Cuba Beats Australia To Adavance - 2017 World Baseball Classic  —  TOKYO—Cuba slugger Alfredo Despaigne put his team into the second round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic by hitting a grand slam to defeat Australia on Friday.  Playing at Tokyo Dome, Cuba won 4-3 to advance, along with Japan, as the survivors of Pool B.

Rangers take it on the chin from familiar faces and Team Venezuela  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  If there's a silver lining, a couple of the opponents hitters had good days and that's good for the Rangers in the long run.  Rougned Odor and Robinson Chirinos each had singles in Team Venezuela's 6-4 win …

Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis needs chemotherapy after cancer spreads  —  Bettis: “I am committed to beating this cancer”  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Chad Bettis beamed with relief last month when doctors showed him some promising cancer test results.  But the Rockies right-hander …

Redskins fire GM Scot McCloughan after two seasons  —  After weeks of speculation, the Washington Redskins fired General Manager Scot McCloughan on Thursday, a little more than two years into a four-year contract.  —  The decision was announced by team President Bruce Allen …

Rays' Kevin Cash will cringe through Chris Archer's WBC work.  Should you?  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — Chris Archer knows, or thinks he knows, a lot of things.  And he's typically not bashful about sharing.  —  There he was again Tuesday, suggesting during a Team USA media event in Fort Myers …

Andrew McCutchen's vow after Pirates dangle him: 'I'm going to have monster year'  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Andrew McCutchen tries to pretend it's really no big deal, but it is.  —  He tries to act as if it doesn't bother him, but it attacks his pride.  —  McCutchen, playing Thursday …

Why Max Scherzer is a true rarity among baseball's best pitchers  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fl.  — Uh, wasn't Max Scherzer supposed to break down, like, 10 years ago?  —  Oh, I know Scherzer currently is dealing with a stress fracture in the knuckle of his right ring finger, which might delay the start of his season.

Cubs' Kris Bryant makes history with 2017 salary  —  A source close to the situation has informed FanRag Sports that Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant has signed a $1.05 million contract for the upcoming 2017 season, a record for a second-year player.  —  Bryant has now surpassed …

Oakland Raiders player Aldon Smith detained in San Francisco  —  SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) — Suspended Oakland Raiders player Aldon Smith was detained Thursday morning in San Francisco after a vehicle he was a passenger in collided with a San Francisco police car near police headquarters, authorities said.

Orient resident, MLB 20-game winner Bill Hands dies at 76  —  Longtime Orient resident and former Major League 20-game winner William Hands Jr. died Thursday in Florida.  —  The former Chicago Cubs pitcher and longtime owner of the Orient Service Station on Main Road was 76 years old.

A's lose Gray for a while, Rangers shut down Cashner  —  Oakland Athletics ace Sonny Gray will begin the season on the disabled list with a lat strain and has been shut down from throwing for the next three weeks.  —  A's general manager David Forst said Thursday there's no timetable …