Angels cleanup hitter Josh Hamilton entered Thursday sporting a very respectable .292 batting average to go along with a .370 on-base percentage. But his slugging percentage is only .431 and he’s managed only five home runs in 202 at-bats.

Jeff Samardzija threw eight innings in the rubber match against the Astros, allowing five hits while striking out six and walking none as the A’s cruised, 13-1. Brandon Moss clubbed his third career grand slam, all of which have come this season.

The Mariners acquired first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Stephen Pryor.

Indians manager Terry Francona is optimistic that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera will be able to return to the lineup before the end of this weekend’s series against the Royals.

Brandon McCarthy is making the most of that second season, fitting nicely into pinstripes and providing the Yankees with another solid outing on Thursday. He permitted just one run over six innings as New York defeated the Rangers, 4-2, at Yankee Stadium.

Marcus Stroman carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, while Juan Francisco fell a double shy of the cycle in the Blue Jays’ 8-0 series-clinching win over the Red Sox in front of a sellout crowd of 46,683 at Rogers Centre on Thursday.

After a tarp malfunction at Yankee Stadium contributed to the calling of Wednesday night’s game, leaving the Yankees with a 2-1 victory over the Rangers after 4 1/2 innings, Major League Baseball released an official statement in response on Thursday.

Cole Hamels fired eight sharp innings with 10 strikeouts, while Marlon Byrd and Chase Utley delivered RBI singles in the Phillies’ 2-1 win over the Giants on Thursday.

Seattle is in dire need of offense to release some of the pressure from that superb pitching staff and quality defense. Walk right in, Kendrys Morales, and make yourself at home in a clubhouse that will welcome you like a cool breeze on a late July afternoon.

The $10 million experiment is over. Veteran reliever Jim Johnson was designated for assignment by the A’s on Thursday morning, marking the end of a turbulent eight-month tenure in Oakland.

Masahiro Tanaka is still reporting discomfort in his right elbow, 10 days after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection, but the Yankees are still hopeful to have the right-hander return to the big league mound this season.

Hired to be fired. That’s what we say about managers, and we say it because it’s true, even for those who one day wind up in the Hall of Fame.

While Tom Seaver’s Hall of Fame standing has brought him unique acclaim and been so fulfilling, he is quite willing to be displaced as the highest percentile vote-getter — so long as his replacement is the right player. Derek Jeter is the right player. Seaver says so. Moreover, he thinks the Yankees’ captain ought to be the first unanimously elected Hall of Famer.

Yoenis Cespedes belted two home runs for five RBIs and Sean Doolittle notched his 15th save as the A’s hung on for a 9-7 victory Wednesday night in Oakland.

Behind eight solid innings from Jered Weaver and two late runs, the Angels rallied to beat the Orioles, 3-2, on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.

Yoenis Cespedes exited Wednesday night’s game against the Astros with a right thumb sprain. X-rays were negative and he is considered day to day.

Huston Street doesn’t have a nameplate above his locker yet, but he does have his first save as an Angel.