DENVER — Baseball doesn’t have a clock. But it was time.

After two decades of operating the Colorado Rockies as a mom-and-pop grocery store, it was time for owner Dick Monfort to bring in Walmart as a partner.

In what amounts to a home run for baseball fans in this state and region, Monfort has agreed to sell a 40 % minority stake in the ...Read more

SEATTLE — Julio Rodríguez busted out of an early-season malaise with his first home run of the season Saturday night, a majestic blast to straightaway center field that completed the Seattle Mariners’ comeback from an early five-run deficit against the rival Houston Astros.

J.P. Crawford, as good as there is anywhere with the bases loaded...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was tracking right-hander Emmet Sheehan’s velocity against the Texas Rangers Thursday, but it wasn’t going to be his primary measurement of the start.

“I think right now, where he’s at, the hitters will tell us the most, not the radar gun,” Roberts said before the Dodgers’ 6-3...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The Padres are slugging now.

And they did not wait for dramatic home runs at the end on Saturday night.

The drama was on the other side of the ball.

Jason Adam came out of the bullpen to get the final out with the bases loaded as the Padres secured a 9-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park.

Two early home runs ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Left-hander Blake Snell threw an inning of live batting practice at Dodger Stadium on Saturday before the Dodgers’ game against the Rangers, taking a new step in his rehab progression.

“It’s very big,” Snell said. “...To be able to face two good hitters and feel good — I’ve got a lot of work to do still, but ...Read more

It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

Such was the case for Ranger Suárez and Kyle Leahy, who had polar opposite starts, and for the Boston Red Sox, who scored a season high seven runs in Saturday night’s 7-1 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Leahy started strong but it was Suárez who finished strong. The Red Sox southpaw ...Read more

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles have been searching for some life out of the bottom of their lineup, mixing and matching hitters to find some kind of spark.

Whatever formula that led Craig Albernaz to his starting squad on Saturday paid off.

Baltimore’s Nos. 6 through 9 hitters Colton Cowser, Coby Mayo and Jeremiah Jackson combined to go...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Every so often, you see a perfect baseball game.

Not in the literal sense of a pitcher retiring 27 consecutive hitters but in a dramatic, big-picture, every-moment-counts sort of way.

That was what the Rays’ 5-4 walk-off victory in 10 innings against the Yankees felt like on Saturday night.

Never mind that the hometown team ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia didn’t waste any time. He stepped in the box with purpose against Chicago White Sox starter Erick Fedde.

And Garcia changed the game with one swing.

In the first inning, Garcia belted a solo homer over the left-field wall. He got a 93.9-mph sinker down the middle of the ...Read more

CINCINNATI — It was quickly apparent that this wasn’t going to be George Klassen’s day.

The Los Angeles Angels’ rookie right-hander issued three first-inning walks on his way to allowing four quick runs in a 7-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds Saturday.

Klassen gave up five runs in two-plus innings, eventually leaving the game with a ...Read more

NEW YORK — Things went from bad to worse in Queens seemingly in a matter of minutes, but if you’ve watched the New York Mets at all this week, it probably felt much longer.

Mental mistakes, defensive miscues and a lack of urgency early in the game led to an 11-6 loss to the A’s Saturday at Citi Field, the fourth straight for the Mets (7-8...Read more

CHICAGO — Saturday started with the Pirates’ flag flying highest among the NL Central flags atop the Wrigley Field scoreboard. After the Pirates won Saturday, Sunday will begin the same way.

The Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs, 4-3, in 11 innings on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. They entered the day tied atop the NL Central standings ...Read more

TORONTO – In front of a sellout crowd at Rogers Centre, a couple of home run swings from Brooks Lee and Trevor Larnach took the energy out of the building.

And Joe Ryan made sure to keep it that way in a 7-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 41,591.

Ryan gave up a two-run homer to Daulton Varsho...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — It was “Kids Opening Day,” and the Phillies showed up to the party toting a record of 6-7, apropos of a joke that only kids seem to get.

But nobody thinks it’s funny when a team doesn’t hit.

That was the backdrop Saturday, with the Phillies having scored in one of their last 29 innings. And although they are correct in...Read more

DETROIT – AJ Hinch was told before the game that he was one win away from 400 as the manager of the Detroit Tigers.

“Should’ve got it last week,” he deadpanned.

Well, better late than never.

The Tigers helped their skipper join the Cincinnati Reds’ Terry Francona as the only two active managers to win 400 games with two teams, ...Read more

SEATTLE — His teal hood pulled up and over his head, Julio Rodríguez stood in the back corner of the crowd Friday and filmed Ichiro’s statue unveiling on his Sony 4K Handycam.

The Mariners’ All-Star center fielder purchased the camcorder this offseason, at the recommendation of a friend, and has been experimenting with it as a new hobby....Read more

SEATTLE — Randy Arozarena wasn’t going to leave the batter’s box. Nope he was savoring moment that has been lacking for the Seattle Mariners of late.

In a pose made for a statue artist, Arozarena held his follow-through with his bat – yes, unbroken – remaining pointed high in the air in triumph.

He didn’t move from that position ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — It was Max Muncy’s night.

His third home run — a no-doubt-about-it 401-foot walk-off to right-center field, gave the Los Angeles Dodgers an 8-7 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday at Dodger Stadium.

They improved to 10-3, winning despite closer Edwin Díaz’s first blown save as a Dodger.

Muncy’s first home runs, ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres got two home runs in an inning for the first time this season. Walker Buehler went longer than four innings for the first time this season.

That wasn’t enough for a victory, as Adrian Morejón’s frustrating season continued.

But a night after their first walk-off victory of the season on a home run, the ...Read more