The Athletics scored first and early in all four games of this week’s series against the Red Sox, and still managed to lose three of four to the visiting Boston ball club.

Such comebacks would’ve been unthinkable a month ago. Even with Thursday’s 5-4 series-clinching victory, the Red Sox are just 21-37 when opponents score first.

“I ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- In the latest twist in Shohei Ohtani’s battle with left knee discomfort, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts held him out of the lineup during a 6-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.

Ohtani reported soreness Wednesday night in his left knee, which he treated over the All-Star break with a lubricating orthovisc injection and ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — There’s no sugarcoating the reality: Robbie Ray’s start on Thursday evening against the San Diego Padres was likely his final start as a Giant.

Ray will not make another start between now and Monday’s trade deadline. When the dust settles, the 34-year-old veteran should be representing his sixth different major-league team. ...Read more

CINCINNATI — The Pirates’ bullpen game failed in its final leg.

Four Pirates relievers combined for eight innings of two-run ball, but Nathaniel Lowe’s bases-loaded fielder’s choice off Gregory Soto earned the Cincinnati Reds a 3-2 win on Thursday night at Great American Ball Park.

Elly De La Cruz scored the winning run. He went 3 for ...Read more

NEW YORK — If there is anything worth coming to Citi Field for after Monday, it’s the kids. The kids are alright.

Of course, if you’ve followed the Mets at all this season, you already knew that. The rising rookies have provided hope for the Mets and for fans since opening day. In the final week before the trade deadline, it’s been no ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In the latest twist in Shohei Ohtani's battle with left knee discomfort, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts held him out of the lineup Thursday against the Seattle Mariners.

Ohtani reported soreness Wednesday night in his left knee, which he treated over the All-Star break with a lubricating orthovisc injection and rest. So the ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — New details have emerged about Giants outfielder Harrison Bader’s scooter collision over the weekend that further injured his left foot, which he was already rehabbing.

The San Francisco Police Department responded Thursday to an inquiry by this news organization, and while Bader was not specifically named, SFPD detailed that ...Read more

CHICAGO — Tristan Peters drew a walk-off bases-loaded walk in the 11th inning Thursday, giving the Chicago White Sox a 2-1 victory against the New York Yankees in front of 29,384 at Rate Field.

“It’s an interesting way to walk it off,” Peters said. “Any way does the job.”

It was the second straight walk-off win in extra innings for...Read more

ST. LOUIS — There would be no dramatic flair, no 10th-inning homer complete with social media-ready bat flip to put the Cubs ahead this time.

There would be only a win for them. One that seemed routine.

For the second time in as many days, the Cardinals and their archrivals took a staring contest into extra innings, and when the Cubs ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Thursday’s rubber match between the Rays and the Rangers quickly escalated into a battle of bullpens. Shane McClanahan pitched only 3 2/3 scoreless innings before leaving the game with mid-back tightness, and the teams called a combined 10 relievers to the mound over the course of the game.

Casey Legumina, Cam Booser,...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins were no-hit for six innings on Thursday. They got their first hit in the seventh off Royals lefty Noah Cameron.

Apparently, they were just waiting for Cameron to leave the game.

Cameron was lifted after eight innings.

With two outs in the ninth, the Twins went to work on the Royals. And, in a you-had-to-be-here-to-...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Twenty-seven years since his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, now 73 years old, George Brett had come to appreciate a perk of seniority for the marathon annual ceremony in Cooperstown: a stage seat in the back row by the air conditioning, out of view enough to be able to maybe daydream some during the ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The checklist to launch an independent minor league baseball team is long and daunting. Can you find a place to play? How do you find enough players, and make enough money to pay them? How can you persuade a community to support a home team?

Here's a new one: If minor league baseball is all about affordability, how do you ...Read more

Scoring struggles nearly cost the Boston Red Sox one of their most winnable games of the season Wednesday night in Sacramento.

The guests out-hit the hosts 12-8, but neither team could capitalize with men on base until shortstop Andruw Monasterio’s two-run homer won the game for the Sox 4-2 in the 10th inning.

A’s starter Jacob Lopez ...Read more

ANAHEIM — On the night when interim GM John Mozeliak made his first trade toward reshaping the roster, the Angels showed there’s still plenty of work that needs to be done.

Despite an encouraging performance from Grayson Rodriguez and a three-run lead in the first inning, the offense, defense and bullpen didn’t do enough to keep the ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman all but confirmed Wednesday that the team would be in contact with the Tigers to gauge their asking price for reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

“There just aren’t that many star-level players in the game,” Friedman said Wednesday afternoon when asked how ...Read more

Paul Blackburn has been a revelation for the Yankees, but the breakout reliever was off his game in Wednesday’s 6-5, 12-inning loss to the White Sox.

The right-hander, who had the second-best ERA (0.92) of any pitcher with at least 30 innings since May 16, gave up a two-run homer to Sam Antonacci and a solo shot to Munetaka Murakami in the ...Read more

NEW YORK — There are few things more demoralizing for New York Mets fans than facing the Atlanta Braves when the NL East foes are sitting in first place in the division. Having to play them right before the trade deadline feels like a cruel twist in what has already been a cruel season for the Mets, but this time, it was more like a plot twist...Read more