Athletics rough up Liriano in Big Hurt's return  —  CBSSports.com wire reports  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Frank Thomas won in his return to Oakland.  Rajai Davis got three hits in his Athletics debut.  —  Yet it was Donnie Murphy who delivered all the power.

Guillen: Derek Jeter ‘the perfect man’  —  About an hour before Ozzie Guillen called him “the perfect man” and “the best thing ever in the game,” Derek Jeter found a few minutes to chat about his future place of work.  —  Yankee Stadium is going, going ... a few months from being gone.

NEW DAD A-ROD MAY DH TONIGHT  —  Proud father Alex Rodriguez rejoined the Yankees last night at U.S. Cellular Field handed out cigars to celebrate the birth of Ella Alexander, his second daughter and received congratulatory handshakes and hugs from teammates.

Dodgers announce stadium improvement plan  —  LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers unveiled a four-year upgrade plan for Dodger Stadium on Thursday that owner Frank McCourt said amounts to a new home for the team built around the nearly 50-year-old core of the old.

Ex-Ray Dukes cleans zoo cages, shortens probation  —  TAMPA — To get his misdemeanor probation cut short by five months, former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes spent 25 hours during the past week cleaning out cages and mopping at Lowry Park Zoo.  —  Attorney Grady Irvin and a team official …

Reds don't want to rush Bailey, Bruce  —  Pitcher, outfielder developing, growing at Triple-A Louisville  —  CINCINNATI — Two-fifths of the Reds' rotation hasn't been getting it done.  The offense has sputtered as some hitters have been slow to heat up.  —  Help is only a phone call away …

Phillies 3, Brewers 1  —  Suppan gets no help from offense  —  The Milwaukee Brewers are a team built around offense.  They hope to pitch well enough and make enough plays in the field to allow the hitters to carry the club.  —  That's what makes days such as Thursday at Miller Park so frustrating for the home team.

Lopez's 6 RBIs lead Nats past Mets  —  WASHINGTON - His grand slam deposited in the seats, Felipe Lopez clapped and screamed as he rounded first base, then smacked Tim Tolman's hand so hard while turning for home that the third-base coach shook off the sting.

Infected thumb sends Schneider back to NY  —  Breaking news: Brian Schneider has been sent to New York with an infected left thumb that may require a DL trip.  He just landed in New York 40 minutes ago.  —  There will likely be a roster move to activate Gustavo Molina.

‘Curse’ jersey nets $175K for charity  —  BOSTON - The Boston Red Sox jersey secretly buried under the new Yankee Stadium in a failed curse attempt sold Thursday for $175,100 in a charity auction.  —  The bid was the highest of 282 for the battered No. 34 David Ortiz jersey …

Kielty has surgery, out 4 to 6 weeks  —  The Coco Crisp trade watch, such as it is, probably can be called off for the time being.  —  Bobby Kielty, the veteran center fielder in waiting in Pawtucket, underwent surgery on his left hand and is expected to be out from four to six weeks.

Crede Returns to the White Sox, but for How Long?  —  CHICAGO — There were hours, too many depressing hours, when Joe Crede of the White Sox had doubts about his future.  Not his baseball future, but his future as a healthy man.  Crede experienced so much pain in the days after back surgery …

3 UP: Mussina, Rangers and Mets vs. Nationals  —  1. Mike Mussina had his best start of the season on Wednesday night, holding the White Sox to two runs over seven innings.  But here is some cold water: Mussina continues to have difficulty with the long ball this season.

Harold Reynolds joins SNY as Mets analyst  —  Harold Reynolds' comeback continues.  —  Reynolds, who was fired by ESPN in 2006, allegedly for sexual harassment, has been hired by SportsNet New York as a studio analyst on Mets telecasts.  —  “I've never worked on a ‘local’ broadcast,” Reynolds said.