Phillies, Red Sox lead pack of 10 teams chasing Mets' Beltran … The Phillies appear to be at least an early favorite in the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes that's drawn interest from as many 10 teams.  Philadelphia has suggested publicly that it doesn't want to add payroll …

Granderson homers, four Yankees combine to shut out Rays  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Curtis Granderson backed a solid pitching performance by Freddy Garcia with a two-run homer, leading the New York Yankees to a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.

Tigers Acquire Wilson Betemit  —  The Tigers have acquired Wilson Betemit from the Royals for prospects Antonio Cruz and Julio Rodriguez, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter links).  Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star first reported that a trade involving Betemit was imminent (on Twitter).

Matsui Hits 500th Pro Homer as A's Top Tigers 8-5  —  DETROIT (AP) — Hideki Matsui hit his 500th professional homer and drove in three runs to lead the Oakland Athletics over the Detroit Tigers 7-5 Wednesday night.  —  Matsui led off the sixth inning with his milestone homer …

Source: Sox host Yanks for Fenway centennial  —  BALTIMORE — The Boston Red Sox are scheduled to open the 2012 season against the Tigers in Detroit, according to an early draft of the major league schedule distributed to all 30 clubs and the players' union, according to a major league source.

Pagan Homers in 10th, Mets Rally Past Cards 6-5  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Angel Pagan homered with one out in the 10th inning and the New York Mets rallied from an early four-run deficit to beat the sputtering St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 Wednesday night.  —  Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer …

Ludwick, Guzman power Padres to blowout win over Marlins  —  MIAMI — Ryan Ludwick and Jesus Guzman both drove in four runs for the San Diego Padres in a 14-3 win over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night.  —  Will Venable homered, scored three runs, and reached base four times for the Padres …

Lidge gets closer  —  Brad Lidge made what might be his final rehab appearance today, pitching a scoreless eighth inning for Lakewood in a South Atlantic League game.  —  Lidge, who has not pitched all season for the Phillies, retired the three batters he faced with two groundouts and a strikeout.

Morrow gets revenge against Mariners  —  As is his habit before most of his starts, Brandon Morrow was caught up in his own world in the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse, his ears swallowed up by a giant set of headphones dispensing tunes as he contemplated a puzzle in the newspaper.  —  What a multitasker.

Bryan Stow has emergency surgery  —  The San Francisco Giants fan who was brutally beaten at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day underwent emergency surgery on Monday, according to the family's website.  —  The family said Bryan Stow had the surgery at a San Francisco area hospital …

Worley dominates as Phillies beat Cubs 9-1  —  CHICAGO—Vance Worley dominated over eight innings, Jimmy Rollins homered from both sides of the plate and the Philadelphia Phillies pounded Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs 9-1 on a scorching Wednesday at Wrigley Field.

Drink Jayson's Worth in Beer  —  He will hit eventually.  That's the line most Washington Nationals fans and baseball fans in general are taking about right fielder Jayson Werth's much-less-than-impressive first half-season in D.C. Whether or not that'll come this season or later in his 7-year contract remains to be seen.