Tucker, Urquidy power Astros past Braves as Ozuna hears boos
Atlanta outfielder Marcell Ozuna was booed by his home fans in his return, Kyle Tucker singled to drive in Yordan Alvarez for the go-ahead run in the eighth, Josรฉ Urquidy won his 12th game, and the Houston Astros beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 to avoid a three-game sweep.
The Latest: Astros force series back to Houston with 9-5 win
Carlos Correa had three hits, Martin Maldonado found three different ways to drive in runs and pinch-hitter Marwin Gonzalez blooped a tiebreaking, two-run single in the fifth inning to lead the Houston Astros over the Atlanta Braves 9-5 and cut their World Series deficit to three games to two.
Braves blast 4 HRs, beat Dodgers 9-2 for 3-1 lead in NLCS
Eddie Rosario homered twice in his second four-hit game of the NL Championship Series and six Atlanta pitchers combined on a four-hitter, giving the Braves a 9-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers for a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven playoff.
Naylor hits into triple play, makes key E, Reds edge Indians
Josh Naylor lined into a triple play in the eighth inning, then let a routine grounder roll through his legs at first base with two outs in the ninth that led to Cincinnatiโs tying run as the Reds beat the Cleveland Indians 3-2 in 10 innings.
Bogaerts spring debut after shoulder woe, Tatis HR in return
On that one, we are probably on the same page.โRED SOX 8, RAYS 2Garrett Richards struck out seven in four scoreless innings for Boston. ATHLETICS 5, PADRES 4Fernando Tatis Jr. led off the game with his second spring home run, a smashing return after missing six days with a non-virus bug. The 30-year-old left has pitched four scoreless innings this spring. BREWERS 8, CUBS 3 (7)Brandon Woodruff made his second start for Milwaukee, allowing five hits in two scoreless innings. BRAVES 8, TWINS 5Michael Pineda, who last pitched a full season in 2016, made his first spring start for Minnesota.
Ohtani fans 5 in return to mound; Harper HR on 1st swing
The 2018 AL Rookie of the Year is off to a strong start this spring on both sides. PHILLIES 3, PIRATES 0Bryce Harper homered on his first swing of spring training, launching a opposite-field drive to left. Chad Kuhl made his second start for Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on three hits. Brad Keller worked three innings in the start for the Royals and allowed a run on four hits and two walks. BRAVES 4, TWINS 0 (7)Kyle Wright fared much better in his second start for Atlanta, allowing one hit in three shutout innings with two strikeouts.
Eddie Rosario, Indians finalize $8 million, 1-year contract
FILE - Minnesota Twins' Eddie Rosario hits the ball during a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Fort Myers, Fla., in this Monday, March 9, 2020, file photo. The Indians officially signed free agent outfielder Eddie Rosario, adding a quality player who pounded their pitchers in recent years. Rosario passed his physical on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, to finalize a one-year, $8 million contract for 2021. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)CLEVELAND โ Free agent outfielder Eddie Rosario has joined the Cleveland Indians, adding a quality player who has haunted their pitchers in recent years. Rosario passed his physical on Thursday and finalized the $8 million, one-year contract he agreed to late last week.
6 new free agents Detroit Tigers should target following non-tender deadline
DETROIT โ Thereโs a new batch of free agents this week after the non-tender deadline, and several of those players would be smart additions for the Detroit Tigers. If the Tigers are aggressive in free agency this offseason, they could find some bargains. Due to the financial losses teams experienced due to the shortened 2020 season and the COVID-19 pandemic, free agents might come at a bit of a discount ahead of 2021. READ: Detroit Tigers hire University of Michiganโs Chris Fetter as new pitching coachIn MLBโs last full season, Schwarber hit 38 home runs and 29 doubles while drawing 70 walks. Now 26, Dahl is coming off a dreadful 2020 season -- if you can even call it a season.
AP source: Twins, closer Rogers agree to $6 million contract
MINNEAPOLIS โ The Minnesota Twins and closer Taylor Rogers agreed to terms Thursday on a $6 million, one-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been finalized. Rogers compiled a 4.05 ERA in 21 appearances with nine saves and two blown chances during the abbreviated 60-game season. They declined Wednesday to offer 2021 contracts to left fielder Eddie Rosario and reliever Matt Wisler, making them free agents. Rogers took a step back this season after notching 30 saves with 90 strikeouts over 69 innings in 2019.
Schwarber, Bradley, Duvall among 59 cut in pandemic fallout
The total cut was one more than the previous high at the tender deadline, ahead of the 2004 season. Schwarber earned $2,596,296 in prorated pay from his $7.01 million salary last season but hit .188 with 11 homers in 59 games, down from 38 homers, 92 RBIs and a .250 batting average in 155 games in 2019. Schwarber returned from a serious knee injury and hit .412 with two RBIs in the 2016 World Series as the Cubs won their first championship since 1908. Fifty-nine players agreed to one-year contracts ahead of the deadline, many of them facing a threat of being cut. Minnesota reached deals with five players, including pitcher Josรฉ Berrรญos ($500,000 signing bonus plus $5.6 million salary) and center fielder Byron Buxton ($5,125,000).
Twins clinch 2nd straight playoff spot, beat Mills, Cubs 8-1
Minnesota Twins' Jake Cave (60) runs to score on a single hit by Eddie Rosario against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)CHICAGO โ Eddie Rosario, Miguel Sanรณ and Josh Donaldson homered as the Minnesota Twins clinched a second straight postseason berth with an 8-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday night. The Twins, who won the division last year, will make back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 2009-10. After Mills struck out the first two batters of the game, Rosario homered on the first pitch he saw for a 1-0 lead. In the sixth, Rosario hit an RBI single for a 2-1 lead.
Dunning pitches White Sox past Twins for 6th straight win
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dane Dunning delivers during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Chicago. The AL-best White Sox also moved 16 games over .500 for the first time since they were 71-55 on Aug. 26, 2012. Byron Buxton hit his third career inside-the-park homer for Minnesota, but the Twins finished with just four hits. But the White Sox went ahead to stay with three runs in the bottom of the third. White Sox: LHP Jace Fry threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings after he was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.
Greiner, Tigers pounce on Twins bullpen for 10-8 win
MINNEAPOLIS Grayson Greiner hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning off left fielder Eddie Rosarios glove and the Detroit Tigers rocked Minnesotas bullpen for eight runs to beat the Twins 10-8 Sunday. The Tigers snapped a streak of five straight losses to the Twins. Tigers reliever Kyle Funkhouser (1-1) earned his first career win and while Bryan Garcia pitched a scoreless ninth for his first big league save. The Tigers finished game with 17 hits, one shy of their season high. Tigers starter Casey Mize gave up three runs on five hits and two walks in four innings.
Tigers finish sweep of Twins, pull back to .500 with 3-2 win
DETROIT Jonathan Schoop hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning, and the Detroit Tigers finished off a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 3-2 victory Sunday. Detroit has won five straight to pull back to .500 on the season. Anything can happen in this short season, and there's a lot of openings.Jeimer Candelario also homered for the Tigers, and Jorge Polanco went deep for the Twins. He also hit three batters and threw a wild pitch that brought home a run in the second. Rich Hill (1-1) takes the mound for the Twins against Lucas Giolito (3-2), who threw a no-hitter in his previous start Tuesday.
Cabrera's homer lifts Tigers to doubleheader sweep of Twins
Boyd pitched Detroit to an 8-2 victory in the opener, and Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer that put the Tigers ahead to stay in the second game. Nelson Cruz hit a solo homer in each game for the Twins. Jeimer Candelario went deep in the second game for the Tigers. The Twins were going with a bullpen game in the second game after Randy Dobnak (5-2) had a rough go of it in the opener. HOLDING THEIR OWNThe Tigers secured their third straight series victory, and they've been against some well-regarded teams the Indians, Cubs and Twins.
Twins rout Brewers, 12-2, behind Kenta Maeda
Minnesota Twins' Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton and Jake Cave celebrate after a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)MILWAUKEE Byron Buxton hit two solo home runs and Miguel San added another as the Minnesota Twins jumped to an early lead and routed the Milwaukee Brewers 12-2 on Wednesday night. The victory gave the AL Central-leading Twins a 2-1 series win over the Brewers, who dropped to 2-6 at home. Minnesota starter Kenta Maeda (3-0), in his first season with the Twins after being acquired from the Dodgers in February, retired the first 11 batters he faced. Brewers: In Chicago facing Cubs RHP Yu Darvish (2-1, 2.12 ERA), who has thrown 16 strikeouts in 17 innings.