April 14, 2023 3:51 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays tied Major League Baseball’s post-1900 record of 13 consecutive wins at a season’s start, rallying to beat the Boston Red Sox 9-3 behind a seven-run fifth inning that Harold Ramirez began and capped with doubles. Tampa Bay matched the 13-0 start of the 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1987 Milwaukee Brewers. The only longer opening streak was a 20-0 start by the 1884 St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association. Playing before a crowd of 21,175, the largest at Tropicana Field since opening day, the Rays set a team record for wins at any point in a season.
April 13, 2023 3:45 am
PITTSBURGH — It’s over. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ 16-year playoff streak ended Wednesday when they were eliminated from playoff contention by the New York Islanders, who beat Montreal 4-2 at UBS Arena. The Penguins squandered their chance Tuesday when they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. New York needed only one point Wednesday. Now, the Penguins face the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday at Nationwide Arena in a meaningless game. It is the final game of the Penguins’ 2022-23 season.
April 13, 2023 2:56 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — José Urquidy scattered two hits over six innings, rookie Corey Julks hit the first home run of his big league career and the Houston Astros rolled by the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-0. Urquidy (1-0) allowed singles by Carlos Santana and Jack Suwinski as the reigning champions took two of three in their first visit to Pittsburgh since 2013. Alex Bregman homered for the second straight game for Houston. Pirates starter Rich Hill allowed two runs in six innings to fall to 0-2.
April 13, 2023 3:47 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays won their 12th straight game to start the season, one short of the major league record, as Randy Arozarena hit a three-run homer in a 9-7 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The 1987 Milwaukee Brewers and 1982 Atlanta Braves both opened 13-0, tying for the best mark in big league history. Tampa Bay’s 12-game winning streak matches the team record set in June 2004. Taj Bradley won his major league debut for the Rays. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed three runs and struck out eight over five innings. Arozarena made it 3-0 with a homer off Chris Sale in the first. Tampa Bay leads the majors with 30 home runs and has outscored opponents 92-27.
April 12, 2023 3:54 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Buddy Robinson and Andres Athanasiou scored 26 seconds apart in the third period and the Chicago Blackhawks dealt the Pittsburgh Penguins’ playoff chances a significant blow in a 5-2 win. Pittsburgh began the night needing wins in its last two games over Chicago and Columbus to extend the longest active playoff streak in major North American professional sports to 17. Instead, Petr Mrazek made 38 saves for the Blackhawks to stun the Penguins in their home finale. Florida clinched a playoff spot with Pittsburgh’s loss.
April 10, 2023 3:56 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rookie Ji-Hwan Bae hit a game-ending three-run homer in the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Houston Astros 7-4. Pittsburgh led 4-2 entering the ninth, but Houston’s Chas McCormick hit a tying one-out, two-run double off closer David Bednar, who blew his first save opportunity in five chances. Rodolfo Castro led off the bottom of the ninth with a single against Ryan Pressly and pinch-hitter Andrew McCutchen singled with one out before Bae drove a 2-2 changeup 403 feet to right-center for his second career homer and first walk-off hit. Ji-Man Choi and Jack Suwinski also homered for the Pirates, who have won six of eight.
April 10, 2023 3:49 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Yordan Alvarez had three hits and boosted his RBI total to a major-league-leading 16 by driving in two runs in the Houston Astros’ 8-2 win over Pittsburgh. Kyle Tucker added two hits and drove in three runs as the reigning World Series champions sent the fast-starting Pirates to the second loss in their last seven games. Framber Valdez allowed two runs on three hits in seven innings to earn his first victory of the season. Ji Man Choi hit his first home run of the year for Pittsburgh.
April 11, 2023 3:51 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz will miss at least four months after having surgery to repair a fractured left ankle. Cruz sustained the injury while sliding home awkwardly during a 1-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The Pirates placed the 24-year-old Cruz on the 10-day injured list and recalled utility player Mark Mathias from Triple-A Indianapolis. Rodolfo Castro will get the majority of playing time at shortstop in Cruz’s absence. Cruz’s injury comes with the Pirates off to their best start since 2018.
April 10, 2023 1:10 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) – Pirates star shortstop Oneil Cruz is going to miss time after fracturing an ankle in Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. The injury happened on a play at the plate, Cruz slid awkwardly in a collision at home plate and stayed on the ground for several minutes while the two teams emptied the benches in a minor skirmish. Manager Derek Shelton said it’s too early to tell how long Cruz will be out of action. Cruz had one home run and three stolen bases on the year before leaving the game on Sunday. Johan Oviedo outdueled Michael Kopech to lead the Pirates past the White Sox 1-0. Oviedo (1-0) allowed five hits — all singles — and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings as the Pirates won for the fifth time in six games. David Bednar retired the side in the ninth for his fourth save.
April 10, 2023 3:27 am
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Jon Rahm has become the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters. Rahm trailed Brooks Koepka by four shots to start the marathon day of 30 holes, which was necessary to complete the rain-delayed third round. He wound up with a runaway victory when Koepka collapsed in the final round. Phil Mickelson turned in a 65 for a remarkable charge by the 52-year-old three-time Masters champion. But that was never going to be enough. Rahm won his second major championship and moves back to No. 1 in the world. The Masters is his fourth victory of the year. Mickelson and Koepka carry the flag for LIV Golf by tying for second four shots back of Rahm.
