ST. LOUIS — Whatever spillover momentum or percolating offense the Cardinals had coming out of their rousing walk-off win Saturday went ice cold Sunday.

Before the game, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was asked about the old chestnut that momentum is only as strong as the next day’s starter, and that proved prophetic as the next day’s ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — In a season where not much has gone right offensively for the Pirates, Sunday was a nice respite.

The Pirates scored five runs in the fifth inning alone, breaking open what was a tied ballgame. Three players had three-hit days. The result was a 8-3 win against the Texas Rangers, avoiding a three-game sweep.

Texas scored two runs...Read more

NEW YORK — Shortly before the Yankees and Orioles’ series finale began Sunday, Yankee Stadium’s public address system described the matchup as a “Sunday morning melee.”

In that case, Jazz Chisholm Jr. delivered the most devastating blow in the divisional showdown, as his two-run double off the right-center field wall in the eighth ...Read more

DENVER — Among the riddles facing the Colorado Rockies is how to find a winning formula at Coors Field. Because, right now, it’s a home-field disadvantage.

The Rockies’ 5-3 loss to Arizona on a 98-degree, desert-like Saturday night in LoDo dropped their home record to 7-29, the worst home record in the majors and their worst start through...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Dodger Stadium is the proud owner of the most home runs in baseball this season. The long-ball trend might not be an anomaly.

On Saturday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals combined for eight home runs, but only three came off L.A. bats.

Dodgers right-hander Dustin May gave up three solo home runs in a 7-3 ...Read more

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels enjoyed a rare comfortable victory on Saturday night.

While they have a better record than expected this season, that’s mostly because of their success in tight games. Their run differential was still negative-61 because they had been on the wrong end of most of the blowout games.

They began to cut into that ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatis Jr. opened his arms as he jogged up the first base line in the seventh inning Saturday and raised them toward the heavens.

It had been a long time since he’d homered.

Too long. Far too long.

Tatis’ first homer in 98 plate appearances and 22 games snapped the longest drought of his career and propped up the ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The New York Mets found a convenient workaround to avoid hitting with runners in scoring position: Just hit home runs instead.

They hit seven against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night, including three in a row off rookie right-hander Mick Abel in the third inning en route to an 11-4 win Saturday at Citizens Bank Park....Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers never harbored any concerns about hitting in San Francisco at a venue notorious for favoring pitchers. In Devers’ mind, there was nothing to change. The baseball, after all, is still the same.

“I know that I’m a power hitter,” Devers said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros on Friday. “If I hit the ...Read more

CHICAGO — Oppressive heat coupled with wind blowing out to center field figured to initially serve as the backdrop of Saturday’s Cubs-Mariners game from a strictly baseball standpoint.

A wind officially measured at 20 miles an hour at first pitch helped contribute to a combined five home runs as the Cubs built an early eight-run lead and ...Read more

TORONTO — The Chicago White Sox used 10 pitchers — including eight relievers — during Thursday’s doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals at Rate Field, with Game 2 stretching 10 innings.

They used five more in a bullpen game Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, necessitated after Davis Martin went on the injured ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The last time the Twins played a series against the Milwaukee Brewers, they were at the end of their 13-game winning streak, rarely giving up runs and playing clean games virtually every day.

One month later, and it’s the opposite.

The Twins were embarrassed for the second consecutive game in a 9-0 loss to Milwaukee at Target...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The names on the lineup card likely don’t jump out to many around the game except the Rays’ own fans.

But it’s getting harder and harder to ignore what they’re doing.

The Rays continued their month-long rampage through opposing pitching staffs, scoring a second straight victory, this time 8-3 over a Detroit Tigers team ...Read more

NEW YORK — It’s been nearly 26 years since a Yankees pitcher threw a no-hitter in the Bronx.

Corey Kluber threw one in Texas in 2021, and Domingo German hurled a perfect game in Oakland two years later.

But the Yankees’ last no-no in front of their home crowd came on July 18, 1999, when David Cone delivered his perfect game against the ...Read more

MIAMI – The Atlanta Braves suffered a blow Saturday, placing pitching ace Chris Sale on the 15-day injured list because of a fractured left rib cage. The move is backdated to June 19.

Sale sustained the injury when he dove to field a chopper in the ninth inning of his last outing, against the New York Mets. He snagged the ball and threw Juan ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — It’s hard not to count as the strikeouts go by.

Clayton Kershaw’s first strikeout Friday night came on his “Cooperstown curveball” — a pitch that’s dazzled since its first appearance at Dodger Stadium on May 25, 2008. Two strikeouts on sliders that dove into the dirt like paper airplanes curtailing in the wind ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers went hitless in five at-bats in his first game against his former team as the San Francisco Giants fell to the Boston Red Sox, 7-5, on Friday night at Oracle Park.

Devers received a standing ovation in his first plate appearance of the night. Along with the Giants fans rising to their feet, a smattering of Red ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres returned to calm and cool San Diego and eventually warmed up Friday night.

But a comeback from four runs down was merely a setup to another letdown, as a Padres reliever melted down again.

The Royals scored twice in the eighth inning off Jason Adam and held on for a 6-5 victory Friday night at Petco Park.

...Read more