MLB

AP Sports WriterCruz's double in 8th helps Mariners beat Astros 5-2By KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) The Seattle Mariners are feeling pretty good after beating Houston All-Stars Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole on consecutive nights.Still, they know they have a lot more work to do as they chase their first...

AP Sports WriterBaseball Hall of Famer, knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81By PAUL NEWBERRYATLANTA (AP) Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a knuckleball that baffled big league hitters for more than two decades, mostly with the Atlanta Braves, has died after...

AP Baseball WriterRed Sox, Yanks bring 2 best records into fight for 1st placeBy MIKE FITZPATRICKNEW YORK (AP) Baseball's most bitter rivals, ready to tangle once again.And this time, the Red Sox and Yankees bring the two best records in the big leagues into a fight for first...

AP Baseball WriterNew Rangers park among possible MLB ideas for season startBy STEPHEN HAWKINSNorth Texas has more to offer than just the new Rangers ballpark should MLB decide to start the pandemic-delayed 2020 baseball season with teams grouped together in different regions.Among the different plans looked at by Major...

Cubs-Indians: A capsule look at the World SeriesBy The Associated PressA look at the best-of-seven World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians:---Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Tuesday, at Cleveland (8:08 p.m.); Game 2, Wednesday, at Cleveland (8:08 p.m.); Game 3, Friday at Chicago (8:08 p.m.); Game...

Pirates' Dickerson proud about his defensive improvementBRADENTON, Fla. (AP) Corey Dickerson came to the Pittsburgh Pirates with the reputation of being a good hitter and poor defender.The starting designated hitter for the AL in the 2017 All-Star Game while with Tampa Bay, Dickerson was used in the outfield...

Cubs put Zobrist on disabled list, call up La StellaPITTSBURGH (AP) The Chicago Cubs have put switch-hitter Ben Zobrist on the 10-day disabled list because of an inflamed right wrist.The move was made prior to Friday night's game against Pittsburgh and was retroactive to June 13. Zobrist, who...

AP Sports WriterStumbling Dodgers see lead cut in half by streaking D-backsBy BETH HARRISLOS ANGELES (AP) A few weeks ago, everybody was wondering if the Dodgers could break the major league record of 116 wins in a season.Now they're looking vulnerable with the playoffs approaching.Los Angeles has lost...

AP Baseball WriterAP study: MLB average salary under $1.3M; Scherzer tops listBy RONALD BLUMNEW YORK (AP) Major League Baseball's eye-popping salaries took an astonishing dive during the coronavirus pandemic to their lowest level in nearly a quarter-century, according to a study by The Associated Press.Washington pitcher Max Scherzer...

Rays lose bid for combined perfect game on hit in 9thBALTIMORE (AP) The Tampa Bay Rays' bid for the first combined perfect game in major league history has ended with a leadoff single in the ninth inning by Baltimore's Hanser Alberto.The hit off reliever Ryan Yarbrough came Sunday...

AP Sports WriterVerlander, Altuve lead Astros over Rays 6-2 in ALDS openerBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) Asked what went wrong for his Tampa Bay Rays, manager Kevin Cash invented a word.''We got Verlandered,'' Cash said.Justin Verlander looked every bit the October ace, Jose Altuve polished his postseason resume and...

SEATTLE (AP) Seattle Mariners right fielder Nelson Cruz left Tuesday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles with neck spasms.Cruz, who had earlier extended his hitting streak to 21 games, was replaced by Ketel Marte before the seventh inning.Cruz hit his 34th home run and collected his 70th RBI...