WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Another frustrating offensive night that wasn’t helped by a substandard performance from Bryan Woo suddenly didn’t feel so bad for the Mariners.

To be clear, the Mariners lost on Wednesday night, falling 5-4 to the Athletics, dropping two of three games in their final series with the A’s this season and ...Read more

ANAHEIM — Hundreds of fans came to Angel Stadium on Wednesday night wearing white gowns and halos, creating a raucous environment beyond the right field fence.

Energized by a three-game winning streak and cheering every positive moment at the beginning of the game, the fans were chanting “sell the team” by the eighth inning of a 6-3 loss ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The lights suddenly go dark as the bass line to “El Incomprendido” begins to pump, just as it did at Target Field when Jhoan Duran entered a game. Except, the setting is Citizens Bank Park, and the month is October. The lights go on and Duran is standing on the mound in red pinstripes, glaring in at home plate as he throws ...Read more

DETROIT — The Tigers bolstered their bullpen on Wednesday night, acquiring veteran reliever Rafael Montero from the Atlanta Braves for Double-A infielder Jim Jarvis.

It was only a couple of years ago that Montero, now 34 and on an expiring contract, was a key piece of the Houston Astros’ postseason bullpen, helping them win the World Series...Read more

CINCINNATI — The Dodgers lost the game Wednesday night.

What was more important, however, was that they didn’t lose their two-way star.

In the Dodgers’ 5-2 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, Shohei Ohtani left the mound alongside a trainer in the fourth inning with what the team later said was only cramping — a ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — Trailing early after a Marlins hitter connected on a two-run homer off a Cardinals starter for a second consecutive night at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals once again could not generate the offense needed to pull themselves out of another early hole against Miami.

After Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas gave up a two-run homer to ...Read more

NEW YORK — Time after time Wednesday night, the Yankees avoided defeat.

They were shut out by the Tampa Bay Rays for seven innings, only to rally in the eighth. They overcame a blown save by Devin Williams, a baserunning blunder by Austin Wells and deficits in the ninth and 10th innings.

But the Yankees would not be denied.

Ryan McMahon’s...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Twins shortstop Carlos Correa emerged as an unexpected trade candidate ahead of Thursday’s MLB trade deadline.

The Houston Astros had discussions about trying to trade for Correa, their shortstop for seven seasons before he signed with the Twins as a free agent twice, sources told the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Trade talks ...Read more

CINCINNATI — Shohei Ohtani left the mound alongside a trainer in the fourth inning of the Dodgers' Tuesday night game against the Cincinnati Reds because of cramping, according to the team.

The two-way star did remain in the game as the Dodgers' designated hitter.

On what was a hot, humid 90-degree night at Great American Ball Park, Ohtani ...Read more

With one hung pitch in the opening inning, the Rockies’ margin for error on Wednesday vanished.

Guardians DH David Fry took Rockies southpaw Kyle Freeland deep for a two-run homer in the first, and Cleveland never looked back to beat the Rockies, 5-0, and take the series at Progressive Field.

After rallying to beat Cleveland with a four-run ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Yu did it.

Now it is A.J. Preller’s turn.

To the list of things going well for the streaking Padres as they played their final game in July on the last full day before the MLB trade deadline, add Yu Darvish returning to being the pitcher they are counting on helping them into October.

“Looked like the Yu Darvish I’ve been ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals are working the phones before the clock strikes 5 p.m. Central on the MLB trade deadline this Thursday.

The looming deadline will send aftershocks throughout the league. It’s the final chance for teams to gear up for a second-half postseason surge. And the Royals are one of the clubs looking to make...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Pittsburgh Pirates secured their first road sweep of the season Wednesday afternoon, taking down the San Francisco Giants by a final score of 2-1 in 10 innings at Oracle Park. Isaac Mattson was the game’s winning pitcher, while Ryan Walker suffered the loss.

Giants first baseman Dominic Smith opened the scoring in the ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — Moisés Ballesteros’ return to the majors left him running on little sleep.

A Triple-A night game followed by a 3 a.m. wake-up call to fly from Des Moines to get to American Family Field in time for first pitch Wednesday afternoon meant a quick snooze before joining the Chicago Cubs for a pivot game against the division-leading ...Read more

CINCINNATI — Shohei Ohtani left his pitching start early for the Dodgers in the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, exiting alongside a trainer with an unspecified apparent injury.

While it was not immediately clear what forced two-way star to leave the game as a pitcher, he did remain in the game as the Dodgers�...Read more

CHICAGO — While their front office was busy on the suite level at Rate Field acquiring closer Jhoan Durán from the Twins, the Phillies’ need for relief reinforcements was on clear display a few feet below.

Following a rain delay that lasted over three and a half hours, a bullpen implosion in the seventh inning doomed the Phillies in a 9-3 ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals contributed to the arms race for late-game relievers between two National League East rivals and worked to finalize a trade Wednesday evening that will send All-Star closer Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets, sources told the Post-Dispatch.

In exchange for the longest-tenured Cardinal on their roster, the Cardinals ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins moved beyond trading only their pending free agents Wednesday, dealing closer Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies in one of the trade deadline’s blockbuster deals.

Duran was informed of the trade, which is dependent on the players involved passing physicals, Wednesday afternoon after the Twins’ loss ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — When Ke’Bryan Hayes sat at the front of the PNC Park press conference room to discuss his then-record extension in April 2022, the fate both sides wanted to avoid was this — a trade and the depressing situation surrounding it.

What the Pittsburgh Pirates did Wednesday — sending Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds for Taylor Rogers...Read more

BALTIMORE — Cedric Mullins played the hits throughout this encore of a homestand. Leaping and diving grabs in center field and timely knocks became commonplace again.

“He’s one of the best center fielders in the big leagues,” pitcher Dean Kremer said. “It’s a big comfort for us.”

On Wednesday, Mullins even laid down a bunt single...Read more