AMERICAN LEAGUE
Twins-Indians
MINNESOTA: Manager Ron Gardenhire isn’t sure what the next step will be for RHP Jesse Crain, who has a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum. “We’ll have to wait and see and then we’ll decide what to do,” he said. Crain will get a second opinion in the next few days before deciding on his next option. Crain is 1-2 with a 5.51 ERA in 18 appearances. … The Twins are expected to recall a pitcher from Triple-A Rochester to start Saturday’s game in Milwaukee. RHPs Scott Baker and Matt Garza, who both pitched with the Twins last season, are candidates. … C Joe Mauer (strained left quadriceps) could return sometime next week. The defending AL batting champion has been on the DL since May 5. … C Mike Redmond, filling in for Mauer, had his eight-game hitting streak snapped.
er, who spent five seasons pitching in the Far East, had his contract sold by the Indians to the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central League on Thursday. Sikorski previously pitched for Chiba Lotte and Yomiuri before returning to the majors with San Diego last season. … The Indians improved to 6-0 in day games at home.
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Tigers-Red Sox
DETROIT: Reliever Tim Byrdak had five strikeouts in two scoreless innings in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. That gave him four hitless innings since he was recalled Monday from Triple-A Toledo. … Ivan Rodriguez went 0-for-3 in the opener against Boston starter Julian Tavarez after entering the game with seven hits in 15 at bats against the right-hander. “He’s got a good sinker and mixed in some sliders and changeups,” Rodriguez said. … Placido Polanco was 0-for-13 before his fifth-inning single, one of Detroit’s four hits in the opener.
2002, when he was with Florida. Thursday’s game was his 13th as a starter since he joined Boston’s rotation last Aug. 31.
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Yankees-White Sox
NEW YORK: RHP Kyle Farnsworth appeared on a local sports radio show Thursday morning and gave his opinion of a clause in RHP Roger Clemens’ contract that allows the right-hander to leave the team when he’s not pitching. He later addressed that opinion in the Yankees clubhouse. “As far as a teammate and a player, I think everybody should be here whether they’re pitching or not,” he said. “You don’t see guys who are hurt not sit on the bench. They’re always there.” But Farnsworth said he didn’t see it as a problem. “It’s just an opinion of mine. I don’t think it’s a concern at all. You guys asked my opinion about it and I gave it,” he added. … The Yankees still haven’t decided who’ll start Sunday against the Mets, but they have ruled out using Chien-Ming Wang on three days’ rest. Manager Joe Torre indicated that Sunday’s starter would likely be called up from Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre.
ike to go there,” Guillen said. Guillen is not a fan of Wrigley Field’s cramped visitors’ clubhouse and the winding tunnel teams have to navigate to get the dugout. Or his small office. One year, he was unhappy he had to park across the street at a fast food restaurant. “It’s just so uncomfortable to work there. It’s nothing against the Cubs or the Cubs fan. I hate to go there,” Guillen said. “I don’t even take a shower in my office because I’m worried something’s going to jump out there.” The rivalry really got heated last season when Cubs catcher Michael Barrett punched Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski after he was run over at the plate, setting off a melee in the first meeting between the teams. Barrett, who was suspended 10 games, and Pierzynski met during the second series and made their peace.
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Royals-Athletics
alled from Omaha on Wednesday. Berroa, the 2003 AL Rookie of the Year, was sent to Omaha at the end of spring training. “The reason we sent him down was we needed to get him some consistency with his offense and to get his confidence back,” Bell said. “His attitude was great in Omaha. He’s a talented kid who belongs in the major leagues.” … LHP Jorge De La Rosa has allowed a run or less in his four wins and at least four runs in each of his three losses.
homered in 17 at-bats that he’s in a slump, that’s for sure. We’ll be careful.”
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Rangers-Devil Rays
TEXAS: Manager Ron Washington said the Rangers are going to take their time with RHP Kevin Millwood to make sure his strained left hamstring is 100 percent. “He’s our bulldog,” Washington said. Millwood, the opening day starter, aggravated a hamstring injury that put him on the DL earlier in the season in his return Monday. … RHP Jamey Wright (right shoulder) threw 31 pitches over two innings in a simulated game. … The start time of the Rangers’ game against Boston on May 26 has been moved from 2:55 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. CDT.
TAMPA BAY: OF-DH Greg Norton, who had surgery on his right knee April 2, was activated from the 15-day DL. He replaces OF Rocco Baldelli, who went on the DL with a left hamstring strain. … Before Wednesday night’s 11-8 victory, which gave the Devil Rays their first three-game winning streak since last Aug. 21-23, Tampa Bay had gone a major league-high 73 games without winning three in a row.
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Angels-Mariners
ee where he is. I haven’t even talked to Percy about it. It’s a hypothetical right now.” Scioscia then added: “I wouldn’t put it past Percy to be able to do it.” … Scioscia said the Angels are “optimistic” that OF Garret Anderson, on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 28 with a tendon tear in his right hip, will return in a couple of weeks. “He has some challenges to test the stamina in his leg. That’s going to take aggressive work.” Anderson may also have challenges getting back into the lineup. Reggie Willits entered Thursday having hit safely in 20 of 22 games and was batting .344, tops among AL rookies. “There’s some things going on in our lineup right now that you wouldn’t want necessarily to change,” Scioscia said.
SEATTLE: OF Ichiro Suzuki’s infield single in the first inning Thursday left him with nine hits in his last 11 at-bats. His average had gone from .270 to .322 in less than a week. He was hit by a pitch from John Lackey on Wednesday that was no more than 2 feet off the ground. “I mean, he does things with the bat that no one else can,” manager Mike Hargrove said. “He allows it to happen. You never see him force things.” … The Mariners sent 20-year-old minor league pitcher Gregorio Rosario from their extended spring training camp to Cleveland, to complete Sunday’s trade for RHP Jason Davis.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Braves-Nationals
ATLANTA: SS Edgar Renteria hit .438 (7-for-16) in the four-game series at Washington, with two homers, three RBIs and five runs. He’s hit safely in 22 of his past 23 games. … The Braves had won five consecutive series before dropping three of four against the Nationals. … LHP Mark Redman (ingrown toenail) came off the 15-day DL in case RHP John Smoltz hasn’t recovered from a dislocated right pinky to start against Boston on Saturday. … The Braves also released 1B Craig Wilson, and brought C Brayan Pena off the DL, then optioned him to Triple-A Richmond. … LHP Chad Paronto (2-1) took the loss after failing to retire either of the two batters he faced Thursday. He allowed a game-tying single to pinch-hitter Dmitri Young, then a go-ahead triple to Felipe Lopez.
r-13 drought with a single, double and triple. … INF Tony Batista started at first base and got his first hit with the Nationals on an RBI single in the fourth. … The Nationals improved to 7-4 in one-run games.
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Cubs-Mets
CHICAGO: Mark DeRosa played for the first time since straining a ligament in his right hand Monday. He was a late addition to the starting lineup, and left after the top of the sixth. … The loss left the Cubs at .500 in their all-time series with the Mets – it’s 332-332. … Ted Lilly will start Friday against Mark Buehrle of the White Sox. … The Cubs are 70-75 overall in interleague play.
Joe Torre has never been enamored of the in-season matchups with the Mets. “It’s still playing someone in the other league. Even though the wins count and the losses count, you’re still not contending with them for a place in the standings,” Torre said. “We always seem to be the team that has the most to lose because of the expectations.” … The Subway Series is prompting the Empire State Building to split its tower lighting for the first time. From Friday to Sunday, the north and south sides will be lit in Yankees blue and white; the east and west sides will be in Mets blue and orange. The team that wins the series will have its colors shown on Monday.
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Diamondbacks-Rockies
ARIZONA: The Diamondbacks designated INF Donnie Sadler for assignment. … X-rays were negative on the left wrist of OF Scott Hairston, who was hit by a pitch in Wednesday’s game. “The wrist was still swollen,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We’ll give him some time off.” … OF Eric Byrnes has an 11-game hitting streak. … INF Jason Smith was in the starting lineup a day after being claimed off waivers from Toronto. “I like to see what a player can do right away,” Melvin said. “Jason has some history in Colorado.” … The Diamondbacks have won six series. … RHP Livan Hernandez had his second two-hit game of the year against the Rockies.
COLORADO: RHP Jorge Julio worked a scoreless ninth inning in his first appearance since being acquired on Sunday from Florida. “There’s no question that Julio throws very good stuff,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “I think he will be a good addition to our bullpen.” … SS Troy Tulowitzki reached base in all four plate appearances with two hits and two walks. … The loss to RHP Josh Fogg was his first loss in 10 career starts against the Diamondbacks. … The Rockies haven’t won a home series since their first one of the season against Arizona.
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Brewers-Phillies
MILWAUKEE: RHP Ben Sheets struck out a season-high eight batters. … RF Gabe Gross hit two solo homers, his first career multihomer game. … The Brewers improved to 10-10 on the road. … The Brewers have been in first place the past 26 days in the NL Central. … They play an interleague series at home against Minnesota starting Friday.
PHILADELPHIA: The Phillies starting pitchers’ streak of 11 straight starts with at least six innings pitched was snapped. … RF Shane Victorino’s stolen base in the eighth inning gave him 13 straight stolen bases without being caught. … The Phillies dropped to 6-8 in day games. … RHP Freddy Garcia gave up two runs in 5 2-3 innings and hasn’t pitched beyond the sixth inning in any of his seven starts this season.
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Marlins-Pirates
FLORIDA: While manager Fredi Gonzalez said he would continue to use a closer-by-committee, he also strongly hinted he would stick with RHP Kevin Gregg, who earned his second save Wednesday in Pittsburgh. “We’ve got so many good candidates,” Gonzalez said. “You hate to tell somebody he’s the closer and then a bunch of left-handers come up and he’s not in there.” LHP Renyel Pinto and RHP Wes Obermueller are among the other candidates. … Gonzalez said that OFs Alfredo Amezaga and Reggie Abercrombie would share center field. … Gonzalez said that 3B Miguel Cabrera and OF Josh Willingham would handle DH duties for the interleague series in Tampa this weekend.
immy Rollins in that span.
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Giants-Astros
SAN FRANCISCO: LHP Barry Zito flew to the Bay Area ahead of his team on Thursday afternoon, before his much-anticipated first start against Oakland, his former team. “It’ll be nice,” Zito said. “It’ll be good to gain closure. I talk to a lot of the guys over there. I look forward to it.” Manager Bruce Bochy said the Giants weren’t scheduled to arrive in California until 2 a.m. local time and he didn’t want to risk Zito getting delayed. Zito went 102-63 in Oakland, but he’s not expecting a kind reception on Friday. “If they have to boo me, that just shows what good fans they are,” Zito said. “I will totally understand that.” … Bochy said Barry Bonds would likely be the Giants’ designated hitter, not the left fielder, in the Oakland series. “I’ll definitely DH him tomorrow,” Bochy said, “and then we’ll see where we’re at.” Bochy wouldn’t rule out putting Bonds in the outfield, but said that decision is Bonds’ to make. “If his legs feel great and he feels great, that’s great,” Bochy said. “Then he’ll be out there.”
urish if the teams played three games in each city every season. “Baseball is trying to create those rivalries, American League and National League teams in close proximity,” Williams said. “It’s going to take years before it gets to that stage.” … CF Hunter Pence led all rookies in hitting (.355) coming into Thursday’s game and was 15-for-30 with nine RBIs in his past eight games. The 24-year-old Pence went 4-for-4 with a home run on Wednesday against San Francisco and Barry Bonds, one of his boyhood idols. Pence said he started choking up on the bat because he saw Bonds do it early in his career. “You’re a little kid in the backyard going, ‘I’m Barry Bonds,”’ Pence said. “I kept doing it throughout the years and it became comfortable for me. It’s uncomfortable to not hit like that now.”
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