MLB

Associated PressWith turmoil at home, Venezuela Little Leaguers get big liftBy MATT MARTELLSOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) The players from Venezuela look as happy as any other team, dancing to ''Shake Your Groove Thing'' with the tournament mascot before a win over Mexico and raising the roof to ''Taking...

AP Baseball WriterSmashing: MLB home run record on track to fall TuesdayBy RONALD BLUMNEW YORK (AP) Giancarlo Stanton's smacks, Aaron Judge's jolts and all those dizzying long balls helped Major League Baseball move another poke closer to the inevitable.Nearly two decades after the height of the Steroids Era,...

Associated PressHoskins homers again, Phillies beat Giants 5-2By MICHAEL WAGAMANSAN FRANCISCO (AP) Madison Bumgarner pitched six innings in one of his best starts this season, took a line drive off his left shin and hit an RBI single that temporarily gave the Giants an early lead.The reward? ...

AP Sports WriterBeltran has raised $1.3 million for Puerto Rico storm reliefBy KYLE HIGHTOWERBOSTON (AP) A crowd-funding campaign started by Houston Astros outfielder Carlos Beltran has already raised nearly $1.3 million to help with hurricane relief in his native Puerto Rico.Beltran and his family donated $1 million to...

AP Sports ColumnistColumn: Baseball without the knuckler would be a real shameBy PAUL NEWBERRYThe knuckleball has always been a bit of oddball - the butt of jokes, the object of endless curiosity, a talismanic pitch understood by only a few.It could soon be extinct in the big leagues.What a...

AP Baseball WriterHandicapping the race for the last AL postseason spotBy NOAH TRISTERThe race for the second wild card in the American League isn't exactly a picture of excellence.It could still be awfully exciting.Minnesota holds that spot after Sunday's victory at Toronto, but there are six teams within three...

Associated PressCrowded wild-card race tightens up as Rangers beat AngelsBy STEVE DILBECKANAHEIM, California (AP) It's beyond crowded in Major League Baseball's American League wild-card race, with eight teams bunched up like flowers in an overflowing vase.The Los Angeles Angels were the most recent club to make some noise,...

LEADING OFF: HR record set to fall, Maddon back in TBBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening all around the majors today:---SUMMER OF THE SLUGGERMajor League Baseball is on track to break its season record for home runs with nearly two weeks left in the season. There were...

LEADING OFF: Cubs-Brewers meet in NL Central showdownBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening all around the majors today:---NL CENTRAL SHOWDOWNIf the surprising Brewers are going to catch Chicago in the NL Central, this is probably the best chance they have left to make a big move. Trailing...

AP Baseball WriterAngels use AL-record 12 pitchers, top A's 11-9 in 11 inningsBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, California (AP) The Los Angeles Angels employed an American League-record 12 pitchers on Labor Day, and Kole Calhoun hit a two-run triple in the 11th inning to beat the Oakland Athletics 11-9.Fernando Salas...

Bat Rose used to become baseball's hits king up for auctionNEW YORK (AP) The bat Pete Rose used to become baseball's career hits leader is up for auction.The starting bid is $100,000. The ball Rose hit for a single off San Diego's Eric Show sold during an earlier...

LEADING OFF: Astros play 'home' game, KC nears futility markBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening all around the majors today:---FAR FROM HOMEThe Astros will host a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, because of flooding in Houston caused by Hurricane...