Will Middlebrooks ripped an RBI single up the middle with one out in the eighth to snap a tie and lead the Red Sox to a 4-3 victory Wednesday night over the Reds at Fenway Park. “I didn’t think it would take until May 7 to do it, but we’re back to par and ready to go down to Texas,” said manager John Farrell.

A’s center fielder Coco Crisp exited Wednesday’s twin-bill opener against the Mariners following the top of the fourth inning after crashing into the wall on a tremendous inning-ending grab to rob Kyle Seager. Crisp was diagnosed with a strained neck.

A’s right-hander Ryan Cook suffered a forearm strain in the first game of a doubleheader against the Mariners on Wednesday and will undergo an MRI exam during the team’s off-day Thursday.

Adam Jones launched two solo homers and Jonathan Schoop hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh to lead the Orioles to a 4-3 series victory over the Rays on Wednesday night.

Helping his own cause with a pair of hits and runs scored, Adam Wainwright pitched the Cardinals back on track with a 7-1 victory in front of 21,796 at Turner Field. Peter Bourjos, given another opportunity to start, had his fingerprints all over the win, too, with his three-hit, two-RBI game.

Drew Pomeranz stepped into a starting role and got the A’s back on track in the second game of their doubleheader with the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing only two hits in five scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Mark Buehrle did not allow a run before exiting after the seventh inning, while the Blue Jays’ offence erupted for nine runs in the bottom of that frame in a 10-0 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday night at Rogers Centre.

Third baseman Adrian Beltre hit his 100th home run with the Rangers when he hit a two-run shot off Rockies pitcher Jorge De La Rosa in the fourth inning on Wednesday night.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that he is reluctant to use closer David Robertson for more than three outs at this time. “I just feel more comfortable using [Robertson] for an inning right now,” Girardi said. “I don’t think he has any physical problems. It’s just something I’m more comfortable doing.”

James Shields fired seven scoreless innings and Eric Hosmer logged three run-scoring hits and four RBIs in leading the Royals to an 8-0 win over the Padres in Wednesday’s rubber game.

Josh Hamilton hit on the field for the first time since tearing a ligament in his left thumb on Wednesday, swinging with one hand as he took side and front tosses from interim hitting coach Paul Sorrento.

Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez struggled for hits and through bumps and bruises for the better part of three weeks, yet found the experience oddly liberating.

Even without context, this was a positive development for the Nationals. Catcher Wilson Ramos, making his first appearance since Opening Day, came off the disabled list Wednesday afternoon at Nationals Park. He had a double, walk and the decisive sacrifice fly in a 3-2 getaway day win over the Dodgers.

In a 10-inning affair that featured late rallies from both sides, the Mariners emerged with a 6-4 victory over the A’s on Wednesday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader.

White Sox left-hander Chris Sale threw a second bullpen Wednesday at U.S. Cellular Field as he continues to progress toward a rehab assignment.

After a one-hour, 40-minute rain delay, right-hander Stephen Strasburg was solid on the mound and helped the Nationals edge the Dodgers, 3-2, at Nationals Park on Wednesday afternoon.

If Aroldis Chapman’s Minor League rehab assignment is completed, it certainly did not end on a high note. The Reds closer pitched Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon for Triple-A Louisville and was unable to complete an inning both times.