TAMPA, Fla. — The plan was for the Rays to be opportunistic on offense this season.

Not sure if this was exactly what they had in mind, but no one was complaining in the Tampa Bay clubhouse.

The Rays went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position, but scored a go-ahead run in the sixth inning on an interference call and then — after the ...Read more

CLEVELAND — Bryce Harper and Trea Turner stood there, 127 feet apart, helmets in their hands, on opposite ends of a double play.

It was the fifth inning Friday night, and Turner thought he would try to make something happen. Why not? The Phillies have used their speed a lot lately to force the action. Trailing by one run, this felt like a ...Read more

Jameson Taillon hadn’t given up a home run to a left-handed hitter all season until he came to Citi Field on Friday night and proceeded to give one up to the first hitter he faced.

The Mets hit four home runs in a 7-2 series-opening win over the Chicago Cubs. Switch-hitting Francisco Lindor (3 for 5, RBI) hit one from the left side, and three...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Chris Paddack watched Christian Koss line a single into center field with two outs in the sixth inning Friday, and he grabbed the bill of his cap.

In a way, it was a salute to himself. Paddack was perfect through his first 17 batters, pitching with remarkable efficiency while overpowering batters.

Paddack completed 7 1/3 ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Baseball introduced interleague play in 1997, and it took until 2003 for the Twins to take on the San Francisco Giants. The series was played at the start of June in what was then named Pac Bell Park, the gem of a ballyard that had opened in 2000.

The Twins won two out of three in the 2003 series between two teams that would win...Read more

CHICAGO — While enjoying a pregame beverage at Cork & Kerry at the Park before Friday night’s White Sox game, Laronna Woolf checked out her favorite Pope Leo XIV memes on her phone.

Woolf, a Sox fan from St. John’s, Ind., who grew up in Calumet City, was particularly fond of a video on X from @BennnyHeis that spliced Chicago Bulls’ ...Read more

DETROIT — He’s been dominant all season. He’s been especially dominant at Comerica Park since the start of last season.

But on Friday, in the Tigers’ 2-1 win over the Texas Rangers in the first of three, Tarik Skubal might’ve been as dominant as he’s ever been.

He was perfect for five innings and when he walked off to a standing ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The first game of the Don Kelly era had three unlikely heroes. It ended with a 3-2 win.

The Pirates, a day after firing manager Derek Shelton, beat the Braves on Friday night at PNC Park behind solo homers from Alexander Canario and Jared Triolo and six shutout innings from left-hander Bailey Falter. The win snaps a seven-game ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — You know what I kept thinking about Thursday? The Bucco Bricks.

We all know the story. We all saw the images. These were commemorative bricks thousands of Pirates fans bought and inscribed to loved ones a quarter-century ago as a fundraiser for the Roberto Clemente Foundation, only to see them years later wind up discarded and ...Read more

PHOENIX — It’s much too early to call it 2021 yet.

But, just like the last time the Los Angeles Dodgers tried to defend a World Series title, the National League West isn’t presenting the easiest of paths.

Entering Thursday night, the division was home to the best team in baseball, the 25-win Dodgers. But, based on overall league ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — It took longer than most expected, but the Pirates might’ve actually figured out how to screw up a one-car funeral.

Or at least the firing of one man — in this case, Derek Shelton.

How did we arrive at this point? It’s a question worth asking because it sure isn’t accurate or fair to pin everything on Shelton. At the ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — For seven innings on Thursday, it seemed as if the Phillies’ red-hot offense ran out of steam.

They had just two hits and trailed the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1, with the possibility of a sweep shrinking more and more with each groundout.

And yet they didn’t lie down. By the end of what was ultimately a 7-6 comeback win, the ...Read more

DENVER — Following the Colorado Rockies’ 10-2 Game 1 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon, veteran left-handed starter Kyle Freeland was emotional.

When asked to compare what his reeling Rockies are doing to turn things around versus what teams such as the Tigers and Kansas City Royals have done, the Colorado native was blunt.

...Read more

BOSTON — Rafael Devers was finally settling in as the Red Sox designated hitter, after a tumultuous spring training that saw him forced out of his third base job for Alex Bregman.

But when first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury last Friday, Devers found himself pulled into the maelstrom again.

Speaking in the clubhouse ...Read more

DENVER — Following the Colorado Rockies’ 10-2 Game 1 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon, left-handed starter Kyle Freeland was emotional.

And when asked to compare what the reeling Rockies are doing to turn things around versus what teams such as the Tigers and Royals have done, he was blunt.

“What they’re doing is right,...Read more

BOSTON — For the third consecutive series and sixth time this season, the Red Sox rebounded from an opening loss to win the slate.

They defeated the visiting Texas Rangers, 5-0, on Thursday afternoon to pick up their 20th victory of the season and get back in the win column (20-19).

Brayan Bello, Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock and Liam ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The leisurely pace at which he is building up his arm points to a lack of urgency, but don't be deceived. His team's place in the standings indicates his return to the mound is more of a luxury than a necessity, but don't be lured into a false sense of security.

The Dodgers need Shohei Ohtani to pitch this season, and they need ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — At this point, it wouldn’t matter the opponent, because the Kansas City Royals are on a serious roll.

With their 10-0 victory Thursday against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals have won six straight games, nine of their last 10 and 15 of 17.

By finishing a four-game sweep of Chicago, the Royals (23-16...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Derek Shelton has been relieved of his duties as Pirates manager, the team announced on Thursday.

Bench coach Don Kelly will take over as manager.

“Derek worked incredibly hard and sacrificed a lot over five-plus years. His family became a big part of the Pirates family, and we will miss that,” Pirates general manager Ben ...Read more