FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A former Los Angeles Angels employee has been charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in connection with last year's overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, prosecutors in Texas announced Friday.Eric Prescott Kay was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas, and made his first appearance Friday in federal court, according to Erin Nealy Cox, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas.Kay was the Angels' director of communications, and he served as their public relations contact on many road trips. He was placed on leave shortly after Skaggs' death, and he never returned to the team.In a statement issued Friday after news of Kay's court appearance, the Angels said they opened an independent investigation into Skaggs' death. The team reaffirmed its position that management didn't know Skaggs was an opioids user and didn't know any employees were providing drugs to players.Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in the Dallas area on July 1, 2019, before the start... [More]

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A former Los Angeles Angels employee has been charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in connection with last year's overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, prosecutors in Texas announced Friday.Eric Prescott Kay was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas, and made his first appearance Friday in federal court, according to Erin Nealy Cox, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas.Kay was the Angels' director of communications, and he served as their public relations contact on many road trips. He was placed on leave shortly after Skaggs' death, and he never returned to the team.In a statement issued Friday after news of Kay's court appearance, the Angels said they opened an independent investigation into Skaggs' death. The team reaffirmed its position that management didn't know Skaggs was an opioids user and didn't know any employees were providing drugs to players.Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in the Dallas area on July 1, 2019, before the start... [More]

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A former Angels employee has been charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in connection with last year's overdose death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, prosecutors in Texas announced Friday.Eric Prescott Kay was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas, and made his first appearance Friday in federal court, according to Erin Nealy Cox, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. Kay was communications director for the Angels. Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in the Dallas area July 1, 2019, before the start of what was supposed to be a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. The first game was postponed before the teams played the final three games.Skaggs died after choking on his vomit with a toxic mix of alcohol and the powerful painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone in his system, a coroner's report said. Prosecutors accused Kay of providing the fentanyl to Skaggs and others, who were not named.“Tyler Skaggs’s overdose – coming, as it did, in the midst of an ascendant baseball career – should be a wake-up call: No one is immune from this deadly drug, whether sold as a powder or hidden inside an innocuous-looking tablet,” Nealy Cox said.If convicted, Kay faces up to 20 years in prison. Federal court records do not list an attorney representing him, and an attorney who previously spoke on his behalf did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

WASHINGTON (AP) — World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his season debut for the Washington Nationals on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles after being sidelined by a nerve problem in his pitching hand.Strasburg missed what would have been his first two appearances of 2020 after making all 33 starts last year and then becoming the first pitcher to finish a postseason with a 5-0 record. “The tingling in his thumb is gone, and that’s a good sign. We watched him and he’s throwing some really good bullpens. That was the big thing for me: Nothing in his mechanics has changed. Everything’s good,” manager Dave Martinez said Friday before Washington's series opener against visiting Baltimore. “So based on a conversation with him, he feels good,” Martinez added. “He wants to pitch. He’s ready to pitch on Sunday.”For how long is another question.“We’re going to watch him. If he gives us 75-80 pitches, that’d be awesome,” Martinez said. “But we’ll keep an eye on him.” The 32-year-old... [More]

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A former Angels employee has been charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in connection with last year's overdose death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, prosecutors in Texas announced Friday.Eric Prescott Kay was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas, and made his first appearance Friday in federal court, according to Erin Nealy Cox, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. Kay was communications director for the Angels. Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in the Dallas area July 1, 2019, before the start of what was supposed to be a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. The first game was postponed before the teams played the final three games.Skaggs died after choking on his vomit with a toxic mix of alcohol and the powerful painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone in his system, a coroner's report said. Prosecutors accused Kay of providing the fentanyl to Skaggs and others, who were not named.“Tyler Skaggs’s overdose – coming, as it did, in the midst of an ascendant baseball career – should be a wake-up call: No one is immune from this deadly drug, whether sold as a powder or hidden inside an innocuous-looking tablet,” Nealy Cox said.If convicted, Kay faces up to 20 years in prison. Federal court records do not list an attorney representing him, and an attorney who previously spoke on his behalf did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Cardinals’ game Friday against the Chicago Cubs was postponed after another St. Louis player tested positive for COVID-19. Major League Baseball said the game was postponed to allow more time for additional testing and to complete the contact tracing process.The Cardinals have been off since last Friday, when two players returned positive coronavirus tests. Eight players in total have tested positive, including star catcher Yadier Molina.

Aug. 81903 — A week after pitching his first doubleheader triumph, Joe “Iron Man” McGinnity of the New York Giants scored a double victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-1 and 4-3. In the second game, he stole home.1915 — Philadelphia’s Gavvy Cravath hit four doubles and drove in eight runs in a 14-7 victory over the Reds at Cincinnati.1920 — Howard Ehmke of the Detroit Tigers pitched the fastest 1-0 game in American League history — 1 hour, 13 minutes, for a victory against the New York Yankees.1931 — Bob Burke of the Washington Senators pitched a 5-0 no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox.1954 — The Brooklyn Dodgers pounded the Cincinnati Reds 20-7 at Ebbets Field. The Dodgers scored 13 runs in the eighth inning after two were out.1973 — Designated hitter Orlando Cepeda hit four doubles as the Boston Red Sox posted a 9-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals.1982 — California’s Doug DeCinces hit three home runs in a game for the second time in less than a week. DeCinces hit solo homers in the... [More]

White sox second. Yasmani Grandal strikes out swinging. Eloy Jimenez called out on strikes. Nomar Mazara singles to right field. Leury Garcia homers to right field. Nomar Mazara scores. Zack Collins lines out to deep center field to Ben Gamel.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 2, Brewers 0.Brewers third. Keston Hiura grounds out to shallow infield, Leury Garcia to Jose Abreu. Christian Yelich walks. Avisail Garcia singles to right field. Christian Yelich to second. Jedd Gyorko singles to center field, advances to 2nd. Avisail Garcia to third. Christian Yelich scores. Justin Smoak grounds out to shallow infield to Jose Abreu. Omar Narvaez lines out to shallow center field to Danny Mendick.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. White sox 2, Brewers 1.Brewers fifth. Keston Hiura grounds out to second base, Danny Mendick to Jose Abreu. Christian Yelich homers to deep left field. Avisail Garcia walks. Jedd Gyorko homers to left field. Avisail Garcia scores. Justin Smoak reaches on error.... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics bench coach Ryan Christenson has apologized for raising his arm during a postgame celebration in what looked like a Nazi salute.Christenson made the gesture while greeting closer Liam Hendriks following the A's 6-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday.Hendriks immediately pushed Christenson's arm down and cameras then showed him laughing and briefly raising his arm a second time.Christenson faced criticism after video of the gesture circulated on social media. “I made a mistake and will not deny it,” Christenson said in a statement issued through the team. “Today in the dugout I greeted players with a gesture that was offensive. In the world today of COVID, I adapted our elbow bump, which we do after wins, to create some distance with the players. My gesture unintentionally resulted in a racist and horrible salute that I do not believe in. What I did is unacceptable and I deeply apologize.”The A's called the gesture “offensive” and apologized for... [More]

Astros fourth. Jose Altuve singles to deep right field. Alex Bregman strikes out swinging. Michael Brantley grounds out to first base to Christian Walker. Jose Altuve to third. Yuli Gurriel singles to shallow left field. Jose Altuve scores. Carlos Correa strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 1, Diamondbacks 0.Astros sixth. George Springer lines out to deep center field to Starling Marte. Jose Altuve homers to left field. Alex Bregman doubles to shallow left field. Michael Brantley grounds out to shallow right field, Ketel Marte to Christian Walker. Alex Bregman to third. Yuli Gurriel lines out to deep left field to David Peralta.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 2, Diamondbacks 0.Diamondbacks sixth. Kole Calhoun flies out to deep center field to George Springer. Starling Marte doubles to right field. Christian Walker doubles to deep center field. Starling Marte scores. Eduardo Escobar singles to right field. Christian Walker to third. David Peralta singles... [More]

Marlins first. Jonathan Villar homers to left field. Jon Berti lines out to deep left field to Dwight Smith Jr.. Francisco Cervelli strikes out swinging. Jesus Aguilar lines out to deep right field to Anthony Santander.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Marlins 1, Orioles 0.Orioles second. Renato Nunez homers to center field. Chance Sisco doubles to deep left field. Austin Hays lines out to deep center field to Monte Harrison. Chance Sisco to third. Chris Davis strikes out swinging. Pat Valaika flies out to deep right field to Lewis Brinson.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Orioles 1, Marlins 1.Marlins second. Brian Anderson lines out to shortstop to Hanser Alberto. Lewis Brinson walks. Logan Forsythe doubles to deep left field. Lewis Brinson to third. Magneuris Sierra out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Anthony Santander. Logan Forsythe to third. Lewis Brinson scores. Monte Harrison grounds out to shallow infield, Wade LeBlanc to Chris Davis.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on.... [More]

Phillies first. Andrew McCutchen lines out to shallow left field to Gleyber Torres. Rhys Hoskins walks. Bryce Harper singles to shallow right field. Rhys Hoskins to second. J.T. Realmuto homers to left field. Bryce Harper scores. Rhys Hoskins scores. Phil Gosselin strikes out swinging. Didi Gregorius grounds out to shallow infield, Jordan Montgomery to Luke Voit.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Phillies 3, Yankees 0.Yankees second. Gleyber Torres flies out to right center field to Bryce Harper. Brett Gardner singles to shallow infield. Gio Urshela reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Brett Gardner to second. Fielding error by Scott Kingery. Gary Sanchez called out on strikes. Tyler Wade walks. Gio Urshela to second. Brett Gardner to third. Mike Tauchman singles to shallow center field. Tyler Wade to second. Gio Urshela scores. Brett Gardner scores. Luke Voit pops out to second base to Scott Kingery.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Phillies 3, Yankees 2.Phillies third.... [More]

Rockies sixth. David Dahl strikes out swinging. Trevor Story homers to center field. Charlie Blackmon walks. Nolan Arenado lines out to deep center field to Mauricio Dubon. Matt Kemp singles to center field. Charlie Blackmon to second. Ryan McMahon lines out to deep left field to Austin Slater.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rockies 1, Giants 0.Giants seventh. Hunter Pence grounds out to shortstop, Nolan Arenado to Ryan McMahon. Darin Ruf strikes out swinging. Pablo Sandoval singles to center field. Chadwick Tromp singles to shallow center field. Pablo Sandoval to second. Mauricio Dubon homers to center field. Chadwick Tromp scores. Pablo Sandoval scores. Austin Slater strikes out swinging.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Giants 3, Rockies 1.Rockies seventh. Garrett Hampson doubles to deep left field. Chris Owings doubles. Garrett Hampson scores. Daniel Murphy pinch-hitting for Drew Butera. Daniel Murphy homers to center field. Chris Owings scores. David Dahl singles to second base.... [More]

Athletics second. Mark Canha flies out to deep left field to Willie Calhoun. Matt Olson homers to right field. Chad Pinder grounds out to shallow infield, Elvis Andrus to Todd Frazier. Khris Davis lines out to shallow left field to Elvis Andrus.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Athletics 1, Rangers 0.Athletics fourth. Ramon Laureano singles to right center field. Matt Chapman walks. Ramon Laureano to second. Mark Canha singles to center field. Matt Chapman to second. Ramon Laureano scores. Matt Olson lines out to deep left field to Willie Calhoun. Chad Pinder walks. Mark Canha to second. Matt Chapman to third. Khris Davis singles to left field. Chad Pinder to third. Mark Canha scores. Matt Chapman scores. Stephen Piscotty out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Nick Solak. Chad Pinder scores. Sean Murphy lines out to deep center field to Nick Solak.4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Athletics 5, Rangers 0.Rangers fifth. Nick Solak singles to left field. Isiah Kiner-Falefa triples to... [More]

Twins first. Max Kepler grounds out to shallow infield, Adam Frazier to Colin Moran. Jorge Polanco singles to right field. Nelson Cruz pops out to Colin Moran. Eddie Rosario walks. Jorge Polanco to third. Miguel Sano homers. Eddie Rosario scores. Jorge Polanco scores. Marwin Gonzalez called out on strikes.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Twins 3, Pirates 0.Pirates second. Colin Moran singles to shallow center field. Bryan Reynolds singles to right field. Colin Moran to second. Gregory Polanco homers to center field. Bryan Reynolds scores. Colin Moran scores. JT Riddle grounds out to shallow right field to Miguel Sano. John Ryan Murphy strikes out swinging. Jarrod Dyson grounds out to shallow infield, Ehire Adrianza to Miguel Sano.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Twins 3, Pirates 3.Twins fourth. Ehire Adrianza pops out to shallow center field to JT Riddle. Alex Avila called out on strikes. Byron Buxton homers to center field. Max Kepler flies out to center field to Jarrod Dyson.1... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Limited to the batter's box for the rest of this season, Shohei Ohtani is still helping the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani homered Thursday against the Seattle Mariners in his first plate appearance since being shut down as a pitcher for the rest of the year with a right forearm strain. The two-way Japanese sensation drove a 1-0 pitch from Taijuan Walker out to the opposite field just beyond the leap of left fielder Dee Gordon. It was Ohtani’s third home run of the season, all coming against the Mariners. Ohtani homered twice last week at home against Seattle. The Angels shut down Ohtani's arm for the truncated season after he strained the flexor pronator mass near the elbow. His recovery from the strain requires him to abstain from throwing for four to six weeks, which covers most of the shortened 2020 season.Ohtani had Tommy John surgery and did not pitch during the 2019 season. He made two starts this year, struggling with his command and velocity in both.Ohtani said Wednesday that he would like to continue being a two-way player for the Angels, but if the club asked him to consider focusing on one or the other he’d listen. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Aug. 71907 — Walter Johnson won the first of his 417 victories leading the Washington Senators to a 7-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians.1922 — Ken Williams of the St. Louis Browns hit two home runs in the sixth inning of rout over the Washington Senators.1923 — Cleveland’s Frank Bower went 6-for-6 with a double and five singles as the Indians routed the Washington Senators 22-2.1956 — The largest crowd in minor-league history, 57,000, saw 50-year-old Satchel Paige of Miami beat Columbus in an International League game played in the Orange Bowl.1968 — Joe Keough of the Oakland A’s hit a pinch home run in his first major league at-bat in the eighth inning of the second game of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees. The A’s won the nightcap 4-3 in 10 innings after dropping the first game 3-0.1971 — The New York Mets beat the Braves at Atlanta Stadium, 20-6. Ken Boswell led the Met attack with four hits and five RBIs including a grand slam off Mike McQueen.1985 — Baseball Commissioner... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Five pitchers combined on a four-hitter for Don Mattingly’s undermanned, gritty and first-place Miami Marlins, who beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 Wednesday night for a doubleheader sweep.Brian Anderson homered in opener, and Miami won 1-0 despite getting only two hits.The sweep kept the Marlins atop the NL East and earned Mattingly his 281st win as Miami’s manager, tying Jack McKeon’s club record.The Marlins won their third straight game since emerging from a coronavirus-prompted layoff that left them with a roster filled with callups, free agents and rookies. Miami has allowed a total of one run and 10 hits in those three games at Camden Yards.In the nightcap. Jon Berti hit an RBI double off Asher Wojciechowski (0-2) in the first inning and scored on a fly ball by Jesús Aguilar. That proved to be enough. Josh A. Smith started, Brian Moran (1-0) struck out three over one inning and Stephen Tarpley got four outs for his first save.In the opener, Anderson produced the game’s... [More]

Astros second. Carlos Correa doubles to deep center field. Abraham Toro singles to center field. Carlos Correa scores. Kyle Tucker homers to center field. Abraham Toro scores. Myles Straw flies out to deep center field to Starling Marte. Martin Maldonado flies out to deep left center field to Starling Marte. George Springer flies out to Kole Calhoun.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 3, Diamondbacks 0.Astros fourth. Carlos Correa called out on strikes. Abraham Toro homers to left field. Kyle Tucker strikes out swinging. Myles Straw flies out to right field to Kole Calhoun.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 4, Diamondbacks 0.Diamondbacks fourth. Ketel Marte singles to right center field. Kole Calhoun homers to deep right field. Ketel Marte scores. Starling Marte singles to shallow infield. Christian Walker doubles to deep left center field. Starling Marte to third. Eduardo Escobar hit by pitch. David Peralta triples to deep right field. Eduardo Escobar scores. Christian Walker... [More]

Rockies first. David Dahl reaches on error. Fielding error by Donovan Solano. Trevor Story flies out to deep center field to Mike Yastrzemski. David Dahl to third. Charlie Blackmon singles to center field. David Dahl scores. Nolan Arenado grounds out to shortstop. Charlie Blackmon out at second.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 0 left on. Rockies 1, Giants 0.Rockies third. Sam Hilliard singles to left center field. Tony Wolters grounds out to shallow infield, Brandon Crawford to Brandon Belt. Sam Hilliard to third. David Dahl out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Alex Dickerson. Sam Hilliard scores. Trevor Story flies out to right field to Alex Dickerson.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rockies 2, Giants 0.Giants fourth. Mike Yastrzemski reaches on error. Fielding error by Trevor Story. Alex Dickerson flies out to deep right field to Raimel Tapia. Donovan Solano singles to left center field. Mike Yastrzemski to second. Brandon Belt homers to right field. Donovan Solano scores. Mike Yastrzemski... [More]