AMERICAN LEAGUE
Mariners-Tigers
SEATTLE: RHP Felix Hernandez, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right forearm, played catch for 20 minutes Wednesday and felt good afterward, according to pitching coach Rafael Chaves. Hernandez threw three innings of a simulated game on Tuesday, and Chaves said he would have a bullpen session Friday. … Manager Mike Hargrove on 1B Richie Sexson, who has struggled, batting under .200 this season: “Richie has swung the bat pretty good and hit the ball hard. But hasn’t had a lot to show for it.”
DETROIT: RHP Jeremy Bonderman said the blister on his pitching hand, which he tore on his final pitch in Tuesday night’s game, was hurting Wednesday. He’ll get treatment for it. Bonderman said he wouldn’t miss his next scheduled start Sunday, but manager Jim Leyland said it’s a possibility that Bonderman could miss it.
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Rangers-Yankees
TEXAS: Chris Stewart started behind the plate instead of C Gerald Laird, who came out of Tuesday night’s game with a bruised left buttocks. Laird was available off the bench and will play Thursday afternoon, manager Ron Washington said. … RHP Robinson Tejeda made his scheduled start despite feeling soreness in his forearm following his previous outing. The Yankees tagged Tejeda for four runs and four hits in a 36-pitch first inning. His first five batters reached base safely. … Tejeda was the second of three relatively inexperienced starting pitchers the Rangers had lined up for the series at Yankee Stadium. Mike Wood started Tuesday night, and Brandon McCarthy (2-4, 7.96 ERA) was scheduled for Thursday. “You’ve got to pitch somewhere. The Yankees (are) on the schedule and it’s their time,” Washington said. “They’re young. It’s time for ’em to grow up. You can’t keep pulling the pressure from ’em. They’re going to have to handle it. And we trust that they can.” … Washington was eager to get closer Eric Gagne some work. Gagne came off the disabled list Tuesday. He had been out with a sore hip.
worked on pitching balance during his first workout in Tampa with Nardi Contreras, the club’s pitching coordinator. The team wants Igawa to correct mechanical problems with his delivery. There is no timetable for when he will resume pitching in games. “He’ll practice it again tomorrow,” Contreras said. “How long it’s going to take for it to become automatic and it to become natural to him, we don’t know.” Igawa also spent 90 minutes watching video of himself and the deliveries of some top major league pitchers, including Tom Glavine and Mark Buehrle. “I got to see a lot of the great pitchers and compare my delivery,” Igawa said through a translator. “I got done what I wanted to do today.”
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Devil Rays-Orioles
TAMPA BAY: RHP Juan Salas, suspended for 50 games Monday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, issued a statement Wednesday. “I deeply regret that this situation has occurred and appreciate the outpouring of support around me. I also regret any distraction or embarrassment that I have caused my family, my teammates, the Devil Rays organization and the fans. I remain fully committed to the Devil Rays organization and to the game that I love,” he said. … Tampa Bay didn’t score in the first inning Wednesday, but didn’t give up a run either. So the Devil Rays’ 31-4 deficit in the opening inning remained unchanged.
BALTIMORE: Manager Sam Perlozzo started Jay Payton in CF to give Corey Patterson a night off. Perlozzo said Payton, who came in batting .300, also would be in the lineup Thursday in place of OF Nick Markakis. … C Ramon Hernandez, Baltimore’s new cleanup hitter, had 14 RBIs in his first 10 games since leaving the DL. … The Orioles will probably decide Thursday whether to activate RHP Scott Williamson from the DL. Williamson has been on the DL since April 24 with tightness in his right triceps tendon. … In preparation for their first interleague series of the year, in Washington on May 18-20, the pitching staff took batting practice before the game Wednesday. The team’s best hitting pitcher, Adam Loewen, is on the disabled list.
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Red Sox-Blue Jays
BOSTON: 1B Kevin Youkilis was scratched from the lineup because of soreness in his left leg. Youkilis has been hit by pitches in the same area of his leg twice in the past three days. Eric Hinske took over at first for Boston. … Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he spoke to RHP Curt Schilling regarding comments the pitcher made about Barry Bonds on a radio show. “Schill came to me,” Francona said. “We talked a little bit and I said ‘You probably just need to stay away from some of those things.”’ … LHP Jon Lester (lymphoma) threw for 12 minutes from a distance of 90 feet and reported no pain. He’ll throw again Friday. “He feels fine,” Francona said. “He’s chomping at the bit.”
TORONTO: Manager John Gibbons said OF Vernon Wells, who missed two games last week because of flulike symptoms, is back at full strength. Wells has gone six games without an RBI. … General manager J.P. Ricciardi said LHP Gustavo Chacin (sore shoulder) will start playing catch again on Saturday. Chacin has not thrown at all since going on the 15-day DL on April 28. If all goes well, Chacin will work his way back into shape with a minor league rehab assignment. … Ricciardi said RHP John Thomson was forced out of his first start with Triple-A Syracuse last week because of a blister on his pitching hand. Thomson is not expected to be able to pitch again until this Sunday at the earliest.
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Athletics-Royals
OAKLAND: A’s pitchers have walked 87, which is tied for the fewest in the majors, in their first 31 games. … RHP Justin Duchscherer has not allowed a hit with runners in scoring position in 17 at-bats. … LHP Joe Kennedy, who starts on Thursday, has received run support of three runs or less in his first five starts. He has left with a lead in all three of his no-decisions, only to have the bullpen blow the save. … The A’s are 6-5 in day games, including 3-2 on the road.
KANSAS CITY: 3B Alex Gordon was hit by a pitch in the second inning for the eighth time, the most in the AL. … RHPs Luke Hudson and Scott Elarton, who are both coming off shoulder injuries, have finished their minor league rehab assignments and will move into the rotation. Hudson will start Thursday, replacing RHP Brian Bannister. Elarton will start Saturday, replacing RHP Zack Greinke, who has been placed in the bullpen. … RHP Octavio Dotel, who is on the DL with a pulled left oblique, threw long toss before the game. “The way I’m feeling, I can be back in one week,” Dotel said. “The reality is two weeks. In two weeks, I think I’ll be with the team. I hope so.” … The Royals, in partnership with Heart to Heart International, collected cash donations for relief effort for the tornado victims in Greensburg, Kan.
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White Sox-Twins
eady to come off the DL. The Sox are currently carrying 13 position players and 12 pitchers.
MINNESOTA: Manager Ron Gardenhire held a mini-refresher course on defense for his pitchers before batting practice. In the last two games, fielding errors by Sidney Ponson and Boof Bonser led to big innings. “We’ve made too many mistakes lately,” Gardenhire said. “It’s about concentrating and just putting back in their head again about how important it is. … We’ve just missed too many plays.” … Despite catching on back-to-back nights, Gardenhire said 36-year-old Mike Redmond could be back behind the plate Thursday to catch the finale against the Sox. Redmond is the new No. 1 catcher after Joe Mauer went on the DL on Sunday. “He wants to catch,” Gardenhire said. “He says he’s been waiting to play for a long time.”
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Indians-Angels:
CLEVELAND: RHP Matt Miller was activated from the DL and optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. He strained his right forearm in spring training and has yet to pitch with the Indians. Tuesday night, Miller tossed one inning for the Bisons in a rehab appearance, allowing one hit, one run and a walk. … C Victor Martinez came into Wednesday’s game hitting .392 with men on base, third-best in the AL. What’s behind his success? “You may have to ask God,” he said.
LOS ANGELES: RHP Justin Speier wasn’t at the ballpark again Wednesday, a day after going on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 30 because of a medical condition unrelated to baseball. Speier said Sunday that he had flulike symptoms. Privacy rules prevent the Angels from revealing Speier’s condition without his consent. … RHP Bartolo Colon is scheduled to play catch Thursday, but his status for his next scheduled start Saturday at Texas remains in doubt. He left Sunday’s game because of a strained triceps in his pitching arm. “We’re not going to have him go too hard,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “If he makes enough improvement, we’ll let him go (Saturday).” … OF Garret Anderson took batting practice Wednesday. He went on the 15-day DL May 4 (retroactive to April 28) with a tear in his right hip flexor tendon.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Nationals-Brewers
WASHINGTON: Washington’s 3-1 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday was its eighth straight, the longest winless streak since the club moved to Washington from Montreal after the 2004 season. … Utility infielder Ronnie Belliard played first base for the first time in his eight seasons in the major leagues. After pinch-hitting in the seventh inning, Belliard debuted at first. “It’s never too late for the first time to do anything. I did it today to help the team, just for the team,” he said. … The Nationals ended a disastrous road trip 1-8. They are off Thursday and Friday night host Florida.
MILWAUKEE: The Brewers swept the three-game series and ended a 10-game homestand with a 9-1 record. Milwaukee has Thursday off before beginning a seven-game road trip to New York and Philadelphia. … J.J. Hardy’s 19-game winning streak, the longest in the majors this season, ended Wednesday. He struck out twice and lined out twice to infielders. Hardy batted .418 (33-for-79) during the streak with eight home runs and 23 RBIs. … The victory boosted Milwaukee’s record to 24-10, assuring they will have the best record in baseball for a fifth straight day.
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Rockies-Cardinals
COLORADO: RHP Zach McClellan totaled six scoreless innings over five appearances before surrendering four runs in two-thirds of an inning on Wednesday. “His fastball didn’t sink, it had more tail than sink, and his curveball was up,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “That’s a bad combination.” … Six Rockies pitchers combined for 188 pitches, including 106 in four-plus innings by starter Jason Hirsh. “I just didn’t keep my team in it,” Hirsh said. “I left them out there too long. I was nitpicking.” … Jeff Baker’s infield hit in the second was only his second hit in 31 at-bats. … OF Matt Holliday leads the majors with eight three-hit games and 52 hits. He got a day off Wednesday. … Garrett Atkins singled in four at-bats and is 4-for-28 (.143) at new Busch Stadium.
ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals’ 9-2 win on Wednesday was their highest output since April 22 when they beat the Cubs 12-9 in 10 innings in Chicago. … 1B Albert Pujols and C Gary Bennett made nice plays to prevent a run in the fifth when the score was tied at 2. Pujols went several steps to his right to field Todd Helton’s grounder and Bennett blocked the plate with his foot, giving him time to tag Brad Hawpe running from third. “I can’t think of on even one hand the number of first baseman who would even attempt that throw,” pitcher Adam Wainwright said. “He threw it and I was like ‘What in the world is going on?”’ … Adam Kennedy has batted leadoff three of the last four games, going 5-for-12, which likely means regular leadoff man David Eckstein will continue to bat eighth for a while. Eckstein, who got a scheduled day off on Wednesday, was moved down to take the pressure off while he fights an early season slump. “The way Kennedy’s hitting, I don’t see any reason to hurry that up,” manager Tony La Russa said.
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Mets-Giants
al. Lawrence, designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies organization on April 19 and then released, will report to the team’s extended spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and is likely to join Triple-A New Orleans once he’s ready to pitch again. … 1B Carlos Delgado’s splash-hit home run in the fourth was the 14th hit into the bay by an opponent in the Giants’ waterfront ballpark, where San Francisco players have done it 42 times – 33 by Barry Bonds, including one of his 11 this year. Delgado did it for the third time, the most by any opponent. Luis Gonzalez has two, the only other player to hit more than one into the water in the air. “I had no idea,” Delgado said. “You’re great sources of useless information. I’ve only been here a couple of times. I hit one last year. I remember that, but before that I don’t remember. I don’t care. It doesn’t matter.”
ayed catch for the third straight day. … CF Dave Roberts returned to the lineup after missing three games with an elbow injury on his throwing arm, Roberts probably will need an arthroscopic procedure in the coming days remove floating bone chips and spurs. “I feel this is definitely a good possibility as it stands,” Roberts said after the game, in which he hit his second homer of the year. “My worst fear is to be in this situation late in the year. I’m trying to step away from all that and realize what’s in mine and the team’s best interest to get through the season in the most productive way.”
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Phillies-Diamondbacks
PHILADELPHIA: LHP Jamie Moyer gave up a homer to Arizona’s Orlando Hudson on Wednesday, ending a string of 41 homerless innings. Moyer’s only other home run allowed was hit by Florida’s Hanley Ramirez on April 6. … The Phillies are off Thursday, ending a string of 23 consecutive games without a day off. … Manager Charlie Manuel said 1B Ryan Howard, bothered by knee and biceps problems, was likely to return to the starting lineup when the Phillies open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday in Philadelphia. Howard, who last started on Sunday in San Francisco, entered Wednesday’s game as a pinch-hitter hit a three-run homer.
ARIZONA: RHP Juan Cruz, who is out with a triceps injury, is close to returning from the disabled list. … With two off days in the next week, manager Bob Melvin has decided to keep his rotation on turn. The Diamondbacks are off Thursday. Brandon Webb will start at Houston in the opener of a three-game series Friday night. … 3B Chad Tracy, who has started only one of the last eight games, will return to the lineup on Friday night. Tracy has been slowed by a rib injury but swung the bat well in his only two appearances since May 1. … RHP Tony Pena retired the Phillies in order Tuesday night to pick up his second career save. Melvin called on Pena because regular closer Jose Valverde had finished the previous two games.
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Dodgers-Marlins
LOS ANGELES: 1B Nomar Garciaparra, mired in a 2-for-21 slump, was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday. “He just needs a day or so to reboot and recollect himself, and he’ll be fine,” manager Grady Little said. … Russell Martin led all major-league catchers through Tuesday in runs, hits and stolen bases. … Breakfast baseball: Thursday’s game at Florida is scheduled to start at 9:05 a.m. PDT.
d but was in the lineup again Wednesday. “I’m so used to the pain, I don’t feel anything,” he said.
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Astros-Reds
HOUSTON: 1B Lance Berkman’s two-run homer in the third inning was his 15th at Great American Ball Park, the most by any opponent. … Berkman has 38 career homers against Cincinnati, his best total against any team. … Berkman has homered in each of the first three games of the series, extending his hitting streak to a season-high nine games. … 2B Craig Biggio led off the game with a double off the glove of diving right fielder Ken Griffey Jr., extending his hitting streak to a season-high eight games.
CINCINNATI: LHP Eric Milton went on the 15-day DL after a medical test found inflammation in his left elbow. Milton complained of soreness after pitching into the sixth inning on Tuesday night. He also opened the season on the DL because of back spasms. … The Reds activated RHP Jared Burton off the DL to take his spot, leaving the club with eight relievers for now. … LHP Eddie Guardado threw breaking balls off a mound for the first time since his reconstructive elbow surgery last September. He hopes to return at midseason. … Brandon Philllips singled in his first at-bat, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games.
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Padres-Braves
SAN DIEGO: Manager Bud Black is trying to figure out ways to perk up the offense. The Padres came into Wednesday’s game hitting just .239. “We can possibly set some guys in motion on the hit-and-run and create some holes for these guys,” Black said. “Besides that, there’s really nothing we can do besides lend a great deal of moral support and provide them with time in the cage if there’s something mechanical that needs to be worked out.” The main thing: “Saying positive with the guys,” he said. “It takes time to get in a funk and sometimes it takes time to get out of it.” … OF Mike Cameron is among those who’ve really been struggling at the plate, but Black sees signs of hope. “He’s swinging the bat better. His takes are better. He’s seeing the ball better,” Black said. “His at-bats are getting better, and I think he’s happy with the way he’s swinging, even though he hasn’t seen results. I think he’s in a good frame of mind.”
nging his arms during the windup to give himself more rhythm. Also, Lerew dumped the split-finger fastball and added the two-seamer, which is more natural for him to throw.
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Pirates-Cubs
PITTSBURGH: C Ryan Doumit batted fourth for the first time this year and manager Jim Tracy had a simple explanation for putting the switch-hitter in the cleanup spot. “He’s one of the hottest hitters on our team,” Tracy said. “That’s the spot that made the most sense…that’s where he belongs.” Doumit is batting .432 with two homers and seven RBI in the 14 games. … SS Jack Wilson, who had game-tying and go-ahead sacrifice flies in the Pirates’ 15-inning win Tuesday night, was on the bench Wednesday for a scheduled day off. Tracy wanted to give him a day to recharge and saw the match up with the Cubs’ Jason Marquis as a good time to give his leadoff man a rest. Wilson has a career .167 average (6-for-36) against Marquis. … RHP Jonah Bayliss pitched three scoreless innings to earn his third win of the season in Tuesday’s 4-3 win. “The job that Jonah Bayliss did was very special,” Tracy said. “I saw as good a slider as I’ve seen him have since he was initially brought to the big leagues.” … C Humberto Cota was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis. He’s been sidelined since April 26 with a left shoulder strain.
CHICAGO CUBS: C Michael Barrett and manager Lou Piniella applauded the decision by the team to ban alcohol in the home clubhouse at Wrigley Field and on charter flights returning to Chicago. It comes in the aftermath of the death of Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock and goes into effect May 18. Barrett said drinking had never been a problem in the Cubs’ clubhouse. “I don’t have a problem with guys having a beer with dinner or with their late lunch. That’s all it ever got to be around here and if it ever became excessive drinking in the clubhouse here at Wrigley Field, our guys would have definitely taken care of it in-shop. We would have not allowed that to happen,” Barrett said. “This is probably the best thing that could happen now after all that has been said and done.” Piniella acknowledged that 30 years ago banning alcohol would probably not have been a popular decision, but times have changed. “We’ve got some pretty levelheaded kids as far as alcohol is concerned,” Piniella said. “We had discussion about it about a week ago. This is something that John McDonough, our president, put into effect. I think it’s safe and it’s good.” The rule applies to Piniella and his coaches. “What is good for the player is good for the manager and the coaches, too,” he said. “I don’t really drink in the clubhouse anyway. I don’t really drink much anyway. So as far as the alcohol is concerned, I don’t miss it.”
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