INSIDER
D-backs' Lovullo and Hazen navigated difficult years — on field and off — en route to World Series
Read full article: D-backs' Lovullo and Hazen navigated difficult years — on field and off — en route to World SeriesSome say the Arizona Diamondbacks are ahead of schedule, advancing all the way to the World Series with a young roster that was supposed to need a few more years of seasoning before hitting the sport’s biggest stage.
Shohei Ohtani first AL pitcher in nearly 60 years to homer twice, strike out 10, Angels beat ChiSox
Read full article: Shohei Ohtani first AL pitcher in nearly 60 years to homer twice, strike out 10, Angels beat ChiSoxShohei Ohtani became the first American League pitcher in nearly 60 years to hit two homers and strike out 10 batters in a game, leading the Los Angeles Angels past the Chicago White Sox 4-2 in his latest extraordinary performance.
Grisham has 4 RBIs, Padres beat D-backs in Tatis' return
Read full article: Grisham has 4 RBIs, Padres beat D-backs in Tatis' returnTrent Grisham had two doubles and four RBIs, Xander Bogaerts added a two-run homer and the San Diego Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5 in Fernando Tatis Jr.’s return from a PED suspension.
Pujols 2 HRs, up to 692; tops Musial for 2nd in total bases
Read full article: Pujols 2 HRs, up to 692; tops Musial for 2nd in total basesCardinals slugger Albert Pujols hit two more home runs, boosting his total to 692 and moving him past Stan Musial into second place on the career list for total bases.
9 straight! Phils match best win run in 11 years, top Dbacks
Read full article: 9 straight! Phils match best win run in 11 years, top DbacksZack Wheeler struck out eight over six sharp innings, Bryson Stott hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies won their ninth straight game with a 4-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Rojas, Diamondbacks rally for 4 runs in 9th, beat Reds 5-4
Read full article: Rojas, Diamondbacks rally for 4 runs in 9th, beat Reds 5-4Josh Rojas hit a go-ahead single during a four-run rally in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4, earning a split in the four-game series.
Greene retires 20 straight in rain-shortened win for Reds
Read full article: Greene retires 20 straight in rain-shortened win for RedsHunter Greene allowed a bunt single to begin the game and then faced the minimum through seven innings, retiring his final 20 batters as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-0 in a rain-shortened game.
Rojas hits 3 home runs, Dbacks outslug Cubs in HR derby 10-6
Read full article: Rojas hits 3 home runs, Dbacks outslug Cubs in HR derby 10-6Josh Rojas launched his first three longballs of the season and the Arizona Diamondbacks powered past the Chicago Cubs 10-6 in a game of home run derby at Wrigley Field.
LEADING OFF: Verlander pitches as Astros face Twins, Correa
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Verlander pitches as Astros face Twins, CorreaJustin Verlander and the Astros try for their eighth straight win when they visit Joe Ryan and the first-place Twins in a matchup of American League contenders with identical 18-11 records.
Half-century holdout over, DH comes to National League
Read full article: Half-century holdout over, DH comes to National LeagueIt was an impressive holdout for the National League, which made it nearly 50 years staving off a full-time designated hitter rule that the American League implemented before the 1973 season.
Wade, Giants beat D-backs in 9th, hold 2-game NL West edge
Read full article: Wade, Giants beat D-backs in 9th, hold 2-game NL West edgeLaMonte Wade Jr. singled home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning and the San Francisco Giants held their two-game lead in the NL West by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4.
LEADING OFF: Braves & Astros can clinch, MadBum in SanFran
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Braves & Astros can clinch, MadBum in SanFranAtlanta can clinch its fourth consecutive NL East title Thursday night with a win at home over Philadelphia, which would complete a three-game sweep of their high-stakes series.
LEADING OFF: Brewers' Williams punches wall, breaks hand
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Brewers' Williams punches wall, breaks handThis was not the kind of punchout Milwaukee reliever Devin Williams wanted: The valuable setup man could miss the entire postseason after breaking his pitching hand when he punched a wall.
NL East-leading Braves overcome Duvall's lost HR in victory
Read full article: NL East-leading Braves overcome Duvall's lost HR in victoryIan Anderson pitched two-hit ball over six-plus innings and Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman homered as the Braves beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2.
Brewers' Burnes, Hader combine for MLB record 9th no-hitter
Read full article: Brewers' Burnes, Hader combine for MLB record 9th no-hitterMilwaukee ace Corbin Burnes combined with reliever Josh Hader to pitch baseball’s record ninth no-hitter this season, breaking a mark set when pitchers began throwing overhand in 1884 as the Brewers beat the Cleveland Indians 3-0.
Giants' Gausman through 6 hitless innings vs St. Louis
Read full article: Giants' Gausman through 6 hitless innings vs St. LouisSan Francisco right-hander Kevin Gausman hasn’t allowed a hit through six innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, closing in on what would be the record-tying eighth no-hitter in the majors this season.
Dbacks rout Padres 10-1, end record 24-game road losing skid
Read full article: Dbacks rout Padres 10-1, end record 24-game road losing skidThe Arizona Diamondbacks snapped their record 24-game road losing streak by routing the San Diego Padres 10-1, getting six strong innings from Merrill Kelly and four hits and five RBIs from Eduardo Escobar.
Tatis hits 3 HRs, Pads hand D-Backs 24th straight road loss
Read full article: Tatis hits 3 HRs, Pads hand D-Backs 24th straight road lossSan Diego slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. hit three homers, hours after saying he would skip the All-Star Home Run Derby because of an ailing shoulder, and the Padres sent the Arizona Diamondbacks to their record 24th straight road loss, 11-5.
Kiermaier ends combined no-hit bid, Rays top Red Sox 1-0
Read full article: Kiermaier ends combined no-hit bid, Rays top Red Sox 1-0Kevin Kiermaier broke up a combined no-hit bid by the Boston Red Sox with a one-out double in the eighth inning and Manuel Margot scored on a wild pitch in the ninth to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 1-0 victory.
Kelly helps D-backs end 17-game skid, beat Brewers 5-1
Read full article: Kelly helps D-backs end 17-game skid, beat Brewers 5-1Merrill Kelly pitched seven effective innings, Ketel Marte had two hits and the Arizona Diamondbacks finally snapped a 17-game losing streak by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Monday night.
Buehler takes no-hitter into 8th, Dodgers beat D-backs 9-3
Read full article: Buehler takes no-hitter into 8th, Dodgers beat D-backs 9-3Walker Buehler had another masterful mound performance, taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the skidding Arizona Diamondbacks 9-3.
Ohtani delivers on mound, at plate as Angels top D-backs 6-5
Read full article: Ohtani delivers on mound, at plate as Angels top D-backs 6-5Shohei Ohtani struck out eight, hit two doubles at the plate and pushed through an injury scare to lead the Los Angeles Angels past the slumping Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 in 10 innings.
Pujols delivers RBI in debut, Dodgers top Diamondbacks 3-1
Read full article: Pujols delivers RBI in debut, Dodgers top Diamondbacks 3-1Albert Pujols delivered an RBI single in his Dodgers debut, and Walker Buehler pitched seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball in Los Angeles’ 3-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
LEADING OFF: Bumgarner back on mound; Bieber-Keuchel matchup
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Bumgarner back on mound; Bieber-Keuchel matchupArizona LHP Madison Bumgarner starts against Colorado in his first appearance since pitching a seven-inning no-hitter against Atlanta last Sunday, a game that Major League Baseball does not consider to be a no-hitter.
LEADING OFF: D-backs keep pitching amid no-hitter debate
Read full article: LEADING OFF: D-backs keep pitching amid no-hitter debateMerrill Kelly starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks when they host Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres following a dominant pitching performance in a doubleheader at Atlanta.
Bumgarner pitches 7-inning no-hitter, Arizona sweeps Braves
Read full article: Bumgarner pitches 7-inning no-hitter, Arizona sweeps BravesMadison Bumgarner threw a seven-inning no-hitter, an achievement that won’t count in the Major League Baseball record book but completed a dominant day of Arizona Diamondbacks pitching for a 7-0 win over the Atlanta Braves and a doubleheader sweep.
Mad Bum gets opener for D-backs; Kluber is Yanks' No. 2
Read full article: Mad Bum gets opener for D-backs; Kluber is Yanks' No. 2He was 2-1 with a 6.35 ERA in three spring starts, including allowing six earned runs against Cincinnati on Friday. Alec Bohm had two hits, including his fourth double. AdFreddie Freeman had two hits, including a double and his first homer — a two-run shot in the sixth. Victor Robles had three hits, including his sixth double, with an RBI, and Kyle Schwarber doubled and walked three times. Adalberto Mondesi singled and homered and Jorge Soler had two hits, including a double.
Gallo's early power surge brings hope for big 2021 season
Read full article: Gallo's early power surge brings hope for big 2021 seasonThe 27-year-old says his power surge through the first two weeks of exhibition games is for real. He's had a good start with seven hits in his first 14 at-bats, including three homers and three doubles. He's shown dominant stuff at different points throughout his career and struck out a career-high 235 batters in 2019. The 24-year-old has been a top prospect for several years and hit .350 with nine homers in 2019 at Triple-A Albuquerque. The durable right-hander pitched an MLB-high 84 innings for the Rangers last season and had a 6-3 record with a 3.32 ERA.
Players return to COVID protocols as spring training opens
Read full article: Players return to COVID protocols as spring training opensDiamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo enters his fifth year with the Diamondbacks and the final year of his current contract under a substantial amount of scrutiny. The protocols have been tightened even further from what they experienced during the abbreviated 2020 season. Players underwent a five-day at-home quarantine before reporting, with exceptions for essential activities and approved outdoor workouts and exercise. AdThey’ll need to stay in their living quarters throughout spring training except for baseball activities, medical care, grocery shopping, takeout food pickups and outdoor physical activity. Mozeliak believes knowing which players already have at least some measure of protection from the coronavirus can help in preventing an outbreak during spring training.
Odd became normal: sports’ masked road trip to the unknown
Read full article: Odd became normal: sports’ masked road trip to the unknownFILE - Cardboard cutouts rest in seats at Oracle Park as the San Francisco Giants play the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, in this Wednesday, July 29, 2020, file photo. What wasn’t odd in 2020, when the coronavirus was the commissioner of all sports? And, before long, the odd became the new normal. Masked coaches patrolled the sidelines looking as if they had been lifted from the set of a cheesy cops-and-robbers movie. But with no fans in the park -- in Oakland and San Francisco -- and plenty of balls landing in the seats, AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley had an idea.
Corey Seager hits rare double as World Series and LCS MVP
Read full article: Corey Seager hits rare double as World Series and LCS MVPLos Angeles Dodgers' Corey Seager hits a RBI-single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning in Game 5 of the baseball World Series Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)ARLINGTON, Texas – Corey Seager hit a rare October double, becoming Most Valuable Player of the World Series after earning the honor for the League Championship Series. Just as Orel Hershiser did when the Los Angeles Dodgers won their previous World Series title in 1988. The previous player to be selected MVP of both a League Championship Series and the World Series in the same year was San Francisco pitcher Madison Bumgarner in 2014. Seager missed the 2017 NL Championship Series because of a back injury, then returned for the World Series against Houston and hit .222 (6 for 27) with four RBIs.
LEADING OFF: NL race down to final day — and maybe Monday
Read full article: LEADING OFF: NL race down to final day — and maybe MondayIf St. Louis loses and San Francisco wins, the Cardinals would make up two games against Detroit on Monday that were postponed this season due to St. Louis' coronavirus outbreak. If the Giants and Brewers win, San Francisco needs St. Louis to lose both games against the Tigers on Monday. The 37-year-old Pence helped San Francisco to World Series championships in 2012 and 2014. A career .279 hitter, he had 244 home runs and 942 RBIs for Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Texas. “He had a tremendous career, did a ton for the community in San Francisco and obviously for the San Francisco Giants,” Kapler said.
LEADING OFF: Verlander set for TJ, Bumgarner seeks 1st win
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Verlander set for TJ, Bumgarner seeks 1st winThe reigning AL Cy Young Award winner says he needs Tommy John surgery, likely putting him out of action through all of next year. “I tried as hard as I could to come back and play this season,” Verlander said. “Unfortunately, my body just didn’t cooperate.”The Astros hold the eighth and final spot in the AL playoff race. Verlander went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA last year, striking out a career-high 300 and throwing his third no-hitter. His top competitors are likely two-time defending winner Jacob deGrom of the Mets, Atlanta’s Max Fried and Cincinnati’s Trevor Bauer.
Giants spoil Bumgarner's return to SF, beat Diamondbacks 4-3
Read full article: Giants spoil Bumgarner's return to SF, beat Diamondbacks 4-3(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)SAN FRANCISCO Evan Longoria and Darin Ruf launched back-to-back home runs in the second inning and the Giants spoiled Madison Bumgarners return to San Francisco with a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night. His 119 wins are third-most in San Francisco history and his 1,794 strikeouts rank second. Joey Bart and Mauricio Dubn added consecutive RBI triples in the sixth to give San Francisco a 4-1 lead. San Francisco improved to 6-2 against the Diamondbacks this season, outscoring them 39-23. He went 2-1 with a 4.11 ERA in three starts against San Francisco last season.
LEADING OFF: Bumgarner faces former Giants teammates in SF
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Bumgarner faces former Giants teammates in SFArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)A look at what's happening around the majors on Saturday:HERE COMES MADBUMFormer Giants ace Madison Bumgarner will face his former club at last when he takes the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks in San Francisco. I feel like Im pretty good at pushing all that stuff aside, the 2014 World Series MVP said. He had a 2.90 ERA in 411 appearances with the Cubs over seven years, mostly in a setup role. He was a key member of the 2016 team that won the franchises first World Series title since 1908.
Peralta's 9th-inning single lifts D-backs past Athletics 4-3
Read full article: Peralta's 9th-inning single lifts D-backs past Athletics 4-3(AP Photo/Matt York)PHOENIX David Peralta slapped a bases-loaded single through the right side of the infield with one out in the ninth inning to push the Arizona Diamondbacks past the streaking Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Monday night. The As trailed 3-1 going into the eighth but came back to tie it after loading the bases with one out. Ahmed quickly made up for his mistake, smacking a leadoff double to left field to start the decisive ninth-inning rally. UP NEXTAthletics: Oakland wraps up the quick two-game series by sending RHP Frankie Montas (2-1, 1.57 ERA) to the mound. Diamondbacks: Arizona goes with RHP Luke Weaver (0-3, 11.85), who has pitched just 13 2/3 innings this season in four starts.
Lamet brilliant as Tatis, Padres pound Bumgarner, Dbacks 9-5
Read full article: Lamet brilliant as Tatis, Padres pound Bumgarner, Dbacks 9-5San Diego Padres Dinelson Lamet took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks' during a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in San Diego. Lamet got two more outs before manager Jayce Tingler pulled him in favor of rookie Luis Patio. The Padres remain the only major league team without a no-hitter, having played 8,154 games since 1969 without one. Machado homered with one out in the first and Myers hit a two-run shot with two outs. Padres: RHP Garrett Richards (0-1, 4.60 ERA) starts the opener of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.
LEADING OFF: Bigger playoffs, new Texas park, Dbacks' MadBum
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Bigger playoffs, new Texas park, Dbacks' MadBumThe setting sun shines through the windows of Globe Life Field during the third inning of a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Colorado Rockies Wednesday, July 22, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. The first round will be a best-of-three series and the pairings will be 1 vs. 8, 2-7, 3-6 and 4-5. BRAND NEW HOMEThe Texas Rangers officially open Globe Life Field, their new $1.2 billion stadium with a retractable roof. Bumgarner signed an $85 million, five-year deal with the D-backs during the offseason after spending 11 years in San Francisco. Roberts said Kershaw might be able to return as early as the team's series against the Diamondbacks that begins July 30.
Roster shuffle: Plans change in MLB because of health issues
Read full article: Roster shuffle: Plans change in MLB because of health issuesPHOENIX The Minnesota Twins have shuffled their on-field staff to protect the health of some of their older coaches. I think we all know that we're making the right decision, but that doesn't mean it feels good," Baldelli said. The defending World Series champion Nationals will begin their title defense without Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross, who both declined to play because of health concerns. We are one hundred percent supportive of their decision to not play this year, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said in a statement. Cleveland's 61-year-old manager Terry Francona said he's not nervous, even though he's had previous health issues.
Sale to start season where he ended 2019: on injured list
Read full article: Sale to start season where he ended 2019: on injured listBoston ace Chris Sale will start this season in the same place he ended 2019: on the injured list. Ryan Mountcastle, a 23-year-old prospect, went 3 for 3 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs. PHILLIES 12, RED SOX 5Scott Kingery had three RBIs, including a two-run homer, and Alec Bohm added two RBIs. Detroit starter Jordan Zimmermann allowed four runs on five hits and struck out three over 2 2/3 innings. Pete Alonso doubled for the Mets, and Rick Porcello pitched two scoreless innings in his second start with his new team.