PHOENIX – For all the talk about how hard it is to hit against modern major league pitching, the Minnesota Twins made it look easy during their largest offensive output in two years Saturday night.

The Twins reached season highs in runs (16) and hits (20) by the fifth inning. They batted around their lineup twice, sending 10 hitters to the ...Read more

SEATTLE — As Nick Davila struggled to record the first out of the seventh inning, the crowd of 45,663 — a second consecutive sellout — started “the wave” with the Seattle Mariners trailing by four runs.

The noise swirled around T-Mobile Park and many of the fans seemed genuinely happy to stand up and scream.

It circulated far longer ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — It was Andy Pages’ wife, Alondra, who told the Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder on June 3 that MLB All-Star voting had opened.

“I simply just told her, (the ballots) don’t really matter to me,” Pages said through team interpreter Juan Dorado, in a conversation with The Times earlier this month. “I’m just going to ...Read more

DENVER — Suddenly, Paul Skenes can’t find a win.

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost their seventh consecutive Skenes start, falling 2-1 to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday night despite six innings of two-run ball from Skenes.

Skenes took the loss, falling to 6-7. The Pirates, in danger of a sweep by the majors-worst Rockies, are ...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — Manny Machado got himself in a favorable count and got a pitch in the middle of the strike zone.

And he hit it a long way.

“He’s still Manny (expletive) Machado,” Jackson Merrill said. “That’ll never change.”

At least for now, at least for a day, the hero was back.

“Felt good,” Machado said. “We got a ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — In three weeks, in the same sold-out ballpark, in front of another national television audience, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper will probably be in the All-Star Game, maybe even the Home Run Derby.

But they won’t put on a show like this.

They can’t possibly.

Can they?

Whatever happens, take this to the bank: The ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Homefield advantage can only carry the Rays so far.

Saturday they failed to convert a series of early scoring opportunities, and a baserunning mistake by Junior Caminero cost them another chance later.

The result was a 4-3 loss to the Nationals at Tropicana Field, and another step back after the one the Rays seemed to ...Read more

DETROIT — Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable was quite sure there would be no shenanigans Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park, as there were during Friday’s night’s game against the Detroit Tigers.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t even call them shenanigans,” Venable said, correcting the reporter.

So what’s the proper terminology for a ...Read more

To understand the ugliness of the Giants’ 6-3 loss to the Miami Marlins on Saturday evening at loanDepot Park, take a look at the play-by-play log for the bottom of the fourth inning.

Three pitchers were needed to record three outs. Trevor McDonald faced three and didn’t retire any, plunking a batter and allowing two singles before being ...Read more

DETROIT — It all worked out in the end.

The Detroit Tigers, held hitless for 42/3 innings, rallied late to beat the Chicago White Sox, 4-1, Saturday at Comerica Park.

Kevin McGonigle produced the first hit, a single off lefty Joe Rock with two outs in the fifth. That advanced Zack McKinstry to third, setting up Dillon Dingler’s tying RBI ...Read more

NEW YORK — It sounds like Austin Wells will be back in the majors on Sunday.

Aaron Boone said Saturday that the catcher, who has been on a rehab assignment after battling cervical headaches, will “probably” rejoin the Yankees on Father’s Day. The manager added that it’s “likely” the lefty-swinging Wells will be in the lineup ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Dalton Rushing had been frustrated for much of the game, a fact he hadn’t hidden on his trips back to the dugout. But when it mattered the most, he came up clutch.

Down to his last strike in the bottom of the ninth inning, Rushing lined a single into right field to drive in Alex Call for the tying run. Then, an errant throw by...Read more

SEATTLE — Finding a specific reason or aspect to blame for any loss can be complicated in baseball. The variables for potential success or failure are numerous. And so often they coincide with each other or have causal effects, giving merit to the oft-used philosophy that one player or one play didn’t decide the outcome of a baseball game. ...Read more

PHOENIX – As well as the Minnesota Twins played during their four-game winning streak, they showed all the ways they can beat themselves in their series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

In a 9-5 loss at Chase Field, the Twins were undone by their infield defense, an issue that has surfaced throughout the year.

Count ...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — What Ty France did against Jacob deGrom was not enough to overcome what Randy Vásquez had done to him by the Rangers, as a very good first inning by the Padres devolved into a very bad 9-7 loss.

France had the most productive game of his career and by one measure the biggest night anyone has ever had against deGrom in one ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals passed their first test without Bobby Witt Jr. in the lineup.

A four-run fourth-inning opened the door to a 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium, as the Royals took the second game of the series and won their third straight game.

Friday marked the first game without Witt, the star ...Read more

DENVER — The Pirates’ woes against lefties continued on Friday, potentially reaching a new low.

Veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland dominated the Pirates for seven innings, then a Pirates comeback was spoiled by yet another blown save in a 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Friday night at Coors Field.

The Pirates trailed 2-0 after seven ...Read more

For the fifth time this season, the Giants have had an opportunity to extend a winning streak to four games.

For the fifth time this season, the Giants have failed to extend a winning streak to four games.

Left-handed reliever Sam Hentges couldn’t preserve San Francisco’s late one-run lead, allowing two runs in the bottom of the seventh ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Friday afternoon was filled with hugs and handshakes as a group of Washington Nationals players and staff who used to be with the Tampa Bay Rays returned to Tropicana Field, several for the first time with the visiting team.

But the Rays were much more excited about the high-fives afterward, as they celebrated a win for the ...Read more