Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Phil Niekro helped cut and eat a white-creamed birthday cake fringed with blue and red icing and topped with a brown 75th birthday logo. The scene was set appropriately enough in front of the plaques presented to the Hall of Fame’s famous inaugural class of 1936 — Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner and Walter Johnson.

The College World Series begins Saturday, and, as is the same with past years, the eight teams are littered with players that could develop into MLB studs.

Mayim Bialik blossomed from a kid actor in the 1980s and ’90s to become a Ph.D. as an adult. She’s also a baseball fan, having been raised by parents who were born near Yankee Stadium. With all this in mind, it comes as no surprise that her conversation with MLB.com host Jeremy Brisiel during a recent taping of “Express Written Consent” was one of the more … cerebral exchanges in “EWC” history.

The Nationals played all facets of the game Wednesday as they defeated the Giants, 6-2, at AT&T Park. Washington has won 10 out of its last 12 games and is in first place in the National League East.

Left-hander Tyler Matzek was masterful on Wednesday, opening his career with 4 1/3 perfect innings before cruising to an 8-2 victory.

Stephen Vogt restored some of the A’s power with one swing on Wednesday night, and Tommy Milone did most of the rest in a 7-1 win at Angel Stadium that derailed the Halos’ five-game winning streak.

Wei-Yin Chen struck out a season-high seven and allowed four hits and no walks in seven innings as the Orioles blanked the Red Sox, 6-0, in the rubber game of the series on a rainy Wednesday night at Camden Yards.

Shin-Soo Choo drove in four runs, while Yu Darvish struck out 10 in his first Major League complete game as the Rangers beat the Marlins, 6-0, on Wednesday night.

The White Sox scored seven runs in the sixth inning en route to an 8-2 victory over the Tigers on Wednesday night in Chicago. Jose Abreu homered off Justin Verlander in the second inning before the offense got to the right-hander for six more runs in the game-breaking inning.

Masahiro Tanaka authored another splendid performance on Wednesday, carrying a shutout into the ninth inning as the Yankees posted a 4-2 victory at Safeco Field.

Dallas Keuchel continued to roll Wednesday night, and so did the Astros. Keuchel allowed four hits and one run in eight innings to win his eighth game of the season, and Chris Carter provided a pair of homers to lead the Astros to their 19th win in their past 30 games, 5-1, over the D-backs at Minute Maid Park.

It would be easy to write the Red Sox off, especially after they scored one run in three games at Camden Yards, concluding with a desultory 6-0, rain-delayed loss Wednesday night. As difficult as it might have been in the immediate aftermath of another listless defeat, let’s take a look at the glimmers of hope.

Derek Jeter reached another notable career milestone on Wednesday, stealing his 350th base in the first inning of the Yankees’ game against the Mariners at Safeco Field, then added another in the seventh for 351.

Wily Peralta ended up tossing 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball at Citi Field on Wednesday night, leading the Brewers to a 3-1 win over the Mets to set up a rubber game on Thursday.

Tampa Bay ended its offensive drought Wednesday night at Tropicana Field with a 6-3 win over St. Louis.

Johnny Cueto tied a career high with 12 strikeouts over six scoreless innings as the Reds took a 5-0 victory over the Dodgers at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday night, after losing the previous two games of the series.

The Marlins have cleared the way for Rafael Furcal to finally join the team. After a 6-0 loss to the Rangers on Wednesday night at Globe Life Park, Miami optioned first baseman Justin Bour to Triple-A New Orleans. The team didn’t announce a corresponding move, but there now is an opening for Furcal to finally make his Marlins debut.