Clay Buchholz will try to give the Red Sox their third win of the season when he take the mound opposite 2011 American League Rookie of the Year Award winner Jeremy Hellickson at Fenway Park.

Tim Hudson exited Thursday night's Minor League rehab start encouraged about the strength of his surgically repaired back and happy that he no longer has to deal with the pesky hitters that exist at the Class A level.

Alex Rodriguez hit the 630th home run of his Major League career on Friday, tying Ken Griffey Jr. for fifth place on baseball's all-time list.

Alex Rodriguez is not the key to making these Yankees go in 2012. There just are too many moving parts to put it all on one guy. Still, he's important.

Superb starting pitching by Jake Peavy, timely hitting and two outstanding defensive plays helped the White Sox defeat the Tigers, 5-2, in the South Siders' home opener on Friday.

The Mariners recalled left-hander Charlie Furbush from Triple-A Tacoma on Friday, with veteran reliever George Sherrill being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore elbow.

The White Sox grounds crew was asked to redraw the batter's box after the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera noticed it was not positioned correctly during his first-inning at-bat.

Hiroki Kuroda worked eight-plus stellar innings in his Yankee Stadium debut and Nick Swisher cleared the bases with a three-run double as the Yankees defeated the Angels, 5-0, on Friday in their home opener.

Tigers left-hander Andy Wilk will make his first Major League start on Saturday against the White Sox and right-hander Gavin Floyd on Saturday in Chicago.

Terry Collins hinted on Friday that David Wright will go on the disabled list on Saturday if he is not close to a return, a scenario that seems possible, even probable.

Carl Crawford initially declined the Red Sox's invitation to attend Friday's festivities for the home opener so he could focus on playing in extended spring games in Florida, but the left fielder's plans changed after his recent bout with left elbow woes.

Red Sox backup catcher Kelly Shoppach was toting second base around the clubhouse after a 12-2 win over the Rays on Friday, his loot after swiping his first bag in eight Major League seasons — on his first big league attempt.

There remains no timetable for when Chris Carpenter will be cleared to begin throwing again, though the right-hander said on Friday that he is “feeling better [and] definitely getting stronger” through his ongoing rehab work.

In the end, they could not strip Jackie Robinson of his dignity, and 65 years later, that's perhaps the most incredible part of his story. Lord knows they tried.

Joe Blanton finally returned to the mound as a starter on Thursday night — making his first true start as a member of the Phillies' rotation since May 14 — and threw very well in a 3-1 victory over the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park.

Coors Field proved to be as unpredictable as the spring weather in Colorado. Two days after Barry Zito's shutout and a day after the Giants and Rockies combined for 25 runs on 34 hits, Madison Bumgarner took a no-hitter into the sixth as the Giants won the game, 4-2, and won their first series of the season.

Pedro Alvarez leaned into a batting-practice pitch and sent it over Don Drysdale's retired No. 53 logo, atop the roof of Dodger Stadium's right-field pavilion, and into the parking lot.