Skip Schumaker hired as manager of Miami Marlins
MIAMI — Skip Schumaker was a candidate to take over as manager of the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets in recent years, only to see those clubs pick someone else. The Miami Marlins didn’t let him get away. Schumaker has been hired by the Marlins to become the...
Love ’em or hate ’em, Series-bound Astros keep on winningVideo
They’re off to the World Series for a fourth time in six seasons, a remarkable feat of staying power for a franchise in any era of baseball history, let alone one that includes a 12-team playoff gauntlet filled with potential pitfalls. Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. put it succiently Sunday...
Hot Harper carries Phillies into 1st World Series since 2009
PHILADELPHIA — The billionaire owner of the Philadelphia Phillies pounded his fists on Bryce Harper’s chest and joked the Phillies slugger was almost underpaid at $330 million over the life of his contract. It was absurd to put a price tag on the moment for John Middleton as he pulled...
Astros sweep Yankees in ALCS, advance to World Series againVideo
NEW YORK — Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman delivered big hits and the Houston Astros advanced to the World Series again, finishing a four-game sweep of New York in the AL Championship Series with a 6-5 victory Sunday night aided by another defensive gaffe from the Yankees. Taking advantage of...
Bryce Harper’s HR powers Phillies past Padres, into World SeriesVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper slugged his fifth homer of the postseason, a two-run blast in the eighth inning that turned Citizens Bank Park into a madhouse, and the $330 million slugger powered the Philadelphia Phillies past the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Sunday and into the World Series for the...
Phillies hit 4 homers, push Padres to brink
PHILADELPHIA — Rhys Hoskins homered twice, Kyle Schwarber hit a solo shot into shrubbery, and Bryce Harper doubled to put the Philadelphia Phillies ahead for good in a wild 10-6 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night for a 3-1 lead in the National League Championship Series. Harper...
Javier, Astros romp 5-0 over Yanks, Cole, take 3-0 ALCS leadVideo
NEW YORK — Cristian Javier and Houston’s bullpen combined on a three-hitter, Chas McCormick followed a dropped flyball with an early two-run homer and the Astros beat Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees, 5-0, on Saturday night to take a 3-0 AL Championship Series lead. Some Yankees fans, already...
Kyle Schwarber homers as Phillies top Padres, lead NLCS 2-1
PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber led off with his latest scintillating home run, Jean Segura atoned for a run-scoring error with a go-ahead single and the Philadelphia Phillies edged the San Diego Padres, 4-2, on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series. Game 4 is...
Rangers hire 3-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy as next manager
Heading into their 52nd season, the Rangers still have not managed to win a World Series. But, for the first time, they have a manager who has. The Rangers agreed to terms with Bruce Bochy to take over as the 20th full time manager in club history, the club announced...
Power outage could mean quick end to Yankees’ postseasonVideo
NEW YORK — A power outage could mean an end to the New York Yankees’ postseason. Houston largely has kept the Yankees from hitting home runs, allowing only a pair of solo shots. The Astros arrive in New York with a 2-0 AL Championship Series lead going into Game 3...
Guardians manager Terry Francona plans to return in 2023Video
CLEVELAND — There were no formal contract negotiations between Terry Francona and the Guardians, just a five-minute conversation among friends. He told them he wants to keep managing. They gladly accepted. Francona’s unique partnership in Cleveland will carry into 2023 as the 63-year-old New Brighton native agreed to return with...
Alex Bregman homers as Astros edge Yankees, lead ALCS 2-0
HOUSTON — Alex Bregman hit an early three-run homer, Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and the Houston Astros edged the New York Yankees, 3-2, on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge just missed a two-run homer in the eighth...
Verlander strikes out 11, Astros homer 3 times to take Game 1 of ALCS from YankeesVideo
HOUSTON — Justin Verlander struck out 11 in six strong innings, and Yuli Gurriel, Chas McCormick and Jeremy Peña homered to power the Houston Astros to a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees in their AL Championship Series opener Wednesday night. The Astros are in their sixth consecutive ALCS,...
Brandon Drury, Padres rally to beat Phillies, tie NLCS at 1-1Video
SAN DIEGO — Brandon Drury hit a go-ahead, two-run single during a five-run rally in the fifth inning, and the San Diego Padres stunned Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-5, on Wednesday to tie their all-wild card NL Championship Series at one game apiece. The outburst started with Padres...
As MLB playoffs expand, regular-season success matters less
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball views expanded playoffs as the more the merrier. Not for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals. The National League’s four winningest teams failed to reach the League Championship Series, six months of accomplishment undone in just a...
Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber homer as Phillies take NLCS opener from Padres
SAN DIEGO — Bryce Harper homered again, Kyle Schwarber hit a jaw-dropping, 488-foot drive and Zack Wheeler was brilliant in throwing one-hit ball for seven innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the San Diego Padres, 2-0, on Tuesday night to open the all-wild card NL Championship Series. Wheeler and...
Stanton, Judge bash Yanks to 5-1 win, into ALCS vs AstrosVideo
NEW YORK — Gleyber Torres stepped on second base for the final out, swinging his arms back and forth, four times in all, while glaring at Josh Naylor and the Guardians dugout. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge rocked Cleveland with early homers, and Nestor Cortes and the New York Yankees...
Guardians-Yankees rained out, to play ALDS Game 5 on Tuesday
NEW YORK — The decisive Game 5 of the AL Division Series between the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees was postponed by rain and rescheduled for Tuesday at 4:07 p.m. Both teams took batting practice Monday ahead of the scheduled 7:07 p.m. start. Major League Baseball announced a delay...
First Call: Bucs linebacker offers opinion on Steelers quarterbacks; Gerrit Cole, Clay Holmes keep Yankees alive
One of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gives his opinions on the Mitch Trubisky versus Kenny Pickett debate. A Carolina Panthers player gets kicked off the sideline. We look at the next opponent for the Pittsburgh Penguins. And Gerrit Cole keeps the Yankees alive in the American League Divisional Series. All...
Cole, Yankees save season, beat Guardians to force ALDS Game 5
CLEVELAND — Gerrit Cole gave New York what it needed, seven solid innings, and Harrison Bader hit a two-run homer as the Yankees saved their season and forced a decisive fifth game in the AL Division Series with a 4-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 on Sunday...
Jake Cronenworth, Padres rally to stun Dodgers to reach NLCS
SAN DIEGO — Jake Cronenworth hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with two outs in the seventh inning and the San Diego Padres rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-3, Saturday night to advance to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 1998. The Padres stunned the 111-win Dodgers...
Phillies beat Braves in Game 4, reach NLCS
PHILADELPHIA — Brandon Marsh hit a three-run homer, and J.T. Realmuto lined an inside-the-park home run that sent the Philadelphia Phillies bolting headfirst into the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2010 with an 8-3 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 on Saturday. Realmuto became the...
Blake Snell, Trent Grisham lead Padres over Dodgers for NLDS lead
SAN DIEGO — Blake Snell pitched five-hit ball into the sixth inning and Trent Grisham homered at a festive Petco Park, helping the San Diego Padres top the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-1, on Friday night for a 2-1 lead in their NL Division Series. San Diego can clinch its first...
Spike This! Hoskins, Harper homer, Phils rout Braves in NLDS
PHILADELPHIA — Rhys Hoskins raised his arms in triumph, and then spiked his bat in celebration — a raw, emotional moment destined for Philadelphia’s rich sports history. Hoskins then trotted around the bases in front of a rabid crowd of 45,538 fans already in a tizzy over the Phillies’ first...
Guardians rally past Yankees 4-2 in 10 innings, tie ALDS 1-1
NEW YORK — Little hits turn into big wins for the Cleveland Guardians. José Ramírez hustled to reach third base leading off the 10th inning with a popup that dropped in left field, 200 feet from home plate. Oscar Gonzalez drove him in with the tiebreaking run on an even...
