The on-again, off-again relationship between the Olympics and baseball is heading toward another reconciliation in 2028.

A Japanese team of All-Stars fulfilled a determined national mission to win the Olympic baseball gold medal for the first time, beating the United States 2-0 behind Munetaka Murakami’s third-inning home run.

Day 15 of the Tokyo Games will feature the American women going for gold in basketball, volleyball and water polo.

Yuki Yanagita tied it with an RBI grounder off Scott McGough in the ninth inning, Takuya Kai hit a winning single against Edwin Jackson in the 10th and Japan beat the United States 7-6 Monday night to reach the Olympic semifinals.

At 35 and close to the end of his baseball career, Todd Frazier is on the U.S. Olympic team for the Tokyo Games.

While most Olympic events are a competition among the best, the better you are in baseball, the less of a chance you have of playing for gold.

Orioles ace John Means got five days of rest following his no-hitter last week against Seattle, and now he’ll try to match Johnny Vander Meer’s record with a second straight no-no against the streaking Mets.

The two-time AL Central champion Twins are hoping Happ can give them a veteran presence at the back of their rotation. Ian Anderson pitched two scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk. Houston piggy-backed a pair of starters with Framber Valdez yielding McNeil's homer in the first two innings, striking out two. AdBLUE JAYS 4, PHILLIES 2 (6)Steven Matz allowed a hit in two scoreless innings, striking out three without a walk. CUBS 3, ROYALS 2 (7)Outfielder Rafael Ortega, who signed a minor league deal with Chicago after playing 34 games for Atlanta last season, hit a bases-loaded triple.

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Mike Clevinger delivers in the first inning in a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Cleveland. Mike Clevinger, Starling Marte, Archie Bradley and Todd Frazier were on the move. Baseball's pandemic-delayed trade deadline was quite a day. The contending Padres got Clevinger in a multiplayer trade with Cleveland, bolstering their rotation Monday in a rare deadline deal between contenders. The trade deadline is normally July 31, but it was pushed back when the start of the season was delayed because of the coronavirus.

(AP Photo/Roger Steinman)ARLINGTON, Texas Cody Bellinger and the Los Angeles Dodgers set the National League record for home runs in a month. Bellinger's two-run homer gave the Dodgers 57 long balls in August after solo shots from Corey Seager and Will Smith, and LA beat the Texas Rangers 7-2 on Sunday. They now have 12 straight series victories to start the season tied for the fifth-best season-opening run since 1969. The 1990 Cincinnati Reds have the record with 17 straight series wins to start the year. ... 2B Rougned Odor missed his sixth straight game with a right eye infection.

San Diego Padres' Wil Myers (4) follows through on a grand slam swing in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)ARLINGTON, Texas Wil Myers hit a first-inning grand slam and the San Diego Padres, with Fernando Tatis Jr. again leading the charge, beat the Texas Rangers 6-4 Tuesday for a two-game sweep. Four of Texas five hits off seven Padres pitchers came in the fourth inning, including Joey Gallos three-run homer. Padres RHP Chris Paddack (2-2, 4.91) allowed five home runs in his previous two starts over 8 2/3 innings. Rangers RHP Lance Lynn (3-0, 1.11) leads the majors in ERA and comes off his first complete game since 2014.

Oakland Athletics' Stephen Piscotty celebrates with teammates after a game-ending grand slam against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)OAKLAND, Calif. Stephen Piscotty hit Oaklands second walkoff grand slam of the year and the Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 5-1 Tuesday night for their fourth straight win. Volquez retired Robbie Grossman on a popup before Piscotty hit a first-pitch drive over the wall in center to match the opening night 10th-inning slam by Matt Olson against the Angels. The 22-year-old lefty was the youngest As pitcher to start a game since Brett Anderson in 2010 and lived up to the hype. He overpowered the Rangers at times, striking out Joey Gallo on a 96 mph to end the first.

ARLINGTON, Texas The Texas Rangers have All-Star slugger Joey Gallo back and a bolstered starting rotation for their new home stadium. The unprecedented season sprint opens July 24, when the Rangers finally get to play a game in their new $1.2 billion stadium with a retractable roof. And our players understand that.The Rangers slipped to finish 78-84 last season, still an 11-win improvement over 2018. Left-handers Joe Palumbo and Kolby Allard, who both got multiple starts last season, provide depth in the rotation and could also be relievers. He is now set to be the primary center fielder with DeShields gone and Gallo moving to right field.