ST. LOUIS (AP) — Robbie Ray worked around five walks over six innings and the bullpen closed out a two-hitter, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks spoil the St. Louis Cardinals' home opener 3-1 on Thursday night.Arizona improved to 6-1 for the second straight season and tied a franchise record for its best seven-game start. The team was also 6-1 in 2000. St. Louis dropped its first home opener since 2015.Ray (2-0) gave up a run and two hits while striking out nine. He was making his first appearance in St. Louis since being knocked out of a game by a line drive off his head on July 28, 2017.David Peralta capped off a two-run second inning with an RBI single. He pushed the lead to 3-0 with a double in the fourth.Brad Boxberger picked up his third save in three chances. Four Arizona relievers were perfect except for an error by first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the eighth.Adam Wainwright (0-1) came off the 10-day disabled list to make the start for St. Louis. He gave up four hits and three runs... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Conforto came off the disabled list to hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Stephen Strasburg, Yoenis Cespedes also went deep against the ace, and Jay Bruce tacked on an insurance gland slam, leading the New York Mets to an 8-2 victory Thursday in Washington's chilly home opener.Jacob deGrom (2-0) wiggled out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam to finish is six-inning outing with a flourish. After walking Bryce Harper to fill the bags, deGrom got Ryan Zimmerman to fly out to shallow right and Howie Kendrick to line out to shortstop, before Trea Turner looked at a 94 mph fastball for strike three. Turner argued and was ejected for the first time in the majors.Zimmerman, who only got two at-bats in spring training, went 0 for 4 on Thursday and is 3 for 22 (.136) with six strikeouts this season.The Mets improved to an NL East-leading 5-1, while the two-time reigning division champion Nationals have lost three in a row after a 4-0 start under rookie manager Dave Martinez.Conforto... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Conforto came off the disabled list to hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Stephen Strasburg, Yoenis Cespedes also went deep against the ace, and Jay Bruce tacked on an insurance gland slam, leading the New York Mets to an 8-2 victory Thursday in Washington's chilly home opener.Jacob deGrom (2-0) wiggled out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam to finish is six-inning outing with a flourish. After walking Bryce Harper to fill the bags, deGrom got Ryan Zimmerman to fly out to shallow right and Howie Kendrick to line out to shortstop, before Trea Turner looked at a 94 mph fastball for strike three. Turner argued and was ejected for the first time in the majors.Zimmerman, who only got two at-bats in spring training, went 0 for 4 on Thursday and is 3 for 22 (.136) with six strikeouts this season.The Mets improved to an NL East-leading 5-1, while the two-time reigning division champion Nationals have lost three in a row after a 4-0 start under rookie manager Dave Martinez.Conforto... [More]

Capsules of American League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Cleveland Indians2017: 102-60, first place, lost to Yankees in ALDS.Manager: Terry Francona (sixth season).He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, LF Rajai Davis, RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Projected Lineup: SS Francisco Lindor (.273, 33 HRs, 89 RBIs, 44 2Bs, 15 SBs, 10 errors), 2B Jason Kipnis (.232, 12 HRs, 35 RBIs in 90 games), 3B Jose Ramirez (.318, 29, 83, AL-leading 56 2Bs), DH Edwin Encarnacion (.258, 38, 107), 1B Yonder Alonso (.266, career-high 28 HRs, 67 RBIs with Athletics and Mariners), RF Lonnie Chisenhall (.288, 12, 53 in 82 games), C Roberto Perez (.207, 8, 38, club went 44-22 in his starts) or Yan Gomes (.232, 14, 56), CF Bradley Zimmer (.241, 8, 39, 18 SBs, 0 errors), LF Michael Brantley (.299, 9, 52 in 90 games) or Rajai Davis (.235, 5, 20, 29 SBs with Oakland and Boston).Rotation: RH Corey Kluber... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Nicky Delmonico broke into the majors last year, got off to a great start and then was hampered by injuries.No big deal for the affable Delmonico, who knows a few bumps and bruises hardly qualify as any sort of hardship.Delmonico, the son of a longtime college baseball coach, took a circuitous route to the big leagues, spending time in three minor league systems and overcoming an addiction to Adderall before earning a spot with the Chicago White Sox with an impressive debut last summer.The 25-year-old Delmonico was selected by Baltimore in the sixth round of the 2011 draft and traded to Milwaukee for Francisco Rodriguez in July 2013. One year later, he was playing for Class A Brevard County in the Brewers' organization when he was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for an amphetamine.He checked into a rehab facility in 2015, beginning the difficult road back to the life he always imagined for himself."It humbled me a lot," Delmonico said before Friday's 7-6... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Nicky Delmonico broke into the majors last year, got off to a great start and then was hampered by injuries.No big deal for the affable Delmonico, who knows a few bumps and bruises hardly qualify as any sort of hardship.Delmonico, the son of a longtime college baseball coach, took a circuitous route to the big leagues, spending time in three minor league systems and overcoming an addiction to Adderall before earning a spot with the Chicago White Sox with an impressive debut last summer.The 25-year-old Delmonico was selected by Baltimore in the sixth round of the 2011 draft and traded to Milwaukee for Francisco Rodriguez in July 2013. One year later, he was playing for Class A Brevard County in the Brewers' organization when he was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for an amphetamine.He checked into a rehab facility in 2015, beginning the difficult road back to the life he always imagined for himself."It humbled me a lot," Delmonico said before Friday's spring... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Even though the Chicago White Sox are relatively early in their rebuilding project, the enthusiasm is very high — even by spring training standards of optimism.Much of that has to do with their man in the dugout.Second-year manager Rick Renteria's attributes — his energy, work ethic and ability to communicate — appear to be a perfect fit for the personalities and talent in the White Sox system."He asks a level of commitment out of them that's similar to what he's providing," general manager Rick Hahn says.At 55, Renteria has built a reputation around baseball as an encouraging, positive coach and manager. He played five seasons in the big leagues, but was a regular in only one — with the expansion 1993 Florida Marlins, batting .255 with two home runs.The White Sox have assembled an impressive group of young players. Some, such as infielder Yoan Moncada and pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, have major league experience and are being counted on full-time this... [More]