Indians minus Ramírez, Reyes after they break virus protocol

The Cleveland Indians have broken COVID-19 protocols for the third time in less than a year, this time costing them third baseman José Ramírez and slugger Franmil Reyes.

Manager Terry Francona said Sunday the two players were sent to their Arizona homes while the Indians wait to hear from Major League Baseball when they can rejoin the team.

Francona said Reyes, who had a virus-related misstep last season, and Ramirez went out to dinner on Friday following an exhibition game in Mesa against the Chicago Cubs.

Chicago Cubs outfielders look at a goose standing in center field during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The goose, who stayed in the outfield for most of the game, was joined by a second goose in the fifth inning. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

They reported to the team’s complex on Saturday and were immediately sent away. They did not have contact with any other players or team personnel.

“The players themselves actually self-reported that they had made a mistake," Francona said on a Zoom call.

When spring training resumed last year after being stopped due to the pandemic, Reyes was forced to quarantine after the team learned via a social media posting that he attended a July 4 party while wearing a mask.

A ballpark employee tries to tell a goose to leave center field between the second and third innings of a spring training baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The goose, who stayed in the outfield for most of the game, was joined by a second goose in the fifth inning. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

A month later, the Indians placed pitchers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac on the restricted list after they broke protocols by going out to dinner while the team was in Chicago. Clevinger, who was traded a few weeks later to San Diego, initially didn’t disclose he had been out with Plesac.

Francona understands that players may be fatigued by the COVID-19 guidelines, but they’re in place to protect their safety.

“I do get it," he said. “Everybody wants to get rid of your mask and it’d be nice to go sit in a restaurant. Those aren’t the conditions we’re playing under. I also know those guys are young and it’s not normal to be cooped up."

New York Yankees' Brett Gardner (11) hits a grand slam off Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler during the second inning of a spring training exhibition baseball game at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, March 7, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)

“It doesn’t have to just be baseball. It’s everybody. It’s life. But these are the rules we’re playing under and the more we follow them, the better chance it gives us to be a complete baseball team. Because right now, we’ve lost a couple guys for two, three, four days. That doesn’t help," he said.

ATHLETICS 9, INDIANS 4 (7)

Matt Olson and Matt Chapman hit consecutive home runs for Oakland in the first inning off Adam Plutko. Ramon Laureano and Logan Davidson later connected for the A's.

New York Yankees' Brett Gardner (11) celebrates his grand slam off Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, with Aaron Judge, top right center, and manager Aaron Boone, left, during the second inning of a spring training exhibition baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, March 7, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar

Grant Holmes retired all six batters he faced in the start for the Athletics.

CARDINALS 8, ASTROS 5

Adam Wainwright struck out five in three innings in his second start for St. Louis, allowing one run. Tyler O’Neill hit a three-run homer.

St. Louis Cardinals' Tyler O'Neill watches after hitting a three-run home run during the seventh inning of a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP PhotoLynne Sladky)

Houston reliever Ryan Pressly struck out the side in his one inning. Jose Altuve hit a wind-aided triple off the wall.

Astros pitching prospect Forrest Whitley, diagnosed with a right UCL strain, has been advised to undergo Tommy John surgery. The right-hander is seeking a second opinion.

YANKEES 4, PHILLIES 0

Houston Astros' Garrett Stubbs scores of a double hit by Abraham Toro during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP PhotoLynne Sladky)

Brett Gardner hit a grand slam off Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler and Giancarlo Stanton doubled twice. New York starter Jordan Montgomery gave up two hits in three scoreless innings.

Wheeler struck out four before leaving with one out in the third inning.

BRAVES 5, RED SOX 4

Atlanta starter Charlie Morton worked three innings, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out three. Dansby Swanson hit a three-run double and Pablo Sandoval had an RBI double.

Enrique Hernandez hit his third spring home run for Boston. Garrett Richards walked four and allowed three hits in his two-inning start, giving up four runs.

PIRATES 13, ORIOLES 1

Ke'Bryan Hayes doubled, giving him an extra-base hit in four straight games for Pittsburgh. Kevin Newman had a two-run double and single and has reached base in nine of 11 plate appearances — he left the game with hamstring tightness. Adam Frazier also doubled and singled.

Looking to fill a spot in the Pirates rotation, J.T. Brubaker allowed two hits over two scoreless innings and Chase De Jong followed with two shutout innings.

Baltimore starter John Means gave up four runs on four hits and a walk over two innings. Cedric Mullins singled twice and drove in a run.

TWINS 8, RAYS 4 (8 INNINGS)

Josh Donaldson and Keon Broxton hit three-run homers for Minnesota. Alex Colome struck out two in an inning of relief.

Tampa Bay starter Michael Wacha allowed a hit in two scoreless innings. Austin Meadows hit his third home run of the spring.

TIGERS 5, BLUE JAYS 1 (8)

Julio Teheran pitched out of the bullpen for Detroit and retired all six batters he faced, striking out two.

Toronto starter Robbie Ray recorded seven outs, six by strikeout.

MARLINS 4, METS 4

Miami starter Pablo Lopez gave up a hit and a walk over three scoreless innings.

New York starter Marcus Stroman pitched three innings, giving up a pair of runs in the first. Third baseman Jeff McNeil made three errors. Jonathan Villar hit a three-run homer for the Mets.

ROCKIES 1, WHITE SOX 0 (7)

Lucas Giolito pitched three no-hit innings for Chicago, walking one and striking out two.

German Marquez scattered three hits and a walk over three scoreless innings for Colorado.

RANGERS 4, DODGERS 3 (8)

Texas newcomer Mike Foltynewicz retired all six hitters he faced in the start. Jordan Lyles worked a perfect third inning.

Los Angeles ace Walker Buehler gave up home runs to Rougned Odor and Joey Gallo in the first inning.

GIANTS 9, REDS 4 (8)

San Francisco starter Anthony DeScalfani, who spent five seasons with Cincinnati, gave up one hit over two innings. Heliot Ramos hit two homers and Steven Duggar, Lamonte Wade Jr. and Joey Bart also connected for the Giants.

Joey Votto singled and doubled for the Reds. Sean Doolittle was touched for three hits, two of them homers, and a walk in one inning of relief.

DIAMONDBACKS 5, CUBS 4

Back with Chicago this season, Jake Arrieta allowed a hit and a walk over two innings. Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras homered.

Stephen Vogt hit a two-run homer and Eduardo Escobar had a two-run triple for Arizona.

Also attracting interest during the exhibition at Scottsdale, Arizona: a large goose that roamed the outfield for much of the game.

ROYALS 4, PADRES 3

San Diego newcomer Yu Darvish struck out four and allowed one hit in two innings. Eric Hosmer homered for the Padres.

Kansas City starter Jakob Junis pitched three innings and gave up one hit, a leadoff homer to Trent Grisham. He struck out four. Wade Davis worked a perfect inning and Michael Taylor hit his second home run of the spring.

ANGELS 6, MARINERS 2 (6)

Albert Pujols and Justin Upton hit consecutive doubles for Los Angeles. Phil Gosselin and Scott Schebler hit back-to-back homers.

Logan Gilbert struck out four in his two-inning start for Seattle.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic and LeBron James were brought together for nights like these. The two Los Angeles Lakers superstars topped 30 points each in a game for the first time this season.

Doncic had 34 points, hitting 17 of 20 free throws, and six rebounds and eight assists. James had 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting to go with nine rebounds and six assists.

The Lakers rallied for a 128-121 victory over the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

It was the third time overall that Doncic and James both scored 30 or more points in the same game, their 42nd together. It happened twice in March, a month after Doncic joined the Lakers in a blockbuster trade from Dallas.

“Just playing in rhythm. Trying to find ways that we can be productive,” said James, the NBA's oldest active player who turned 41 on Tuesday. “Luka did a great job getting to the free throw line. Myself, just trying to sprinkle in a little bit here, a little bit there. Just trying to be consistent and super efficient with my play. We worked well off each other.”

Doncic's 17 made free throws were one off his career high, while his 20 attempts were a season high. As a team, the Grizzlies were 15 of 23 from the line.

“Just trying to get downhill a lot more than usual for me,” Doncic said. “But for him, he's just playing his game, attacking whatever he sees, being efficient and helping us win the games.”

The Lakers improved to 11-0 in clutch-time wins this season. The game was tied twice in the fourth, when the teams traded one-point leads until the final 5 1/2 minutes. James had 10 points in the period and Doncic had six. They combined for five assists and three rebounds.

“He was phenomenal,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said about James. “There was just a few stretches there where they made runs and the response from him, it felt like nearly every time we needed a bucket, he just kind of willed it.”

Doncic hit James with a 70-foot outlet pass at one point.

“One of the best quarterbacks and I’m a pretty good receiver when it comes to that,” James said. “It’s my job to not allow the defense to break that up or steal the ball. He put it on time and on target for me.”

Doncic and James got plenty of help from their teammates. Jake LaRavia had 21 points and nine rebounds and Marcus Smart had 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Jaxson Hayes added 12 points off the bench.

“Them doing that, it actually takes the pressure and the load off LeBron and Luka,” Redick said.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, and guard Marcus Smart celebrate after Smart scored during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, shoots as Memphis Grizzlies center Christian Koloko defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, drives toward the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama, left, and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, left, and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James go after a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, shoots as Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)