There is an old adage: “Good things come to those who wait.”

And Kansas City Royals designated hitter Nelson Velázquez had certainly waited a long time to hit his third home run of the season — more than a month, in fact.

Velázquez finally snapped that homer drought on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. He drilled an 86.3 mph ...Read more

ANAHEIM, Calif. — As their offense starts to percolate lift them to consecutive comeback wins, the Cardinals tried something new for the week on Tuesday.

They played from ahead.

That did not have the desired effect of reducing drama.

The Cardinals surged to an early five-run lead, misplaced it in the middle innings, got it back with a home...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Inside the clubhouse, Rockies players had quietly said they were much better than their terrible record indicated. They didn’t say it too loudly because it’s best to whisper when you own an 8-28 record.

But after beating the Padres 6-3 Tuesday night in front of 40,134 at Petco Park, who could blame the Rockies for turning up ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Eleven months ago, the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants looked like two franchises headed in somewhat different directions.

In June, a surging Giants team came to Dodger Stadium, swept a three-game series in dominant fashion, and jumped their intradivison rivals in the National League West — marking the clear nadir of the ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — It looked like Quinn Priester was going to avoid the big inning. Instead, he delayed the inevitable for a frame.

Despite Priester stranding runners at the corners in the first inning Tuesday night at American Family Field, the Brewers tagged him for four runs in the second en route to the Pirates losing, 4-3.

In the inning, the ...Read more

The Yankees’ 5-1 win didn’t start off on the best note in Minnesota on Tuesday, but things quickly fell in their favor after Carlos Rodón surrendered a leadoff homer to Ryan Jeffers on his second pitch of the game.

Oswaldo Cabrera swiftly tied the contest in the second inning, plating Anthony Rizzo with a sacrifice fly. Anthony Volpe then ...Read more

BOSTON — The Rays had several chances to win Tuesday’s game and failed to take advantage.

As a result, they lost in the 12th inning, 5-4 to the Red Sox.

Romy Gonzalez singled in the winning run off Manuel Rodriguez with no outs in the 12th, scoring Connor Wong, the runner placed at second. The Rays walked Tyler O’Neill intentionally to ...Read more

DETROIT — At first, you wondered who was going to blink first. Then you thought maybe neither would blink at all.

Neither did.

Tigers’ right-hander Reese Olson and Marlins’ lefty Ryan Weathers put on an impressive display of pitching Tuesday night. They both hung zeros for eight innings before turning it over to their respective bullpens...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — As far as rehab starts go, it doesn’t get much better than the four perfect innings Blake Snell threw for Single-A San Jose earlier this week. The reigning National League Cy Young winner will, however, make one more tuneup before rejoining the Giants’ starting rotation.

As the Giants play host to the Rockies on Friday, ...Read more

BALTIMORE — The Orioles’ sweepless streak is in danger for the second time in the past week.

Baltimore’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday evening was postponed because of inclement weather. The wet conditions and forecast of more rain made it difficult to envision getting the game, originally scheduled for 6:35 p.m., in at a ...Read more

ATLANTA — As bullpen injuries continue to pile up, the Chicago Cubs have traded for a familiar arm.

The Cubs acquired right-hander Tyson Miller for minor league infielder Jake Slaughter. The organization is very familiar with Miller, who was a fourth-round pick of the Cubs in 2016. Miller was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers in 2021 ...Read more

NEW YORK — Aaron Nola unleashed a cutter, inside and at the knees. It was his 59th pitch, a cross between nasty and unhittable. It went for a called third strike for the 15th out against the 15th Mets batter.

And if you didn’t think then that something special might’ve been in the air at Citi Field, consider this: It was the late Roy ...Read more

You’re the manager perched on the top step of the dugout. Two outs in the ninth inning, score tied, your runner at third base.

Next up is your hitter whose swing generates the fastest bat speed in all of Major League Baseball. Does he hit or do you send up a pinch-hitter whose swing is slower than anyone else in baseball?

Seems like a no-...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — When the season ends, and the Dodgers reflect on their 162-game journey through the schedule, the details of Monday’s game against the San Francisco Giants aren’t likely to be remembered.

The result probably will be lumped in with dozens of others, another indistinguishable thread in the tapestry of a six-month season.

...Read more

Irritable and untouchable, George Kirby blissfully found his comfort zone Monday night.

The Mariners’ right-hander threw seven shutout innings, scattering three hits (all singles) with no walks and six strikeouts in a dominant 6-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a three-game series before a crowd of 14,984 at T-Mobile ...Read more

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Before there was the bruise that put the Cardinals ahead there was the blast that sparked them and the familiar presence that lifted them.

Given a second chance and left with an impression, Paul Goldschmidt was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to break a tie game in the seventh and contribute to what became a seven-run,...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The Rockies walked the high-wire Monday night at Petco Park.

Their pitchers teetered and tottered. They walked 11 Padres batters. Count ’em, 11.

But somehow, someway, the Rockies held on to win 5-4, notching their fifth consecutive win.

The Padres loaded the bases in the ninth against Jalen Beeks on three walks but Beeks got ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — Monday’s game could give the innings after Paul Skenes’ MLB debut a run for their money.

The Pirates built a five-run and nearly blew it, Mitch Keller spun six scoreless and Bryan Reynolds set a career-high with five hits. By the end of a wacky night at American Family Field, the Pirates beat the Brewers, 8-6.

Reynolds’ ...Read more

NEW YORK — The trumpets blared, the music played, and Mr. and Mrs. Met danced on the dugout. Then, after the coolest closer entrance was complete, the Phillies coolly sent Edwin Díaz back to the dugout.

Game over? Not exactly.

Playing without Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto, and with Kyle Schwarber able to only pinch hit in the ninth inning, ...Read more

BOSTON — The Rays got off to a good start taking their revamped show on the road.

Seeking to extend the momentum from a 6-3 homestand, they opened a seven-game trip against American League East foes Boston and Toronto on Monday with a 5-3 win over the Red Sox.

The Rays got off to a quick start with a hand from the Red Sox, and took a 3-0 ...Read more