ST. LOUIS — The Chicago White Sox held a 51/2-game lead in the American League Central on Aug. 16.

That lead is down to a half-game after the Sox suffered their fourth straight loss Friday, falling 7-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals in front of 30,274 at Busch Stadium.

“Just an ugly one all the way around,” manager Will Venable said. “...Read more

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two things we’ve learned about Lazaro Montes in his first two weeks in the big leagues:

The unabashed joy with which he plays is real and it’s authentic.

The power absolutely is, too.

Both elements have been in short supply for the underperforming Seattle Mariners, and both were on display again Friday night ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Near the end of July, Robbie Ray pitched in a game for the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park.

He allowed one run on four hits and a walk over six innings.

Four days later, he was traded to San Diego. He was acquired to help bolster the Padres’ starting rotation and their chances of making the postseason, as he had at the ...Read more

ATLANTA — Bryce Harper was off and running.

Alec Bohm had hit a grounder right to Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubón, but by the time Harper realized his mistake, it was too late. He was frozen between second and third, and Dubón had him dead to rights.

Harper was tagged out for the second out in the top of the ninth, and the Phillies’ best...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins acquired three pitchers at the trade deadline, hopeful it would bolster their bullpen for a playoff push over the last two months of the season.

Those playoff dreams ended sometime in the past week, and the bullpen didn't even let the Twins play spoiler Friday at Target Field.

Twins closer Yoendrys Gómez gave up ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Missing the playoffs the past two seasons seemed like a very long time for the Rays, especially after making them for five straight.

With the chance in their own hands to get back in with a win on Friday, they did so in dramatic fashion.

Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning to give the ...Read more

DETROIT — Riley Greene just wouldn’t give in.

It was a 1-1 game in the sixth inning. There were two outs and Gleyber Torres was on first. It looked like lefty reliever Mark Manfredi had Greene struck out when home plate umpire Ron Kulpa went up with his right hand on a 2-2 fastball.

Greene, who rarely uses a challenge, tapped his head. The...Read more

BOSTON — This week the MLB schedule presented the Red Sox with a golden opportunity to effectively lock up their playoff spot and potentially make one last push to catch the Yankees, with back-to-back home series against the last place Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City Royals.

It might not wind up mattering, but the Red Sox haven’t exactly...Read more

NEW YORK — As the Yankees’ pitchers and hitters began their respective pregame meetings on Friday afternoon, the daily seminars opened with a twist.

Shown to them was what Aaron Boone called an “outstanding,” three-minute video on the significance of Sept. 11, 2001. With Friday marking the 25th commemoration of the terrorist attacks ...Read more

TORONTO — If Baltimore fans were told during spring training that the Orioles and Blue Jays would play meaningful games in mid-September while fighting for a playoff spot, they would’ve surely assumed that was a positive outcome.

They certainly wouldn’t have thought it would look like this.

For months, the Orioles and Blue Jays have ...Read more

MIAMI — Dodgers top prospect Josue De Paula wasn’t going to be overwhelmed by the moment. Manager Dave Roberts was quite sure of that.

“I think he’s gonna swing at strikes, take balls, put together good at-bats,” Roberts said before De Paula’s major league debut Friday.

Sure enough, when De Paula stepped into the batter’s box at ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — There’s a few things you need to know about Murf Gray.

To start, his name’s not really Murf. He was born as Triston Allen Gray, giving himself the nickname “Murf” from his childhood favorite movie, “Like Mike.” Most early nicknames don’t have staying power, but even his family calls him Murf — unless, of course, ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Twins center fielder Byron Buxton is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right hip next week, putting an end to his All-Star year.

Buxton tried to return once more this season, hoping to help the Twins push for a playoff spot, but his troublesome right hip never improved to the point where he was close to rejoining ...Read more

NEW YORK — Paul O’Neill can remember the roar.

As the then-Yankees star warmed up in the outfield before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series in the Bronx, a palpable energy overtook the stadium as President George W. Bush walked to the mound for the ceremonial first pitch.

“I was standing next to Scott Brosius, and we were so relieved when ...Read more

NEW YORK — George Lombard Jr. was still years away from being born when terrorists attacked the Twins Towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

Only 21 years old, he is one of several Yankees who are too young to have any recollection of that horrific day in New York City. Instead, Lombard’s knowledge of the day came from reading stories, watching videos ...Read more

NEW YORK — Twenty-five years later, the moment still seems surreal to the Mets who witnessed it. It was Sept. 21, 2001 — 10 days after the deadliest act of terrorism in United States history — and heartbreak, anger and fear continued to engulf the country.

Debates had raged over whether it was too soon to resume MLB games, particularly in...Read more

LOS ANGELES — It takes Bryce Harper about four seconds to run from home plate to first base. It took him about the same amount of time to demolish the proposal the commissioner's office made to the players' union in an effort to ensure players participate in the Los Angeles Olympics: If you're picked and you don't play, you have to sit out two...Read more

NEW YORK — As the freshly-promoted Anthony Volpe settled into a new locker inside the Yankees’ clubhouse on Thursday, he said that he felt as if he had been in a “bubble” at Triple-A.

Not because he was stuck in the minors, but because he was focused on trying to improve his game. Volpe said he was so locked in that he didn’t even ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — When it comes to Shohei Ohtani's injury management, it's tempting to dwell on the what-ifs.

What if the Dodgers forced him to give up pitching in July, when he needed a lubricant injection to alleviate irritation in his left knee?

It was clear by then that Ohtani was playing through multiple injuries. A right biceps problem ...Read more