In a game where a cornucopia of runs were scored in the early innings, the Reds held off the Twins to claim a series-opening 11-7 victory on Monday night at Great American Ball Park.

For the Brewers Monday, the sixth inning was just a better version of the first five. After recording at least one hit in each of the first five innings, the Brewers kept swinging in the sixth, starting off the inning with six straight hits, scoring three runs and seizing the lead. Milwaukee never looked back from that point, defeating the Phillies, 7-4.

Jacoby Ellsbury was in uniform for the Class A Tampa Yankees on Monday, and the working plan is for the outfielder to play three Minor League rehabilitation games before possibly being activated on Friday against the Rays in New York.

As the July 17 Draft signing deadline nears, get the complete breakdown of which top picks have agreed to terms, and for how much.

The Rangers broke out of their slump in a big way, homering four times and unloading on the Orioles to pick up their second win in nine games, an 8-1 series-opening victory Monday night at Camden Yards.

Mets fans can be forgiven for constantly asking when their team is going to go out and get a hitter, because the offense — currently 26th in baseball in run scoring at 3.58 per game — has clearly not done its part to support the consistently excellent pitching, which is 6th at 3.73 runs allowed per game.

The Tigers expected Yoenis Cespedes, who is vying to start in the All-Star Game in Cincinnati, via the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot, to add punch to their lineup this year, but even manager Brad Ausmus admitted he didn’t know the left fielder would be quite this good.

If Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is chosen for the All-Star Game, a growing possibility given his scorching hot month of June, he’d like to take part in the Gillette Home Run Derby. “And,” Pujols said, “I think it would be the last one.”

A’s switch-pitcher Pat Venditte threw with both arms Monday for the first time since going on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder June 12.

D-backs starter Archie Bradley wanted a second opinion after feeling pain in his right shoulder following his rehab outing for Triple-A Reno. This week, he’ll look for clarity when he visits Dr. James Andrews.

Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford is scheduled to begin a Minor League injury rehabilitation assignment Tuesday night with Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga.

George Springer stopped the media surrounding his locker from asking their questions on Monday, first making sure to don his orange “Yes Way, Jose!” shirt in support of teammate Jose Altuve, who trails Omar Infante by 231,708 votes in the race to start the All-Star Game at second base after the latest results were unveiled Monday.

Many expected Josh Hamilton to return to the Rangers’ lineup on Monday in Baltimore, but the wait will continue. Texas manager Jeff Banister gave Hamilton a workout day on Monday since the team got in late due to travel from Toronto, but did say that the veteran could be an option in center field on Tuesday.

A rash of finger issues caught up to the Royals for Monday night’s game in Houston. In addition to Eric Hosmer likely missing the series, shortstop Alcides Escobar was a late scratch from the lineup due to a split nail bed on his right index finger.

About 40 potential future professional baseball players took the field Monday in the first day of the 2015 Breakthrough Series at the P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy.

First baseman Eric Hosmer was not in Monday’s lineup against the Astros due to a mild sprain on his left ring finger, and he’s unlikely to play during the three-game set in Houston.

When Reds outfielder Jason Bourgeois made his 2015 debut in a sixth-inning double switch Sunday vs. the Mets, his unique last name apparently lacked recognition at Citi Field. The scoreboard listed Bourgeois in the Cincinnati lineup as “No. 30, Unknown, RF.” It was quickly corrected, but not quick enough.