Game 9: Yankees at Rays (with Xavier Nady update)  —  YANKEES (4-4)  —  Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (1-0, 1.29).  —  RAYS (4-4)  —  Upton CF  —  Crawford LF  —  Burrell DH  —  Pena 1B  —  Aybar 3B  —  Bartlett SS  —  Kapler RF  —  Hernandez C  —  Iwamura 2B

First Pitch at Yankee Stadium?  Yogi, Of Course  —  If the Yankees had picked anybody else to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at their new stadium Thursday, it just wouldn't have seemed right.  Yogi Berra, 83 years young, will do the honors before the Yankees host Cleveland at 1:05 p.m.

Matsuzaka goes to DL, Jones recalled  —  The Red Sox have placed Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list with a mild right shoulder strain and recalled lefthanded reliever Hunter Jones from Pawtucket.  —  The news hardly comes as a surprise after Matsuzaka's alarmingly ineffective …

Second-Class Citizens  —  I do not like the Jackie Robinson Rotunda.  —  There, I said it.  —  I was not filled with awe and reverence the first time I entered Citi Field, the way I was ostensibly supposed to be.  Jackie Robinson is an iconic figure in baseball history, and I respect the place he has in the hearts of many people.

Doctor: A-Rod ahead of schedule  —  Rodriguez may return before May 15 target date  —  The orthopedic surgeon who performed the operation on Alex Rodriguez's right hip says the Yankees third baseman's rehabilitation is ahead of schedule and he might return sooner than the May 15 target date.

Indians break road losing streak against Royals  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Travis Hafner's second double keyed a three-run seventh inning, and the Cleveland Indians picked up their first road win of the year while avoiding a three-game sweep with a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

Pelfrey goes for MRI  —  Mike Pelfrey went for an MRI on Tuesday and the tests indicated that he is suffering from forearm tendonitis.  The Mets have discussed skipping him in the rotation, but Pelfrey said he intends to make his scheduled start on Sunday.  —  “This is not a big deal,” Pelfrey said.

Scout's Diary: I'm Here To Work  —  For scouts, ‘can I ask you a question’ is a loaded phrase  —  By A pro scout  —  This diary is about the life of a scout, not about what that scout sees or the inner-workings of what he does.  That stuff is pretty much classified, unfortunately.

Rox end skid with 5-2 win over Cubs  —  CHICAGO — There was no easy explanation for the streak.  Every team goes through stretches where they stink, but the Rockies' play in Wrigley Field was keeping the folks at Elias Sports Bureau busy at night.  —  Colorado had dropped nine straight.

Orioles recall Liz, Albers  —  Pitchers up from Norfolk as Mora, Simon go on DL  —  ARLINGTON, Tex. - Needing reinforcements for a taxed bullpen, the Orioles on Wednesday recalled relievers Radhames Liz and Matt Albers from Triple-A Norfolk to take the roster spots of third baseman Melvin Mora and starting pitcher Alfredo Simon.

Starting 9: Overcoming long odds  —  The first week of the 2009 Major League Baseball season brought unspeakable sadness.  In a span of five days, Nick Adenhart, Harry Kalas and Mark Fidrych all passed, leaving legions of fans to remember and mourn.  If there's a silver lining …

Triple-A moves unrelated to Nady's injury  —  Just got off the phone with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees manager Dave Miley.  —  Austin Jackson was taken out of Wednesday's game because he was hit by a pitch in the elbow.  Miley classified Jackson as day-to-day.