Baseball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kansas City right-hander Michael Lorenzen departed in the third inning of his start against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night with lower body fatigue in a move the Royals said was made “as a precaution.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Liover Peguero slashed a two-run double, Luis Ortiz pitched seven strong innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Wednesday night.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nick Castellanos, Trea Turner and Kody Clemens homered, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 9-6 on Wednesday night and clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs. Castellanos had three hits and scored three times.

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankee Stadium will host the first two games of a Dominican Winter League exhibition series in November between Tigres del Licey and Águilas Cibaeñas. The longtime rivals will meet in the Bronx on Friday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Athletics had long ago carved out a Jekyll-and-Hyde legacy as one of Major League Baseball's most successful — and sad-sack — franchises.

CHICAGO (AP) — Luis Robert Jr. is blaming himself for the terrible season for the Chicago White Sox.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Skenes didn't love the plan the Pittsburgh Pirates laid out for him in the spring, the one designed to bring the most talented pitching prospect in a generation along slowly and protect the right arm on which so much relies.

ATLANTA (AP) — The final two games of a crucial series between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves were postponed Wednesday by heavy rains ahead of Hurricane Helene.

HOUSTON (AP) — Mitch Garver and Julio Rodríguez homered, and the Seattle Mariners took advantage of five Houston errors during an 8-1 victory over the Astros on Wednesday.

TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette was scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday to repair a right middle finger fracture. Bichette suffered the season-ending injury last week while taking grounders during infield practice.