Category: Baseball

Judge, Slumping Yankees on the Brink After Getting Blanked

NEW YORK—Back home for a must-win game, Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees generated more boos than base hits. One more punchless performance and their season is over. Handcuffed again by Cristian Javier and Houston’s stingy pitching staff, the power-packed Yankees went down meekly Saturday on three harmless hits in a 5–0 defeat that…


Phillies Hit 4 Homers, Rally Past Padres 10–6, Lead NLCS 3–1

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 stood on second base after his hit…


Schwarber Home Run, Segura, Phillies Top Padres 4–2, Lead NLCS 2–1

PHILADELPHIA—Jean Segura muffed a soft relay toss at second base on a play he made “3,000 times” over his baseball career. The Phillies second baseman even got picked off first, yes, in the same inning as his fielding miscue. He heard a few boos, but it’s Philly. Segura shook it off during Game 3 of…


Bregman HR as Valdez, Astros Edge Yankees 3–2, 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 Thursday night, Oct. 20, to take a 2–0 lead in the AL Championship Series. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge just missed a two-run homer in the eighth when his drive was caught just…


Justin Verlander Guides Astros Past Yankees in ALCS Opener

HOUSTON—Justin Verlander rebounded masterfully following a scuffling start to his outing and the Houston Astros bashed three home runs en route to 4–2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Oct. 19. Yuli Gurriel, Chas McCormick and Jeremy Pena slugged solo home runs for the Astros,…


Padres Use 5-Run Inning to Rally Past Phillies, Tie NLCS

SAN DIEGO—Down by four runs and on the verge of a second straight home loss, the San Diego Padres rediscovered their offense on Oct. 19 in time to level the National League Championship Series. Brandon Drury and Josh Bell homered on back-to-back, second-inning pitches to cut the Padres’ deficit in half, and San Diego came…


Stanton, Judge Bash Yanks to 5–1 Win, Into ALCS Vs Astros

NEW YORK—Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge staggered Cleveland with early homers, and the New York Yankees beat the Guardians 5–1 Tuesday in the decisive Game 5 of their AL Division Series to set up another rematch with Houston for the pennant. Yankees manager Aaron Boone won his gamble by starting Nestor Cortes on three days’…


Dodgers Have Much to Contemplate During Long Winter

LOS ANGELES—After all their gaudy statistics during the regular season—111 wins, Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner powering the offense—the Los Angeles Dodgers appeared on their way to fulfilling manager Dave Roberts’ spring prediction of another World Series victory. Not so fast. The San Diego Padres squelched those plans, upsetting the Dodgers in four games to…


Cole, Yankees Save Season, Beat Guards to Force ALDS Game 5

CLEVELAND—Gerrit Cole brought the Yankees back from the brink. They’re Bronx bound, still chasing a championship. Cole gave New York what it needed, seven solid innings, and Harrison Bader hit a two-run homer as the Yankees forced a decisive fifth game in the AL Division Series with a 4–2 win over the Cleveland Guardians in…


Nlcs-Bound Padres Find Their Identity, Eliminate Dodgers

SAN DIEGO—As a rare October rainstorm drenched Petco Park in the eighth inning, nobody at the packed downtown home of the San Diego Padres flinched Saturday night, Oct.15. Fans pulled over hoodies, put on ponchos and covered their heads with whatever they could to try to stay dry, including yellow rally towels and pizza boxes….