ANAHEIM, Calif. — The legend of Albert Suárez has a sequel.

After making a stunning Orioles debut with 5 2/3 shutout innings seven years removed from his last MLB appearance, Suárez returned for a second start Monday and threw another 5 2/3 scoreless frames to lead the Orioles to a 4-2 win in their series opener against the Los Angeles ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — More than once this season Bob Melvin has been left to lament the Giants’ lack of timely hitting to explain away their losses. With the Mets in town Monday to begin a three-game series, the manager got to change his tone.

Nick Ahmed and Matt Chapman delivered a pair of well-timed base knocks, Michael Conforto slugged his ...Read more

DENVER — The Padres finally joined Dylan Cease on Monday, rewarding his seven stellar innings by stringing together hits for the first time all night to retake the lead in the eighth inning.

To that point, they were in danger of committing a crime against one of their starting pitchers for the second time in five games.

A two-out double by ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Max Kepler admitted he had trouble watching the Twins when he was on the injured list, choosing to look at only box scores afterward.

"I can't really watch games because it's too upsetting not being able to help my team win games or even just battle through whatever is going on," he said before Monday's 7-0 victory over the ...Read more

ATLANTA — Outfielder Ronald Acuña made history in the first inning of Monday’s 3-0 win over the Marlins, stealing his 190th career base to set a new Atlanta Braves record. Rafael Furcal previously held the record with 189 stolen bases.

Acuña wasn’t even aware he was on the verge of another record.

“I didn’t know I was on the brink,...Read more

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals' offense didn't explode or unleash an onslaught that exorcised all the demons of its recent struggles, but it did provide key hits in crucial moments to stop the recent losing slide and, perhaps, allow for a momentary sigh of relief.

The two sluggers the Cardinals dropped down in the lineup in recent days, Paul ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Royals faced another stiff test from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.

The Blue Jays, who reached the playoffs last season, arrived in Kansas City on a hot streak. Toronto had won six of its last eight games, all against quality opponents.

The Royals hoped to snap a streak of their own, but instead the Blue Jays ...Read more

CINCINNATI — The last time the Phillies played the Cincinnati Reds, at home from April 1-3, their bats were cold, the starting rotation nor the bullpen was pitching nearly as well, dropping two-of-three games. They set a vastly different tone on Monday night, with a 7-0 victory over Cincinnati for their seventh straight win.

Ranger Suárez ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tigers scored a total of three runs in three games the last time they played at Tropicana Field. That was in the season-opening series last year and they were outscored 21-3 in those games.

Different year. Different team. Different story.

The Tigers scored three runs in the first two innings Monday night and, ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — There was no early hook for Jared Jones this time around. Just one start after his controversial, predetermined exit last week at Citi Field, the 22-year-old rookie stood on the mound with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning.

The inning prior, he surrendered a solo home run to Rhys Hoskins that tied the ...Read more

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani holds the Major League Baseball record for the most home runs hit by a Japanese-born player.

He does not, however, hold that record on his own team.

That one still belongs to manager Dave Roberts — at least for the time being.

During the third inning of the Dodgers’ 10-0 win over the New York Mets on Sunday, ...Read more

NEW YORK — Aaron Boone received a quick hook on Monday, as the Yankees manager was ejected just two batters into the team’s series-opening 2-0 loss to the Athletics at Yankee Stadium.

It all started when A’s leadoff man Esteury Ruiz got hit by a pitch on his back foot to start the game. As the slider grazed the center fielder’s foot, ...Read more

Ryan Feltner is discussing his art.

This particular painting, one he’s informally named “Busy,” is a riot of colors, shapes, meaning and emotions.

“It says something about me, for sure,” the Rockies’ starting pitcher said. “In a way, it’s about reaching into yourself, maybe getting back to the child inside. But it’s also ...Read more

DENVER — Twenty-two games into the season, the Rockies have yet to win back-to-back games.

Call it the Rockies’ Catch-22.

If they hit well — an increasingly rare occurrence — they don’t pitch well. If they pitch well — an occasional occurrence — they don’t hit.

After beating the Mariners, 2-1 in 10 innings, in the opener of ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — As an encore to one of their most complete offensive performances of the season, the Giants laid a dud Sunday.

A day after breaking out for a season-high 16 hits and a win, it took the Giants until the fifth inning to record their first against Diamondbacks starter Slade Cecconi, who helped hand them a 5-3 loss to split the ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — There are no must-win games in April, but there are games in which you need to stop the bleeding.

The Dodgers found themselves in such a situation on Sunday, the supposed super team with the $308-million payroll having lost six of eight and in danger of getting swept in a three-game home series by the New York Mets for the first...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Mike Shildt took his second sip from a water bottle as he considered how the Padres had wound their way to a 6-3 victory over the Blue Jays at Petco Park.

"Well, my glass is more than half full," he said with a smile and a nod to the perspiring bottle in his hand. "I choose to look at the good stuff, and I'm not gonna ignore some ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — After the Phillies slapped an exclamation point on an undefeated week Sunday, it would’ve been fitting for Rob Thomson— or maybe Bryce Harper, given his long locks — to slick back his hair, stand up straight, and summon his inner Gordon Gekko.

“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works.”

...Read more

NEW YORK — Prior to Luis Gil’s fourth start of the season, Aaron Boone was asked about the righty’s command and potential.

Gil had not shown much of the former over his first three starts, walking 14 batters over just as many innings. That includes seven free passes against the Blue Jays on April 15.

However, the potential has been ...Read more