TAMPA, Fla. — It began with thunderous ovations, and ended in stunning disgrace.

Welcome to the career of Wander Franco, baseball’s fairy tale in reverse.

Franco walked away from his trial on sexual abuse charges in the Dominican Republic Thursday as a free, but broken, man. A two-year suspended sentence for an intimate relationship with ...Read more

ANAHEIM, Calif. — That season-long balance delivered by a healthy pitching staff and the offense’s penchant for home runs was unable to tip the scale in the Angels’ favor on Friday night.

At the exact midway point of the season, the Angels slipped a game under .500 with a 15-9 loss to the Washington Nationals that was more beer-league ...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — It seemed fitting that after Miles Mastrobuoni made the catch that saved the game for the Seattle Mariners he provided the swing that sent them home, eventually, with a victory.

Mastrobuoni made a terrific sliding catch down the left field line to end the 11th inning, then came through with a two-out RBI single on an 0-2 ...Read more

ATLANTA — A home run derby broke out Friday night at Truist Park, but unfortunately for the Atlanta Braves, they did not receive an invitation.

The Phillies blitzed them, scoring 11 runs on four home runs in the first three innings, to win 13-0 in the series opener.

A promising 6-2 start to the Braves’ stretch of 13-straight games against ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dave Roberts has a high bar for his $400 million baseball team.

Sure, the Dodgers entered Friday winners of 13 of their 17, tied for the best overall record in baseball, and leading the National League West by six games.

Sure, they already have one guaranteed All-Star in Shohei Ohtani, and seven other finalists who ...Read more

A banner night for backup catcher Braxton Fulford and a nice comeback equaled … another loss for the Rockies.

They fell, 10-6, to the Brewers on Friday night at American Family Field, suffering their fourth consecutive loss and dropping their record to 18-64.

And so it goes in Colorado’s season of discontent.

Milwaukee hammered starter ...Read more

BOSTON — For a stretch it looked like the Red Sox had saved their season. Now it appears to be slipping away again.

The Red Sox lost their sixth straight game on Friday, falling in yet another punchless showing, 9-0, to the Toronto Blue Jays. The lineup managed only four hits and never came close to sustaining any sort of offensive rhythm, ...Read more

DETROIT — The Twins beat the Detroit Tigers for the 500th time since they moved to Minnesota in 1961, and this one was no more important than the previous 499.

So says Rocco Baldelli. Got it? So put down those AL Central standings, which don’t matter in June.

Byron Buxton cracked 425-foot homer over the bullpens in left field, slid home ...Read more

CINCINNATI — Nick Martinez instigated a move to the bullpen a couple weeks back.

He was seeking to get right mechanically after a couple poor outings.

He clearly fixed what was plaguing him, and he went up against a willingly meek opponent in his first turn back in the Reds rotation.

Martinez finished the night disappointed only in that he ...Read more

After being swept by the Miami Marlins at home, the Giants kicked off their 10-game road trip with a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Right-hander Landen Roupp allowed one run (none earned) over 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts while catcher Patrick Bailey scored a run and drove in two more with...Read more

BALTIMORE — What started as a fun Friday night with the Rays scoring six runs in the second inning ended with a frustrating and record-setting 22-8 loss to the Orioles.

The loss matched the most runs the Rays ever have allowed in a game over 28 seasons, marked their largest blown lead of the season and featured the pitching debut of infielder...Read more

CLEVELAND — Aided by some offense that lifted the Cardinals to an early lead and snapped a streak of 24 consecutive scoreless innings, Cardinals starter Sonny Gray’s quick and efficient work on Friday night helped him to arguably his best start in a Cardinals uniform.

Gray set season highs in innings with nine and strikeouts with 11 to lead...Read more

NEW YORK — Will Warren didn’t look long for the Yankees’ series opener against the Athletics on Friday night.

While the rookie right-hander escaped the first inning unscathed, he needed 36 pitches to get through the frame after walking three and striking out three. His pitch count got so high that Allan Winans, an option to start on ...Read more

A week after he stepped away from managerial duties indefinitely, the Angels announced Friday that manager Ron Washington will remain on medical leave for the rest of the season.

General manager Perry Minasian said last week that Washington, 73, had been feeling unwell for a few days — experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue at the New ...Read more

What could Thursday’s guilty verdict on a charge of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic mean for Rays shortstop Wander Franco’s future as a major leaguer?

What are the potential implications of the conviction for his ability to return to the United States?

Immigration attorney Danielle Hernandez said that a conviction related...Read more

SEATTLE — Cal Raleigh is chasing Aaron Judge in the race for American League MVP.

But that’s not nearly all.

With the halfway point of the Mariners’ season arriving Friday, a separate question is becoming less ludicrous with every long ball:

Where will Raleigh’s run land alongside the all-time individual seasons across Seattle sports?...Read more

DENVER — As the Dodgers completed a sweep of the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, it was two of their cornerstone hitters who helped lead the way.

In what was a tie score in the top of the sixth inning, Mookie Betts led off with a double in the gap, Freddie Freeman brought him home with a line drive to right, and the Dodgers took a lead they ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Baseball’s newest sensation is stepping onto baseball’s biggest summer stage, and Cal Raleigh is bringing his family onto the field with him.

The Mariners catcher has accepted an invitation to participate in the MLB Home Run Derby on July 14 as part of his first All-Star Game experience in Atlanta, and Big Dumper has asked ...Read more