Francisco Liriano turned in another strong outing, while Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau each drove in two runs to lead the Twins to a 5-1 win over the Rangers on Friday at Rangers Ballpark.

Right-hander Jake Peavy snapped his four-start losing streak and closed out his stellar first half with a 4-2 win over the Blue Jays on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

Faced with an early three-run deficit Friday, San Francisco batted around in the fourth inning en route to scoring five runs. That bolstered a so-so start by Barry Zito, who was credited with a victory in the Giants' 6-5 win over the Pirates in the first of a three-game weekend series.

Rookie lefty Drew Smyly baffled the Royals with a career-high 10 strikeouts and Delmon Young's two-run homer in the sixth put the Tigers ahead to stay in a 4-2 win on Friday at Comerica Park.

Rockies rookie left-hander Drew Pomeranz repeatedly fired fastballs Friday night and dared the Nationals to hit them. The result was one hit over 6 1/3 dominant innings.

Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton left Friday's 5-1 loss against the Twins in the fifth inning with lower back spasms and is day to day.

Just call it the Rizzo effect. Anthony Rizzo notched his first four-hit game, including a three-run home run, and Reed Johnson also had four hits, as well as a solo home run, to back Travis Wood, powering the Cubs to an 8-7 nail-biter win over the Mets on Friday night.

The Rays struck early on a Ben Zobrist two-run homer in the first inning and pulled away in a six-run fifth. Luke Scott homered to end an 0-for-41 slump and starter Alex Cobb made it stand in a 10-3 win against the Indians on Friday.

On Friday, Robert Paige got to gaze upon the lush green outfield and well-kept infield at the refurbished Satchel Paige Memorial Park, which hosted the Jr. RBI Classic opening ceremonies.

Tim Hudson displayed his toughness during a determined seven-inning outing and Brian McCann drilled a two-out grand slam to highlight the five-run eighth inning that provided the Braves a 5-0 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Ryan Howard went 2-for-4 in his return to the Phillies' lineup Friday night, but his presence couldn't spark an offensive outburst in a 5-0 loss to the Braves at Citizens Bank Park.

An MRI exam of Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts' right hip on Thursday showed a labrum tear, and manager Buck Showalter said Friday that the veteran will seek a second opinion on the injury in Atlanta.

On Friday, on the first official day of All-Star Week, a contingent from the Royals, Major League Baseball and the Starlight Foundation presented Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City with a Starlight Fun Center mobile entertainment unit for young patients.

Just as one Dodgers outfielder leaves Class A Rancho Cucamonga, another is gearing up to take his place.

Mike Zunino, the third overall selection in this year's First-Year Player Draft, was named the winner of the 2012 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.

While injuries mount in the infield, the Red Sox could get some help in the outfield after next week's All-Star break with the return of Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Prince Fielder is headed back to the State Farm Home Run Derby in a new uniform, but he'll be seeing pitches from a familiar face. Fielder said on Friday that longtime Brewers coach Sandy Guerrero will throw to him during Monday's event.