9-7) pitched six innings of three-run ball for Boston.TWINS 10, WHITE SOX 3CHICAGO (AP) — Nelson Cruz hit three of Minnesota's five homers and finished with five RBIs, powering the Twins to the rout.It was the first three-homer game for the six-time All-Star, who has 385 home runs in his career. He became the 10th... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer in Boston's seven-run first inning, and the Red Sox pounded the AL East-leading New York Yankees 19-3 on Thursday night in the opener of their four-game series.The 19 runs were the most scored by the Red Sox against the Yankees in the 117-year history of the rivalry.Bogaerts finished with four hits, including a solo shot in the eighth. Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. had three hits apiece.New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (7-6) allowed 12 runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings. It was the most earned runs ever allowed by a Yankees pitcher against Boston since the earned run became an official stat in 1913.Rick Porcello (9-7) pitched six innings of three-run ball for Boston.TWINS 10, WHITE SOX 3CHICAGO (AP) — Nelson Cruz hit three of Minnesota's five homers and finished with five RBIs, powering the Twins to the rout.It was the first three-homer game for the six-time All-Star, who has 385 home runs in his career. He became the 10th... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer in Boston's seven-run first inning, and the Red Sox pounded the AL East-leading New York Yankees 19-3 on Thursday night in the opener of their four-game series.The 19 runs were the most scored by the Red Sox against the Yankees in the 117-year history of the rivalry.Bogaerts finished with four hits, including a solo shot in the eighth. Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. had three hits apiece.New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (7-6) allowed 12 runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings. It was the most earned runs ever allowed by a Yankees pitcher against Boston since the earned run became an official stat in 1913.Rick Porcello (9-7) pitched six innings of three-run ball for Boston.TWINS 10, WHITE SOX 3CHICAGO (AP) — Nelson Cruz hit three of Minnesota's five homers and finished with five RBIs, powering the Twins to the rout.It was the first three-homer game for the six-time All-Star, who has 385 home runs in his career. He became the 10th... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer in Boston's seven-run first inning, and the Red Sox pounded the AL East-leading New York Yankees 19-3 on Thursday night in the opener of their four-game series.The 19 runs were the most scored by the Red Sox against the Yankees in the 117-year history of the rivalry.Bogaerts finished with four hits, including a solo shot in the eighth. Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. had three hits apiece.New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (7-6) allowed 12 runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings. It was the most earned runs ever allowed by a Yankees pitcher against Boston since the earned run became an official stat in 1913.Rick Porcello (9-7) pitched six innings of three-run ball for Boston.CARDINALS 6, PIRATES 3PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt homered in his career-high fourth straight game, helping the Cardinals finish a four-game sweep of the Pirates.St. Louis (55-47) won for the eighth time in nine games to move into a tie with the idle Chicago... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt's power streak helped lift the St. Louis Cardinals into a share of the NL Central lead for the first time since early May.Goldschmidt homered in his career-high fourth straight game, lifting the Cardinals over Pittsburgh 6-3 on Thursday for a four-game sweep of the Pirates.St. Louis (55-47) won for the eighth time in nine games to move into a tie with the idle Chicago Cubs atop the division. St. Louis last held the lead before play on May 7.Goldschmidt drove in nine runs and had four of the Cardinals' 12 home runs during the sweep.Kolten Wong and Dexter Fowler also connected for St. Louis. Miles Mikolas (7-10) allowed three runs in six innings.Pittsburgh has dropped 11 of 13. Pirates right-hander Joe Musgrove (7-9) was charged with five earned runs in five innings.ROCKIES 8, NATIONALS 7WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington ace Max Scherzer lasted five innings in his return from the injured list, and the Rockies beat the Nationals in a battle of worn-out bullpens.Ian... [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]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lance Lynn matched the major league lead with his 11th win and the Texas Rangers avoided a series sweep with a 9-3 victory over the grieving Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night, the Fourth of July game that the late Tyler Skaggs had been scheduled to start.The Angels won the first two games of the series after the 27-year-old Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in Texas on Monday, and that night's scheduled game was postponed until August.Mike Trout hit another impressive homer for Los Angeles in the first inning, his AL best-tying 25th. But Lynn (11-4) limited Los Angeles to only one more run over his seven innings and Rougned Odor homered twice to drive in five runs for the Rangers, who snapped a four-game losing streak.An emotional trip for the Angels that began with them traveling to Texas in cowboy hats and Western attire — a theme initiated by Skaggs — now takes them to Houston for three games this weekend against the Astros before the All-Star break.... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lance Lynn matched the major league lead with his 11th win and the Texas Rangers avoided a series sweep with a 9-3 victory over the grieving Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night, the Fourth of July game that the late Tyler Skaggs had been scheduled to start.The Angels won the first two games of the series after the 27-year-old Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in Texas on Monday, and that night's scheduled game was postponed until August.Mike Trout hit another impressive homer for Los Angeles in the first inning, his AL best-tying 25th. But Lynn (11-4) limited Los Angeles to only one more run over his seven innings and Rougned Odor homered twice to drive in five runs for the Rangers, who snapped a four-game losing streak.An emotional trip for the Angels that began with them traveling to Texas in cowboy hats and Western attire — a theme initiated by Skaggs — now takes them to Houston for three games this weekend against the Astros before the All-Star break.... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer and knocked in the go-ahead run to help the Washington Nationals finish a three-game sweep of the last-place Miami Marlins with a 5-2 victory Thursday.Washington has won eight of nine and 13 of 16 to climb to a season-best four games over .500.Kurt Suzuki homered in the second inning to extend the Montreal Expos/Nationals franchise record for consecutive games with a home run to 18. Rendon hit a solo shot in the fourth off Elieser Hernández (1-3) and drove in Gerardo Parra with a single in the fifth.Washington right-hander Aníbal Sánchez (5-6) allowed one earned run and five hits in six innings. Fernando Rodney got three outs for his second save of the season.Miguel Rojas homered for Miami, and Starlin Castro had three hits.YANKEES 8, RAYS 4, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — DJ LeMahieu hit a tiebreaking two-run single and Gary Sanchez had a long three-run homer in the 10th inning, and AL East-leading New York overcome a ninth-inning... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer and knocked in the go-ahead run to help the Washington Nationals finish a three-game sweep of the last-place Miami Marlins with a 5-2 victory Thursday.Washington has won eight of nine and 13 of 16 to climb to a season-best four games over .500.Kurt Suzuki homered in the second inning to extend the Montreal Expos/Nationals franchise record for consecutive games with a home run to 18. Rendon hit a solo shot in the fourth off Elieser Hernández (1-3) and drove in Gerardo Parra with a single in the fifth.Washington right-hander Aníbal Sánchez (5-6) allowed one earned run and five hits in six innings. Fernando Rodney got three outs for his second save of the season.Miguel Rojas homered for Miami, and Starlin Castro had three hits.YANKEES 8, RAYS 4, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — DJ LeMahieu hit a tiebreaking two-run single and Gary Sanchez had a long three-run homer in the 10th inning, and AL East-leading New York overcome a ninth-inning... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer and knocked in the go-ahead run to help the Washington Nationals finish a three-game sweep of the last-place Miami Marlins with a 5-2 victory Thursday.Washington has won eight of nine and 13 of 16 to climb to a season-best four games over .500.Kurt Suzuki homered in the second inning to extend the Montreal Expos/Nationals franchise record for consecutive games with a home run to 18. Rendon hit a solo shot in the fourth off Elieser Hernández (1-3) and drove in Gerardo Parra with a single in the fifth.Washington right-hander Aníbal Sánchez (5-6) allowed one earned run and five hits in six innings. Fernando Rodney got three outs for his second save of the season.Miguel Rojas homered for Miami, and Starlin Castro had three hits.REDS 1, BREWERS 0CINCINNATI (AP) — Luis Castillo struck out nine while pitching one-hit ball into the eighth inning, leading the Reds to the victory.Cincinnati won for the fourth time in five games. Jesse Winker went... [More]