SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — DeSoto Central High School’s past and present poetically intersected May 15, 2019.

As the Jaguars prepared for Game 1 of their state championship series at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss., coach Mark Monaghan awaited the major league debut of a DeSoto Central product. He remembers hearing from Austin Riley that day.

“...Read more

ANAHEIM, CALIF. – One strike from victory, the Minnesota Twins let another critical game get away from them in the late innings Saturday night.

No. 9 hitter Magneuris Sierra hit a tying two-run triple past diving left fielder Nick Gordon with two out in the ninth inning, and Taylor Ward hit a walkoff homer off Emilio Pagan two innings later ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A day brimming with an appreciation for the past eventually had the Dodgers cherishing the present and peering excitedly into a future that gets more promising with every game. Call it a win, win, win.

History lessons abounded, but not the dry, academic kind. These, by all accounts, were gripping and profoundly meaningful ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — On a night the San Francisco Giants hosted dozens of players sporting World Series rings in a celebration of their 2012 title, it was their pitcher on the mound Saturday who provided the star power.

In one of the best starts of his young career, Logan Webb dazzled for eight shutout innings to beat the Pirates 2-0.

The win was...Read more

BOSTON — Isiah Kiner-Falefa has not exactly had a stellar first season with the Yankees. The shortstop has made some really good plays and blundered some routine ones. His bat has been lighter than even the Yankees expected when they traded for him this spring.

But Saturday night, he had his moments. Kiner-Falefa hammered his first home run ...Read more

DENVER — As the Rockies’ season winds down — there are only 46 games remaining after Arizona shut them out, 6-0, on Saturday night at Coors Field — a lot of players are going to face increased scrutiny.

Players such as right-hander Jose Urena, who gave up three home runs over his six innings vs. Arizona. The Rockies’ offense, ...Read more

CHICAGO — Riley Greene talked before Saturday's game about getting back to his smooth, natural swing. He felt like he’d been trying to do too much, getting outside of himself, not letting the game just come to him.

Well, it came to him in the second inning against Chicago White Sox starter Lucas Giolito.

With the bases loaded and two outs,...Read more

MIAMI — The Miami Marlins lost both games of their doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday at loanDepot park, falling 5-2 in the first game and 6-2 in the nightcap.

With that, Miami’s scoring woes have reached a point not seen in more than 40 years.

The Marlins (50-64) have scored three runs or fewer in 14 consecutive games, ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Everything about this season so far has pointed to the Los Angeles Dodgers being a special team. Well, the Kansas City Royals got an up-close view of just how overwhelming the Dodgers can be when they’re clicking on all cylinders.

Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller struggled out of the gate as the Dodgers jumped on him ...Read more

WASHINGTON — Now back to worrying about winning baseball games.

The shock hasn’t necessarily worn off, but baseball comes at its participants fast.

So a day after being rocked by news of Fernando Tatis Jr.’s PED suspension, the Padres continued with the business of their intended march to the postseason.

Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the ...Read more

WASHINGTON — The potential similarities stagger, considering it was only a season ago. The Braves hunted for traction after inconsistent play, despite grand expectations in spring training.

Hey, Padres. Sound familiar?

They lost a 23-year-old superstar in outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. as the first half of the season essentially had been ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — No Fernando Tatis Jr.?

No problem. The Padres should still reach the playoffs.

Defensively, they’re better without Tatis unless they would’ve limited him to designated hitting. They’re more talented than their first rival for the final wild card, the less-spendy Milwaukee Brewers. Few rotations surpass the Padres’ trio of...Read more

NEW YORK — The funny thing about greatness, at least when it comes to starting pitchers, is that it can be defined by the things that don’t happen.

Rather than big, grand spectacles or heroic, one-off displays, a great starting pitcher is more metronomic, repeating the same thing over and over until it becomes wholly expected. Jacob deGrom ...Read more

CHICAGO — No one remains the way they were in their 30s, and Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa is no different than the rest of us.

But La Russa, 77, sounds a lot like he did in his first go-round on the South Side in the 1980s, especially when it comes to addressing the Sox’s problems.

“The pieces haven`t fit together so far, and ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — "Who told you to put the balm on?"

— Jackie Chiles

And so we must ask the question first proposed by ABBA: "Can you hear the drums, Fernando?"

Fernando Tatis Jr. can hear the tom-toms, the bass and the snare. He just doesn't listen to them, as he travels recklessly through life to the beat of a different drum — his own, ...Read more

MIAMI — A frustrating fourth inning hampered Jesus Luzardo’s outing and paved the way for another Miami Marlins loss.

The left-handed pitcher gave up three runs in that decisive inning and only made it through five innings overall in Miami’s 5-2 loss on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves at loanDepot ...Read more