First Call: Steelers still favored for next game; Shane Baz set for MLB debut; Gerrit Cole crushed
Monday’s “First Call” has an early look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ odds of bouncing back from Sunday’s loss when they host the Cincinnati Bengals this week. Another chapter in the Chris Archer trade is about to be written. Gerrit Cole had a rough outing at Yankee Stadium. And we found...
Tarp or tossed? Ump says he didn’t ‘eject’ O’s grounds crew
Even for baseball fans who’ve seen everything, this was a bizarre sight: The entire Baltimore Orioles’ grounds crew, perched behind the tarp and poised to spring into action as a storm approached, suddenly got told by an umpire to scram. That’s how it looked Wednesday night at Camden Yards as...
Cardinals soar into playoff position behind ageless arms
NEW YORK — On the morning of the trade deadline in late July, the St. Louis Cardinals were a .500 team sitting 7 1/2 games outside a playoff spot. Even with new slugger Nolan Arenado at third base, a season that began with big expectations appeared to be slipping away....
Slugger Ryan Braun retires after 14-year career with BrewersVideo
MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun, the Milwaukee Brewers’ home run leader whose production was slowed by injuries during the second half of his 14-year career, announced his retirement on Tuesday. Braun hasn’t played all season and said during spring training that he was leaning toward retirement. The 2011 NL MVP made...
Brewers’ Corbin Burnes, Josh Hader combine for MLB record 9th no-hitterVideo
CLEVELAND — Milwaukee 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, on Saturday night. Burnes (10-4) struck out 14 with 115 pitches over...
20th anniversary of terrorist attacks marked by N.Y. teams
NEW YORK — Todd Zeile thought back 20 years, to the night baseball returned in New York following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. “We put a small Band-Aid on a big wound for a couple of hours,” the retired Mets infielder said Friday. “To put the smiles on the faces...
Red Sox left Chris Sale tests positive for covid, will miss next startVideo
CHICAGO — Boston ace Chris Sale has tested positive for covid-19 again, sidelining the left-hander while the Red Sox fight for positioning in the crowded AL playoff picture. Sale was scheduled to start Sunday in Chicago against the AL Central-leading White Sox. The seven-time All-Star also had a a mild...
Trevor Bauer won’t pitch again this season, leave extended by MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer will miss the rest of the season. Major League Baseball and the players’ association extended his administrative leave through the end of the World Series on Friday. Bauer was placed on seven days’ paid leave July 2 under the joint domestic violence, sexual assault...
Yankees star Derek Jeter leads list of new Baseball Hall of Fame inducteesVideo
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Derek Jeter was simply Derek Jeter on his special day: smooth as silk. On a cloudy Wednesday afternoon with the temperature in the 70s and a few sprinkles in the air and adoring fans chanting his name, the former New York Yankees shortstop and captain was inducted...
Finally, Derek Jeter, Larry Walker and Ted Simmons to be inducted into Hall of Fame
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Derek Jeter visited Cooperstown when he was a kid nearly four decades ago and says he doesn’t remember much about the trip. He’s returning this week and likely won’t ever forget even one moment. After a delay of well over a year, the former New York Yankees...
Nationals VP Bob Boone resigns over vaccine mandate
WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals Vice President Bob Boone has informed the club he’s resigning rather than comply with the organization’s covid-19 vaccine mandate, a person with knowledge of the situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because nothing was announced by the team....
Báez, Lindor apologize for thumbs-down jab at Mets fans
NEW YORK — Javier Báez and Francisco Lindor have apologized to Mets fans after Báez revealed that a thumbs-down celebration gesture adopted by players was in part a dig at New York fans who have booed the underperforming ballclub. Báez and Lindor took turns saying they were sorry less than...
Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard tests positive for covid-19Video
NEW YORK — Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard encountered another hurdle in his recovery from Tommy John surgery Sunday when he was scratched from a rehab start because he tested positive for covid-19, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition...
Police investigation of Dodgers’ Trevor Bauer handed to prosecutorsVideo
LOS ANGELES — Police on Friday presented to prosecutors their investigation of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer in the case of a woman who said he choked her into unconsciousness, punched her repeatedly and had anal sex with her without her consent during two sexual encounters. The Pasadena Police...
Orioles snap 19-game skid with 10-6 win over Angels
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles snapped their 19-game losing streak Wednesday night, rallying to beat Los Angeles, 10-6, after a shaky start by Shohei Ohtani left the Angels’ bullpen with too much to do. The Angels were up 6-2 in the fourth inning and 6-4 when Ohtani left the game...
Resurgent Votto pounding homers again, keeping Reds in race
CINCINNATI — In the midst of a sensational, homer-crashing career resurgence, Joey Votto talked recently about getting his 2,000th hit. The 37-year-old Reds first baseman recalled how he had the ball from his first major league hit in 2007 but a few years later gave it to his dog Maris...
First Call: Joe Schobert recaps 1st game with Steelers; former Steeler injured in Baltimore; former Pirate shines in Tampa
Monday’s “First Call” looks at linebacker Joe Schobert’s first game as a Pittsburgh Steeler. Also, there is a twist that may have had him playing in Baltimore instead. One ex-Pirate shines, and another gets hurt during a battle of American League powerhouses. And Pittsburgh braces itself for the long-awaited, uh,...
Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera hits 500th career home runVideo
TORONTO — Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera became the 28th major-league player to hit 500 home runs, reaching the milestone in the sixth inning Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 38-year-old Cabrera connected on a 1-1 pitch from left-hander Steven Matz, sending the ball over the scoreboard in right-center...
MLB to end 70-year partnership with Topps trading cards
Major League Baseball is ending a 70-year relationship with trading card company Topps after signing a new partnership with a rival company. The loss of the MLB partnership immediately scuttled a deal announced earlier this year that would have made Topps a publicly traded company. The special-purpose acquisition company Mudrick...
Mookie Betts feeling ‘really good,’ eyes return soon to Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts says he’s feeling “really, really good” and is eager to return soon to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup from a stint on the injured list with right hip inflammation. The All-Star outfielder has been on the IL since Aug. 8. He was diagnosed with a...
A’s ace Chris Bassitt out of hospital after being hit in head by line driveVideo
OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland Athletics ace Chris Bassitt has a broken bone in his cheek that will need surgery to repair but he sustained no eye damage after being struck on the side of the head by a line drive. Bassitt was taken to a hospital after getting hit by...
Tigers analyst Jack Morris suspended for Ohtani remarksVideo
DETROIT — Detroit Tigers broadcaster Jack Morris has been suspended indefinitely for racist comments he made about Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani during a game on Tuesday. When asked by play-by-play announcer Matt Shepard how the Tigers should pitch to Ohtani in the sixth inning, Morris adopted an exaggerated...
Woman says violence by Trevor Bauer left her in pain, fearVideo
LOS ANGELES — A woman seeking a five-year restraining order against Trevor Bauer testified Tuesday that her horror grew as bruises emerged and her pain surged the day after a sexual encounter in which she said the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher choked her into unconsciousness and punched her repeatedly. The...
First Call: Oddsmakers set line on hot seat for Mike Tomlin; Gerrit Cole returns; Joe Burrow still out
Tuesday’s “First Call” tries to gauge how hot the seat really is (or isn’t) for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Gerrit Cole returned to the mound in the Bronx. We’ve found a team struggling even worse than the Pirates. And Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow isn’t ready for game action...
Trevor Bauer lawyer: Woman made him believe she wanted rougher sex
LOS ANGELES — An attorney for Trevor Bauer told a judge Monday that the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher had every reason to believe that a woman wanted the choking and other rough treatment he gave her in two sexual encounters that led to her seeking a five-year restraining order against...
