BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit the first grand slam for Boston since the end of the 2016 season and drove in a career-best six runs to carry the Red Sox to a 10-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday for their seventh straight victory.J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers homered for Boston, and Rick Porcello (2-0) pitched into the eighth inning.This is just the second time in franchise history that the Red Sox have lost their season opener and won the next seven. The other came in 1904 when Boston captured the AL pennant.The Rays have lost seven straight and are off to their worst start ever after rallying for a win at home over the Red Sox on opening day.Bogaerts hit a two-run double in Boston's four-run first. In the second, his second career slam completely left Fenway Park over the Green Monster and came after Jake Faria (0-1) walked the bases full.PHILLIES 20, MARLINS 1PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Maikel Franco and Aaron Altherr each hit a grand slam and Carlos Santana and Jorge Alfaro also... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball started the season with its most players born in Puerto Rico since 2011.Nineteen players on opening-day rosters were born on the island, an increase of three from last year, the commissioner's office said Friday.The overall percentage of players born outside the 50 states was 29 percent, down from last year's record 29.8 percent figure. This year's percentage tied 2007 for third behind last year and 2005 (29.2 percent).Toronto infielder Gift Ngoepe is the first player from South Africa on an opening-day roster and Pittsburgh pitcher Dovydas Neverauskas is the first from Lithuania.The Dominican Republic led with 84, down from 93 last year. Venezuela was next with 74, followed by Puerto Rico, Cuba (17), Mexico (11), Japan (eight), Canada and South Korea (six each), and Colombia and Curacao (five apiece).Australia, Brazil, Nicaragua and Panama had three apiece. Aruba, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, South Africa, Taiwan and the U.S. Virgin Islands each had one.The Texas Rangers (14) had the most for the second straight year, followed by the Chicago White Sox and Miami (13 each).Figures include 750 active players on opening day rosters, 118 on disabled lists, eight on the restricted list and one on the paternity list.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Capsules of National League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Chicago Cubs2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Manager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).He's Here: RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly, C Chris Gimenez.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Projected Lineup: CF Ian Happ (.253, 24 HRs, 68 RBIs, .842 OPS) or Albert Almora Jr. (.298, 8, 46), 3B Kris Bryant (.295, 29, 73, 38 2Bs, 111 runs), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.273, 32, 109, 91 BBs), C Willson Contreras (.276, 21, 74), LF Kyle Schwarber (.211, 30, 59), SS Addison Russell (.239, 12, 43), RF Jason Heyward (.259, 11, 59), 2B Javier Baez (.273, 23, 75, .796 OPS).Rotation: LH Jon Lester (13-8, 4.33 ERA, 180 Ks), RH Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03), RH Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86, 209 Ks with Rangers and Dodgers), LH Jose Quintana (11-11, 4.15, 207 Ks with White Sox and Cubs), RH Tyler Chatwood (8-15, 4.69 with Rockies).Key Relievers: RH Brandon... [More]

Capsules of National League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Chicago Cubs2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Manager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).He's Here: RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly, C Chris Gimenez.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Projected Lineup: CF Ian Happ (.253, 24 HRs, 68 RBIs, .842 OPS) or Albert Almora Jr. (.298, 8, 46), 3B Kris Bryant (.295, 29, 73, 38 2Bs, 111 runs), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.273, 32, 109, 91 BBs), C Willson Contreras (.276, 21, 74), LF Kyle Schwarber (.211, 30, 59), SS Addison Russell (.239, 12, 43), RF Jason Heyward (.259, 11, 59), 2B Javier Baez (.273, 23, 75, .796 OPS).Rotation: LH Jon Lester (13-8, 4.33 ERA, 180 Ks), RH Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03), RH Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86, 209 Ks with Rangers and Dodgers), LH Jose Quintana (11-11, 4.15, 207 Ks with White Sox and Cubs), RH Tyler Chatwood (8-15, 4.69 with Rockies).Key Relievers: RH Brandon... [More]

RHP Dovydas Neverauskas was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday for his fifth stint in Pittsburgh. He's 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in nine appearances with the Pirates this season. In Triple-A, he had a 2.86 ERA in 40 outings. He's reported to be the first Lithuanian-born player to appear in the Majors.

Dovydas Neverauskas was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Neverauskas last pitched for the Pirates on Monday, allowing a home run to the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig in the 12th inning of a 6-5 loss.

RHP Dovydas Neverauskas was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis, his fourth stint in the big leagues this season. He pitched a perfect sixth inning, with two grounders and a strikeout before leaving for a pinch-hitter.

RHP Dovydas Neverauskas was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room on the active roster for RHP George Kontos. That came a day after Neverauskas picked up his first win Sunday in relief against San Diego. In two stints with the Pirates, he had a 3.00 ERA six appearances with seven strikeouts and one walk.