Any notion the Oakland A’s unexpected 2012 was a mirage by a group of overachievers who shocked the baseball world probably should be put to rest.

The baseball community reacted with shock and empathy to the terrorist attacks at the Boston Marathon, and several players spent Friday glued to the television as reports of an unprecedented manhunt developed and ended successfully.

Matt Harvey’s goal of becoming the best pitcher in baseball no longer seems like a pipe dream. Harvey struck out seven Nationals batters over seven innings of one-run ball, outdueling Stephen Strasburg in a 7-1 Mets victory at Citi Field.

Andy Pettitte didn’t need much help, but he got plenty in New York’s 9-4 series-opening win over the Blue Jays in front of 40,028 at Rogers Centre on Friday.

Jumping back into the fray after having to skip one turn due to a strain of his left hamstring, Wandy Rodriguez utterly silenced the team with the Majors’ best record and most home runs in the Pirates’ 6-0 victory against the Braves at PNC Park.

Justin Ruggiano took Aroldis Chapman deep in the ninth to break a deadlocked pitcher’s duel in the Marlins’ 2-1 victory on Friday. Kevin Slowey allowed a run on four hits in six innings.

The enduring routine that distinguishes big league baseball from other sports and comforts the game’s participants will return to Fenway Park on Saturday afternoon following a one-day absence.

With the Boston lockdown lifted, the MBTA back in service and the second suspect in the Marathon bombing captured, the Red Sox expect Saturday’s game against the Royals at 1:10 p.m. ET will be played as scheduled.

It had been a while since the Phillies’ offense showed much of a pulse. But it finally broke through with some runs in an 8-2 rain-shortened victory over the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park on Friday.

Center fielder Cameron Maybin, who went on the disabled list Wednesday, had a cortisone shot in his right wrist this week and has been fitted for a splint.

Tigers catcher Brayan Pena takes pride in the hits he has taken during home-plate collisions, and he considers them part of his job. But if Major League Baseball asked him about a rules change to limit or eliminate collisions at the plate, he’d be in favor of it.

Jose Valverde’s first Minor League game went about as smoothly as his extended spring training outings did. He pitched a hitless seventh inning for high Class A Lakeland on Friday night against the Blue Jays’ Class A affiliate at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Torii Hunter’s move from Anaheim to Detroit had a rough start, but the veteran outfielder is thriving with a Tigers club that is ecstatic to have him, and his impact in the Angels clubhouse is still cherished by former teammates.

Ryan Madson faced live hitters in a simulated game on Friday for the first time in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, a significant step for the injured Angels reliever.

Friday’s Interleague matchup between the Dodgers and Orioles was postponed due to heavy rain and lightning and will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader Saturday.

It’s late Friday afternoon and hardly a car or a person is moving on the Cambridge streets below, streets that the evening before were teeming with traffic and pedestrians — many of them students from MIT.

The Red Sox were scheduled to return to Fenway Park on Friday for the first time since Monday’s deadly marathon bombings. Instead, Friday’s game against the Royals was postponed, as the city remained locked down while authorities pursued a suspect in the bombings.