OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Zack Greinke threw seven smooth innings for his 200th win, pitching the first-place Houston Astros past the Oakland Athletics 4-1 on Sunday to avoid a four-game sweep.Alex Bregman had a three-run homer among his four hits to back Greinke, who won his third straight start since joining the Astros from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the July 31 trade deadline.Greinke (13-4) went nine up, nine down on 25 pitches to start the game before giving up Marcus Semien's 21st homer. The right-hander allowed four hits with three walks and six strikeouts. He became the 115th pitcher in major league history to reach 200 career wins, and the second in Houston's rotation along with Justin Verlander.Roberto Osuna finished for his 27th save as the Astros stopped a five-game slide.Yuli Gurriel added an RBI double for Houston, which snapped Oakland's four-game winning streak. The Astros went back ahead of the A's by 7 1/2 games in the AL West race.Athletics lefty Brett Anderson (10-9) allowed... [More]

Tigers first. Victor Reyes walks. Dawel Lugo strikes out swinging. Harold Castro homers to center field. Victor Reyes scores. Brandon Dixon singles to center field. Ronny Rodriguez flies out to deep center field to Guillermo Heredia. John Hicks singles to deep right field. Brandon Dixon to third. Travis Demeritte reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. John Hicks out at second.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Tigers 2, Rays 0.Rays first. Tommy Pham singles to center field. Matt Duffy walks. Tommy Pham to second. Austin Meadows reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Matt Duffy out at second. Tommy Pham to third. Travis d'Arnaud out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Harold Castro. Tommy Pham scores. Willy Adames flies out to deep center field to Harold Castro.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 2, Rays 1.Tigers seventh. Gordon Beckham singles to center field. Victor Reyes doubles to right center field. Gordon Beckham scores. Dawel Lugo grounds out to shortstop, Willy... [More]

Mariners third. Dylan Moore strikes out swinging. Mallex Smith singles to right field. J.P. Crawford reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Mallex Smith out at second. Omar Narvaez doubles to right center field. J.P. Crawford to third. Kyle Seager doubles to deep left field. Omar Narvaez scores. J.P. Crawford scores. Austin Nola singles to left center field, tagged out at second, Victor Reyes to Dawel Lugo to Gordon Beckham. Kyle Seager scores.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 3, Tigers 0.Tigers fourth. Victor Reyes triples to deep right center field. Dawel Lugo out on a sacrifice fly to right center field to Keon Broxton. Victor Reyes scores. Miguel Cabrera homers to center field. Niko Goodrum grounds out to third base, Kyle Seager to Austin Nola. Brandon Dixon singles to right field. Harold Castro singles to right field, advances to 2nd. Brandon Dixon to third. Travis Demeritte flies out to shallow right field to Mallex Smith.2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mariners... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Josh Donaldson homered against Sean Doolittle in the top of the 10th, and the Atlanta Braves pulled out a 5-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday to take two of three in the series and pad their NL East lead to 6 1/2 games.After the Nationals scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, Donaldson swatted a fastball from Doolittle over the center-field wall for his 25th homer of the season.Adam Duvall homered for the fourth time in five games. Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Tyler Flowers also drove in runs for the Braves, who won consecutive series in Washington for the first time since 2013. They also won two of three in late June.Atlanta got another quality road start from Mike Soroka (10-2), who pitched seven innings and allowed just three hits, including a leadoff homer to Juan Soto in the second.Washington starter Aníbal Sánchez (6-6) could not keep pace, allowing four runs on 10 hits in five innings of work.YANKEES 7, DIAMONDBACKS 5NEW... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Detroit Tigers center fielder JaCoby Jones has left the first game of a day-night doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox because of back spasms.Jones was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts before exiting in the fifth inning. Niko Goodrum moved from second base to center field. Gordon Beckham came in to play second and replaced Jones in the leadoff spot.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Christian Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, and the Boston Red Sox completed an uplifting three-game sweep of the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 victory Sunday.Rafael Devers singled off Jose Alvarado (0-2) to start the 11th and went to second when Michael Chavis walked.Both runners moved up a base on Jackie Bradley's sacrifice bunt and Vazquez followed with his fly that Kevin Kiermaier ran down in center field.Marcus Walden (3-0) allowed an infield hit over two scoreless innings and Ryan Brasier worked the 11th to get his sixth save.After starting the season by losing eight of 10, the defending World Series champions are 7-5 over the last 12 games and went from eight to five games behind the Rays.DODGERS 6, BREWERS 5MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cody Bellinger reached over the right field wall to rob Christian Yelich in the eighth inning of yet another home run, then hit a solo drive off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to lift Los Angeles over... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Christian Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, and the Boston Red Sox completed an uplifting three-game sweep of the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 victory Sunday.Rafael Devers singled off Jose Alvarado (0-2) to start the 11th and went to second when Michael Chavis walked.Both runners moved up a base on Jackie Bradley's sacrifice bunt and Vazquez followed with his fly that Kevin Kiermaier ran down in center field.Marcus Walden (3-0) allowed an infield hit over two scoreless innings and Ryan Brasier worked the 11th to get his sixth save.After starting the season by losing eight of 10, the defending World Series champions are 7-5 over the last 12 games and went from eight to five games behind the Rays.DODGERS 6, BREWERS 5MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cody Bellinger reached over the right field wall to rob Christian Yelich in the eighth inning of yet another home run, then hit a solo drive off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to lift Los Angeles over... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve hit two homers, Carlos Correa homered with three RBIs and the Houston Astros completed their first sweep of the New York Yankees with an 8-6 win Wednesday night.The Astros needed late-game comebacks to win the first two games of the series but used a four-run fifth inning to break the finale open and held on for their sixth straight win despite a big eighth inning by the Yankees.It's the first time since 2004 the Astros have swept a homestand of at least two series. They beat the Athletics three times this weekend before the Yankees arrived.Altuve, who has homered in three straight games, hit his first one off James Paxton (1-2) to tie it at 1 in the first inning after Brett Gardner hit a leadoff homer for New York.The Astros were up by 1 with no outs in the fifth inning when Altuve connected off Paxton again. The towering shot clanged off the light pole atop the wall in left field to make it 4-2.A single by Michael Brantley chased Paxton, who was replaced by... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve hit two homers, Carlos Correa homered with three RBIs and the Houston Astros completed their first-ever sweep of the New York Yankees with an 8-6 win Wednesday night.The Astros needed late-game comebacks to win the first two games of the series but used a four-run fifth inning to break the finale open and held on for their sixth straight win despite a big eighth inning by the Yankees.It's the first time since 2004 the Astros have swept a homestand of at least two series. They beat the Athletics three times this weekend before the Yankees arrived.Altuve, who has homered in three straight games, hit his first one off James Paxton (1-2) to tie it at 1 in the first inning after Brett Gardner hit a leadoff homer for New York.The Astros were up by 1 with no outs in the fifth inning when Altuve connected off Paxton again. The towering shot clanged off the light pole atop the wall in left field to make it 4-2.A single by Michael Brantley chased Paxton, who was replaced... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — David Robertson forced home the game-ending run with a ninth-inning walk to Jake Noll, a rookie without a hit in his two previous major league at-bats, and the Nationals beat the previously unbeaten Phillies 9-8 Wednesday as Washington's fans again booed Bryce Harper.Noll was sent to the minors after the game to make room for utilityman Howie Kendrick to come off the injured list Thursday.Robertson (0-1) gave up a leadoff single to Anthony Rendon, then walked three batters in a row.Nationals closer Sean Doolittle (2-0) worked the ninth.Philadelphia fell to 4-1 — it had been the last team in the majors without a loss. Making his second appearance against his former team since signing a $330 million, 13-year deal with the Phillies, Harper hit a pair of singles and was walked three times, twice intentionally.RED SOX 6, ATHLETICS 3OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mookie Betts' two-out grounder hit the third base bag and popped into the outfield for a tiebreaking, two-run double in the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — David Robertson forced home the game-ending run with a ninth-inning walk to Jake Noll, a rookie without a hit in his two previous major league at-bats, and the Nationals beat the previously unbeaten Phillies 9-8 Wednesday as Washington's fans again booed Bryce Harper.Noll was sent to the minors after the game to make room for utilityman Howie Kendrick to come off the injured list Thursday.Robertson (0-1) gave up a leadoff single to Anthony Rendon, then walked three batters in a row.Nationals closer Sean Doolittle (2-0) worked the ninth.Philadelphia fell to 4-1 — it had been the last team in the majors without a loss. Making his second appearance against his former team since signing a $330 million, 13-year deal with the Phillies, Harper hit a pair of singles and was walked three times, twice intentionally.PADRES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1SAN DIEGO (AP) — Manny Machado hit his first home run for San Diego, a two-run drive in the seventh off former Padres farmhand Matt Andriese.... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Jung Ho Kang and Erik Gonzalez have won starting jobs in the infield with the Pittsburgh Pirates.General manager Neal Huntington said Monday that Kang has beaten out Colin Moran at third base and Erik Gonzalez has won the shortstop competition over Kevin Newman."It was not an easy decision because all four guys, in their own way, had legitimate claims to be the regular," Huntington said.Kang is just 5 for 28 (.185) with 13 strikeouts this spring but all five hits have been solo home runs. Moran was 6 for 28 (.214) with a double and a homer through the weekend.Moran, however, had committed four errors while Kang had two."The power has been real," manager Clint Hurdle said of Kang. "It's spring training, but it's five homers. We don't have anybody else that's hit five homers."Kang missed the entire 2017 season and the beginning of 2018 because he was unable to secure a work visa to travel from his native South Korea following a third DUI arrest. He then underwent wrist... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Jung Ho Kang and Erik Gonzalez have won starting jobs in the infield with the Pittsburgh Pirates.General manager Neal Huntington said Monday that Kang has beaten out Colin Moran at third base and Erik Gonzalez has won the shortstop competition over Kevin Newman."It was not an easy decision because all four guys, in their own way, had legitimate claims to be the regular," Huntington said.Kang is just 5 for 28 (.185) with 13 strikeouts this spring but all five hits have been solo home runs. Moran was 6 for 28 (.214) with a double and a homer through the weekend.Moran, however, had committed four errors while Kang had two."The power has been real," manager Clint Hurdle said of Kang. "It's spring training, but it's five homers. We don't have anybody else that's hit five homers."Kang missed the entire 2017 season and the beginning of 2018 because he was unable to secure a work visa to travel from his native South Korea following a third DUI arrest. He then underwent wrist... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Infielder Gordon Beckham agreed to a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers and was invited to major league spring training.If Beckham is added to the 40-man roster, he would get a one-year contract paying $700,000 while in the majors and $138,000 while in the minors. Beckham played in only 33 major league games over the past two seasons with the Seattle Mariners.Catcher Hector Sanchez also agreed to a minor league deal.Pitcher Casey Mize, taken by the Tigers with the No. 1 pick in last year's amateur draft, also was among 20 players invited to major league camp, the Tigers said Tuesday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DETROIT (AP) — Infielder Gordon Beckham agreed to a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers and was invited to major league spring training.If Beckham is added to the 40-man roster, he would get a one-year contract paying $700,000 while in the majors and $138,000 while in the minors. Beckham played in only 33 major league games over the past two seasons with the Seattle Mariners.Catcher Hector Sanchez also agreed to a minor league deal.Pitcher Casey Mize, taken by the Tigers with the No. 1 pick in last year's amateur draft, also was among 20 players invited to major league camp, the Tigers said Tuesday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners activated second baseman Dee Gordon off the 10-day disabled list before Thursday night's game against the Texas Rangers and reinserted him into his customary leadoff spot.Infielder Gordon Beckham was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma to make room for Gordon on the roster.Gordon was placed on the DL with a fractured right big toe on May 22, retroactive to May 21. Gordon originally injured the toe on May 9 in Toronto and aggravated the injury 11 days later in Detroit.Gordon still led the American League with 16 stolen bases entering Thursday's game despite missing time with the injury.In the 20 games before going on the DL, Gordon hit .337 with 12 runs, six doubles, six RBIs and seven stolen bases.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

A look at what's happening around the majors today:OLD CONNECTIONSRed Sox lefty David Price (4-4), coming off a complete-game victory over Baltimore, pitches against his original team and buddy Chris Archer (3-3) when Boston visits Tampa Bay. "There will be a little bit of banter, but it's all friendly," Archer said. Price might get a chance to face prized Rays prospect Willy Adames, who homered in his major league debut Tuesday night. The 22-year-old shortstop was acquired from Detroit in a three-team trade that sent Price from the Rays to the Tigers on July 31, 2014.THE THROWBACKHouston ace Justin Verlander (5-2) faces San Francisco at home. Verlander lowered his ERA to a big league-best 1.05 by tossing a five-hitter against the Angels last time out, his eighth career shutout and first since 2015 with Detroit. Jeff Samardzija (1-2) is up for the Giants.ON SECOND THOUGHTThe Mariners are down another second baseman after Dee Gordon joined Robinson Cano on the disabled list. Gordon, who... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:OLD CONNECTIONSRed Sox lefty David Price (4-4), coming off a complete-game victory over Baltimore, pitches against his original team and buddy Chris Archer (3-3) when Boston visits Tampa Bay. "There will be a little bit of banter, but it's all friendly," Archer said. Price might get a chance to face prized Rays prospect Willy Adames, who homered in his major league debut Tuesday night. The 22-year-old shortstop was acquired from Detroit in a three-team trade that sent Price from the Rays to the Tigers on July 31, 2014.THE THROWBACKHouston ace Justin Verlander (5-2) faces San Francisco at home. Verlander lowered his ERA to a big league-best 1.05 by tossing a five-hitter against the Angels last time out, his eighth career shutout and first since 2015 with Detroit. Jeff Samardzija (1-2) is up for the Giants.ON SECOND THOUGHTThe Mariners are down another second baseman after Dee Gordon joined Robinson Cano on the disabled list. Gordon,... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto felt disappointment first when he learned of Robinson Cano's 80-game suspension for violating baseball's drug agreement.Then he thought about the opportunities."I think you all have figured out that I'm an optimistic person by nature," Dipoto said Tuesday. "And it turned into, 'All right, how do we turn this into as positive as we can and solve the problem?'"Seattle has rarely fielded the starting lineup it envisioned this season and yet it has stuck around a competitive AL West race. But none of its previous absences will be impactful as the loss of Cano, an All-Star second baseman suspended Tuesday after testing positive for Furosemide, a diuretic that can be used to mask performance-enhancing drugs.Dipoto said Cano's loss "really leaves an impression." It also ups the pressure on the GM to make a move to keep the Mariners' playoff aspirations alive. Lucky for him, he has a couple of assets working in his favor — a Gold Glove Award-winning... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SECOND CHANCEDee Gordon and the Mariners are contemplating a move back to second base for the 2015 Gold Glove Award winner. Gordon was moved to center field following an offseason trade to Seattle from Miami, but now the Mariners need help at the keystone with Robinson Cano serving an 80-game suspension for violating baseball's drug agreement. Gordon Beckham and Andrew Romine will play second for the short-term, but Gordon took infield practice Tuesday and could find himself back on the dirt in a game soon.RAIN GAMESThe Nationals and Yankees will resume a game suspended Tuesday night in the middle of the sixth inning before playing the finale of a two-game set. The score is tied 3-3, with New York rallying from three down behind Tyler Austin's two-run homer and a sacrifice fly. Of course, rain is also in the forecast Wednesday in Washington, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he did not think the teams would make up those games on both... [More]