For the first time this season, Lance Berkman played the field, starting at first base and batting third in Monday’s nightcap of the Rangers’ doubleheader against the D-backs.

On the day that marks the unofficial start of summer, Major League Baseball paid tribute to the armed forces with a league-wide show of support.

Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie was forced to depart Monday night’s game against the Braves in the sixth inning with a sprained left ankle.

Jake Odorizzi had a rough outing, but Kelly Johnson lifted the Rays to a 10-6 win over the Marlins with two three-run homers in Monday’s Memorial Day contest.

Angels right fielder Josh Hamilton isn’t surprised that his former Rangers team is off to another flying start, with an American League-best 32-19 record and a 3 1/2-game first-place cushion.

Left-hander Tyler Skaggs was overpowering in six shutout innings against the Rangers in the first game of a doubleheader at Chase Field on Monday, setting a career high with nine strikeouts in Arizona’s 5-3 victory.

It is totally understandable that Rays fans want to see Wil Myers playing for the Major League club. At Triple-A Durham this season, he is hitting .259, with six home runs, 31 RBIs and three stolen bases. But lately he’s really been turning on the hitting and power tools. In the last week alone, he raised his average and added to his home run total. He’s currently on a roll.

Brett Lawrie attempted to make amends for his controversial actions during Sunday afternoon’s game against the Orioles by addressing his teammates in a closed-door meeting on Monday.

Seattle’s three early home runs turned out to be more than enough for Aaron Harang, who threw a complete game gem in the Mariners’ 9-0 win on Monday.

Brandon Barnes drove in Ronny Cedeno with a game-winning ground-rule double in the 12th as the Astros topped the Rockies, 3-2, on Monday at Minute Maid Park.

Buzz Aldrin was on hand as Dodger Stadium was awash in red, white and blue on Monday afternoon in recognition of Memorial Day as the Dodgers hosted the Angels in an Interleague matchup.

The Red Sox and Phillies wore special camouflage hats and jerseys as one of many Memorial Day tributes to the armed forces on Monday.

With Matt Holliday getting Memorial Day off, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny crafted a lineup that had Yadier Molina stationed behind leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter. Just a couple of minutes into a 6-3 St. Louis victory against the Royals, that lineup had already paid two runs worth of dividends.

As he sat in the visitors’ dugout at Fenway Park on Monday before the Phillies’ game against the Red Sox, Jonathan Papelbon didn’t seem all that fazed about facing his former club.

Brandon Beachy, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery last June, will start for Class A Rome on Wednesday. Jordan Walden pitched for Triple-A Gwinnett in Monday’s contest against Syracuse.

Add left fielder Ryan Braun (right thumb) to a Brewers injury report that now includes the team’s three best power hitters, its best starting pitcher and its closer.

Injured pitcher Josh Beckett has been experiencing tingling and numbness in the fingers in his right hand, so the Dodgers have shut down the right-hander’s throwing program. He will have an MRI exam on Tuesday.