Manny Ramirez returned to the big leagues as only he could. Wearing sunglasses and with his famous dreadlocks in a ponytail, the Los Angeles Dodgers' slugger apologized to fans and teammates during a news conference Friday afternoon. He refused to answer questions about steroids, laying off them as if they were pitches in the dirt.
Albert Pujols appreciates history. He just doesn't let it overshadow what he considers important. Pujols hit his club-record fourth grand slam of the season and 10th of his career, and Jarrett Hoffpauir drove in the go-ahead runs in the ninth inning with his first career hit as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 on Friday night.
The Chicago White Sox seem to be getting better swings at Zack Greinke every time they see him. Before a packed house Friday night, they finally beat him. John Danks threw 7 1-3 innings and got a big lift from reliever Scott Linebrink, while A.J. Pierzynski and Scott Podsednik had three hits apiece to lead the White Sox over the Kansas City Royals 5-0, their seventh straight victory.
Shin-Soo Choo gave his high school baseball coach a fitting tribute. Choo learned before batting practice that his coach had died of cancer. Then he homered twice and drove in a career-high seven runs in a 15-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night that snapped Cleveland's five-game losing streak.
After he was knocked out in the third inning at Fenway Park in early June, A.J. Burnett vowed to improve. Has he ever. Burnett scattered six hits over seven innings to win for the third time in four starts, and the Yankees opened the long holiday weekend with a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.
Rodrigo Lopez walked off the mound to a standing ovation from a sellout crowd in the home of the defending World Series champions. Not bad for a guy who hadn't pitched in the majors in two years. Lopez took a three-hitter into the seventh inning, helping the Philadelphia Phillies snap a six-game home losing streak with a 7-2 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.
Tommy Hunter gave the ailing Texas Rangers rotation a much-needed lift Friday night. The rookie also got a cool birthday gift in the process. Hunter earned his first career victory on his 23rd birthday, Hank Blalock homered and the Texas Rangers won their third in a row, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1.
A double inside the line and a fan going over the line were very helpful for the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. Rob Johnson doubled down the right-field line, scoring two runs in the 11th inning and the Mariners beat the Boston Red Sox 7-6. Earlier in the game, a male fan along the third-base line reached for Ryan Langerhans' foul pop that Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis was attempting...
Jorge De La Rosa begged for the ball in the ninth inning, wanting desperately to get a chance at his first career complete game. That idea was quickly rejected by Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy. Not because of a high pitch count or ineffectiveness, Tracy simply wanted to get his relievers some work.
Jake Fox's persistence and patience in drawing a game-winning, bases-loaded walk Friday should come as no surprise. He's a determined guy with big minor league numbers trying to find a permanent job with the Chicago Cubs. Fox fouled off four pitches before working a two-out walk on a close 3-2 pitch from Mark DiFelice, sending the Cubs to a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in 10...