MLB

Twins call up right-handed reliever John CurtissCHICAGO (AP) The Minnesota Twins have promoted right-handed reliever John Curtiss from Triple-A Rochester.The move was made before their game Wednesday at Chicago. Curtiss would be the 50th player used by the Twins this season and the 12th to make his major...

AP Sports WriterDigging the long ball: Arizona's Martinez hits 4 home runsBy BETH HARRISLOS ANGELES (AP) Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Lou Gehrig and Mike Schmidt did it. So did All-Star sluggers Josh Hamilton, Carlos Delgado and Gil Hodges.Add J.D. Martinez's name to the list of players with...

Tigers' Kinsler says ump Hernandez should get out of gameARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler had harsh words Tuesday for Angel Hernandez, saying the veteran umpire should get a different job.A day after being ejected from a game for questioning Hernandez's calls on balls and...

AP Sports WriterLast-minute deal sends Verlander to HoustonBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) When Houston manager A.J. Hinch called to welcome Justin Verlander to the team, the pitcher's first question was when he'd make his debut for the Astros.The answer is Tuesday at Seattle after the Astros orchestrated a last-minute...

Associated PressGiolito gets 1st big league win as White Sox beat Tigers 7-1By SARAH TROTTOCHICAGO (AP) Lucas Giolito threw seven scoreless innings to earn his first major league victory, and Matt Davidson homered to help the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 7-1 on Sunday.Giolito (1-1) limited...

AP Baseball WriterGene Michael, who built Yankees' 1990s dynasty, dies at 79By RONALD BLUMNEW YORK (AP) Gene Michael, the slick-fielding shortstop nicknamed Stick who went on to manage the New York Yankees and then as an executive built a power that won four World Series in five years,...

AP Sports WriterPivetta throws 6 strong innings, Phillies beat Braves 2-0By CHARLES ODUMATLANTA (AP) Nick Pivetta outpitched Luiz Gohara in a matchup of rookies, Mikael Franco homered to break up a scoreless tie and the Philadelphia Phillies beat Atlanta 2-0 on Sunday in the Braves' final home game...

AP Sports WriterTexas teams' plans upended by Hurricane HarveyBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers won't travel to Houston as planned after their games Sunday in California because of torrential floodwaters that have engulfed the city in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.The Rangers had been...

Yanks' Judge hits 40th, joins Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, MantleARLINGTON, Texas (AP) New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has become the second major league rookie to hit 40 homers.With his solo shot in the fourth inning Sunday against the Texas Rangers, the 25-year-old joined Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe...

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 WriterBullpens looming large again for this year's postseasonBy NOAH TRISTERAround this time last year, the Cleveland Indians were providing a preview of the American League postseason.Manager Terry Francona was using newly acquired reliever Andrew Miller in all sorts of situations, and for more than one inning if...

Desmond plays shortstop for 1st time since 2015DENVER (AP) Ian Desmond will play shortstop for the first time in nearly two years Monday for the Colorado Rockies.Desmond hasn't played the position since Oct. 4, 2015, while with the Washington Nationals. He was an outfielder for the Texas Rangers...