After three closely-contested, low-scoring affairs in Washington earlier this week, the Braves took most of the drama out of their 14th consecutive victory with a pair of home runs in the first inning Friday night. Brandon Beachy faced two batters over the minimum over eight shutout innings, as the Braves took the opener of this weekend’s three-game set against the Marlins, 5-0.

Bronson Arroyo was terrific over seven frames, and the Reds never relinquished their first-inning lead in a 7-2 victory over the Padres on Friday night. Brandon Phillips went deep and Joey Votto had two RBIs.

Before Friday night, only 12 hurlers had earned a win against all 30 Major League franchises. By knocking off the Phillies — in a 9-2 Nationals win — with his seven solid innings, Washington’s Dan Haren became lucky No. 13.

Bo Porter’s name has already surfaced as a potential replacement for Davey Johnson, but the first-year Astros skipper isn’t buying it.

Clay Buchholz leaned against a wall outside the Red Sox’s clubhouse late Friday afternoon and reflected on a 40-pitch mound session that has the right-hander pointed in the right direction.

As the White Sox look to 2014 and beyond, Gordon Beckham and Chris Sale will be asked to step up even more as leaders in the clubhouse and on the field.

The Phillies designated outfielder Delmon Young for assignment on Friday to make room for outfielder Casper Wells, whom the club claimed off waivers from the White Sox on Thursday.

His teammates may have pointed to Tim Hudson’s season-ending ankle injury as a rallying cry that has sparked the Braves’ 13-game winning streak entering Friday, but the 15-year veteran was quick to flip the script and put a humorous spin on his recent absence on Friday afternoon, when he returned to the clubhouse for the first time since his injury.

Tigers catcher Alex Avila was cleared to rejoin the team for Friday’s series opener against the Yankees after being examined for a possible concussion.

Justin Morneau hit a clutch grand slam — the seventh of his career and first since July 20, 2009, in Oakland — as the Twins stormed back to win the first game of the Friday’s split doubleheader against the White Sox, 7-5.

The Rangers have finally landed the right-handed bat they were looking for, acquiring outfielder Alex Rios from the White Sox for a player to be named later.

Alex Rodriguez returned to the Bronx on Friday for the first time since filing the appeal of his 211-game suspension and for his first home game since the 2012 American League Championship Series.

The Rays opened a spot in their bullpen for Josh Lueke on Friday by designating veteran reliever Kyle Farnsworth for assignment.

Dave Parker was perhaps the most dominant player of the late 1970s and has been an inspiration in his native Cincinnati since his retirement, and news that he has Parkinson’s Disease is jarring.

Minnesota placed catcher Ryan Doumit on the seven-day concussion disabled list on Friday morning and returned Josh Willingham from his rehab assignment a day early to assume Doumit’s spot on the active roster.

With Max Scherzer looking like an AL Cy Young Award candidate, Justin Verlander summoning his old stuff, Anibal Sanchez at full strength, Doug Fister finding his form and even fifth starter Rick Porcello posting a sub-2.00 ERA since the start of July, the Tigers’ rotation is running at the peak of its powers.

Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and team president Matt Silverman have worked tirelessly to convince St. Petersburg’s political leaders to allow them to explore ballpark options across the bay in Tampa. Until recently, they’d gotten nowhere. But this week, for the first time, there’s hope that things are about to change.