A-Rod makes Twins pay with winning slam  —  Slugger homers after intentional walk to Teixeira  —  NEW YORK — Like so many of the games the Yankees and Twins have grown accustomed to playing, Friday night's series opener featured multiple lead changes in a taut affair that could have gone either way.

GAME 34: Yankees vs. Charlotte Knights  —  feat.  Romulo Sanchez rhp (0-2, 6.48)  —  Charlotte  —  Brent Lillibridge ss  —  Jordan Danks cf  —  Dayan Viciedo 1b  —  Tyler Flowers dh  —  Stefan Gartrell rf  —  Josh Kroeger lf  —  C.J. Retherford 2b  —  Donny Lucy c  —  Javier Colina 3b

Hardy could rejoin Twins in Boston  —  NEW YORK — Shortstop J.J. Hardy is not currently on the Twins' current three-city, seven-game roadtrip as he rehabs from his bruised left wrist back in Minnesota.  —  Hardy is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday …

Rehabbing Igarashi could return in a week  —  Mets on Twitter  —  MIAMI — Ryota Igarashi could rejoin the Mets' bullpen by next weekend.  —  The right-hander is slated to begin a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as today for Single-A St. Lucie and move to Triple-A Buffalo later in the week.

JAYS HIT FIVE HOMERS IN COMEBACK WIN OVER RANGERS  —  TORONTO — Travis Snider, Vernon Wells and Aaron Hill hit three-run home runs and the Toronto Blue Jays went deep five times in all in their 16-10 comeback win over the Texas Rangers 16-10 on Friday.  —  Texas led 9-3 after two-and-a-half innings …

A chance to change, but a familiar ending  —  The Grapes of Wrath or the Wrath of Grapes?  —  Only the Bruins could lose a 3-0 lead twice in the same series.  —  Only the Bruins could lose a Game 7 on a power-play goal after getting called for too many men on the ice.  —  Are you kidding me?

Mr. Perfect: Braden deals next with Angels  —  A whirlwind week that commenced with the 19th perfect game in Major League history and has included appearances on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Early Show” and a regional cover of Sports Illustrated will come to a close on Friday for Dallas Braden.

Angels' GM Tony Reagins says roster doesn't need an overhaul  —  The Angels have struggled on offense and defense this season, but Reagins says the team just needs for the players to perform at a higher level.  —  The help wanted sign still hasn't gone up.

Dodgers' Rafael Furcal's return is delayed  —  The shortstop and leadoff hitter still is being bothered by his injured left hamstring, and Manager Joe Torre says it could be a few days before Furcal will be able to play.  —  Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal, in an exhibition game against Cleveland …

PRADO'S NINTH-INNING HIT LEADS BRAVES OVER DIAMONDBACKS  —  The Sports Network  —  Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Martin Prado lined a two-run single down the right field line in the bottom of the ninth inning, boosting Atlanta to a 6-5 win over the Diamondbacks in yet another horrible showing for Arizona's bullpen.

David Ortiz heats up  —  Two-homer game lifts average over .200  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  DETROIT - David Ortiz [stats]' first home run last night went an unscientific 450 feet in distance, a Ruthian shot.  —  The next one went a more modest, but still impressive, 394 feet.

Ortiz enjoys the laser show  —  David Ortiz, as you might expect, was in a good mood tonight.  —  Question: “Can you go over those two at-bats?”  —  Ortiz: “Fastball.  Gone.”  —  Asked to expand a bit on that answer, Ortiz smiled.  —  “Yeah, I'm feeling good.  Swinging the bat, seeing the ball and hit it, my man.

BIG DAY FOR JONES LEADS PIRATES PAST CUBS IN MATINEE  —  The Sports Network  —  Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Garrett Jones collected five hits and drove in a career-high five runs, including the tie-breaking three-run homer in the eighth inning, to lift the Pirates to a 10-6 win over the Cubs …

Vizquel puts away glove against Royals  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Omar Vizquel is known for his slick fielding, winning 11 Gold Glove awards and posting the highest fielding percentage among all shortstops.  —  Now, he can call himself a designated hitter, too.

Ollie appears out of rotation  —  Oliver Perez appears unlikely to make his next scheduled start, Wednesday against the Washington Nationals.  Jerry Manuel would not confirm such a maneuver, saying he first needed to meet with the left-hander Saturday.  But Manuel met with Omar Minaya …

Keith Law's top 100: 24 days out  —  With just more than three weeks until Round 1 of the draft, here's a new look  —  Here's my second ranking of the top 100 prospects for the 2010 Rule 4 draft, based on what I've seen and what I've heard from scouts thus far this spring.

Nats not locked in on top Draft pick  —  Harper just one of several prospects club is considering  —  DENVER — For the second year in a row, the Nationals have the first overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.  —  Last year, the club made it known before the Draft that right-hander Stephen Strasburg would be the choice.

Looks like MLB has buried an Ace  —  Top pitcher in Northern League last year gets no offers from Show  —  Ace Walker works out Thursday at Canwest Park under the watchful eye of Rick Forney.  —  He didn't get any interest from major league teams in the off-season, so Ace Walker will continue to finish what he started in Winnipeg.

Mientkiewicz opts out of Minors deal  —  MIAMI — A potential left-handed veteran off the bench is no longer in the organization.  —  First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz opted out of his Minor League contract, and he again is a free agent.  The Marlins signed Mientkiewicz to a Minors deal May 5.