White Sox dump veteran Adam Eaton to make room for Adam Engel
MINNEAPOLIS — The Chicago White Sox designated outfielder Adam Eaton for assignment Wednesday to make room for the return from the injured list of outfielder Adam Engel. The 32-year-old Eaton, in his 10th major league season, batted .201 with a career-low .642 OPS in 58 games. He had five homers...
First Call: Steelers’ MLB 1st-pitch fun; T.J. Watt deemed NFL 2nd-best pass rusher
According to ESPN.com, T.J. Watt is the second-best pass rusher in the NFL. In Tuesday’s “First Call,” we’ll tell you who finished atop the voting. Also, some Steelers first-pitch fun. Highlights for a current Pirate and a former Buccos star. Plus, Tampa Bay’s mayor gets her wish. Now let’s see...
Angels’ Ohtani makes history with All-Star selection as hitter, pitcherVideo
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani achieved a first in the near century history of baseball’s All-Star Game: selection as both a hitter and a pitcher. The Los Angeles Angels’ two-way sensation was among the American League starting pitchers picked Sunday for the July 13 showcase at Denver’s Coors Field. Ohtani,...
Joe Rutter: Boo-boo that denied no-no lingers four decades later
Forty years later, I still swear it was an error. The ball came off the bat like a top, spinning down the first base line. I was ready to field it when it changed direction and scooted through my legs. The umpires conferred. Base hit. The only one our pitcher,...
With team-first attitude, Greensburg Central grad molds son into MLB 1st-round draft prospect
Did you win? Did you have fun? Those were the first two questions that Jeff and Patty Frelick asked their three children on the rare occasions they couldn’t attend one of their baseball, softball, hockey or football games. “We never asked how many hits they had or how many goals...
Trevor Bauer placed on leave by MLB following assault allegation
WASHINGTON — Trevor Bauer was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball on Friday, three days after an allegation of assault was made against the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher. “MLB’s investigation into the allegations made against Trevor Bauer is ongoing,” the commissioner’s office said in a statement. “While no...
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. voted MLB All-Star startersVideo
NEW YORK — The sons are coming out for this year’s All-Star Game in Denver. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. joined his father as an All-Star, and Fernando Tatis Jr. accomplished a feat his dad never achieved. Toronto’s first baseman and San Diego’s shortstop were among nine first-time All-Stars elected Thursday to...
Dodgers’ manager says Trevor Bauer still expected to start Sunday
WASHINGTON — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said pitcher Trevor Bauer is still on track to start Sunday against the Washington Nationals while police and Major League Baseball investigate an assault allegation made against the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner. Police in Pasadena, Calif., are investigating claims by...
Mets, under new owner Steve Cohen, to celebrate Bobby Bonilla DayVideo
NEW YORK — The New York Mets under new owner Steven Cohen are embracing Bobby Bonilla Day, an annual remembrance of a famously unsuccessful contract. A promotion announced Thursday allows a fan to book an Airbnb stay for four at Citi Field for $250 that includes use of the team...
Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer accused of assaulting woman
LOS ANGELES — Police are investigating an allegation of assault against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer and an attorney for the accuser says the woman has obtained a protection order. Major League Baseball also is looking into the allegation. “The Dodgers were made aware of the allegations against Trevor...
Mariners’ Hector Santiago suspended 10 games for foreign substanceVideo
NEW YORK — Seattle Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago became the first player disciplined under Major League Baseball’s crackdown on grip-enhancing foreign substances when he was given a 10-game suspension Tuesday. Michael Hill, the former Marlins general manager who is senior vice president for on-field operations, announced the penalty two days...
Tyler Skaggs’ family sues Angels, 2 employees for negligenceVideo
LOS ANGELES — The family of former Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs filed lawsuits Tuesday in Texas and California charging the team and two former employees with negligence in his drug-related death two years ago. The lawsuits — filed by Skaggs’ parents in Texas and his wife in California...
Indians’ Josh Naylor breaks ankle in frightening collision
CLEVELAND — Josh Naylor’s hustle and heart will be missing from Cleveland’s lineup for a while. Naylor will need surgery after gruesomely breaking his right ankle Sunday in Minnesota during a frightening collision with rookie second baseman Ernie Clement. Naylor, who has been a clutch hitter and bright spot for...
Mariners’ Hector Santiago ejected as part of foreign substance ruleVideo
CHICAGO — Seattle Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago became the first player to be ejected as part of Major League Baseball’s new foreign substance protocols when he was thrown out of Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. Santiago was checked by the umpires as he exited in the fifth inning....
Aaron Nola strikes out 10 straight Mets to match MLB record
NEW YORK — Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola struck out 10 straight New York Mets batters Friday, tying a major league record that stood alone for more than five decades. Hall of Fame ace Tom Seaver fanned his final 10 hitters for the Mets in a 2-1 victory over the...
First Call: If David DeCastro wants to keep playing, many teams may want him; Jameson Taillon’s gem for New York
If former Steelers guard David DeCastro has any interest in pursuing his NFL career outside of Pittsburgh, he may have some suitors. A former local high school hoops star is keeping his career going. Robert Morris hockey alumni want to keep the sport alive at their alma mater. And Jameson...
4 Cubs pitchers combine to throw MLB’s record-tying 7th official no-hitter of season
LOS ANGELES — Zach Davies and three Chicago Cubs relievers combined for the seventh official no-hitter in the majors this year, blanking the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 Thursday night and tying the record for most in a single baseball season since 1900. The Dodgers drew eight walks, getting at least...
Jersey boys: MLB to use unique uniforms for All-Star Game
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is getting rid of club uniforms and caps for the All-Star Game in favor of specially-designed league outfits. MLB released the looks Thursday that will be used for the July 13 game at Denver’s Coors Field. The host National League has white jerseys and...
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo calls Phillies manager Joe Girardi a ‘con artist’
PHILADELPHIA — Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo called Joe Girardi a “con artist” a day after Philadelphia’s manager asked umpires to check Max Scherzer for illegal substances during Tuesday night’s game. “It’s embarrassing for Girardi, it’s embarrassing for the Phillies, it’s embarrassing for baseball,” Rizzo said in a radio...
Yankees turn game-ending triple-play, beat A’sVideo
NEW YORK — Yankees manager Aaron Boone knew it off the bat. “Usually, a triple play sneaks up on you,” he said. “Right away, I’m thinking, ‘That’s a triple play.’ ” New York turned its record-tying third triple play of the season to strand the go-ahead run in the ninth...
MLB pitchers remain uncertain on eve of sticky stuff crackdownVideo
NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole hardly expects a smooth transition when Major League Baseball ups its efforts against sticky substances. Then again, the Yankees ace — like many around the game — isn’t entirely sure what’s going to happen. “I don’t have a lot of expectations, to be honest,” Cole...
Mark Madden: Cheating can’t become an accepted part of baseball
Plenty of dumb stuff has been said by pitchers since MLB decided to crack down on the use of foreign substances to improve grip. Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees (and formerly of this parish) seemed to be nearing a breakdown when he spoke Wednesday after pitching: “It’s so...
Rays ace Tyler Glasnow hopes to avoid surgery after elbow tearVideo
CHICAGO — Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow has a partially torn elbow ligament, the team said Tuesday, putting in doubt his future for the rest of this season and beyond. An MRI showed Glasnow had a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and also a flexor strain. The test...
MLB threatens pitchers with 10-game bans for altering balls
NEW YORK — Pitchers will be ejected and suspended for 10 games for using illegal foreign substances to doctor baseballs in a crackdown by Major League Baseball that will start June 21. The commissioner’s office, responding to record strikeouts and a league batting average at a more than half-century low,...
Indians shut down reigning AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber for at least 2 weeksVideo
CLEVELAND — Shane Bieber’s season is suddenly on pause, leaving the Cleveland Indians to survive for a while without their ace. The AL’s reigning Cy Young winner won’t throw for at least two weeks because of a right shoulder strain, an injury that will further test Cleveland’s pitching depth and...
