Phillies set to host Houston with World Series tied at 1-allVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Fresh from singing another rollicking chorus of “Fly, Eagles fly,” fans streamed out of Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday and quickly turned their attention from the NFL’s only unbeaten club to another Philly team, another sport and another building just a few hundred yards away. “Let’s go, Phillies!”...
Righty Lance McCullers inks left arm into an ode to HoustonVideo
HOUSTON — Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. wasn’t born in Houston, but he sure loves it now. Hailing from Tampa, Fla., McCullers might be the most vocal an Astro has ever been about his love for the Space City. “I only got one thing to say — and I’ve said...
Astros jump on Phillies in 1st inning, pull even in World Series
HOUSTON — Framber Valdez made a five-run lead stand up after Houston’s lightning first-inning burst, Alex Bregman homered and the Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-2, Saturday night to tie the World Series at one game apiece. Just like in Game 1, the Astros rushed to a 5-0 lead. Unlike...
J.T. Realmuto, Phillies rally past Astros in 10 innings to open World Series
HOUSTON (AP) — J.T. Realmuto homered in the 10th inning and the Philadelphia Phillies, saved by right fielder Nick Castellanos’ sliding catch, rallied past the Houston Astros, 6-5, Friday night in the World Series opener. Down 5-0 early against Astros ace Justin Verlander, the Phillies became the first team in...
Phillies’ World Series run leads wild run of Philly successVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Miles Teller, fresh off hosting “Saturday Night Live” for the season premiere, had just hit Cabo San Lucas to vacation and celebrate his wife Keleigh’s 30th birthday. Faster than Maverick could reach Mach 10, Teller had a change of plans: The Philadelphia Phillies — the team he grew...
Kyle Schwarber powers Phillies in postseason with mythical homersVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber crushed a 98 mph slider beyond the center-field fence, and the ball disappeared into a thicket of English ivy, Arborvitae, Holly and other evergreen flourishing as the greenery backdrop at Citizens Bank Park. Most of Schwarber’s homers land in easy-to-track spots. This particular ball, hit against...
Cardinals’ Wainwright back in 2023; coaching staff to changeVideo
Adam Wainwright will pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals next season, choosing to return for an 18th and final year with the club even as longtime teammates Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina head into retirement. The 41-year-old Wainwright informed the NL Central champions of his decision to return shortly after...
Aaron Nola to start World Series Game 1 for Phillies, Zack Wheeler in Game 2Video
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies will start right-hander Aaron Nola in Game 1 of the World Series against the Houston Astros and last season’s NL Cy Young Award runner-up Zack Wheeler in Game 2. Game 1 of the World Series is Friday night in Houston. Game 2 is Saturday. “Any...
No Black players expected in World Series, a 1st since 1950
Looking around Memorial Stadium before Game 1 of the 1983 World Series, Philadelphia Phillies star Gary Matthews saw a lot of Black talent. Joe Morgan. Eddie Murray. Garry Maddox. Ken Singleton. Al Bumbry. Disco Dan Ford. And plenty more that night in Baltimore. “There were quite a few of us,”...
Harper gets World Series moment while Trout’s wait continues
Bryce Harper’s career arc from teenage sensation to full-blown superstar has been an 11-year process, hitting a crescendo Sunday night when his two-run homer in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series proved to be the deciding hit that sent his Philadelphia Phillies to their first World Series since 2009....
Skip Schumaker hired as manager of Miami Marlins
MIAMI — Skip Schumaker was a candidate to take over as manager of the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets in recent years, only to see those clubs pick someone else. The Miami Marlins didn’t let him get away. Schumaker has been hired by the Marlins to become the...
Love ’em or hate ’em, Series-bound Astros keep on winningVideo
They’re off to the World Series for a fourth time in six seasons, a remarkable feat of staying power for a franchise in any era of baseball history, let alone one that includes a 12-team playoff gauntlet filled with potential pitfalls. Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. put it succiently Sunday...
Hot Harper carries Phillies into 1st World Series since 2009
PHILADELPHIA — The billionaire owner of the Philadelphia Phillies pounded his fists on Bryce Harper’s chest and joked the Phillies slugger was almost underpaid at $330 million over the life of his contract. It was absurd to put a price tag on the moment for John Middleton as he pulled...
Astros sweep Yankees in ALCS, advance to World Series againVideo
NEW YORK — Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman delivered big hits and the Houston Astros advanced to the World Series again, finishing a four-game sweep of New York in the AL Championship Series with a 6-5 victory Sunday night aided by another defensive gaffe from the Yankees. Taking advantage of...
Bryce Harper’s HR powers Phillies past Padres, into World SeriesVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper slugged his fifth homer of the postseason, a two-run blast in the eighth inning that turned Citizens Bank Park into a madhouse, and the $330 million slugger powered the Philadelphia Phillies past the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Sunday and into the World Series for the...
Phillies hit 4 homers, push Padres to brink
PHILADELPHIA — Rhys Hoskins homered twice, Kyle Schwarber hit a solo shot into shrubbery, and Bryce Harper doubled to put the Philadelphia Phillies ahead for good in a wild 10-6 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night for a 3-1 lead in the National League Championship Series. Harper...
Javier, Astros romp 5-0 over Yanks, Cole, take 3-0 ALCS leadVideo
NEW YORK — Cristian Javier and Houston’s bullpen combined on a three-hitter, Chas McCormick followed a dropped flyball with an early two-run homer and the Astros beat Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees, 5-0, on Saturday night to take a 3-0 AL Championship Series lead. Some Yankees fans, already...
Kyle Schwarber homers as Phillies top Padres, lead NLCS 2-1
PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber led off with his latest scintillating home run, Jean Segura atoned for a run-scoring error with a go-ahead single and the Philadelphia Phillies edged the San Diego Padres, 4-2, on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series. Game 4 is...
Rangers hire 3-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy as next manager
Heading into their 52nd season, the Rangers still have not managed to win a World Series. But, for the first time, they have a manager who has. The Rangers agreed to terms with Bruce Bochy to take over as the 20th full time manager in club history, the club announced...
Power outage could mean quick end to Yankees’ postseasonVideo
NEW YORK — A power outage could mean an end to the New York Yankees’ postseason. Houston largely has kept the Yankees from hitting home runs, allowing only a pair of solo shots. The Astros arrive in New York with a 2-0 AL Championship Series lead going into Game 3...
Guardians manager Terry Francona plans to return in 2023Video
CLEVELAND — There were no formal contract negotiations between Terry Francona and the Guardians, just a five-minute conversation among friends. He told them he wants to keep managing. They gladly accepted. Francona’s unique partnership in Cleveland will carry into 2023 as the 63-year-old New Brighton native agreed to return with...
Alex Bregman homers as Astros edge Yankees, lead ALCS 2-0
HOUSTON — Alex Bregman hit an early three-run homer, Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and the Houston Astros edged the New York Yankees, 3-2, on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge just missed a two-run homer in the eighth...
Verlander strikes out 11, Astros homer 3 times to take Game 1 of ALCS from YankeesVideo
HOUSTON — Justin Verlander struck out 11 in six strong innings, and Yuli Gurriel, Chas McCormick and Jeremy Peña homered to power the Houston Astros to a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees in their AL Championship Series opener Wednesday night. The Astros are in their sixth consecutive ALCS,...
Brandon Drury, Padres rally to beat Phillies, tie NLCS at 1-1Video
SAN DIEGO — Brandon Drury hit a go-ahead, two-run single during a five-run rally in the fifth inning, and the San Diego Padres stunned Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-5, on Wednesday to tie their all-wild card NL Championship Series at one game apiece. The outburst started with Padres...
As MLB playoffs expand, regular-season success matters less
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball views expanded playoffs as the more the merrier. Not for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals. The National League’s four winningest teams failed to reach the League Championship Series, six months of accomplishment undone in just a...