Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Wang overpowers Sox with two-hitter — Yanks righty loses bid for no-hitter with Drew's home run in fifth — BOSTON — Chien-Ming Wang may never receive the kudos generally lauded upon the game's top hurlers, his high winning percentage overlooked as a result of pitching toward contact instead of the league lead in strikeouts.
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Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Does Anyone Still Doubt That Wang Is an Ace? — Since Chien-Ming Wang lost twice in the division series last season, there's been a curious notion floating around among fans that he is not an ace. After Friday's two-hitter in a 4-1 victory over the Red Sox, are there any doubters left?
Jim Baumbach / On the Yankees beat:
Gameday Live 11: Yanks-Red Sox — It's over. Yankees win. See ya manana. — Wow. Two outs in the ninth - one out from the one-hitter - Julio Lugo lays a soft bunt in front of Wang to the pitcher's right and reaches on a hit. Can't argue that one. — Mr. Abreu, you're off the hook.
Marc Lancaster / Rays Report:
Longoria on the way — Evan Longoria's major-league debut may only be a day or two away. The Rays' prized prospect was not in Durham's lineup for the Bulls' home opener tonight and Durham's radio broadcast reported he is on his way to the majors. — Updating: A person familiar …
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Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Longoria on the way; Niemann too — 3B prospect Evan Longoria is on his way to St. Petersburg and will make his major-league debut Saturday. — “I'm headed that way,” Longoria said late Friday before boarding a flight to Tampa. “I'm very excited, obviously. I hope I'm in there tomorrow.”
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Niemann to debut in bigs on Sunday — Rays hope 2004 first-rounder will patch up injured rotation — ST. PETERSBURG — Jeff Niemann will make his Major League debut Sunday against the Orioles. — According to team spokesman Rick Vaughn, Niemann was expected to arrive Friday night …
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Dontrelle Willis leaves game with injury — CHICAGO - The news about the Tigers' pitching staff is not getting any better. — Dontrelle Willis took the mound against the Chicago White Sox tonight, needing to show improved command after walking seven batters in his Detroit debut.
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Willis says injury could've been worse — Tigers starter stumbles while delivering, hyperextends knee — CHICAGO — The message from Tigers pitcher Dontrelle Willis after his injury Friday night was that it could've been worse. He wasn't just referring to the fact that his team won the game.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
George A. King III / New York Post:
STOPPED SHORT: DL STINT POSSIBLE FOR JETER — Every day that Derek Jeter doesn't test his injured left quad muscle moves the Yankees shortstop closer to a stint on the disabled list. — Out since leaving Monday night's game against the Rays at Yankee Stadium, Jeter said last night …
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Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Mets' Figueroa gets first win in 5 years — NEW YORK (AP)—Nelson Figueroa earned his first major league win in five years, retiring 14 straight batters at the start and pitching his hometown New York Mets past the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on a foggy Friday night.
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Howard Megdal / New York Observer:Now Starting for the Mets: Nelson Figueroa, King of Quadruple-A
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New York Post, Brew Crew Ball, Amazin' Avenue, MLB.com, MetsBlog.com, Bucs Dugout, NY Daily News, SNY.tv, Kranepool Society and the metropolitans
Jeff Barker / Baltimore Sun:
Nationals Park failing to draw large crowds in first year — WASHINGTON - When Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992, spectators packed the retro baseball palace not for days, but years. Orioles' attendance, routinely below 25,000 at Memorial Stadium, soared above 40,000 at the new park and remained there for nine seasons.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Andy Pettitte needles media — BOSTON - For the last four months, Andy Pettitte has blamed no one but himself for his performance-enhancing troubles. — Friday night, the Yankee lefty said the media sensationalized his tumultuous winter when he was named in the Mitchell Report …
ESPN:
Twins recall Liriano from Triple-A for Sunday start — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Minnesota Twins recalled left-hander Francisco Liriano on Friday, and he's expected to make his first start after missing all of last season because of elbow surgery Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.
Associated Press:
Arizona LHP Davis' surgery successful — PHOENIX (AP)—Arizona left-hander Doug Davis could return from thyroid cancer and pitch in four to six weeks, the doctor who performed the surgery said Friday. — Dr. Bob Evani said the survival rate for this type of cancer is near 100 percent.
The Heater:
Reyes slugged, tased, arrested at Tampa bar — TAMPA — Tampa Police arrested Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Al Reyes early this morning, saying the reliever was drunk and disruptive when he fell down, picked a fight and spit blood at patrons of a popular Hyde Park night spot where Jessica Sierra was arrested last year.
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