Mariners starter Emerson Hancock was outstanding, Leody Taveras had a huge game and Seattle kept its lead in the American League West.

Those bright spots were overshadowed, however, by a dreadful 10th inning for the Mariners in which reliever Collin Snider gave up seven runs — five earned — in a 9-3 loss to the Washington Nationals on ...Read more

Losing an early three-run lead wasn’t going to keep the Rays from winning another game.

After the Astros rallied to tie Thursday’s game in the sixth inning, the Rays responded in a big way, scoring five runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, and rolling to a 13-3 victory at Daikin Park in Houston.

The win was the Rays’ eighth in ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Edmundo Sosa threw his bat to the ground in frustration, and then slammed down his helmet for good measure.

He had swung through a slider in the dirt from Chris Sale to end the sixth inning, and in doing so helped the Braves lefty become the fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 2,500 strikeouts.

Eight of those came at the ...Read more

Mike Trout will be activated from the injured list when the Angels play in Cleveland on Friday night, a source confirmed.

The Angels had no official announcement, but their official transactions page listed Matthew Lugo being optioned to Triple-A on Thursday.

Trout has been out since May 1 because of a bone bruise in his left knee. The Angels ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — For Dodgers fans, the must-have souvenir from last year's World Series was not a cap or T-shirt commemorating the team's championship. It was one of the stickers that popped up all over town, reproducing the Fox Sports score box that showed the New York Yankees leading, 5-0, with two out in the fifth inning.

For the Yankees, it ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Two years ago, Alexis Díaz was an All-Star closer with the Cincinnati Reds.

Now, the 28-year-old right-hander is set to become a Dodgers reclamation project.

Amid a wave of early-season injuries to their bullpen and rotation, the Dodgers agreed to acquire Díaz from the Reds on Thursday, the team announced.

Díaz, who was ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Upon getting rained out Wednesday, the Phillies asked their best pitcher if he preferred to start the matinee first game or the nighttime finale of Thursday’s doubleheader.

Zack Wheeler picked the opener, then swiftly reconsidered.

“Is it too late to switch?” he asked.

“You can do whatever you want,” manager Rob ...Read more

The bullpen door sprang open at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, and immediately the sounds of dubstep electronic dance music began blaring through the T-Mobile Park speakers.

Dubstep, you ask? It’s George Kirby’s favorite, all dark and ominous and irritating. It’s fingers scratching a chalkboard, the kind of music you’d blast into your sibling’s...Read more

ANAHEIM — The Angels have wasted some pretty good pitching this week.

Thanks to an offense that has been virtually nonexistent, the Angels were swept by the New York Yankees, losing 1-0 in the series finale on Wednesday night.

The Angels held the powerful Yankees to nine runs in three games – including holding two-time American League MVP ...Read more

BALTIMORE — It took longer for the mist and drizzle to clear than it did for the Cardinals to solve the Baltimore Orioles’ left-handed starter, but by the time it did this much remained clear:

That offense that Nolan Arenado described as “never out of it” and a lineup capable of mulching opponents with long, grinding at-bats — “What...Read more

NEW YORK — The Chicago White Sox went a combined 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series against the New York Mets.

They were in position to cash in early Wednesday afternoon at Citi Field after a Miguel Vargas double gave them runners on second and third with one out in the first inning. Left fielder ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Where would the Kansas City Royals be without rookie sensation Noah Cameron?

The left-handed starting pitcher has been a revelation. With each start, he has grown in confidence and built enough equity to stay at the big league level.

On Wednesday, Cameron aced another test against the Cincinnati Reds. He allowed one run in...Read more

CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs President Jed Hoyer often takes a pragmatic approach through the grind of a long regular season.

Avoiding riding the highs and lows too much is inherently part of the job, especially when Hoyer and the front office attempt to assess the team’s flaws and needs. Although the trade deadline is still two months away, ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The Miami Marlins gave away leads their first two days in San Diego.

Guess a good host returns the favor every now and then.

Kyle Hart could not get out of the fifth inning, David Morgan could not strand the runners he inherited and the back of the bullpen could not hold onto the late lead provided by another Gavin Sheets home ...Read more

PHOENIX — Fresh off of their most thrilling victory of the season Tuesday evening, the Pittsburgh Pirates kept their positive momentum rolling Wednesday afternoon, blowing out the Arizona Diamondbacks by a final score of 10-1 at Chase Field. The win secured just their second road series victory of the season.

Paul Skenes continued his ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper wasn’t expected to be in the Phillies’ lineup Wednesday night, 24 hours after getting hit by a 95-mph fastball on his unprotected right elbow.

And then, on cue, it rained.

Consider it a well-timed weather pattern. The Phillies and Braves were postponed, giving Harper more time to rest a bruised, not broken ...Read more

CLEVELAND — The Dodgers got five good innings out of Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday. Then they let it go to waste in a five-run eighth inning.

Despite leading most of the day at Progressive Field, seeking to end their East Coast road trip with a three-game sweep against the Cleveland Guardians, the Dodgers instead lost, 7-4, after an eighth-...Read more

DETROIT — The Tigers struck out 16 times on Wednesday. Their starting pitcher didn't finish five innings. They left eight runners on base and were 2 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

But when the 27th out was recorded, they had swept the San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park, taking a 4-3 win in the finale. It was their major league-...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — All it took for the Rays to get back on track Wednesday was a dazzling six-inning start by Drew Rasmussen and home runs from Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero.

The resulting 5-0 win over the MinnesotaTwins provided a proper rebound for the Rays from Tuesday’s loss that snapped their six-game winning streak.

They climbed back ...Read more