NEW YORK (AP) — Dave Martinez's theatrical exit brought life to Washington's bats Thursday, sparking a late rally against the New York Mets.Nothing seems to be able to solve the club's bullpen woes, though, and that has the Nationals' second-year manager working from a wobbly seat.Martinez was ejected in the eighth inning of a 6-4 loss to the New York Mets, making quite a scene at the onset of a three-run, eighth-inning comeback by the Nats that was undone by yet another blown save.Plate umpire Bruce Dreckman rang up Washington's Howie Kendrick for a strikeout as he tried to check his swing, then tossed the veteran player. Martinez charged from the dugout, spiked his hat and kicked dirt on home plate during an extended, heated argument."I just didn't think he swung," Martinez said. "We just got into it. All I did was tell him to ask for help. That's why the first base umpire is there. He didn't like it."Washington trailed 3-1 at the time and had already lost four in a row. Immediately after... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit two homers, rookie Michael Chavis drove in five runs and the surging Boston Red Sox beat the stumbling Seattle Mariners 11-2 to complete a three-game sweep Sunday at soggy Fenway Park.The World Series champions have won five straight games and 16 of 22 following a 6-13 start.Omar Narváez homered for Seattle (20-23), which has lost four in a row and 15 of 19 after opening 13-2. The Mariners were outscored 34-8 in the series, completing a 2-8 trip.Hector Velázquez (1-2) gave up two runs in five innings for the Red Sox. Marco Gonzales (5-2) gave up four runs, two earned, in four innings.YANKEES 7, RAYS 1ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Masahiro Tanaka (3-3) matched his season high of seven innings, allowing one run and five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks to outpitch reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. New York closed back within one-half game of AL East-leading Tampa Bay.Thairo Estrada homered just after play resumed following a ninth-inning power... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit two homers, rookie Michael Chavis drove in five runs and the surging Boston Red Sox beat the stumbling Seattle Mariners 11-2 to complete a three-game sweep Sunday at soggy Fenway Park.The World Series champions have won five straight games and 16 of 22 following a 6-13 start.Omar Narváez homered for Seattle (20-23), which has lost four in a row and 15 of 19 after opening 13-2. The Mariners were outscored 34-8 in the series, completing a 2-8 trip.Hector Velázquez (1-2) gave up two runs in five innings for the Red Sox. Marco Gonzales (5-2) gave up four runs, two earned, in four innings.YANKEES 7, RAYS 1ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Masahiro Tanaka (3-3) matched his season high of seven innings, allowing one run and five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks to outpitch reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. New York closed back within one-half game of the AL East-leading Rays.Thairo Estrada homered just after play resumed following a ninth-inning power... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Willson Contreras homered in the 15th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.Contreras turned on a 1-2 pitch from Burch Smith (0-1), sending a long shot to left field that gave Chicago its 11th win in 13 games. He spun and flipped his bat toward the Cubs' dugout as the ball sailed toward the bleachers and was mobbed by teammates when he crossed the plate.Chicago moved back ahead of the Brewers for the NL Central lead after falling into a virtual tie with Friday's 7-0 loss. Milwaukee had its season-high seven-game win streak snapped.Tyler Chatwood (2-0) struck out seven in four innings to cap a strong effort by the bullpen after Cole Hamels worked seven solid innings.Hamels gave up a run and three hits in his fourth straight no-decision. Seven relievers combined to give up one hit the rest of the way.RAYS 7, YANKEES 2ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Willy Adames and Ji-Man Choi hit run-scoring infield singles in the sixth after tempers... [More]

May 121910 — Chief Bender of the Philadelphia Athletics pitched a 4-0 no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians.1937 — St. Louis' Joe Medwick hit two home runs and two doubles to lead the Cardinals to a 15-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.1955 — Sam "Toothpick" Jones of the Cubs got a no-hitter the hard way. In the ninth inning against Pittsburgh, he walked the bases full and then struck out the next three batters for a 4-0 victory.1956 — Carl Erskine of the Brooklyn Dodgers pitched a 3-0 no-hitter against the New York Giants.1966 — Lou Brock's RBI single in the 12th inning gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 4-3 victory over Atlanta in the opening of Busch Memorial Stadium. Felipe Alou hit two home runs for the Braves.1970 — Ernie Banks hit his 500th home run off Pat Jarvis in Chicago's 4-3 victory over Atlanta at Wrigley Field.2000 — Boston's Pedro Martinez, who had 17 strikeouts in his last start May 6 against Tampa Bay, struck out 15 in a 9-0 win over Baltimore, to tie an AL record... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Washington Nationals signed outfielder Gerardo Parra to a one-year deal Thursday for the $555,000 minimum.Nationals manager Dave Martinez said the 32-year-old Parra would start against right-handed pitchers on occasion, while also being a pinch-hitting option. Parra elected to become a free agent Tuesday after he was designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants and cleared waivers. His salary from Washington will be offset against his $1.75 million deal with the Giants.Parra was batting just .198 with one home run and six RBIs in 30 games with the Giants this season. He is a career .277 hitter with 80 home runs and 480 RBIs over 11 seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies and Giants.To make room on the active roster, Washington placed outfielder Andrew Stevenson on the 10-day injured list with back spasms, a move retroactive to Tuesday. The Nationals designated right-hander Jimmy Cordero for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Washington Nationals signed outfielder Gerardo Parra to a one-year deal Thursday and the left-handed hitter was available off the bench for the opener of a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.To make room on the active roster, outfielder Andrew Stevenson was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 7, with back spasms. The Nationals also designated right-hander Jimmy Cordero for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.Nationals manager Dave Martinez said the 32-year-old Parra would start against right-handed pitchers on occasion, while also being a pinch-hit option. Parra elected to become a free agent Tuesday after he was designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants and cleared waivers.Parra was batting just .198 with one home runs and six RBIs in 30 games with the Giants this season. He's a career .277 hitter with 80 home runs and 480 RBIs over 11 seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies and Giants.

DENVER (AP) — The last-place San Francisco Giants have made a series of roster moves, including the promotion of outfielder Mac Williamson after he missed most of last season because of a concussion and its lingering effects.Williamson and infielder Donovan Solano were selected from Triple-A Sacramento and lefty Williams Jerez was recalled from the minor league team before Tuesday night's game at Colorado.The roster shake-up began after Monday's 12-4 loss at Cincinnati when the Giants optioned outfielder Mike Gerber and switch-pitcher Pat Venditte to Triple-A.It continued when infielder Yangervis Solarte, who was hitting .205 in 28 games, was designated for assignment. Also, veteran outfielder Gerardo Parra became a free agent after deciding against going back to the minors — he was batting .198 in 30 games after hitting .284 for Colorado last season.Williamson's return to the Giants caps a long-running comeback story. He suffered a concussion when he tripped over a bullpen mound as he... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Outfielder Gerardo Parra's disappointing April prompted the San Francisco Giants to replace him with a player who's been hot in the minors.The Giants designated Parra for assignment on Friday before the start of a series against the Reds. Mike Gerber was called up to take is spot in a lineup that's struggling to hit."We'll miss him, but it was time to give Gerber a look," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's going to be in the big leagues somewhere because he can impact a game defensively."It's tough to say goodbye to a really good guy and player with Parra. I consider myself fortunate to get a chance to know him."The 31-year-old Parra signed a minor league deal on Feb. 12 that included a $1.75 million salary when he made the Giants. Parra struggled in 30 games, batting .198 with one homer and six RBIs. The Giants batted only .231 in their last 10 games.San Francisco claimed the 26-year-old Gerber off waivers from Detroit last December. He was batting .357 with six homers and 15 RBIs at Triple-A Sacramento.The Giants also put catcher Erik Kratz on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring and recalled right-hander Tyler Beede to start against the Reds on Friday. Kratz aggravated the hamstring last month but has continued playing.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Giants designated outfielder Gerardo Parra for assignment and called up Mike Gerber to take his spot in a lineup that's struggled to hit.The 31-year-old Parra signed a minor league deal on Feb. 12 that included a $1.75 million salary when he made the Giants. Parra struggled in 30 games, batting .198 with one homer and six RBIs. The Giants batted only .231 in their last 10 games.San Francisco claimed Gerber off waivers from Detroit last December. He was batting .357 with six homers and 15 RBIs at Triple-A Sacramento.The Giants also put catcher Erik Kratz on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring and recalled right-hander Tyler Beede to start against the Reds on Friday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Cleveland ace Corey Kluber broke his right forearm when he was hit by a line drive during the Indians' 4-2 loss to the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.Kluber (2-3) was struck by Brian Anderson's comebacker in the fifth inning. The Indians said he will be re-evaluated in Cleveland on Thursday.The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner allowed eight hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings, which left his ERA at 5.80.Caleb Smith (3-0) struck out eight in seven innings, helping Miami stop a four-game slide. He allowed one run on Roberto Perez's third homer in the third inning.Cleveland's Carlos Santana homered in the ninth off Sergio Romo, who regrouped to earn his fifth save.DIAMONDBACKS 3, YANKEES 2PHOENIX (AP) — Ketel Marte homered, Merrill Kelly won his first start against New York and Arizona swept a two-game series.The Yankees dropped to 0-5 this year against teams that currently have winning records and is 17-8 against clubs that started the day under .500.Kelly (3-2)... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Fiercely energetic Tim Anderson spiked his bat to celebrate a home run and Kansas City's Brad Keller responded by drilling him with a fastball, setting off a benches-clearing fracas in the Royals' 4-3, 10-inning victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.Anderson tossed his bat toward the White Sox dugout following his two-run drive in the fourth inning. Keller hit him in the buttocks with his first pitch leading off the sixth.Anderson, the AL's leading hitter, was restrained by Royals catcher Martin Maldonado but kept jawing with Keller on the way to first base. The dugouts and bullpens emptied, though no punches appeared to be thrown. White Sox manager Rick Renteria and Royals bench coach Dale Sveum shoved each other, and the usually mild-mannered Renteria was particularly animated.There were four ejections — Anderson, Keller, Renteria and Sveum.Hunter Dozier led off the 10th with a tiebreaking homer against Nate Jones (0-1). His drive to left on a 2-0 fastball made... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Fiercely energetic Tim Anderson spiked his bat to celebrate a home run and Kansas City's Brad Keller responded by drilling him with a fastball, setting off a benches-clearing fracas in the Royals' 4-3, 10-inning victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.Anderson tossed his bat toward the White Sox dugout following his two-run drive in the fourth inning. Keller hit him in the buttocks with his first pitch leading off the sixth.Anderson, the AL's leading hitter, was restrained by Royals catcher Martin Maldonado but kept jawing with Keller on the way to first base. The dugouts and bullpens emptied, though no punches appeared to be thrown. White Sox manager Rick Renteria and Royals bench coach Dale Sveum shoved each other, and the usually mild-mannered Renteria was particularly animated.There were four ejections — Anderson, Keller, Renteria and Sveum.Hunter Dozier led off the 10th with a tiebreaking homer against Nate Jones (0-1). His drive to left on a 2-0 fastball made... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer and Chicago's beleaguered bullpen stepped up after Jon Lester departed with left hamstring tightness, leading the Cubs over the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-0 in their home opener on Monday.Brad Brach, Brandon Kintzler, Randy Rosario and Pedro Strop combined for seven innings of four-hit ball after Lester was removed with two on and no outs in the third. Brach (1-0) pitched two innings for his first win with the Cubs.Pittsburgh had won four in a row, but it hurt itself with four errors, including three by shortstop Kevin Newman. Jameson Taillon (0-2) was charged with six unearned runs and four hits in two innings.ORIOLES 12, ATHLETICS 4BALTIMORE (AP) — Chris Davis went 0 for 5 to set a major league record for the longest hitless streak by a position player, extending his drought to 49 consecutive at-bats in Baltimore's rout of Oakland.Davis hit three flyballs before striking out in the seventh and eighth innings, leaving him 0 for 28 this season... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt hit three home runs and then was intentionally walked in the ninth inning with a chance to tie the major league record, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-5 Friday night.Brewers manager Craig Counsell signaled for the free pass with one out and a runner on second. Cardinals fans behind the visiting dugout cheered as Goldschmidt approached the plate and booed loudly when Counsell made the move.Just 18 players have hit four homers in a game, including J.D. Martinez and Scooter Gennett in 2017.Goldschmidt had four hits and drove in five in his second game with St. Louis. The six-time All-Star was 0 for 3 with three strikeouts in his first game Thursday after an offseason trade from Arizona. Set to test free agency after this season, Goldschmidt instead signed a $130 million deal to stay with St. Louis through 2024 last weekend.John Gant (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun homered for Milwaukee. Trevor... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt hit three home runs and then was intentionally walked in the ninth inning with a chance to tie the major league record, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-5 Friday night.Brewers manager Craig Counsell signaled for the free pass with one out and a runner on second. Cardinals fans behind the visiting dugout cheered as Goldschmidt approached the plate and booed loudly when Counsell made the move.Just 18 players have hit four homers in a game, including J.D. Martinez and Scooter Gennett in 2017.Goldschmidt had four hits and drove in five in his second game with St. Louis. The six-time All-Star was 0 for 3 with three strikeouts in his first game Thursday after an offseason trade from Arizona. Set to test free agency after this season, Goldschmidt instead signed a $130 million deal to stay with St. Louis through 2024 last weekend.John Gant (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun homered for Milwaukee. Trevor... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets said they'll give $100,000 retention bonuses to six players at spring training with minor league contracts, assuring depth by keeping outfielders Carlos Gomez, Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco, left-hander Hector Santiago, catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.Just three other players received the retention bonus offers before Saturday's noon EDT deadline: Chicago White Sox right-hander Ervin Santana, San Diego catcher Chris Stewart and Toronto right-hander Bud Norris.Players will receive the bonus by April 15 and can start the season in the minor leagues. A player has until May 28 to ask for his release if not added to the 40-man roster by June 1.The deadline was Saturday for teams to make decisions on players who exercised free agency rights after the World Series and then agreed to minor league deals. Teams could inform the player they will be added to the big league roster by opening day next Thursday, offer the retention bonus or release... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets said they'll give $100,000 retention bonuses to six players at spring training with minor league contracts, assuring depth by keeping outfielders Carlos Gomez, Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco, left-hander Hector Santiago, catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Adeiny Hecnavarria.Just three other players received the retention bonus offers before Saturday's noon EDT deadline: Chicago White Sox right-hander Ervin Santana, San Diego catcher Chris Stewart and Toronto right-hander Bud Norris.Players will receive the bonus by April 15 and can start the season in the minor leagues. A player has until May 28 to ask for his release if not added to the 40-man roster by June 1.The deadline was Saturday for teams to make decisions on players who exercised free agency rights after the World Series and then agreed to minor league deals. Teams could inform the player they will be added to the big league roster by opening day next Thursday, offer the retention bonus or release... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Cincinnati Reds All-Star second baseman Scooter Gennett injured his right leg while fielding a grounder against Milwaukee and was helped off the field.Gennett ranged to his left for a ball off the bat of Yasmani Grandal leading off the second inning Friday. Gennett slid to make the stop and threw to pitcher Robert Stephenson covering first for the out. Gennett went to his knees and was helped off by Reds head athletic trainer Steve Baumann and manager David Bell."I don't know exactly if it was when he fell or when he made the throw," Bell said. "He felt something in his groin.Cincinnati says Gennett was to have an MRI.The 28-year-old Gennett reached the majors with the Brewers in 2013 and was claimed off waivers by his hometown Reds near the end of spring training two years ago. He made his first All-Star team last season, hitting .310 with 23 homers and 92 RBIs.Top prospect Nick Senzel could be a candidate to replace Gennett. Senzel was reassigned to minor league camp earlier... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Outfielder Matt Joyce has reached agreement on a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants following his release by Cleveland.The Giants announced Wednesday the non-roster addition of Joyce, who is 34 and spent the past two seasons across the bay with Oakland. He played in just 83 games last season while dealing with a lingering back injury, batting .208 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs.The Indians signed Carlos Gonzalez to a minor league deal Tuesday, making Joyce expendable. He was released from his minor league contract, making him a free agent.Joyce, a left-handed hitter, had 25 homers and 68 RBIs while batting .243 in 141 games for the Athletics in 2017. He gives manager Bruce Bochy more depth for now in an outfield that is expected to feature Steven Duggar, Gerardo Parra and Mac Williamson. Cameron Maybin also joined the Giants on a minor league deal this spring.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports