NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole posted his 20th straight regular-season win, becoming the sixth pitcher to reach the mark by throwing seven sharp innings to lead the New York Yankees over the Boston Red Sox 10-3 Friday night.Cole (4-0) allowed one run and four hits. He struck out eight, walked none and threw 95 pitches.Cole’s only defeat since May 2019 was in the World Series opener last year, when he pitched for Houston and lost to Washington. The Yankees improved to 7-0 at home for the fourth time since 1959 (also 2017, 1998 and 1987). New York also beat Boston for the seventh straight time.Gary Sánchez homered for the second straight game and Gleyber Torres had four hits, including a two-run double in the third. Mike Tauchman drove in four runs and started in right field for Aaron Judge, who landed on the injured list with a mild right calf strain. Clint Frazier also hit a two-run double in the eighth.DJ LeMahieu had two more hits and ended the night with a .429 average. It was his 69th... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole posted his 20th straight regular-season win, becoming the sixth pitcher to reach the mark by throwing seven sharp innings to lead the New York Yankees over the Boston Red Sox 10-3 Friday night.Cole (4-0) allowed one run and four hits. He struck out eight, walked none and threw 95 pitches.Cole’s only defeat since May 2019 was in the World Series opener last year, when he pitched for Houston and lost to Washington. The Yankees improved to 7-0 at home for the fourth time since 1959 (also 2017, 1998 and 1987). New York also beat Boston for the seventh straight time.Gary Sánchez homered for the second straight game and Gleyber Torres had four hits, including a two-run double in the third. Mike Tauchman drove in four runs and started in right field for Aaron Judge, who landed on the injured list with a mild right calf strain. Clint Frazier also hit a two-run double in the eighth.DJ LeMahieu had two more hits and ended the night with a .429 average. It was his 69th... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller exited his start against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday night because of discomfort on his left side.Keller, one of Pittsburgh's top young pitchers, was visited by a trainer after he bounced a curveball to Willson Contreras with two out in the third inning. After a short conversation, he walked off the mound and was replaced by Chris Stratton.The 24-year-old Keller surrendered long solo homers by Ian Happ and Javier Báez earlier in the inning.Keller was selected by the Pirates in the second round of the 2014 amateur draft and made his big league debut last May. He pitched five effective innings in a 5-1 victory at St. Louis in his first start this season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller left his start against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday night with an injury.Keller, one of Pittsburgh's top young pitchers, was visited by a trainer after he bounced a curveball to Willson Contreras with two out in the third inning. After a short conversation, he walked off the mound and was replaced by Chris Stratton.The 24-year-old Keller surrendered long solo homers by Ian Happ and Javier Báez earlier in the inning.Keller was selected by the Pirates in the second round of the 2014 amateur draft and made his big league debut last May. He pitched five effective innings in a 5-1 victory at St. Louis in his first start this season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Cubs first. Jason Heyward strikes out swinging. Nicholas Castellanos homers to center field. Kris Bryant strikes out swinging. Anthony Rizzo grounds out to first base, Josh Bell to Mitch Keller.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Cubs 1, Pirates 0.Cubs third. Tony Kemp flies out to deep center field to Starling Marte. Jose Quintana called out on strikes. Jason Heyward homers to left field. Nicholas Castellanos singles to center field. Kris Bryant pops out to shallow right field to Josh Bell.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 2, Pirates 0.Cubs fourth. Anthony Rizzo walks. Javier Baez doubles to left field. Anthony Rizzo to third. Kyle Schwarber singles to left center field. Javier Baez scores. Anthony Rizzo scores. Victor Caratini walks. Tony Kemp lines out to deep center field to Starling Marte. Jose Quintana grounds out to shortstop, Kevin Newman to Josh Bell.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 4, Pirates 0.Cubs fifth. Jason Heyward doubles to deep right center field. Nicholas... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A fan casually walked to home plate and approached Philadelphia hitter Brad Miller for a handshake before being apprehended, and the Phillies later beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 Sunday on Rhys Hoskins' home run in the 11th inning.Moments after Bryce Harper argued a called third strike and Hoskins spiked his bat after being hit by a pitch, things turned bizarre in the sixth inning at PNC Park.That's when a man carrying a cellphone came out of the crowd and strolled toward Miller in the batter's box. Miller backed away and the man kept walking, leisurely getting near the Phillies' dugout on the first base side, where he was handcuffed by security personnel and led away.Miller then grounded into an inning-ending double play.Hoskins hit his 21st home run, connecting off Chris Stratton (1-3). The drive came right after Harper again seemed displeased with plate umpire Ben May when striking out looking to start the inning.Phillies reliever Ranger Suárez (3-0) got Starling Marte... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A fan casually walked to home plate and approached Philadelphia hitter Brad Miller for a handshake before being apprehended, and the Phillies later beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 Sunday on Rhys Hoskins' home run in the 11th inning.Moments after Bryce Harper argued a called third strike and Hoskins spiked his bat after being hit by a pitch, things turned bizarre in the sixth inning at PNC Park.That's when a man carrying a cellphone came out of the crowd and strolled toward Miller in the batter's box. Miller backed away and the man kept walking, leisurely getting near the Phillies' dugout on the first base side, where he was handcuffed by security personnel and led away.Miller then grounded into an inning-ending double play.Hoskins hit his 21st home run, connecting off Chris Stratton (1-3). The drive came right after Harper again seemed displeased with plate umpire Ben May when striking out looking to start the inning.Phillies reliever Ranger Suárez (3-0) got Starling Marte... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A fan casually walked to home plate and approached Philadelphia hitter Brad Miller for a handshake before being apprehended, and the Phillies later beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 Sunday on Rhys Hoskins' home run in the 11th inning.Moments after Bryce Harper argued a called third strike and Hoskins spiked his bat after being hit by a pitch, things turned bizarre in the sixth inning at PNC Park.That's when a man carrying a cellphone came out of the crowd and strolled toward Miller in the batter's box. Miller backed away and the man kept walking, leisurely getting near the Phillies' dugout on the first base side, where he was handcuffed by security personnel and led away.Miller then grounded into an inning-ending double play.Hoskins hit his 21st home run, connecting off Chris Stratton (1-3). The drive came right after Harper again seemed displeased with plate umpire Ben May when striking out looking to start the inning.Phillies reliever Ranger Suárez (3-0) got Starling Marte... [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]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired 28-year-old right-hander Chris Stratton from the Los Angeles Angels for cash.Stratton was 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA in five starts and two relief appearances for the Angels, then was designated for assignment on May 7. He attended spring training with San Francisco and was acquired by the Angels on March 26 for pitcher Williams Jerez.Stratton won a career-high 10 games for the Giants in 2018. He is 15-16 with one save and a 5.16 ERA in 55 big league appearances.Pittsburgh transferred right-hander Nick Burdi (right biceps/elbow pain) to the 60-day injured list on Saturday to make room for Burdi on the 40-man roster.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DETROIT (AP) — Shohei Ohtani returned from Tommy John surgery and took a called third strike from Detroit's Daniel Norris in his first plate appearance this season.The Los Angeles Angels activated the AL Rookie of the Year from the injured list before Tuesday night's game at Detroit and he was in the lineup batting third as the designated hitter."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 Ohtani is not expected to pitch this year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, but the Angels projected the two-way star would be able to bat in major league games at some point in May."He injects some offense, for sure," Ausmus said. "He's got big power."Ohtani hit .285 with 22 homers and 61 RBIs in 367 plate appearances last year. He became the... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Shohei Ohtani returned from Tommy John surgery and took a called third strike from Detroit's Daniel Norris in his first plate appearance this season.The Los Angeles Angels activated the AL Rookie of the Year from the injured list before Tuesday night's game at Detroit and he was in the lineup batting third as the designated hitter."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 Ohtani is not expected to pitch this year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, but the Angels projected the two-way star would be able to bat in major league games at some point in May."He injects some offense, for sure," Ausmus said. "He's got big power."Ohtani hit .285 with 22 homers and 61 RBIs in 367 plate appearances last year. He became the... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Shohei Ohtani turned out of the visiting clubhouse at Comerica Park and took several steps before stopping to select his bat out of a huge crate filled with lumber.The AL Rookie of the Year took a couple swings in the hallway and smiled before batting practice indoors.Ohtani's long wait for his season debut was over.The Los Angeles Angels activated him from the injured list before Tuesday night's game at Detroit and he was in the lineup batting third as the designated hitter."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 Ohtani is not expected to pitch this year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, but the Angels projected the two-way star would be able to bat in major league games at some point in May."He injects some... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is set to make his season debut for the Los Angeles Angels.The AL Rookie of the Year was activated from the injured list before Tuesday night's game at Detroit and was set to bat third as the designated hitter.Ohtani is not expected to pitch this year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, but the Angels projected the 24-year-old two-way star would be able to bat in major league games at some point in May.Los Angeles activated right-hander Cody Allen and infielder Zack Cozart from the injured list. They designated outfielder Peter Bourjos and right-hander Chris Stratton for assignment and optioned infielder Luis Rengifo to Triple-A Salt Lake.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale remained winless after five starts but struck out a season-high 10 in five innings as the Detroit Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox 7-4 Tuesday to start their first doubleheader sweep at Fenway Park since August 1965.Spencer Turnbull (1-2) pitched five shutout innings for his first major league win, leading the Tigers to a 4-2 victory in the nightcap that left the World Series champions at 9-15.Brandon Dixon greeted Marcus Walden with a three-run double after the Tigers loaded the bases against Hector Velázquez (0-2), and the Red Sox were swept in a twin-bill for the first time since the Los Angeles Angels accomplished the feat on July 20, 2015.Sale gave up two runs, five hits and two walks, lowering his ERA from 8.50 to 7.43. The 30-year-old, who signed a $160 million, six-year contract late in spring training, had never gone his first five starts in a big league season without a victory.In the first game, Matthew Boyd (2-1) combined with three relievers on a five-hitter... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Domingo German overcame control problems on a chilly night to win for the first time since last June, Gary Sanchez and Brett Gardner homered and the banged-up New York Yankees beat the punchless Detroit Tigers 3-1 Monday.Aaron Judge made a sprawling, backhand catch on Niko Goodrum's hard-hit liner after Adam Ottavino walked the first two batters in the eighth inning, a drive that would have tied the score if it had gotten by the right fielder.New York lost two more regulars to the 10-day injured list before the game after they got hurt a day earlier, outfielder Giancarlo Stanton with a strained left biceps and third baseman Miguel Andujar with a small labrum tear in his right shoulder.Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Andujar, runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year last season, will be treated conservatively with a rehab program and there is some optimism he will respond well. But if not, he could need season-surgery.They joined a group of sidelined Yankees that includes pitchers... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Back home from an 0-2 trip to Japan, the slugging Oakland Athletics got "comfy."Reigning homer run champion Khris Davis went deep for the second time this season , Marcus Semien added a solo shot and the A's beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-0 on Thursday for their first win after a pair of losses to Seattle last week in Japan."It was important to us to get that first win out of the way and it feels good that we showed up today and got the job done," Davis said. "I think guys are over the jet lag. I'm glad we could bounce back. ... Just a better rhythm. We're just kind of back in tune to what's going on over here. It was kind of a circus. I like the way we responded today. A little more comfy at home."Before the game, Davis stood behind the cage with Make-A-Wish Foundation friend Anthony Slocumb , who was wearing a Davis jersey signed by the boy that the slugger wore Aug. 20 against Texas when he hit homer No. 37 of his 48 last year.Mike Trout singled and walked going... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Reigning homer run champion Khris Davis went deep for the second time this season, Marcus Semien added a solo shot and the Oakland Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-0 on Thursday for their first win after a pair of losses to Seattle last week in Japan.Mike Trout singled and walked going 1 for 3 in his first game since signing a $426.5 million, 12-year contract, and manager Brad Ausmus lost his Angels debut after taking over for Mike Scioscia.Stephen Piscotty added an RBI double as the A's backed Mike Fiers (1-1), who lost in Japan last week in his first opening-day start.Fiers allowed one hit, struck out two and walked three in six innings. Three relievers completed the three-hit shutout that breezed by in 2 hours, 18 minutes.Trout drew the trainer and Ausmus out in the eighth after he made a hard slide into second and jarred his right leg.Albert Pujols went 0 for 3 with a strikeout as he began his 19th season. Pujols has 633 career homers and is back at 39... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — For the third time in five years, Nick Hundley is starting over. This time, the 35-year-old is part of a catching platoon in Oakland where he'll be splitting time with Josh Phegley.It's not unlike other situations Hundley has been through in his career. He spent the past two seasons behind Buster Posey in San Francisco, was a backup in Colorado and Baltimore prior to that, and split time as a starter over seven years in San Diego.With so much activity on his resume, Hundley has become accustomed to learning quickly, something that's come in handy as he tries to find a comfort zone with the Athletics."For a guy like him who's been different places and a veteran guy, it's easier for him to figure it out on the fly," manager Bob Melvin said prior to Tuesday's exhibition game in San Francisco. "Even though it's been a shortened spring, a guy like him figures it out pretty quickly. I'm not too worried about him learning our staff. He's caught everybody and understands the... [More]