Top News:
Associated Press:
Greinke, D-backs beat Giants 3-1 to win 6th straight series — PHOENIX — A 10-inning loss on Wednesday night stung the Arizona Diamondbacks. They let too many opportunities slip away and put their run of series victories in jeopardy. — A dominant performance by Zack Greinke and clutch hitting kept the streak going.
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ESPN:
Giants ace Madison Bumgarner has pins removed from broken finger — Madison Bumgarner had pins removed from the broken pinkie on his pitching hand Thursday, and the San Francisco Giants are hopeful that their ace can start playing catch in the next two weeks.
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Belt's homer not enough, Giants lose third straight series
Belt's homer not enough, Giants lose third straight series
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and AZ Snake Pit
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Washington Post
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Forget the cold, Yankees have bigger concerns to worry about with Giancarlo Stanton, poor starting pitching — We are closing in on the last week of April and the Yankees have yet to play an outdoor baseball game in pleasant weather conditions, minus the ski masks.
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Jake Seiner / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Robertson 'doesn't blink' in jam to lift Yanks over Jays
Robertson 'doesn't blink' in jam to lift Yanks over Jays
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Yankees survive late scare to squeak past Blue Jays
Yankees survive late scare to squeak past Blue Jays
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Yankees drop struggling Giancarlo Stanton to 4th in lineup
Yankees drop struggling Giancarlo Stanton to 4th in lineup
Discussion:
NESN.com and MLB Baseball News …
Heather Tucker / Associated Press:
New York Yankees make anti-bullying video inspired by 10-year-old girl
New York Yankees make anti-bullying video inspired by 10-year-old girl
Discussion:
New York Daily News, New York Post and Pinstripe Alley
Associated Press:
Betts, Benintendi lead sizzling Red Sox past Angels, 8-2 — ANAHEIM, Calif. — With a homer-happy lineup and a lights-out pitching staff, the Boston Red Sox have been mowing down their opposition since the day after opening day. — Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels were the latest contenders …
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Associated Press:
Plate umpire Jerry Layne struck by foul ball, exits in first inning — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Plate umpire Jerry Layne has left the Los Angeles Angels' game against Boston after a foul ball from Mike Trout hit him on the right arm. — Layne went to the locker room in the bottom of the first inning Thursday night.
Jeff Miller / Kansas City Star:
Boston whips out the broom against Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif.-Here it is Friday, and the Angels' best day at the ballpark so far this week came when it was so cold that the infield frosted over and the game wasn't even played. — That was Sunday, back in 18-degree-wind-chilled Kansas City …
USA Today:
Alex Rodriguez's cousin held captive after Lamborghini deal goes bad — Two men were arrested after they allegedly held a cousin of former slugger Alex Rodriguez for ransom Wednesday night, New York police confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. — Norberto Susini was held hostage at a New York hotel …
Discussion:
New York Post
RELATED:
Arizona Republic:
Link between Alex Rodriguez, kidnapping victim questioned — Norberto Susini has told people that he was Alex Rodriguez's nephew for years - a familial link that was called into question after Susini was abducted Wednesday. — Susini allegedly was held hostage by two men after a deal to sell a Lamborghini went bad.
Tim Booth / Associated Press:
Charlie Morton dominant as Astros silence Mariners — SEATTLE (AP) - Charlie Morton pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Jose Altuve hit a three-run double and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 on Thursday. — After losing the series opener, the Astros won …
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Associated Press:
Morton, Altuve lead Astros over Mariners 9-2 — SEATTLE (AP) — Charlie Morton pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Jose Altuve had a three-run double and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 on Thursday after Evan Gattis hit into a bizarre 5-4-3 triple play in the fourth inning.
ESPN:
A's deal Trayce Thompson to White Sox, who send Tylder Saladino to Brewers — The Chicago White Sox have acquired outfielder Trayce Thompson from the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations, after the A's designated him for assignment on Tuesday. — The White Sox also sent Tyler Saladino …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs carry bullpen stress into Rockies series — Joe Maddon on Cubs' hitters Thursday: ‘I loved our approach today.’ (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — Eddie Butler put Steve Cishek in a bind Thursday that finally ended an impressive streak while putting some small stress …
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Celebrated closers for the St. Louis Cardinals — Hall of Fame baseball writer Rick Hummel highlights the multi-year standouts and the one-year wonders among the Cardinals' 9th-inning specialists of the past 40 years. — BEST OF THE MULTI-YEAR STANDOUTS — When newly-signed relief …
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Associated Press:
Austin has hearing to appeal 5-game suspension — NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin had his hearing Thursday to appeal his five-game suspension for his part in a brawl with the Boston Red Sox. — John McHale Jr., a special assistant to baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, heard the appeal.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Nicholas Parco / New York Daily News:
Red Sox Triple-A team banning people named Tyler and Austin as part ‘Evil Empire Weekend’ promotion
Red Sox Triple-A team banning people named Tyler and Austin as part ‘Evil Empire Weekend’ promotion
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Los Angeles Times and NESN.com
Greg Beacham / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Betts, Benintendi lead sizzling Red Sox past Angels, 8-2
Betts, Benintendi lead sizzling Red Sox past Angels, 8-2
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Dan Gelston / Associated Press:
Jake Arrieta strikes out 10, allows 1 hit in 7 innings to move to 2-0 — Jake Arrieta flashed the All-Star form that made Philadelphia covet the free-agent ace, striking out 10 and tossing one-hit ball over seven innings to lead the Phillies to a 7-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Batting ninth - it's not always the pitcher for Gabe Kapler's Phillies
Batting ninth - it's not always the pitcher for Gabe Kapler's Phillies
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Matt Harvey not helping cause to stick in rotation, flops against Atlanta in 12-4 loss — ATLANTA — Five years ago Thursday, Matt Harvey had the Citi Field faithful chanting “Harvey's better” as the young righty outdueled Washington's Stephen Strasburg. — Harvey was well on his way to …
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Andre C. Fernandez / miamiherald:
Trading places: Brinson, Yelich experiencing Miami-Milwaukee reunions this week — MILWAUKEE — Christian Yelich and Lewis Brinson felt their bits of nostalgia in different ways this week. — For Brinson, it was being back at Miller Park and in Milwaukee — the city where he made his major-league debut.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, MLB Baseball News … and Fish Stripes
RELATED:
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
The case for 154 games, Fenway's quest and MLB's next big thing — Baseball needs to shorten the regular-season schedule. — Pausing. — Pausing. — OK, I guess I can't just leave it at that because that declarative statement is far from self-evident. Allow me to explain.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Wrigley Field renovations continue as a work in (mostly favorable) progress — Photos of the ongoing renovations at historic Wrigley Field. — Chicago Tribune — When team officials gave the first slideshow presentation of the Wrigley Field renovation plans at the 2013 Cubs Convention …
Associated Press:
Taylor leads Modesto to 13-6 win over San Jose — SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Logan Taylor had two hits and three RBI, as the Modesto Nuts exploded for a season-high in runs in a 13-6 win over the San Jose Giants on Thursday. — Modesto had a pair of big innings in the blowout victory …