Kyle Schwarber's HR springs Cubs to 1-0 lead after 1 hour, 47 minute rain delay  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The start of Friday night's game between the Cubs and Pirates at PNC Park was delayed by rain for one hour, 47 minutes.  —  But Kyle Schwarber didn't show any rust …

Phillies' Gabe Kapler is like a quarterback - you can always write about him |  Bob Brookover  —  This space was used late last season to endorse Pete Mackanin's continuing presence as the Phillies manager.  That column had so much influence over general manager Matt Klentak that he removed Mackanin …

Colorado cruises in win over Braves  —  ATLANTA — Ian Desmond tripled and drove in five runs, Kyle Freeland pitched six strong innings and the Colorado Rockies coasted to an 11-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.  —  The Rockies have won six of seven, and they're 28-14 since June 28, tops in the NL over that span.

Indians' Trevor Bauer has stress fracture in leg, to miss 4-6 weeks  —  CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer, one of the leading candidates for the AL Cy Young Award, will be out four to six weeks because of a stress fracture in his right leg.

Why Urena hitting Acuna needs to be a wake-up call for MLB  —  Headhunting, knockdowns, chin music, brushbacks, rib-roasting — the practice has been around so long, there are all sorts of terms for it.  In the 21st century, there is only word we need: unacceptable.

Orioles fall 50 games below .500, incredible 50½ games behind Red Sox  —  The 2017 World Series teams are struggling with injuries and depth.  Can they make it back to the postseason?  USA TODAY Sports  —  CONNECT  —  The Baltimore Orioles' miserable season struck a new low.

Matt Davidson hitting cleanup for White Sox against Royals — his favorite opponent  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Matt Davidson is looking for a good weekend against the Royals.  He's in the White Sox lineup Friday night against right-hander Jakob Junis, off whom he homered twice April 26 in Kansas City.

Injury to Jeremy Hellickson latest blow to Nats' pitching staff  —  WASHINGTON — The struggling Washington Nationals have lost another pitcher to injury.  —  Starter Jeremy Hellickson will be placed on the disabled list after an MRI revealed a sprain to his right wrist area.

Last Slide  —  SAN DIEGO - Twice in the early innings on Thursday night, a Padres hitter scorched a ball to left field, and twice the Diamondbacks' David Peralta raced to make a play, the first ball taking him into the gap, the second one back toward the wall.

Bottom 8th Balls: Strikes: Outs: … Bottom of 8:  —  Mariners eighth.  Rosscup pitching.  Haniger grounded out, third baseman Turner to first baseman Muncy.  Canó flied out to right fielder K.Hernández.  —  Runs: 0, Hits: 0  —  Top of 8:  —  Dodgers eighth.  Herrmann in as catcher.

Last Slide  —  SAN DIEGO - Former Diamondbacks prospect Touki Toussaint made his major-league debut this week, tossing six innings of one-run ball for the Atlanta Braves.  Among those following Toussaint from afar was Padres bullpen coach Doug Bochtler.  —  “To watch him go out there and take the ball …

Stanton, Walker homer as Yankees top Blue Jays in 7 innings  —  Giancarlo Stanton added an impressive opposite-field blast and the  —  New York Yankees rallied for a rain-shortened 7-5 victory over the  —  Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.  —  Stanton hit his 31st homer of the season …

Giants walked off by Reds in 11th for second straight loss  —  CINCINNATI - The first night at the Great American Ball Park wasn't what you would expect.  The Giants and Reds took a 1-1 tie deep into the night in one of the league's best hitters parks before  —  Phillip Ervin took