Royals face Mariners thankful dismal June is over  —  With apologies to Little Orphan Annie, the sun'll come out today.  —  Considering the month the Kansas City Royals just went through, and that they're currently in often-overcast Seattle, that was no guarantee.

Yanks' new strikeout king?  Severino chases Louisiana Lightning  —  NEW YORK — It was the day Bucky Dent became a household name.  —  Still, the shortstop's three-run, go-ahead homer over the Green Monster in a single-game playoff with the Boston Red Sox wasn't the only performance …

Detroit Tigers snap 11-game losing streak with win over Blue Jays  —  What happened: The Detroit Tigers (37-48) beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 9-1 on Sunday afternoon to snap an 11-game losing streak...The Tigers scored five runs with two outs in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead.

Marquez pitches Rockies to 3-1 win over Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) A fist pump and a late fastball on the cusp of 100 mph was all the indication needed to know just how good German Marquez felt Saturday.  —  He pitched two-hit ball over eight innings and Ian Desmond homered as the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1.

Andrew Knapp's walk-off homer gives Phillies improbable win over Nationals in 13 innings  —  For a few moments Sunday, between pitches in the eighth inning, Gabe Kapler vacated his usual position on the steps of the dugout to retrieve a cup of water.  It was nearly 100 degrees on the field.

Blake Snell, Rays edge Astros 3-2 to wrap up impressive homestand  —  Blake Snell and the surging Tampa Bay Rays are having success against some of the major's best teams.  —  Snell struck out 10, reliever Diego Castillo fanned Jose Altuve in a key spot and the Rays wrapped up an impressive homestand …

Peraza hits Reds' latest grand slam in 8-2 win over Brewers  —  CINCINNATI — Another day, another Cincinnati grand slam.  —  Jose Peraza kept up the parade of slams, sending Matt Harvey and the Reds over the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 Sunday.

Giants, Diamondbacks in good spot despite injuries  —  PHOENIX — As the second half of the season commences, both Arizona and San Francisco have reasons to feel confident as they prepare for the third game of a three-game weekend series Sunday.  —  Both are nearing full health …

Hamels, Rangers go for sweep of White Sox  —  When surging Texas goes for a three-game sweep of the visiting Chicago White Sox on Sunday at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, Cole Hamels, the pitcher the Rangers expected to be their bell cow in this season of rebuilding, will be on the mound.

Albert Almora out for Cubs' finale against Twins  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses outfielder Albert Almora's standing as a write-in candidate for the All-Star Game on Sunday, July 1, 2018.  (Paul Sullivan/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Albert Almora Jr. …

Jon Lester stars on bound and at plate for Cubs  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Jon Lester hit a three-run homer in an eight-run second inning and wound up with his NL-leading 11th victory in the Chicago Cubs' 11-10 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.  —  Ian Happ also homered for the Cubs.

Iowa baseball: Hawkeyes signee Korry Howell inks with the Milwaukee Brewers  —  Iowa's hope to hold onto shortstop signee Korry Howell is officially over.  The former Kirkwood standout has signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, Hawkeyes baseball coach Rick Heller confirmed to HawkCentral.

Olney: Contenders consider buying low, buying late  —  BRONX, N.Y. — More than a handful of teams benefitted last winter from slow-playing the free-agent market and waiting for the asking prices to fall inevitably.  This is how the Phillies landed Jake Arrieta on a three-year contract …

Nolan Arenado is tired of losing.  Will he have to leave the Rockies to win?  —  SAN FRANCISCO - While the baseball world laments not seeing the game's greatest player perform on the biggest stage in October, forgotten is that Mike Trout actually once played in the postseason.

Carlos Carrasco to return to Indians' rotation Friday; Adam Plutko optioned  —  Carlos Carrasco will return to the Cleveland Indians' rotation on Friday against the Oakland Athletics, manager Terry Francona said on Sunday.  —  The right-hander has been sidelined since being hit by a line drive …