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1:32 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


DETROIT (AP) Alberto Gonzalez's squeeze bunt turned into an RBI single in the 11th inning when umpires missed a call, and the Texas Rangers went on to beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Sunday.


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Gonzalez admitted after the game the ball hit him around the knee. Rather than a foul ball, the play stood. Plate umpire Tim Welke saw a replay afterward and said the ball did in fact hit Gonzalez, but his crew hadn't seen that initially. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Gonzalez bunted back to pitcher Thad Weber (0-1), who had no play at the plate on runner Nelson Cruz. Weber froze with the ball, and first baseman Miguel Cabrera struggled to get back to the bag in time. Everybody was safe, and Texas took the lead. Detroit manager Jim Leyland argued that it should've been a foul ball. Robbie Ross (3-0) pitched a scoreless 10th for Texas, and Joe Nathan finished for his fourth save. Josh Hamilton homered for the Rangers.


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Granderson's homer trio just enough for Yanks

1:04 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


The milestones just keep coming for the Yankees.


Curtis Granderson became the first player to hit three homers at the current edition of Yankee Stadium, which opened in 2009, and Derek Jeter tied Hall of Famer Dave Winfield for 18th place on the all-time hits list at 3,110 with a single. And oh, yes, the Yankees held on to defeat the Twins, 7-6, in the finale of a four-game series. The teams split the set, raising New York's record to 7-6 through its first 13 games.


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Now for the Yanks, it's on to Fenway Park for a three-game weekend set against the rival Red Sox, highlighted by Friday's game celebrating the 100th anniversary of the old ballpark. Granderson went 5-for-5 with four RBIs. He homered in his first three at-bats -- going deep in the first, second and fourth -- and singled in the sixth and eighth, as the Yankees came back after falling behind, 4-0, in the first inning.


There were five homers in the game. Mark Teixeira hit his first of the season, as the Yankees scored three times in the bottom of the first. Ryan Doumit hit his first homer as a member of the Twins, a two-run shot in the sixth inning off Yankees starter Phil Hughes.


Hughes suffered through his third shaky start of the young season, allowing six hits and six runs -- only two of which were earned -- before being lifted with one out in the sixth inning. Hughes was credited with his first win of the season, if not his first quality start.


A throwing error by second baseman Eduardo Nunez in the first inning led to Hughes' early unraveling and four unearned runs. Doumit singled through a shift with the bases loaded and two outs for the first two runs, and Danny Valencia followed with a bases-clearing double to give Minnesota its early but short-lived four-run bulge.


Jeter's hit to tie Winfield occurred with two outs in the second and scored Nunez, who had doubled. Jeter then came around to score on Granderson's two-run shot. Granderson, who had a career-high 41 homers last season, already has six in 2012. It was the first three-homer game of his career, and he became the first player in Yankees history to record five hits in a game that also included three homers.

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Giants' Sugiuchi fans 10 batters in win over Dragons

10:58 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


NAGOYA — Toshiya Sugiuchi threw one-run ball over eight solid innings, Hisayoshi Chono opened the scoring with a two-run single, and the Yomiuri Giants beat the Chunichi Dragons 4-1 on Tuesday night.


Sugiuchi (2-1) allowed four hits, including a leadoff shot to Ryosuke Hirata in the eighth, and struck out 10 batters while walking two at Nagoya Dome. Kentaro Nishimura picked up his fourth save.


Chono drove in runners from second and third with one out in the third with his single to right for a 2-0 lead. Hayato Sakamoto added a two-run double in the ninth among his three hits.



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Yamamoto sets new NPB record

11:19 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The hot-hitting Fighters continued their winning ways against the feckless Lions, and added insult to injury in their opponents' backyard.

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Kazuhito Tadano threw six shutout innings, and Hokkaido Nippon Ham knocked Seibu's lights out in a six-run seventh en route to a 13-0 blowout to extend its winning streak to three games on Monday night. Playing in front of a sparse crowd of 12,077 in Saitama Prefecture, last-place Seibu remained winless at home and fell to its second loss in a row. Nippon Ham improved to 3-1 against Seibu this season.
Atsunori Inaba hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs on a 2-for-4 night, and Nippon Ham lit up the scoreboard right out of the gate against Fumiya Nishiguchi (0-1) at Seibu Dome. Makoto Kaneko hit an infield single and reached second on shortstop Hiroki Nakajima's throwing error to first. After Kensuke Tanaka drew a walk, cleanup hitter Sho Nakata drilled a fast roller into left past diving third baseman Takeya Nakamura for a 1-0 lead.
Terrmel Sledge added an RBI bloop single to right one out later.
Sledge was back in the fifth with a two-out line drive to right to drive in the third run, and right fielder Mitsugu Ishikawa allowed Nakata to score from first when he bobbled the ball for an error on the play. Inaba and Yuji Iiyama added two-run singles as Nippon Ham put the game to bed in the seventh, and Inaba sprinkled salt in the wound with his blast off Micheal Nakamura in the eighth.
Nakata had an RBI single for the final run in the ninth.
Making his first start of the year, Tadano (1-0) gave up four hits — all singles — with three strikeouts and one walk. The right-hander won for the first time since Aug. 27, 2009, when he pitched six innings of one-run ball against the Orix Buffaloes. The Fighters are 5-2 on the road this season, while the Lions, who have lost six of their last seven, are 0-6 in Saitama.
Seibu was outhit by Nippon Ham 13-6 and committed four errors.
Tadano, who joined Nippon Ham in 2008 after a short stint in the major leagues and was released before rejoining the team on a special contract in 2010, had been called up from the farmhand due to Bobby Keppel's injury.

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Yamamoto sets new NPB record

12:27 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Masahiro Yamamoto became the oldest starter ever to win in Japanese baseball at 46 years, eight months and four days after the Chunichi Dragons lefty threw eight shutout innings in a 3-0 victory over the Hanshin Tigers on Sunday.



Yamamoto threw 103 pitches at Koshien Stadium, allowing only two hits and fanning six before handing the baton to closer Hitoki Iwase, who collected his fifth save of the season. Yamamoto rewrote former Hankyu Braves left-hander Shinji Hamazaki's 1948 record of exactly 46 years and eight months. He didn't pitch last year because of a right-ankle injury but had pitched well so far in 2012, giving up just one earned run in two starts.
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MIA Marlins[Carlos Zambrano] vs HOU Astros[Bud Norris]

11:44 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Scoring stats point to some edges in this matchup. The game features Miami's National League No. 12-ranked scoring average of 3.4 runs per game, against a Astros offense rated No. 6 and scoring 4.6 runs per game in the league. The Marlins have averaged 8 hits per game to date this season, less than the Astros hitters have managed (9 per nine innings).
Defensively, Houston features the National League's No. 12-rated defense on the road, allowing 5 runs per game. Miami, meanwhile, comes in at No. 12 in the National League at home, scoring 3 runs per game.
Houston was a 5-4 loser in its last match on the road against the Marlins. They lost as +185 underdogs, while the total score of 9 made winners of OVER bettors. Houston lost a tight one on Friday, seeing the game get away from them in extra innings and falling by a 5-4 score against Miami at Marlins Park.
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MIA Marlins[Ricky Nolasco] vs HOU Astros[Lucas Harrell] match preview

11:02 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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The Marlins are home for the first time since taking on the St. Louis Cardinals for the one game quick opener for the stadium. This will mark the first home game since Ozzie Guillen’s comments about Fidel Castro went public. The Marlins need to have their pitching, as well as their hitting bounce back this series. Ricky Nolasco gets his second start of the season. He pitched a dominating game against the Cincinnati Reds, going eight solid innings. Nolasco will be opposed by Lucas Harrell, who went seven shutout innings in his first start of the season against the Colorado Rockies. The second game features Bud Norris vs. Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano will need to be at the top of his game. Norris is a pretty good pitcher and he could give the Marlins problems. The key for Zambrano will be to limit the walks and keep the ball in the ballpark. Zambrano was set to pick up the victory last time out, but Heath Bell blew the save.


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BAL Orioles[Jake Arrieta] vs NY Yankees[C.C. Sabathia] match preview

11:32 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


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The Baltimore Orioles have rarely seen him look like anything else. Sabathia seeks to rebound from a disappointing performance and help the New York Yankees complete a three-game sweep in Baltimore on Wednesday night. Sabathia's ninth career opening day start was one of his worst as Tampa Bay reached him for five runs - four on Carlos Pena's grand slam - and eight hits in six innings Friday. The left-hander walked three, struck out seven and still stood to get the win before Mariano Rivera's blown save gave the Rays a 7-6 victory. Sabathia always seems to be ready when facing the Orioles.

New York will have the luxury of having its ace on the mound as it tries to sweep an opponent it continues to dominate. The Yankees are 41-15 against Baltimore (3-2) since the start of 2009, including a 20-9 road mark during that span. Robinson Cano picked up three more hits at Camden Yards on Tuesday, and is batting .456 (62 for 136) with 10 homers, 15 doubles and 36 runs scored in his last 32 games there. J.J. Hardy's first-inning home run accounted for the Orioles' only RBI Tuesday as Freddy Garcia aided their offense with five wild pitches. Baltimore went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and is 6 for 41 (.146) this season in such situations.


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DET Tigers[Rick Porcello] TB Rays[Matt Moore] match preview

11:01 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


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The Rays' starting rotation has already gotten some press from the national media this year, but Tampa's offense carried them to a sweep of the New York Yankees last weekend. The Rays scored 18 runs in the three game series on the backs of Carlos Pena (2 home runs, 7 RBI) and Evan Longoria (.600 average, 11 total bases). Leadoff hitter Desmond Jennings -- playing center field while B.J. Upton recovers from a back injury -- has gotten off to a slow start, but guys like Matt Joyce and noted Tiger-killer Luke Scott have picked up the slack. If the Rays can continue to put runs on the board, this team will be very hard to beat this season.

This is Tampa's first foray outside the comforts of their dome, and Mother Nature isn't looking to be too forgiving (though, being Michigan, this could change in an instant). A power arm like Matt Moore can thrive in this type of environment, but he might struggle to find his breaking pitches early on. The Rays offense has been a pleasant surprise thus far, but some of the key bats in the Rays' lineup have historically underperformed at Comerica Park. Longoria, in particular, has an OPS of just .718 in 59 career plate appearances in Detroit. Scott, who absolutely destroys the Tigers at a .358/.488/.896(!) clip, will likely miss the series with hamstring tightness. The Tigers' offense was firing on all cylinders against Boston, but Tampa's pitching staff is several grades above the injury-riddled group that the Red Sox brought to town.


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MIN Twins[Nick Blackburn] vs LA Angels[C.J. Wilson] match preview

10:19 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,



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The Los Angeles Angels were pegged by many to get their 2012 season off to a hot start. They're still projected to be serious contenders in the American League, but they dropped their opening series at home to the Kansas City Royals over the weekend. On Monday, they'll head East to take on a team that looked completely hapless in their own opening series, the 0-3 Minnesota Twins.

C.J. Wilson will make his regular-season debut for the Angels and the team will be hoping the bat of Albert Pujols comes to life. The Twins are a far cry from the constant playoff presence they presented in recent years, so this may prove to be a better tune-up for the Halos than the Royals series.

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DET Tigers[Max Scherzer] vs BOS Red Sox[Clay Buchholz] match preview

11:19 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Things have gone well for the Tigers in their first two games against Boston. Justin Verlander, Austin Jackson and Prince Fielder helped put together Thursday's close win in the opener, and Saturday saw the team combine for five home runs in a 10-0 drubbing of the Sox. They look to repeat yesterdays performance today, and if they can manage to do so it would be the Tigers' first 3-0 start since 2006, the last season they made the World Series. Their home run performance yesterday was the most home runs hit by Detroit at Comerica since 2004, when they teed off against the Red Sox for seven homers.
Boston will be relying on Clay Buchholz for the first time since June of last year, when he went down with an injury to the lower back. Detroit will send Max Scherzer to the mound, who has historically struggled against Boston. He's 0-2 in his first three appearances against the Sox.


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Mets to call up Nieuwenhuis to play center

2:03 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Prospect to make big league debut on Saturday, replacing Torres


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Less than a year after shoulder surgery stalled his path to the Majors, Kirk Nieuwenhuis will make his big league debut with the Mets.
The Mets will activate Nieuwenhuis prior to Saturday's game against the Braves, placing Andres Torres on the disabled list. Torres, who strained his left calf in Thursday's season opener, planned to fly to Florida on Friday to begin his rehab.When Minor League camp broke earlier this week, Nieuwenhuis stayed behind in Port St. Lucie, Fla., in the event that Torres could not fully heal from the calf strain that he initially suffered on March 19. It was only after Nieuwenhuis reported to Triple-A Buffalo that Torres reinjured his leg.
As a result, Nieuwenhuis, 24, will be in uniform at Citi Field on Saturday. After a strong first half with Triple-A Buffalo last summer, Nieuwenhuis appeared to be the center fielder of the future for the Mets, who were growing unhappy with Angel Pagan's offensive and defensive production. But Nieuwenhuis tore the labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, ending his season in July. After the season, partially because Nieuwenhuis did not yet have a full season at Triple-A on his resume, the Mets traded Pagan for Torres and reliever Ramon Ramirez.
In 53 games for Buffalo, Nieuwenhuis hit .298 with six home runs, 17 doubles and a .403 on-base percentage. He ranked 11th on MLB.com's 2012 Mets Prospect Watch. Had Nieuwenhuis stayed healthy this spring, he might have made a late run at an Opening Day roster spot given all the outfield injuries in camp. But Nieuwenhuis suffered a right oblique injury of his own midway through Spring Training, resulting in a premature demotion to Minor League camp. The Mets could also have called up utility man Vinny Rottino or center-field prospect Matt den Dekker to replace Torres, but instead chose Nieuwenhuis, the only internal candidate already on the 40-man roster. Current bench players Scott Hairston and Mike Baxter also boast center-field experience, with Hairston figuring to receive the bulk of at-bats in Torres' absence.

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Indians’ Cabrera gets 3-year deal through 2014

12:30 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

On the eve of a new season, the Cleveland Indians locked up one of their best players for a few more.
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The team and Asdrubal Cabrera finalized a three-year contract on Wednesday, a deal that adds two additional seasons for the All-Star shortstop.
The agreement was announced one day before the Indians’ 2012 season opener at home against the Toronto Blue Jays. Cabrera signed a one-year, $4.55 million deal this winter to avoid arbitration. He would have been eligible for free agency after this season.
The 26-year-old Cabrera had a breakout season in 2011, batting .273 with 25 homers and 92 RBIs. Before last season, the switch hitter had just 18 career homers. Cabrera led AL shortstops in RBIs, was tied for first in hits (165) and was second in doubles (32) and runs (87). Before giving Cabrera his new deal, the Indians did not have a player signed past 2012.
Cabrera was a steadying force for the Indians last season, when injuries finally overwhelmed the club and erased a surprisingly strong start. He earned his first All-Star selection, won a Silver Slugger following the season and set a franchise record for home runs by a shortstop. Cleveland acquired Cabrera from Seattle in 2006 in a trade for first baseman Eduardo Perez. Cabrera has batted .281 with 43 homers and 258 RBIs in 538 games with the Indians.
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Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey advised to have thumb surgery

12:21 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Boston Red Sox will begin the 2012 season without closer Andrew Bailey, whom they acquired from the Oakland A’s in an offseason trade.

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According to The Boston Globe, the righthander has been told by team doctors that he needs surgery on his pitching thumb. If a second opinion from a hand specialist Tuesday results in the same diagnosis, Bailey could have surgery as soon as Tuesday. If it uncertain how long Bailey would be sidelined if he has the surgery. Even if he elects to not have the surgery, he is all but certain to begin the season on the disabled list.
“When a player is injured I always am very concerned and always try to make alternative plans. If he jumps right back in, then I’m pleasantly surprised,” manager Bobby Valentine told the newspaper “When guys are hurt, they’re hurt and he couldn’t pitch for a couple of days, you know?”
Bailey last pitched on Wednesday, and it isn’t clear when he suffered the injury. In Bailey’s absence, setup men Alfredo Aceves and Mark Melancon could share the ninth-inning duties. Aceves served as a spot starter and multi-inning reliever for the Red Sox last season, while Melancon saved 20 games for the Houston Astros. Bailey was acquired to replace Jonathan Papelbon, who saved 219 games for Boston since the 2006 season but signed a four-year, $50 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies this past offseason.

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Beckett has injured thumb, to be examined

12:05 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Red Sox right-hander scheduled to start Saturday against Tigers


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Josh Beckett has joined the roster of Red Sox pitchers with injured thumbs.

A day after Andrew Bailey returned to Boston to have an examination of his "thumb situation," as manager Bobby Valentine described it, a Red Sox spokesperson said Monday that Beckett has left Spring Training and is scheduled to have his right thumb examined in San Antonio, Tex., while en route to Detroit for the team's season-opening series that begins Thursday. Beckett's first scheduled start of the season is scheduled for Saturday.
It turns out that Alfredo Aceves, who was informed Sunday by Valentine that he had not made the rotation, could start in Beckett's place. In discussing Monday morning how he felt like he had little chance to make the rotation, Aceves was asked about what he was told the day before when Valentine delivered the news that Aceves would not be in the rotation.
Beckett threw a controlled bullpen session on Monday, after which pitching coach Bob McClure said he threw "very well, very good. What do you want to know?" Aceves said he was not angry when he was told he would not be a regular starting pitcher with the team, although Valentine said that Aceves was upset when the news was delivered. Continuing to explain what his conversation with Valentine entailed, Aceves did not appear thrilled.
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Mets pick Johan Santana to start opening day

12:54 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , ,


Johan Santana will start for the New York Mets on opening day

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The left-hander, who is returning from shoulder surgery performed nearly 19 months ago, met with manager Terry Collins in his office before Collins announced his decision to have him pitch against Atlanta on Thursday.
“After we talked to Johan yesterday after he threw, I walked by him and he said to me at the end, `You’ve got your pitcher for Thursday,”’ Collins said.
Santana made his last spring training start Monday against St. Louis and worked a brief bullpen session Saturday.
“It means a lot,” he said. “It means that everything we’ve done from surgery to today has paid off. We worked hard, and I’m very happy.”

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