Diamondbacks' Gallen has sore forearm, might miss opener
SETBACK IN THE BULLPENBlue Jays right-hander Kirby Yates will miss several weeks because of a strained muscle in his forearm. He allowed one run and five hits, striking out five without a walk. Ross Stripling struck out seven and walked none in 3 2/3 innings, but gave up three runs and five hits. Bryan Abreu, a top Astros pitching prospect who turns 24 next month, started and pitched three perfect innings, striking out four. Baltimore starter John Means allowed four hits and walked three over 3 2/3 innings, striking out three.
Astros clinch final AL playoff spot despite loss to Rangers
The Astros (29-29) just had to wait a couple of extra hours to wrap up second place in the AL West, which became official with the Angels' 9-5 loss. Now Houston can start planning for a wild-card matchup that could be against Oakland, which ended a three-year run atop the AL West for the defending AL champion. Nick Solak matched Bregman’s sacrifice fly to get the last-place Rangers even in the bottom of the 10th. STANDOUT TEXAS ROOKIERookie catcher Sam Huff homered twice, his second and third, for the first two Rangers runs. UP NEXTThe Astros were waiting for the LA outcome to decide who would start the third game in the four-game series to finish the regular season.
4-base error on ball over fence helps Rangers top Angels 7-3
(AP Photo/Ray Carlin)ARLINGTON, Texas Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell was charged with a rare four-base error when a fly ball from Texas' Nick Solak popped out of the rookie's glove and flew the few remaining feet over the fence in the Rangers' 7-3 win Sunday. Elias said it wasn't aware of any precedent for a four-base error on a ball that went over the fence. Isiah Kiner-Falefa put the Rangers in front in the third with a two-out double that scored Rob Refsnyder from first. He is 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA in two starts against the A's, both during his nine seasons with Atlanta. Rangers: RHP Kyle Gibson (0-1, 2.45 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game home series against Seattle.
Trout homers again on birthday, but Angels fall to Rangers
Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout waves to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)ARLINGTON, Texas Mike Trout homered again on his birthday, but Robinson Chirinos drove in two runs without a hit and the Texas Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. Trout turned 29, and homered for the fifth time in the seven big league games he has played on his birthday. The three-time AL MVP put the Angels up 2-0 in the first with his 444-foot drive over their bullpen in left-center. Castro was upset after striking out on a check swing in the second inning and got tossed by Edwin Moscoso, the rookie fill-in umpire who made the call from third base.
Tough day for MLB: Price out, Freeman positive, Tanaka hurt
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)Freddie Freeman tests positive for COVID-19. Due to concerns about medical privacy laws, MLB isnt making a practice of disclosing which players test positive. For example, Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said the team doesnt intend to reveal to the general public if anyone has tested positive. In the Braves case, the four players who tested positive permitted Snitker to reveal their names. Freeman joins Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon as four-time All-Stars who have tested positive.