Manny Machado returned to action to roars from the crowd in Game 2 of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Pirates. “It was awesome. It was awesome,” Machado said following his first game since sustaining a season-ending knee injury last September and undergoing surgery in October.

The Dodgers completed their first doubleheader sweep since 2002 on Thursday night, and their first Interleague series sweep ever in Minneapolis, with a 4-3 victory in 12 innings over the Twins in the nightcap, after winning the first game, 9-4.

Juan Francisco and Colby Rasmus belted home runs and the Blue Jays struck for three runs in the eighth to seal a 7-3 win over the Royals on Thursday night in the series finale.

Yunel Escobar led off the ninth inning with a home run as the Rays rallied for a 6-5 win and a doubleheader sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thursday. Desmond Jennings and Sean Rodriguez also homered, and James Loney had two RBIs.

Reds center fielder and leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton made a spectacular catch to begin Thursday’s game against the Brewers, but it may prove costly. The Reds announced that Hamilton sprained the third and fourth knuckles on his left hand.

Star players change teams and, eventually, they almost always go back to play in the city where they established themselves. Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano completed that baptism, that initiation, that rite of passage Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.

Now is a great time to play the Official Mini Fantasy Game of MLB.com, whose participants can win tickets to regular-season games, the All-Star Game and even the World Series. To give you an idea of what to examine when playing the game, let’s take a look at some factors to consider for Friday night’s Red Sox-A’s game at Fenway Park.

The Reds needed an all-around solid effort Thursday night against the Brewers, and that’s what they got during an 8-3 victory. Homer Bailey pitched a season-high eight innings and received plenty of help with three home runs, including pinch-hitter Brayan Pena’s two-run shot in a five-run eighth.

Mariners rookie Roenis Elias held the Yankees to two runs (one earned) over seven sterling innings of work on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium as Seattle swept a rain-shortened series in the Bronx with a 4-2 victory.

Juan Nicasio held the Mets scoreless on three hits over seven innings and had a career-high three RBIs as the Rockies opened their four-game set with a 7-4 win on Thursday night, but Carlos Gonzalez left the game in the fourth with a bruised finger.

The Marlins didn’t need Giancarlo Stanton’s power, instead capitalizing on his placement of a crucial RBI single that helped pull off a 5-4 comeback win over the Braves on Thursday night at Marlins Park. Stanton and Casey McGehee both slapped run-scoring singles in the seventh inning that proved the difference on a night the Marlins completed their first sweep at home over the Braves since June 13-15, 2006.

Aroldis Chapman said he felt “normal” Thursday night — and normal was just what he was hoping for. Cincinnati’s All-Star closer made a Minor League rehabilitation start for Class A Dayton, striking out two of three batters while throwing 18 pitches during the first inning.

Steve Pearce looked at home in just his second start of the season, going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs in the Orioles’ 5-1 win over the Pirates in Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader. Bud Norris picked up the win after scattering seven hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings.

Ryan Braun said he had no updates to report on his sore oblique, other than he felt he was making progress toward returning to game action for the Brewers. In addition, the training staff was pleased with the progress on right-hander Matt Garza’s bruised thumb.

The Red Sox had a critical run cut down at the plate in the seventh inning of Thursday’s Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader against the Rays, and instant replay didn’t help their cause.

Grant Balfour wanted David Ortiz — and he got what he wanted, retiring the Red Sox slugger to preserve the Rays’ 2-1 win in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader at Fenway Park.

Yasiel Puig and Juan Uribe had four hits each and Dan Haren improved to 4-0 Thursday as the Dodgers overcame three errors to beat the Twins, 9-4, in the first game of a split doubleheader at chilly Target Field.