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MLB Capsules - AL: Yankees rough up Rangers pitching again
NEW YORK (AP) — The Rangers have seen some pretty big numbers on the scoreboard recently. Too bad they're not coming from Texas' potent offense.
Mark Teixeira hit two-run homers from each side of the plate and the New York Yankees connected five times Wednesday night, romping past Texas 12-4 for the second straight night. Rangers pitchers have given up 70 runs in the last nine games, a 2-7 slide.
"We need a well-pitched game, that's what we need, whether it comes from a starter or the bullpen," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We need somebody to go out there and pitch a good game so the offense has a chance to breathe a little bit."
For the second straight night, the Yankees humbled a Rangers starter on a roll. They knocked around Alexi Ogando on Tuesday for six early runs in handing him his first loss off the season. This time, New York forced Holland to throw 103 pitches in giving up six runs in five innings. Holland (5-2) last lost April 16 at Yankee Stadium.
Holland had leads of 2-0 and 4-3 but couldn't hold it. He allowed seven hits and walked five without getting a strikeout.
"I'm not happy at all," Holland said. "My team is out there scoring runs for me and I did a horrible job of keeping the damage down."
Robinson Cano and youngsters Eduardo Nunez and Ramiro Pena homered as New York handed Texas its season-high fourth straight loss.
"I'm not going to stress out over it," Michael Young said. "I know we have to pick it up and we've got to play better. But I'm not sitting here with my head down moping around."
In the second game without the injured Derek Jeter, Yankees manager Joe Girardi got creative with his lineup. Batting leadoff for the first time since 2008, Nick Swisher reached base three times. Andruw Jones, starting in left field for Brett Gardner with left-hander Holland on the mound, hit the tiebreaking RBI single in the fifth.
"Just great at-bats," Girardi said about the Yankees' recent hitting success.
Francisco Cervelli added a run-scoring hit and made a gymnastic play at the plate filling in for catcher Russell Martin, out again with a stiff back.
Teixeira homered from the right side in the first after Ivan Nova (6-4) gave up two quick runs to Texas. He connected on a deep drive to right from the left side off Mark Lowe in the sixth, his 21st home run of the season.
The Yankees first baseman tied Chili Davis and Eddie Murray for most times homering from both sides of the plate all-time with 11.
Nunez hit a tying homer in the fourth on his 24th birthday. Pena led off the sixth with his first of the year. New York has hit a major league-leading 103 homers. No other team entered Wednesday with 80.
Young and Josh Hamilton had RBIs in the first to give the Rangers the early lead. Ian Kinsler homered leading off the third and Adrian Beltre had a sacrifice fly later in the inning to make it 4-3.
The Yankees took the lead for good in the fifth. Alex Rodriguez slid across home plate just ahead of catcher Yorvit Torrealba's sweep tag on Jones' hit to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead.
Cervelli then hit an RBI single but Nunez, who walked, was thrown out third to end the inning.
Curtis Granderson teamed up with Cervelli to protect the lead in the sixth. Granderson fielded Elvis Andrus' single to medium center field and came up throwing. The strong throw was slightly off line but Cervelli forced Torrealba to the outside by blocking the plate with his left leg and he quickly dived backward to apply the tag for the third out.
"Granderson made the play and Cervelli made the play," Washington said. "Hell of a job. Tip your hat."
Cano hit a soaring homer in the eighth off Rangers closer Neftali Feliz, pitching for the first time in a week.
NOTES: Rangers RHP Brandon Webb (right shoulder surgery) threw 45 pitches of one-hit ball over three innings for Double-A Frisco on Sunday. Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux said Webb was throwing 83-85 mph. He needs to be at about 85-87 he said. The 2006 Cy Young Award winner hasn't pitched in the majors since April 6, 2009. He's expected to make his next rehab start Sunday for Frisco. ... The Yankees signed career minor leaguer Brian Gordon and he will start Thursday for Yankees. Gordon, a converted outfielder, was 5-0 for Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the Phillies system. ... Young has at least one hit in each of the 17 games he's played, including three in the postseason, at the new Yankee Stadium.
Rangers sign second-round pick, LHP Lamb
ARLINGTON (AP) — The Texas Rangers have agreed to terms with second-round pick Will Lamb, a left-handed pitcher from Clemson. Lamb, who was Texas' third overall pick, was assigned to the Spokane Indians of the Northwest League.
The 6-foot-6, 180-pound Virginia native went 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA and 29 strikeouts. He also hit .348 with three home runs, 39 RBIs and 13 steals. The Rangers have now signed 18 of their 51 draft picks.
Other AL Capsules
Beckett allows one hit in Red Sox's win
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Josh Beckett pitched a one-hitter, allowing only an infield single in the third inning by Reid Brignac, and led the Boston Red Sox to a 3-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.
Kevin Youkilis hit a three-run homer and that was plenty for Beckett (6-2).
Beckett struck out six, walked none and retired the last 19 batters. Brignac set down eight straight batters before Brignac hit a slow roller up the third-base line and easily beat Youkilis' throw.
Youkilis homered off Jeremy Hellickson (7-5) in the seventh, ending the rookie right-hander's streak of consecutive innings without allowing a run at home at 24.
Blue Jays 4, Orioles 1
TORONTO (AP) — Ricky Romero struck out 12 and gave up three hits in eight-plus innings as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles for the 16th straight time at the Rogers Centre.
Adam Lind, Yunel Escobar and Juan Rivera each hit home runs.
Romero (6-6) matched his career high for strikeouts. He was charged with an earned run after Matt Wieters hit an RBI single off reliever Frank Francisco in the bottom of the ninth.
Jake Arrieta (8-4) gave up three runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Indians 6, Tigers 4
DETROIT (AP) — Orlando Cabrera had three hits, including a go-ahead double in the fifth inning, and the Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tigers.
Cleveland (36-30) pulled back ahead of Detroit (37-31) at the top of the AL Central by a percentage point.
The Indians entered having lost 15 of 20, but they broke through with four runs in the fourth inning after not scoring more than one in any of their previous four games.
Fausto Carmona (4-8) pitched five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Cleveland's bullpen then held Detroit hitless, and Chris Perez pitched the ninth for his 17th save.
Reliever Charlie Furbush (1-1) took the loss.
Twins 4, White Sox 1
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Carl Pavano kept up his recent surge with a six-hitter for the Minnesota Twins in a victory over the Chicago White Sox
Pavano (4-5) walked three, struck out five and recorded six one-pitch outs against the free-swinging White Sox, who had won nine of their previous 13 games. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.44 ERA over his last three starts, and the Twins have won 10 of their last 12 games.
Delmon Young's two-run single capped a three-run second inning against Gavin Floyd (6-6), who also went the distance and allowed 11 hits.
Athletics 2, Royals 1
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Josh Outman allowed four hits over seven innings and the Oakland Athletics gave new manager Bob Melvin his first home victory by beating the Kansas City Royals.
Cliff Pennington and Daric Barton had RBI singles off starter Luke Hochevar (4-7), who took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning before it all fell apart.
The scuffling A's had lost three straight and 13 of 14 in a streak that began under Bob Geren. Melvin improved to 2-4 since taking over for the fired Geren.
Outman (2-1) struck out two and walked two in the deepest outing of his major league career without allowing a run. Andrew Bailey pitched a perfect ninth for his second save in three chances.
Mariners 3, Angels 1
SEATTLE (AP) — Carlos Peguero's two-out groundball in the seventh inning ricocheted off second base, over the head of Angels shortstop Erick Aybar and into center field to score a pair and help give the Seattle Mariners a win over Los Angeles.
Erik Bedard (4-4) threw seven shutout innings and Seattle salvaged the finale of the three-game series.
Seattle loaded the bases against Ervin Santana (3-7) on a double by Chone Figgins and intentional walks to Ichiro Suzuki and Justin Smoak. On the seventh pitch, Peguero dribbled his grounder back up the middle for a two-run single that broke a scoreless tie.
Brandon League pitched the ninth for his AL-leading 19th save in 22 chances.
Other AL News
Nishioka eager to rejoin Twins after leg recovery
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tsuyoshi Nishioka's long-delayed debut in Minnesota has arrived. This time, he'll play a different part.
The Twins reinstated Nishioka from the 60-day disabled list before Wednesday night's game against the Chicago White Sox. Though Nishioka wasn't in the lineup, he was available to pinch hit or pinch run and manager Ron Gardenhire said he'll start at shortstop in the series finale Thursday afternoon.
Nishioka played in only six games before breaking his lower left leg April 8, while trying to turn a double play. He was at second base then, but he switched spots when his minor league rehabilitation assignment began.
"I felt really comfortable playing shortstop, so I told Gardy that I am comfortable at any position," Nishioka said through his translator.
The manager's preference is shortstop, so Alexi Casilla will move to second base. Gardenhire held off on determining where they'll hit in the order. Nishioka batted second before he was hurt, and Casilla has been in that slot lately.
The Pacific League batting champion in Japan last year, Nishioka signed with the Twins for this season but has yet to play at Target Field. He was followed by a half-dozen cameras everywhere he went before the game, including a jog on the field during early batting practice to shake hands with teammates he hadn't seen in two months or so.
"He's excited. You can tell that, and his English has gotten better too," Gardenhire said, adding: "That's enjoyable to have him back out here. That's what we were hoping to see a long time ago, and unfortunately he got hurt."
Nishioka took first baseman Justin Morneau's place on the active 25-man roster. Morneau was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained left wrist. Left-handed reliever Dusty Hughes was taken off the 40-man roster to make room for Nishioka there, and Hughes will remain with Triple-A Rochester.
Nishioka said the rehab was "old" and "repetitive" at times, but he said he used the chance to play for the first time in front of the Minnesota fans as motivation.
"I think it will be a very special moment for me," Nishioka said, through his translator.
He worked with Hall of Famer Paul Molitor at times in Fort Myers, Fla., where the Twins have their minor league headquarters, on his footwork and positioning on double plays. Gardenhire said heard glowing reports about Nishioka's performance in the minors, that he was "flying all over the place" on the field. The 26-year-old batted .333 in 24 at-bats between Class A Fort Myers and Rochester.
Gardenhire's son, Toby, is the second baseman at Rochester.
"He saw him and said, 'Dad, you're going to like what you see,'" the elder Gardenhire said. "I trust my son."
-- Dave Campbell
Rehab over, Mauer to return to Twins lineup Friday
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Joe Mauer's return to the Minnesota lineup has been set for Friday.
Mauer finished his minor-league rehabilitation assignment by facing teammate Joe Nathan in a live batting practice session in Florida on Wednesday. He hasn't played for the Twins since April 12, plagued by weakness and soreness in his legs and throwing shoulder.
Manager Ron Gardenhire said before Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox in Minnesota that Mauer will travel on Thursday and start at catcher on Friday against the San Diego Padres.
"It was a lot longer than I had hoped," Mauer said after his workout. "But I got my work in, and I worked with a lot of great people down here. It was nice, but obviously I want to be up there in Minnesota and be up there playing. I feel like I'm ready to get out of here."
Mauer has played in only nine games this year because of his injuries, hitting just .235 with four RBIs in the first season of an eight-year, $184 million contract extension. He had arthroscopic knee surgery in December and said last month that his body wasn't ready when the season started.
Nathan said Mauer looked sharp.
"I threw him some pretty good breaking balls," Nathan said. "It's really just impressive to see the pitches he can take when he's down 1-2 in the count. I threw him a couple of sliders. He put a good swing on them. It's nice to see him find his swing again and start to feel good again."
Nathan pitched to Mauer and Twins prospect Miguel Sano at the team's spring training headquarters. Nathan has been on the disabled list since May 23 with soreness in his right forearm, a condition related to his recovery from Tommy John surgery last year. He struggled at the beginning of the season with a 7.63 ERA in 17 appearances, a not surprising slow start given that he missed all of last year with the elbow injury.
"I took some time off to break up some scar tissue," Nathan said. "Ever since that, it has been night and day with how the ball has been coming out of my hand. The ball felt like it was coming out of my hand a lot better than what I've been used to. I think I'm starting to finish my pitches a lot better. I'm seeing more life on the ball now."
Nathan will also travel to Minnesota on Thursday and be re-evaluated by team doctors, but Gardenhire said he prefers the right-hander to pitch in Triple-A for a few days before he rejoins the roster.
"We want game situations. There'll be an argument. I think I'll win," the manager said.
Mauer said Nathan looked more like the All-Star closer he is used to catching.
"He looked really good," Mauer said. "The ball was coming out of his hand. I got a lot out of it, just seeing the break on his pitches, how fast they were. You don't normally see that down here. Joe is one of the best pitchers in the game, and he looked good today."
With shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka returning to the roster on Wednesday, the Twins are slowly moving closer to full strength.
Left-hander Glen Perkins, the team's most effective reliever until he strained an oblique muscle on his right side last month, was traveling on Wednesday and could be taken off the disabled list on Friday.
Swisher bats leadoff for Yanks against left-hander
NEW YORK (AP) — Derek Jeter's injury is forcing New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi to get creative with his lineup.
Girardi has put switch-hitting Nick Swisher in Jeter's leadoff spot against Texas Rangers left-hander Derek Holland on Wednesday night. It's Swisher's first start in the top spot since 2008, when he was with the Chicago White Sox.
"Just the on-base percentage he has against left-handers this year and his career, and he's not upsetting (Curtis) Granderson and the other guys," Girardi said of his reason for batting Swisher first and leaving Granderson in the two hole.
Swisher was up for the job.
"I figured I hit in every spot of the lineup, might as well do this now," Swisher said. "Like Jeet said, the only thing that matters is the first at-bat then it folds into one big lineup."
Swisher popped out in his first at-bat.
Brett Gardner hit leadoff on Tuesday, the Yankees' first game after Jeter was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right calf strain. But Gardner, who bats lefty, has struggled against left-handers this season. He is hitting .282 overall but is just 2 for 24 (.083) against lefties.
"I don't think it hurts necessarily to give him a day as much as he uses his legs," Girardi said of Gardner.
Girardi said he is not going to keep Gardner on the bench against all lefties. The Yankees are scheduled to face left-hander C.J. Wilson on Thursday.
Andruw Jones started in left field in place of Gardner. Alex Rodriguez served as the designated hitter and Ramiro Pena played third base, batting ninth, next to shortstop Eduardo Nunez — Jeter's replacement.
Francisco Cervelli was behind the plate for the seventh time in eight games because Russell Martin's back was still sore. Girardi is waiting for Martin to tell him the back is healed before putting him back in the lineup.
Also, the Yankees signed RHP Cory Wade to a major league contract and added him to the 25-man roster. New York had signed Wade to a minor league deal on Monday. He made one appearance for Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre, tossing 1 2-3 scoreless innings.
Wade was released by the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He was 2-1 with 1.23 ERA in 21 relief appearances for Triple-A Durham. He is 4-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 82 relief appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2008-09.
The Yankees optioned righty reliever Kevin Whelan to Scranton.
Setup man Rafael Soriano (inflammation in his right elbow) was transferred from the 15- to 60-day DL to make room for Wade on the 40-man roster. Girardi said Soriano was feeling much better, but after throwing Tuesday the Yankees will keep him from throwing for a week.
-- Howie Rumberg
Angels release struggling left-hander Kazmir
SEATTLE (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels have given up on struggling left-hander Scott Kazmir, releasing the once promising starter on Wednesday.
Kazmir was given his release as the Angels closed out a three-game series in Seattle. Once considered among the most promising young starters in baseball, and a two-time All-Star with Tampa Bay, Kazmir has seen a rapid descent since being acquired by the Angels in August 2009.
"Right now it's the best thing for (Kazmir). Hopefully he can get off that treadmill and restore his career because he was really struggling trying to get the ability to compete again, and I mean get his tools where can compete again up here. He wasn't going in the right direction," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
The breaking point for the Angels came Tuesday night when Kazmir made his fifth rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake and gave up six earned run and five hits in just 1 2/3 innings. In his five starts with Salt Lake, Kazmir had a 17.02 ERA in 15 1/3 innings, giving up 29 earned runs and 22 hits.
Kazmir made just one start for the Angels this season, giving up five earned runs in 1 2/3 innings on April 3 against Kansas City. He was placed on the disabled list April 8 with lower back soreness.
The struggles for Kazmir began last year when his first full season with the Angels ended with a 9-15 record in 28 starts — the second-highest loss total in baseball — and a 5.94 ERA. He went to the disabled list twice, first with a hamstring injury and later with fatigue in his pitching shoulder.
"From where he was in August, September '09 when he came over and actually threw the ball well in spring training in '10 to where he is now is a very rapid decline," Scioscia said. "He's still young and I'm sure at some point we hope he can unlock that secret of where he needs to be."
Francona thinks realignment proposal has merit
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona thinks a potential realignment plan has some merit. MLB is considering a proposal that would have 15 teams in the American League and 15 clubs in the National League, as opposed to the present format of 16 teams in the NL and 14 in the AL.
"I love the idea of a more balanced schedule," Francona said before Wednesday night's game against Tampa Bay. "Any player, coach, manager probably does because you're talking about the fairness of it. Just the idea of a more balanced schedule is probably a good thing."
Under the possible plan, the leagues would not be split into divisions. The top three teams would make the playoffs. The fourth- and fifth-place clubs would be wild cards and play for one spot.
"The more teams they want to have in the playoffs, I'm all for it," Francona said.
Commissioner Bud Selig's committee for on-field matters, a panel that includes executives, managers and others, has discussed the change that would take effect in 2012.
Francona would not have a problem if the divisional format was eliminated, and said with a smile that it would be OK if the New York Yankees, the Red Sox's AL East rival, were moved to the NL.
"I don't think you have to make rivalries," Francona said. "Those things happen."
Orioles place Simon on 15-day DL, recall Berken
TORONTO (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles have placed reliever Alfredo Simon on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring injury. The move was announced Wednesday and is retroactive to June 13.
To fill the right-hander's spot on the roster, Baltimore recalled righty Jason Berken from Triple-A Norfolk. Simon is 1-1 with a 3.14 ERA in five appearances this season.
Berken went 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in 15 appearances with the Orioles earlier this year. He is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts for Norfolk but is expected to fill a bullpen role with the Orioles.
Related AL News
Two Arkansas players sign contracts with White Sox
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Two Arkansas players have signed contracts to play professional baseball with the Chicago White Sox.
Collin Kuhn was the White Sox's 17th round selection and Kyle Robinson was selected in the 28th round during the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.
School officials said Wednesday Kuhn and Robinson will begin their professional careers with the Bristol White Sox, Chicago's rookie league team in Bristol, Va.
Kuhn played in 56 games during the 2011 season and finished with a .282 batting average, seven home runs and 41 RBIs. Robinson played in 60 games and hit .286 with a team-high 10 homers and 49 RBIs.
Kuhn and Robinson join Jarrod McKinney as Razorback players who have signed pro contracts following the draft. McKinney signed with the Houston Astros last week.
