Bobby Witt Jr. and Cole Ragans lead the Royals over the Orioles 1-0 to open an AL Wild Card Series

Bobby Witt Jr. and Cole Ragans lead the Royals over the Orioles 1-0 to open an AL Wild Card Series

BALTIMORE — As Bobby Witt Jr. prepared to make his much-anticipated playoff debut for the Kansas City Royals, he took a moment after the final notes of the national anthem rang out at Camden Yards on Tuesday to soak it all in. The bright lights on a cloudy afternoon. The 41,506 roaring souls in the … Read more

Tatis hits 2-run homer, King strikes out 12 as the Padres beat the Braves 4-0 in playoff opener

Tatis hits 2-run homer, King strikes out 12 as the Padres beat the Braves 4-0 in playoff opener

SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a towering two-run homer on his first playoff swing in four years and Michael King struck out 12 in his first postseason start as the San Diego Padres beat rookie AJ Smith-Shawver and the Atlanta Braves 4-0 in Game 1 of their NL Wild Card Series on Tuesday … Read more

Pete Rose found home in Las Vegas before nation began to embrace sports betting

Pete Rose found home in Las Vegas before nation began to embrace sports betting

LAS VEGAS — Betting on baseball got Pete Rose banned from the game, never to return while he was alive. But, perhaps appropriately, he found a home in the nation’s gambling capital — where acceptance wasn’t a problem. In choosing to live in Las Vegas, before the sport’s career hits leader died Monday at 83, … Read more

Pete Rose, baseball’s banned hits leader, has died at age 83

Pete Rose, baseball’s banned hits leader, has died at age 83

NEW YORK — Pete Rose, baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied, has died. He was 83. Stephanie Wheatley, a spokesperson for Clark County in Nevada, confirmed on behalf of the medical examiner that Rose … Read more

The final day for the Oakland Athletics arrives ahead of next season’s move away from the Bay

The final day for the Oakland Athletics arrives ahead of next season’s move away from the Bay

SEATTLE — When manager Mark Kotsay removed his Oakland jersey for the final time Sunday, it was bound for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Brent Rooker? His final jersey with the name Oakland across the front will be preserved in a frame and displayed on his wall at home. “That’ll kind of be my thing. … Read more

Red Sox honor radio voice Joe Castiglione who is retiring after 42 years

Red Sox honor radio voice Joe Castiglione who is retiring after 42 years

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox honored longtime radio voice Joe Castiglione, who called his final game Sunday, with an on-field pregame ceremony. The 77-year-old Castiglione, who was honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer with the Ford C. Frick Award, has been the team’s lead radio voice since 1983. During the ceremony, … Read more

Nathan Eovaldi and Dustin Harris power Rangers to 8-0, season-ending sweep of Angels

Nathan Eovaldi and Dustin Harris power Rangers to 8-0, season-ending sweep of Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Nathan Eovaldi pitched seven scoreless innings, Dustin Harris had a homer and two-run double in his second MLB game and the defending champion Texas Rangers closed out their season with an 8-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. Nathaniel Lowe also homered and Josh Smith drove in two runs for … Read more

D’Arnaud hits a walk-off homer as Braves keep up their playoff push with a 2-1 win over Royals

D’Arnaud hits a walk-off homer as Braves keep up their playoff push with a 2-1 win over Royals

ATLANTA — Travis d’Arnaud hit a home run in the ninth inning and the Atlanta Braves kept up their postseason push with a 2-1 win over the playoff-bound Kansas City Royals on Saturday night. Reynaldo López came off the injured list to throw six strong innings for the Braves, who moved one game ahead of … Read more

Kyle Hendricks sharp in what may have been Cubs’ finale, 3-0 win over Reds

Kyle Hendricks sharp in what may have been Cubs’ finale, 3-0 win over Reds

CHICAGO — CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks waved to appreciative fans after what may have been his final start for the Cubs, and Chicago beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Saturday as Isaac Paredes and Pete Crow-Armstrong had run-scoring singles in a three-run eighth inning. Hendricks allowed only only a pair of singles, one an … Read more

Nootbaar drives in 3, Helsley records franchise record 49th save as Cardinals beat Giants 6-3

Nootbaar drives in 3, Helsley records franchise record 49th save as Cardinals beat Giants 6-3

SAN FRANCISCO — Lars Nootbaar homered and tripled to drive in three runs, Ryan Helsley closed for his franchise-record 49th save and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 6-3 on Friday night. The Cardinals have won five of six and secured their 23rd winning season in the last 25 years. The Giants’ … Read more