Houston manager Dusty Baker celebrated Jackie Robinson’s legacy on the 73rd anniversary of the fall of the major league color barrier and lamented the lack of African Americans in today’s game. “It’s frustrating because we’ve talked about it forever ... but it seems like the numbers are dwindling instead of increasing," Baker said Wednesday.Only 7.7% of big league players on opening day rosters last year were African American, down from 17% in 1990. Baker and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts are the only two African American managers in the majors.Baker appreciates that the league is making a “conscious effort" to get more young African Americans involved in baseball through programs like Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities and is optimistic there can be a turnaround in the upcoming years. “Hopefully in this decade and the next decade there will be more guys that get a chance,” Baker said. “All they need is a chance. A lot of guys have been bypassed and overlooked.”Robinson broke the color barrier... [More]

Houston manager Dusty Baker celebrated Jackie Robinson’s legacy on the 73rd anniversary of the fall of the major league color barrier and lamented the lack of African Americans in today’s game. “It’s frustrating because we’ve talked about it forever ... but it seems like the numbers are dwindling instead of increasing," Baker said Wednesday.Only 7.7% of big league players on opening day rosters last year were African American, down from 17% in 1990. Baker and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts are the only two African American managers in the majors.Baker appreciates that the league is making a “conscious effort" to get more young African Americans involved in baseball through programs like Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities and is optimistic there can be a turnaround in the upcoming years. “Hopefully in this decade and the next decade there will be more guys that get a chance,” Baker said. “All they need is a chance. A lot of guys have been bypassed and overlooked.”Robinson broke the color barrier... [More]

Houston manager Dusty Baker celebrated Jackie Robinson’s legacy on the 73rd anniversary of the fall of the major league color barrier and lamented the lack of African Americans in today’s game. “It’s frustrating because we’ve talked about it forever ... but it seems like the numbers are dwindling instead of increasing," Baker said Wednesday.Only 7.7% of big league players on opening day rosters last year were African American, down from 17% in 1990. Baker and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts are the only two African American managers in the majors.Baker appreciates that the league is making a “conscious effort" to get more young African Americans involved in baseball through programs like Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities and is optimistic there can be a turnaround in the upcoming years. “Hopefully in this decade and the next decade there will be more guys that get a chance,” Baker said. “All they need is a chance. A lot of guys have been bypassed and overlooked.”Robinson broke the color barrier... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — The future of the Seattle Mariners’ starting rotation is now, with left-hander Justus Sheffield virtually assured of a spot and fellow rising prospect Justin Dunn a top contender to join the group.Both got a taste of the big leagues last season when they made their Mariners debuts. This season they figure to be a major part of Seattle’s rebuilding process as it enters its second year following a 68-94 season.“Every year’s a step forward, but mainly this year I’m looking forward to going out there and competing and changing this thing around,” said Sheffield, who was 0-1 in eight games, including seven starts, and posted a 5.50 ERA over 36 innings. The club appears to have set expectations for Sheffield, which he appreciates. “As they should,” he said. “As anyone should. Everyone has a sense of responsibility of going out there and proving what they can do.”Sheffield, 23, is in his second spring training with the Mariners. He’s learned from last season that baseball... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger is not likely to take the field anytime soon following his second surgery in less than a month.The Mariners said the 2018 All-Star had a lower back procedure Thursday that followed core surgery in January.Both are related to a ruptured testicle sustained in a game last June, an injury believed to have occurred when he fouled off a pitch and the ball hit him in the groin area. In working his way back, Haniger felt back pain and never played again last season.Haniger posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed on Instagram on Thursday with the caption reading “2nd surgery today in the last 3 weeks. Not how I imagined heading into the 2020 season but I’m really excited to start this recovery process and build myself back up. I’ll do whatever it takes to come back even better than I’ve ever been!”Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said Haniger, who hit .285 with 26 home runs and 93 runs batted in in 2018 before his 2019 season... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — This was already going to be a year where the Seattle Mariners would be relying heavily on young players and some of their top prospects right from the beginning of the season. Now the Mariners expect to be without one of their few veterans — likely for the first month. Outfielder Mitch Haniger is expected to miss the start of the regular season and likely needs to undergo core muscle surgery, general manager Jerry Dipoto said Thursday. Haniger suffered the injury during one of his offseason workouts earlier this week. Dipoto said the latest setback is tied to Haniger's injury issues from last season. “I was expecting him to show up for the first day of spring training ready to go but that does not appear to be the case,” Dipoto said. Haniger missed the final 3 1/2 months of the season after suffering a ruptured testicle and then experiencing back and core issues during his recovery. Haniger was limited to 63 games and batted .220 with 15 homers and 32 RBIs. A year earlier,... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Zack Greinke of the Houston Astros has a no-hitter through seven innings, pushing the Seattle Mariners to the verge of a dubious milestone.Greinke has struck out nine on 82 pitches. The Astros lead 2-0.The All-Star lost his perfect game in the sixth when he walked Dee Gordon, ending his streak of consecutive innings without a free pass at 29 1/3. He got out of the inning with a double play.The Mariners have been no-hit twice this season, including once already by the Astros. No team has ever been no-hit three times in a season.Greinke struck out five straight, including the side in the fifth inning, and has recorded 10 groundball outs. Seattle has pushed the ball into the outfield just twice.Greinke is looking for his eighth win since joining Houston after being traded by Arizona minutes before the trade deadline on July 31. He's going for his fourth straight win and is 17-5 combined.The right-hander recorded his 200th career victory on Aug. 18 at Oakland. His best outing entering Wednesday was a one-hitter against the Mariners in 2009.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Orioles second. Renato Nunez singles to left field. Jonathan Villar strikes out swinging. Austin Hays grounds out to second base, Dee Gordon to Daniel Vogelbach. Renato Nunez to third. Pedro Severino walks. Stevie Wilkerson doubles to deep right field. Pedro Severino to third. Renato Nunez scores. Richie Martin doubles to deep left center field. Stevie Wilkerson scores. Pedro Severino scores. Hanser Alberto grounds out to third base, Kyle Seager to Daniel Vogelbach.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Orioles 3, Mariners 0.Mariners third. Shed Long homers to right field. J.P. Crawford strikes out swinging. Kyle Lewis walks. Kyle Seager grounds out to shallow infield, Trey Mancini to Asher Wojciechowski. Kyle Lewis to second. Tom Murphy strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Orioles 3, Mariners 1.Mariners fifth. Mallex Smith pops out to Pedro Severino. Shed Long doubles to deep right field. J.P. Crawford singles to right field. Shed Long scores. Kyle Lewis singles to right... [More]

Mariners second. Kyle Seager singles to shortstop. Kyle Lewis lines out to deep center field to Bryan Reynolds. Tom Murphy walks. Kyle Seager to second. Dee Gordon lines out to deep left field to Erik Gonzalez. Dylan Moore doubles to deep left field. Tom Murphy scores. Kyle Seager scores. Justin Dunn called out on strikes.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 2, Pirates 0.Mariners fourth. Kyle Seager flies out to center field to Bryan Reynolds. Kyle Lewis homers to right field. Tom Murphy homers to center field. Dee Gordon singles to center field. Dylan Moore strikes out swinging. Dee Gordon out at second.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Mariners 4, Pirates 0.Pirates eighth. Erik Gonzalez grounds out to shallow infield to Tom Murphy. Cole Tucker pinch-hitting for Yacksel Rios. Cole Tucker triples to deep right field. Kevin Newman grounds out to third base, Kyle Seager to Austin Nola. Cole Tucker scores. Bryan Reynolds grounds out to shallow infield, Anthony Bass to Austin Nola.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Mariners 4, Pirates 1.

Mariners second. Kyle Lewis strikes out swinging. Omar Narvaez singles to left field. Austin Nola doubles to deep right field. Omar Narvaez to third. Dee Gordon out on a sacrifice fly to deep right center field to Melky Cabrera. Omar Narvaez scores. Mallex Smith grounds out to first base to Jose Osuna.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 1, Pirates 0.Mariners fifth. Marco Gonzales doubles to right field. Shed Long singles to shallow center field. Marco Gonzales scores. J.P. Crawford lines out to right field to Melky Cabrera. Kyle Seager strikes out on a foul tip. Kyle Lewis strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 2, Pirates 0.Mariners sixth. Omar Narvaez homers to right field. Austin Nola homers to left field. Dee Gordon lines out to third base to Colin Moran. Mallex Smith lines out to deep left field to Kevin Kramer. Marco Gonzales called out on strikes.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Mariners 4, Pirates 0.Mariners seventh. Shed Long homers to right field. J.P. Crawford walks. Kyle Seager grounds out to second base, Adam Frazier to Jose Osuna. J.P. Crawford to second. Kyle Lewis strikes out swinging. Omar Narvaez singles to left field. J.P. Crawford scores. Austin Nola reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Omar Narvaez out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 6, Pirates 0.

Mariners fourth. Kyle Lewis doubles to right field. Daniel Vogelbach walks. Tom Murphy singles to left field. Daniel Vogelbach to second. Kyle Lewis to third. Dylan Moore singles to center field. Tom Murphy to second. Daniel Vogelbach to third. Kyle Lewis scores. Donnie Walton singles to right field. Dylan Moore to second. Tom Murphy to third. Daniel Vogelbach scores. Mallex Smith singles to left field. Donnie Walton to second. Dylan Moore to third. Tom Murphy scores. Shed Long called out on strikes. Austin Nola singles to right center field. Mallex Smith to second. Donnie Walton scores. Dylan Moore scores. Kyle Seager walks. Austin Nola to second. Mallex Smith to third. Kyle Lewis strikes out swinging. Daniel Vogelbach called out on strikes.5 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Mariners 5, White sox 0.White sox fifth. Yolmer Sanchez walks. Zack Collins reaches on error. Yolmer Sanchez to second. Fielding error by Austin Nola. Adam Engel homers to left field. Zack Collins scores. Yolmer... [More]

White sox first. Leury Garcia grounds out to third base, Kyle Seager to Austin Nola. Tim Anderson strikes out swinging. Jose Abreu homers to center field. Eloy Jimenez singles to left field. Yoan Moncada singles to right field. Eloy Jimenez to second. Danny Mendick reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Yoan Moncada out at second.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. White sox 1, Mariners 0.Mariners first. Shed Long lines out to second base to Danny Mendick. J.P. Crawford walks. Austin Nola walks. J.P. Crawford to second. Kyle Seager walks. Austin Nola to second. J.P. Crawford to third. Kyle Lewis out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Ryan Cordell. Kyle Seager to third. Austin Nola scores. Omar Narvaez singles to left center field. Kyle Seager scores. Tom Murphy singles to shallow center field, tagged out at second, Danny Mendick to Tim Anderson. Omar Narvaez to third.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mariners 3, White sox 1.White sox second. Adam Engel singles to center... [More]

Reds third. Jose Peraza singles to left field. Curt Casali singles to right field. Jose Peraza to third. Alex Blandino called out on strikes. Joey Votto doubles to deep right field. Curt Casali to third. Jose Peraza scores. Eugenio Suarez called out on strikes. Aristides Aquino grounds out to first base to Austin Nola.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Reds 1, Mariners 0.Reds fourth. Jose Iglesias strikes out swinging. Phillip Ervin homers to center field. Freddy Galvis doubles to deep left field. Jose Peraza flies out to deep center field to Mallex Smith. Freddy Galvis to third. Curt Casali lines out to third base to Kyle Seager.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Reds 2, Mariners 0.Mariners seventh. Austin Nola hit by pitch. Kyle Seager walks. Austin Nola to second. Omar Narvaez lines out to right field to Aristides Aquino. Austin Nola to third. Kyle Lewis homers to right field. Kyle Seager scores. Austin Nola scores. Daniel Vogelbach singles to left field. Dee Gordon strikes out swinging.... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Cincinnati Reds right-hander Sonny Gray lost a no-hit bid in the seventh inning when Seattle Mariners rookie Kyle Lewis hit a three-run homer Wednesday night.Gray hit a batter, issued a walk and got one out in the seventh before Lewis hit a drive out to right-center. Lewis also connected to end Reds righty Trevor Bauer's no-hit bid Tuesday night in the fifth inning of the outfielder's major league debut.Gray allowed a single to Daniel Vogelbach before being lifted trailing 3-2. He struck out nine, walked three, hit two batters and allowed two hits on 111 pitches.Seattle has already been no-hit twice this season, by the Los Angeles Angels on July 12 and the Houston Astros on Aug. 3. No club has ever been no-hit three times.Dee Gordon nearly had a hit in the third inning when he bounced a comebacker off the back of Gray's knee, but Gray calmly scooped up the ball and got the out. Phillip Ervin also tracked down a hard-hit ball by rookie Kyle Lewis in the right-center field gap in the fifth.The Reds turned a first-inning double play and picked off Donnie Walton trying to steal after an eight-pitch walk in the third. It was the second night in a row the Mariners failed to get a hit through five innings against the Reds.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SEATTLE (AP) — Cincinnati Reds right-hander Sonny Gray has completed six no-hit innings against Seattle, pushing the Mariners to the brink of an unfortunate historical mark.Gray has struck out nine, walked two and hit a batter while throwing 94 pitches Wednesday night. He twice put together runs of four consecutive strikeouts.Seattle has already been no-hit twice this season, by the Los Angeles Angels on July 12 and the Houston Astros on Aug. 3. No club has ever been no-hit three times.Dee Gordon nearly had a hit in the third inning when he bounced a comebacker off the back of Gray's knee, but Gray calmly scooped up the ball and got the out. Phillip Ervin also tracked down a hard-hit ball by rookie Kyle Lewis in the right-center field gap in the fifth.The Reds turned a first-inning double play and picked off Donnie Walton trying to steal after an eight-pitch walk in the third. It was the second night in a row the Mariners failed to get a hit through five innings against the Reds.Cincinnati leads 2-0.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Reds second. Aristides Aquino singles to left field. Jose Iglesias grounds out to shallow infield. Aristides Aquino out at second. Phillip Ervin triples to right field. Freddy Galvis singles to left field. Phillip Ervin scores. Jose Peraza doubles to deep left field. Freddy Galvis to third. Tucker Barnhart grounds out to shallow infield, Justus Sheffield to Austin Nola.1 run, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Reds 1, Mariners 0.Mariners fifth. Daniel Vogelbach flies out to center field to Phillip Ervin. Kyle Lewis homers to center field. Tim Lopes grounds out to shortstop, Jose Iglesias to Joey Votto. Mallex Smith strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Reds 1, Mariners 1.Mariners sixth. Dylan Moore homers to left field. Dee Gordon strikes out swinging. Austin Nola called out on strikes. Kyle Seager walks. Tom Murphy singles to left field. Kyle Seager to second. Daniel Vogelbach flies out to deep center field to Phillip Ervin.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mariners 2, Reds... [More]

Astros second. Yordan Alvarez strikes out swinging. Aledmys Diaz grounds out to third base, Kyle Seager to Austin Nola. Kyle Tucker walks. Abraham Toro doubles to deep right field. Kyle Tucker to third. Martin Maldonado reaches on error. Abraham Toro scores. Kyle Tucker scores. Fielding error by Dee Gordon. Jake Marisnick homers to left field. Martin Maldonado scores. George Springer flies out to deep left center field to Braden Bishop.4 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 0 left on. Astros 4, Mariners 0.Astros third. Jose Altuve doubles to center field. Alex Bregman hit by pitch. Yordan Alvarez doubles to deep right field. Alex Bregman scores. Jose Altuve scores. Aledmys Diaz doubles to deep left field. Yordan Alvarez scores. Kyle Tucker doubles to deep right center field. Aledmys Diaz scores. Abraham Toro walks. Martin Maldonado doubles to deep left field. Abraham Toro to third. Kyle Tucker scores. Jake Marisnick pops out to shallow center field to Dee Gordon. George Springer homers to right field.... [More]

Mariners third. Shed Long singles to right field. Tim Lopes pinch-hitting for Jake Fraley. Tim Lopes flies out to Josh Reddick. Dee Gordon triples to deep right field. Shed Long scores. Dylan Moore pops out to shallow center field to Alex Bregman. Mallex Smith strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 1, Astros 0.Astros sixth. Alex Bregman homers to left field. Yordan Alvarez singles to left center field. Aledmys Diaz walks. Yordan Alvarez to second. Robinson Chirinos grounds out to second base. Aledmys Diaz out at second. Yordan Alvarez to third. Abraham Toro called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 1, Astros 1.Astros seventh. Kyle Tucker pinch-hitting for Jake Marisnick. Kyle Tucker doubles to deep left field. Josh Reddick out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Mallex Smith. Kyle Tucker scores. Jose Altuve flies out to deep right center field to Mallex Smith. Michael Brantley strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 2, Mariners 1.

Mariners first. Dylan Moore doubles to deep center field. Dee Gordon singles to center field. Dylan Moore to third. Austin Nola doubles to deep left field. Dee Gordon scores. Dylan Moore scores. Kyle Seager homers to center field. Austin Nola scores. Tom Murphy singles to left field. Daniel Vogelbach walks. Tom Murphy to second. Tim Lopes flies out to right field to Kyle Tucker. Jake Fraley singles to center field. Daniel Vogelbach to second. Tom Murphy scores. Braden Bishop strikes out swinging. Dylan Moore strikes out on a foul tip.5 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mariners 5, Astros 0.Mariners second. Dee Gordon singles to left field. Austin Nola homers to left field. Dee Gordon scores. Kyle Seager called out on strikes. Tom Murphy flies out to right field to Kyle Tucker. Daniel Vogelbach grounds out to second base, Alex Bregman to Yuli Gurriel.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Mariners 7, Astros 0.Astros second. Yordan Alvarez reaches on error. Fielding error by Dylan Moore. Yuli... [More]

Cubs second. Willson Contreras homers to center field. Ian Happ walks. Jason Heyward strikes out swinging. Ian Happ steals second. Addison Russell flies out to left center field to Braden Bishop. Jon Lester strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 1, Mariners 0.Cubs third. Ben Zobrist walks. Kyle Schwarber doubles to deep center field. Ben Zobrist to third. Nicholas Castellanos out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Mallex Smith. Kyle Schwarber to third. Ben Zobrist scores. Anthony Rizzo grounds out to shallow infield to Dee Gordon. Willson Contreras walks. Ian Happ called out on strikes.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Cubs 2, Mariners 0.Cubs fifth. Ben Zobrist singles to shallow infield. Kyle Schwarber singles to center field. Ben Zobrist to second. Nicholas Castellanos homers to center field. Kyle Schwarber scores. Ben Zobrist scores. Anthony Rizzo walks. Willson Contreras singles to left field. Anthony Rizzo to second. Ian Happ grounds out to shortstop.... [More]