Royals first. Whit Merrifield hit by pitch. Jorge Soler strikes out swinging. Salvador Perez doubles to shallow left field. Whit Merrifield to third. Ryan O'Hearn singles to center field. Salvador Perez to third. Whit Merrifield scores. Adalberto Mondesi reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Ryan O'Hearn to second. Salvador Perez out at home. Alex Gordon walks. Adalberto Mondesi to second. Ryan O'Hearn to third. Maikel Franco reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Alex Gordon out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 4 left on. Royals 1, Twins 0.Royals third. Jorge Soler homers to left field. Salvador Perez pops out to shallow center field to Luis Arraez. Ryan O'Hearn walks. Adalberto Mondesi lines out to deep center field to Byron Buxton. Alex Gordon strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Royals 2, Twins 0.Twins fourth. Nelson Cruz homers to center field. Miguel Sano flies out to left center field to Brett Phillips. Eddie Rosario flies out to deep center field... [More]

Twins third. Byron Buxton homers to center field. Max Kepler grounds out to first base, Nicky Lopez to Ryan McBroom. Jorge Polanco singles to first base. Miguel Sano flies out to deep left center field to Alex Gordon. Eddie Rosario flies out to shallow left field to Alex Gordon.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Twins 1, Royals 0.Royals third. Maikel Franco doubles to deep left field. Nicky Lopez out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Devin Smeltzer to Miguel Sano. Maikel Franco to third. Nick Heath singles to left field. Maikel Franco scores. Whit Merrifield strikes out swinging. Jorge Soler pops out to shortstop to Jorge Polanco.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Twins 1, Royals 1.Twins fourth. Jake Cave grounds out to shallow right field, Nicky Lopez to Ryan McBroom. Marwin Gonzalez homers to center field. Mitch Garver grounds out to shallow infield, Maikel Franco to Ryan McBroom. Ehire Adrianza strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Twins 2, Royals 1.Royals fifth.... [More]

Royals first. Whit Merrifield called out on strikes. Jorge Soler singles to center field. Salvador Perez singles to right center field. Jorge Soler to third. Ryan O'Hearn singles to second base. Salvador Perez to second. Jorge Soler scores. Adalberto Mondesi strikes out swinging. Alex Gordon flies out to shallow center field to Javier Baez.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Royals 1, Cubs 0.Royals second. Maikel Franco doubles to deep left center field. Nicky Lopez called out on strikes. Nick Heath called out on strikes. Whit Merrifield homers. Maikel Franco scores. Jorge Soler singles to shallow infield. Salvador Perez grounds out to shallow infield, Nico Hoerner to Anthony Rizzo.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Royals 3, Cubs 0.Royals third. Ryan O'Hearn flies out to deep center field to Ian Happ. Adalberto Mondesi doubles to shallow center field. Alex Gordon doubles to deep center field. Adalberto Mondesi scores. Maikel Franco homers to left field. Alex Gordon scores. Nicky Lopez... [More]

Royals second. Salvador Perez doubles to left field. Ryan McBroom singles to shortstop. Salvador Perez to third. Adalberto Mondesi singles to shallow left field. Ryan McBroom to second. Salvador Perez scores. Alex Gordon flies out to deep left field to Steven Souza Jr.. Maikel Franco grounds out to first base to Anthony Rizzo. Adalberto Mondesi to second. Ryan McBroom to third. Bubba Starling pops out to shortstop to Javier Baez.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Royals 1, Cubs 0.Cubs second. Willson Contreras singles to shallow left field. Jason Heyward homers to right field. Willson Contreras scores. Steven Souza Jr. called out on strikes. Jason Kipnis walks. Ian Happ walks. Jason Kipnis to second. Kris Bryant grounds out to third base. Jason Kipnis out at third.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 2, Royals 1.Cubs fourth. Willson Contreras grounds out to second base, Whit Merrifield to Ryan O'Hearn. Jason Heyward singles to right field. Steven Souza Jr. pops out to shallow infield... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge homered twice and drove in five runs, connecting for the fifth straight game and breaking an eighth-inning tie with a tape-measure shot that powered the New York Yankees past the Boston Red Sox 9-7 on Sunday night for their sixth consecutive victory. Luke Voit also went deep in a back-and forth slugfest to help the Yankees (7-1) finish a three-game sweep in the first series this season between the longtime rivals. New York has won six in a row and 11 of 12 against Boston since last July.DJ LeMahieu tied it 7 in the eighth with a two-out RBI single off Matt Barnes (0-1) past diving second baseman José Peraza. The clutch hit came after Mike Tauchman, who entered on defense in the seventh, walked and stole second.Judge then launched a no-doubt drive that landed several rows up in the raised bleachers beyond the left-center bullpen for his sixth home run already this year. The big slugger socked a three-run shot in the second, making him the first Yankees player... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Wright and the Atlanta bullpen combined on a 10-hit shutout and the Braves won their fifth in a row, beating the Mets 4-0 Sunday and blanking a New York lineup that found out late that slugger Yoenis Céspedes had opted out of playing any more this season.The Mets released a statement from general manager Brodie Van Wagenen in the early innings that Céspedes wasn’t at the ballpark and the team hadn’t been able to contact him.After the game, Van Wagenen said: “He’s decided to opt out of the remainder of the season for COVID-related reasons.”A two-time All-Star, the 34-year-old Céspedes returned to the lineup this season for the first time since July 20, 2018, after a series of injuries.The Braves sent New York to its fifth straight loss.Wright worked around five hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. Relievers Tyler Matzek (1-0), A.J. Minter, Shane Greene and Mark Melancon combined for 5 2/3 scoreless innings.New York's David Peterson (1-1) went six innings, striking out... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Wright and the Atlanta bullpen combined on a 10-hit shutout and the Braves won their fifth in a row, beating the Mets 4-0 Sunday and blanking a New York lineup that found out late that slugger Yoenis Céspedes had opted out of playing any more this season.The Mets released a statement from general manager Brodie Van Wagenen in the early innings that Céspedes wasn’t at the ballpark and the team hadn’t been able to contact him.After the game, Van Wagenen said: “He’s decided to opt out of the remainder of the season for COVID-related reasons.”A two-time All-Star, the 34-year-old Céspedes returned to the lineup this season for the first time since July 20, 2018, after a series of injuries.The Braves sent New York to its fifth straight loss.Wright worked around five hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. Relievers Tyler Matzek (1-0), A.J. Minter, Shane Greene and Mark Melancon combined for 5 2/3 scoreless innings.New York's David Peterson (1-1) went six innings, striking out... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Wright and the Atlanta bullpen combined on a 10-hit shutout and the Braves won their fifth in a row, beating the Mets 4-0 Sunday and blanking a New York lineup that found out late that slugger Yoenis Céspedes had opted out of playing any more this season.The Mets released a statement from general manager Brodie Van Wagenen in the early innings that Céspedes wasn’t at the ballpark and the team hadn’t been able to contact him.After the game, Van Wagenen said: “He’s decided to opt out of the remainder of the season for COVID-related reasons.”A two-time All-Star, the 34-year-old Céspedes returned to the lineup this season for the first time since July 20, 2018, after a series of injuries.The Braves sent New York to its fifth straight loss.Wright worked around five hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. Relievers Tyler Matzek (1-0), A.J. Minter, Shane Greene and Mark Melancon combined for 5 2/3 scoreless innings.New York's David Peterson (1-1) went six innings, striking out... [More]

Royals second. Franchy Cordero grounds out to second base, Nick Madrigal to Jose Abreu. Maikel Franco called out on strikes. Alex Gordon homers to center field. Adalberto Mondesi grounds out to first base to Jose Abreu.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Royals 1, White sox 0.White sox fourth. Jose Abreu doubles to deep left center field. Yasmani Grandal singles to right center field. Jose Abreu scores. Edwin Encarnacion singles to shallow center field. Yasmani Grandal to second. Eloy Jimenez reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Edwin Encarnacion out at second. Yasmani Grandal to third. Nicky Delmonico grounds out to second base. Eloy Jimenez out at second.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. White sox 1, Royals 1.White sox fifth. Danny Mendick grounds out to shallow left field, Maikel Franco to Salvador Perez. Nick Madrigal singles to shallow center field. Luis Robert walks. Nick Madrigal to second. Yoan Moncada walks. Luis Robert to second. Nick Madrigal to third. Jose Abreu... [More]

White sox second. Eloy Jimenez reaches on error. Fielding error by Nicky Lopez. Luis Robert reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Eloy Jimenez out at second. James McCann hit by pitch. Luis Robert to second. Adam Engel homers to left field. James McCann scores. Luis Robert scores. Nick Madrigal grounds out to second base, Nicky Lopez to Ryan McBroom. Tim Anderson singles to shallow center field. Yoan Moncada pops out to shallow infield to Ryan McBroom.3 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. White sox 3, Royals 0.Royals third. Bubba Starling grounds out to shallow left field, Tim Anderson to Jose Abreu. Nicky Lopez singles to shortstop. Whit Merrifield flies out to deep right field to Adam Engel. Adalberto Mondesi singles to shallow infield. Nicky Lopez to second. Salvador Perez singles to left field. Adalberto Mondesi to second. Nicky Lopez scores. Jorge Soler walks. Salvador Perez to second. Maikel Franco pops out to first base to Jose Abreu.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. White sox 3, Royals 1.Royals sixth. Ryan McBroom homers to center field. Alex Gordon grounds out to shallow infield, Tim Anderson to Jose Abreu. Franchy Cordero pinch-hitting for Bubba Starling. Franchy Cordero grounds out to second base, Nick Madrigal to Jose Abreu. Nicky Lopez strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 3, Royals 2.

Royals first. Whit Merrifield grounds out to third base, Jeimer Candelario to C.J. Cron. Jorge Soler doubles to deep right center field. Salvador Perez lines out to deep center field to JaCoby Jones. Jorge Soler to third. Ryan O'Hearn singles to shortstop. Jorge Soler scores. Maikel Franco lines out to deep center field to JaCoby Jones.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Royals 1, Tigers 0.Tigers first. Harold Castro walks. Jonathan Schoop grounds out to first base. Harold Castro out at second. Miguel Cabrera homers to right field. C.J. Cron grounds out to shortstop, Adalberto Mondesi to Ryan O'Hearn.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Royals 1, Tigers 1.Royals second. Alex Gordon doubles. Adalberto Mondesi pops out to shallow infield to Ivan Nova. Franchy Cordero singles to second base. Alex Gordon scores. Brett Phillips grounds out to shallow infield, Ivan Nova to C.J. Cron. Franchy Cordero to second. Whit Merrifield strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Royals 2, Tigers... [More]

Royals third. Alex Gordon lines out to deep center field to JaCoby Jones. Oscar Hernandez singles to deep left center field. Brett Phillips reaches on error to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Oscar Hernandez to third. Fielding error by C.J. Cron. Throwing error by Rony Garcia. Whit Merrifield homers to left field. Brett Phillips scores. Oscar Hernandez scores. Jorge Soler called out on strikes. Adalberto Mondesi strikes out swinging.3 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 0 left on. Royals 3, Tigers 0.Tigers third. JaCoby Jones hit by pitch. Niko Goodrum flies out to deep left center field to Brett Phillips. Jonathan Schoop homers to center field. JaCoby Jones scores. Miguel Cabrera lines out to deep right field to Jorge Soler. C.J. Cron walks. Christin Stewart homers to center field. C.J. Cron scores. Jeimer Candelario strikes out swinging.4 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Tigers 4, Royals 3.

Royals second. Ryan O'Hearn strikes out swinging. Maikel Franco homers to left field. Alex Gordon flies out to right field to Cameron Maybin. Franchy Cordero grounds out to second base, Jonathan Schoop to C.J. Cron.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Royals 1, Tigers 0.Tigers second. Jordy Mercer singles to shallow center field. Cameron Maybin singles to right center field, advances to 2nd. Jordy Mercer to third. Victor Reyes reaches on error. Jordy Mercer scores. Fielding error by Adalberto Mondesi. Austin Romine grounds out to shallow infield, Adalberto Mondesi to Ryan O'Hearn. Victor Reyes to second. Cameron Maybin to third. JaCoby Jones homers. Victor Reyes scores. Cameron Maybin scores. Niko Goodrum triples to deep right center field. Jonathan Schoop out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Brett Phillips. Niko Goodrum scores. Miguel Cabrera grounds out to second base, Whit Merrifield to Ryan O'Hearn.5 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 0 left on. Tigers 5, Royals 1.Royals third. Brett Phillips... [More]

Indians first. Cesar Hernandez grounds out to second base, Whit Merrifield to Maikel Franco. Jose Ramirez reaches on error. Throwing error by Erick Mejia. Francisco Lindor strikes out swinging. Carlos Santana walks. Jose Ramirez to second. Franmil Reyes singles to right field. Carlos Santana to third. Jose Ramirez scores. Domingo Santana singles to center field, tagged out at second, Brett Phillips to Adalberto Mondesi. Franmil Reyes to third. Carlos Santana scores.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Indians 2, Royals 0.Indians third. Cesar Hernandez singles to deep center field. Jose Ramirez singles to right field, advances to 3rd. Cesar Hernandez scores. Fielding error by Franchy Cordero. Francisco Lindor doubles to shallow left field. Jose Ramirez scores. Carlos Santana lines out to center field to Brett Phillips. Franmil Reyes reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Francisco Lindor out at third. Domingo Santana singles to left field. Franmil Reyes to second. Bradley Zimmer called... [More]

Royals first. Whit Merrifield strikes out swinging. Adalberto Mondesi lines out to shallow right field to Cesar Hernandez. Jorge Soler homers to left field. Salvador Perez homers to center field. Alex Gordon pops out to shallow left field to Jose Ramirez.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Royals 2, Indians 0.Indians third. Roberto Perez strikes out swinging. Bradley Zimmer singles to shallow right field. Cesar Hernandez singles to center field. Bradley Zimmer to second. Jose Ramirez singles to shallow right field. Cesar Hernandez to third. Bradley Zimmer scores. Francisco Lindor strikes out swinging. Carlos Santana grounds out to shallow right field to Ryan McBroom.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Royals 2, Indians 2.Royals tenth. Erick Mejia pinch-hitting for Ryan McBroom. Erick Mejia out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Jose Ramirez to Cesar Hernandez. Brett Phillips to third. Maikel Franco out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Oscar Mercado. Brett Phillips scores. Nicky Lopez walks.1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Royals 3, Indians 2.

DETROIT (AP) — This is the final year of Jordan Zimmermann's contract with Detroit — and after battling injuries and ineffectiveness through most of his tenure with the Tigers, this is also his last chance to make a good impression before free agency arrives again.And now that opportunity may be gone.The Tigers put Zimmermann on the 45-day injured list last weekend because of a right forearm strain, and in this shortened season, that means he won't pitch much — if at all.Zimmermann went 1-13 with a 6.91 ERA last year. He has a 5.61 ERA in four seasons with Detroit. If he was going to be any kind of significant target on the free agent market for 2021, he needed to show he could stay healthy and effective, but now his best-case scenario is to return to the mound at the very end of the season.“There's a lot of innings on that arm, and he's had to deal with a lot of things,” Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's going to try to get himself better, and somewhere down the road, maybe at... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Dozier has tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the injured list before the club played its final exhibition game against the Cardinals in St. Louis on Wednesday.The 28-year-old is coming off a breakthrough season in which he hit 26 homers, tied for the American League lead in triples and had 84 RBIs. He is expected to play a big role for the Royals during their abbreviated 60-game season, which begins against the Indians on Friday night in Cleveland."I’m disappointed to say the least,” Dozier said. “I have been hit with a couple of symptoms that go with the virus, so I need to follow our medical team’s direction, get well and then work on getting back on the field. It’s disheartening because I felt things were going well on the field and I have a good feeling about the ball club we have. “To have to watch for whatever period of time that I’m out is going to painful.”Painful for the Royals, too.They still have catcher... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals had the entire offseason, all of spring training and, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic putting sports on hold, much of the summer to consider ways to tweak and improve their roster going forward.They were still making moves a week before their abbreviated 60-game schedule was set to begin.The team traded left-handed reliever Tim Hill to the San Diego Padres late Thursday for talented but injury prone outfield prospect Franchy Cordero and young right-hander Ronald Bolanos. The move came after the Royals decided their lousy bullpen from a year ago had been sufficiently upgraded and with an eye toward next season and beyond, when several of their outfielders are due to become free agents or potentially retire.The 25-year-old Cordero was the big prize for Kansas City. He only has played 79 big league games over parts of three seasons thanks to a slew of injuries, which last year limited him to just nine games. But along with a .240 average, Cordero... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The morning dawned bright and sunny over Kauffman Stadium, just to the east of downtown Kansas City. The outfield grass was a perfectly manicured ocean of green, the infield dirt brushed as if by a fine-toothed comb. In the air was a pervasive feeling of spring, of hope and opportunity and new beginnings.All that was missing was the crack of a bat and the sound of leather hitting a mitt.This was supposed to be the first opening day for the Kansas City Royals under new owner John Sherman, the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition for the local businessman. He had purchased the club late last year from longtime owner David Glass, and the former season ticket-holder was looking forward to seeing his rebuilding franchise on the field.Instead, the stadium sat empty as the outbreak of the new coronavirus brings sports to a standstill, and amid the continuing uncertainty whether baseball will be played at all this season.“We wish that we were playing baseball today,” Sherman... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Alex Gordon has won a World Series, made All-Star teams and won Gold Gloves — all with the Kansas City Royals. He just wants to keep the good feelings going as long as he can."I feel 36, take that for what it is," the veteran left fielder said Thursday. "I love this team, wanted to come back and fight with my guys, have another fun year and hopefully a more successful year."Gordon re-signed with the Royals on a $4 million, one-year contract after his $72 million, four-year deal expired following last season. Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Gordon was the second overall pick in the 2005 draft by the Royals and has since become one of the most popular players in the franchise's half-century existence. His big contract, signed after Kansas City won the 2015 World Series, was a popular move at the time. But both Gordon and the Royals quickly declined. The club hasn't been over .500 since and lost 103 games last season, and Gordon hit .237 with 52 homers and a... [More]