In year of home run, pitchers take spotlight in Astros-Nationals World Series
Now this is a serious World Series throw-down. Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke vs. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin — all of them All-Star starters, still pitching at their peak. It’s a mound meeting every fan can enjoy, the Houston Astros against the Washington Nationals. Capital...
Jose Altuve hits walk-off HR in ninth against Yankees, Astros advance to World SeriesVideo
HOUSTON — Jose Altuve, the 5-foot-6 driving force of Houston, delivered a swing that will play in Astros’ highlights forever. Altuve homered off Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth inning and Houston outlasted the New York Yankees 6-4 Saturday night to advance to the World Series for the...
Yankees defeat Verlander, Astros to stay alive in ALCSVideo
NEW YORK — DJ LeMahieu drove Justin Verlander’s second pitch over the wall, then Aaron Hicks sent the fans at Yankee Stadium into a frenzy with a three-run homer off the foul pole later in the first inning. And just like that, the Bronx Bombers were back — in the...
Jeannette native Cody Elias at forefront of digital streaming with ‘A’s Cast Live’
He did not hit a home run or strike out a batter, but Cody Elias played a significant role for Oakland A’s during their run to the American League wild-card game. In his first year with the organization, the 30-year-old Jeannette native garnered significant attention for his role on “A’s...
Astros power past Yankees for 3-1 ALCS lead with Verlander up next
NEW YORK — They have the pitching, and they don’t need the pitches. Certainly, the Houston Astros have confidence for good reason on the brink of another World Series. “It’s Justin Verlander,” reliever Ryan Pressly said. George Springer and Carlos Correa each hit three-run homers and the Astros got another...
Bumpy road for Nationals manager leads to ‘beautiful place’Video
WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez is an optimistic sort, a live-in-the-moment guy who loves his mantras and his mottos, whether it’s telling players to “go 1-0 today” or to “stay in the fight.” Rough as things were when Washington was 19-31 and people were wondering whether Martinez was...
There from the start for Nationals, Ryan Zimmerman in 1st World SeriesVideo
WASHINGTON — Bottle of beer in hand, Ryan Zimmerman stood alone in the Nationals Park home clubhouse for a few moments, taking in the scene while his teammates celebrated reaching Washington’s first World Series since 1933. Eventually, someone threw an arm around the 35-year-old Zimmerman’s shoulders and ushered him back...
NLCS sweep puts damper on Cardinals’ 92-win seasonVideo
From one corner of a sullen clubhouse came the glass half full view of the St. Louis Cardinals’ season. “People did not think we were going to be here,” veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright said. “I think if you had asked Cardinals (fans) in spring training if we got to the...
Joe Maddon returns to Los Angeles Angels as new managerVideo
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joe Maddon is back under the halo. Maddon agreed to a three-year deal to become the Los Angeles Angels’ manager Wednesday, reuniting the World Series-winning former bench boss of the Chicago Cubs with the organization where he spent the first three decades of his baseball career. “We...
ALCS Game 4 between Astros, Yankees postponed
Wednesday’s scheduled ALCS game is postponed. The Houston Astros vs. the New York Yankees will now play Game 4 of the series Thursday in New York. Tonight's game has been postponed. Please see below for information regarding the next two ALCS games. ALCS Home Game 2 tickets will be valid...
First Call: XFL fan account jabs Antonio Brown; Ex-Pirates Gerrit Cole, Daniel Hudson shineVideo
In “First Call” on this Wednesday, no Antonio Brown in the XFL! The NFL knows its refs screwed up during the “Monday Night Football” game. And the Nationals are on to the World Series. Can we handle more “Baby Shark”? Hard pass on A.B. You won’t see “Mr. Big Chest”...
Wild-card Nationals head to World Series with sweep of CardinalsVideo
WASHINGTON — Mike Shildt took the ball from Dakota Hudson and patted him on the back of the neck. Hudson was out of the game after recording one out on 15 pitches against eight Washington Nationals batters, and the St. Louis Cardinals were on the receiving end of what they...
Gerrit Cole pitches Astros past Yankees for 2-1 lead in ALCSVideo
NEW YORK — Far from his best, Gerrit Cole was still unbeatable. Heck, he didn’t even give up a run. A gritty Cole held the New York Yankees scoreless without his sharpest stuff, Jose Altuve sparked Houston at the plate and the Astros locked down a 4-1 victory Tuesday to...
Gerrit Cole, unbeaten since May, transformed by Astros analytics
NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole walked into a conference room after one of his first spring training workouts with the Houston Astros in February 2018 and was met by about 10 people. “There was charts, video, matching charts,” Cole recalled. “It was all new then, but it’s pretty straightforward to...
First Call: James Neal has his own goal song; Gerrit Cole faces Yankees
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” James Neal is making beautiful music. Gerrit Cole looks to dust the New York Yankees. And the Penguins get ready for the red-hot Colorado Avalanche. Real Deal Neal James Neal had a 40-goal season in Pittsburgh back in 2012. He’s on pace for more than that...
Stephen Strasburg strikes out 12; Nationals top Cardinals in Game 3Video
WASHINGTON — More than 100 pitches in, Stephen Strasburg was adamant he wasn’t quite ready to leave the latest superb start by a Nationals pitcher against the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship Series — a win that put Washington on the verge of the city’s first World Series...
Yankees plan to go all relievers in ALCS Game 4 vs. AstrosVideo
NEW YORK — The Yankees and Astros plan all-bullpen games from the start in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series in a sign of the times. With the best-of-seven series tied 1-1, New York’s Luis Severino starts Game 3 on Tuesday against Gerrit Cole. Masahiro Tanaka began the opener...
Carlos Correa lifts Astros past Yankees with HR in 11thVideo
HOUSTON — Carlos Correa hit a leadoff home run in the 11th inning, and the Houston Astros won a battle of the bullpens, beating the New York Yankees, 3-2, on Sunday night to tie the AL Championship Series at one game apiece. The slumping Correa, who earlier hit an RBI...
Nationals send Strasburg to mound to try to take stranglehold on NLCS vs. Cardinals
WASHINGTON — Thanks to superb pitching, the countdown is on to the Washington Nationals’ first World Series appearance in franchise history. Up 2-0 on the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship Series after near no-hitters from Anibal Sanchez and Max Scherzer, the Nationals turn to historically strong playoff pitcher...
Yankees win Game 1 of ALCS behind Tanaka’s masterful outing, Torres’ bat
HOUSTON — Gleyber Torres kept up his October surge with a homer and five RBIs, Masahiro Tanaka polished his playoff resume and the New York Yankees blanked the Houston Astros, 7-0, on Saturday night in the AL Championship Series opener. With so much attention focused on the Astros aces, Tanaka...
Scherzer flirts with no-hitter as Nationals take 2-0 NLCS lead on Cardinals
ST. LOUIS — Max Scherzer was strength and fire. Anibal Sanchez was artistry and deception. Two different styles, two absolute gems for the Washington Nationals. Scherzer followed Sanchez’s near no-hitter with a try of his own, and the stingy Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-1, on Saturday for a...
Report: Angels PR employee supplied Tyler Skaggs with opioidsVideo
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels said they don’t know whether a longtime public relations official had been providing drugs to late pitcher Tyler Skaggs, as detailed in a report Saturday on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines.” Eric Kay, a 24-year employee of the Angels’ PR department, told the Drug...
Anibal Sanchez shines as Nationals beat Cardinals in NLCS openerVideo
ST. LOUIS — It turns out Washington’s Big Three is a Big Four. Don’t forget about Anibal Sanchez. The right-hander carried a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, Howie Kendrick had two more big swings and the Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-0, on Friday night in the NL...
Tyler Glasnow says tipped pitches help undo Rays in ALDS vs. AstrosVideo
HOUSTON — Unable to beat three aces in a row, the Tampa Bay Rays finally folded against Houston. It didn’t help starter Tyler Glasnow was sure he tipped pitches in the first inning, when the Astros scored four fast runs. With baseball’s most inexpensive roster, the young Rays tried all...
David Ortiz pulls vodka prank on Frank Thomas during Fox MLB pregame showVideo
Big Papi was big pouring Thursday. The three-time World Series champion David Ortiz pranked fellow MLB all-star Frank Thomas during the ALDS pregame show on FS1. Before the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays game, Ortiz pulled out a handle of vodka and poured it into Thomas’ water bottle. "Get...
