BREWERS’ HADER APOLOGIZES TO TEAMMATES

MILWAUKEE» One by one, the Milwaukee Brewers filed into an auditorium at Miller Park as reliever Josh Hader offered his latest apology for years-old tweets that surfaced during the All-Star Game.

Those racist, homophobic social-media messages were thoughtless mistakes he made as a teenager, Hader said. He sought to reassure fellow Brewers that the vile words didn’t represent the man he has become, one who has learned — in part because of baseball — to reject the language of bigotry.

His teammates had his back on Friday. Fellow all-stars Jesus Aguilar of Venezuela and Lorenzo Cain, who is African-American, were among those who stood directly behind Hader during a news conference about 90 minutes before the Brewers returned from the break by hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Nationals activate Strasburg, Zimmerman from DL.

WASH-

INGTON» The Washington Nationals activated pitcher Stephen Strasburg from the 10-day disabled list and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 60-day DL before their series opener against the Braves. Strasburg started the game. He went on the DL on June 10 with right shoulder inflammation.

Mariners give manager Scott Servais multiyear extension.

SEATTLE» The Seattle Mariners announced a multiyear contract extension for manager Scott Servais as the club opened the second half of the season in position to potentially end the longest current playoff drought in the four major pro sports. Servais agreed to the extension with the Mariners holding the second wild-card spot in the American League. Servais is in his third season as Seattle’s manager.

The heat is on in Arlington, Texas.

TEXAS» Mother ARLINGTON, Nature is bringing the heat at the home ballpark of the Texas Rangers.

The temperature was 107 degrees for the first pitch when the Rangers played the Cleveland Indians in their first game after the all-star break.

It was the highest temperature ever at the start of a game at the ballpark, which is in its 25th season.