Despite rally in the 9th inning, Cincinnati Reds lose in extra innings to New York Mets  —  NEW YORK - Luis Castillo thought he had his best pure stuff of the season Tuesday and the Reds had a game-tying rally in the ninth inning, but it still wasn't enough to hold off the New York Mets in a 4-3 loss in 10 innings at Citi Field

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s impact negligible in return to Angel Stadium  —  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. craned his neck over a crowd of reporters and gazed at the batter's box of Angel Stadium.  For six summers as a child, he tagged along with his father, Vladimir Sr. Now he had arrived in the visitors dugout …

Real or Not?  Pitchers clap back against early HR barrage  —  On Monday night, I wrote about all the home runs in April.  Well, the pitchers got a little revenge on Tuesday.  For one night at least, the best games revolved around good starting pitching instead of dingers.  A roll call of some of those performances:

CC Sabathia's Final Milestone Secures His Place in Baseball History  — CC Sabathia went from a man you easily would have imagined reaching 3,000 strikeouts to one who would've needed a miracle to do it.  He ended up there anyway, through his wiles and sheer force of will, dutifully grinding away.

Free Comic Book Day is May 4: Here are 57 comic shops in Southern California participating  —  The Avengers reached the Endgame on film, but comic book fans know there are always new stories hitting the stands.  —  And on one day each year, they're free.  Yes, it's time for Free Comic Book Day …

Diamondbacks bump struggling Zack Godley from rotation  —  Unable to keep outings from spiraling out of control, right-hander Zack Godley was removed from the Diamondbacks' starting rotation and shifted to the bullpen, a move the team says it hopes is only temporary.

MLB Network's Eric Byrnes predicts May breakout for Cincinnati Reds' Yasiel Puig  —  Cincinnati Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig's batting average dropped to .192 with Tuesday's 0-for-4 effort against the New York Mets.  —  But during an MLB Central segment Wednesday titled, “April Showers Bring May Flower …

Giants Prospect Logan Webb Receives 80-Game PED Suspension  —  Giants pitching prospect Logan Webb has been hit with an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.  He was found to have a substance known as dehydrochlormethyltestosterone in his system.

Adrian Sampson brings relief stuff to start but Leclerc blows ninth-inning lead as Rangers lose in 11  —  Adrian Sampson finally had his reliever stuff as a starter.  —  Sampson, who made his third start Tuesday night, kept the Pittsburgh Pirates baffled for most of 5 1/3 innings …

Giants To Select Contract Of Stephen Vogt  —  The Giants will select the contract of veteran backstop Stephen Vogt today, he tells Janie McCauley of the Associated Press (Twitter link).  Corresponding roster moves aren't yet known.  —  Vogt, 34, will return to the majors for the first time since the 2017 campaign.

Steph Curry battles through dislocated finger, Warriors take 2-0 series lead over Rockets  —  Curry didn't have his best night, but like Game 1 he hit a crucial fourth-quarter 3 in another Warriors win  —  OAKLAND — Steph Curry unleashed an F-bomb as he trotted to the bench …

Padres, Reyes win power play over Braves  —  The San Diego Padres hit three home runs — two by Franmil Reyes — and got another strong effort from rookie right-hander Chris Paddack in a 4-3 road win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.  —  Reyes, a burly right fielder, was 3-for-4 with a double …

Chicago Cubs to option Addison Russell to Triple-A  —  Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell's suspension from Major League Baseball will come to a close later this week.  —  But his time in Iowa won't.  —  Theo Epstein, Chicago's president of baseball operations, told reporters in Seattle …

Ichiro Suzuki To Serve As Instructor For Mariners  —  Ichiro Suzuki's role with the Mariners has expanded, as the team announced Tuesday that the future Hall of Famer will work as an instructor with the Major League and Triple-A clubs — beginning tonight.  —  Ichiro will have a particular focus …

Tigers deal with more rotation juggling; Josh Harrison lands on IL  —  Philadelphia — Another day, another adjustment to the Tigers starting rotation.  —  Right-hander Tyson Ross, one of two remaining members of the original quintet, left the team Monday to be with his pregnant wife.