ROYALS 6, RED SOX 4  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Billy Butler isn't the fastest guy on the base paths by any stretch, so the chances of him hitting into a double play are pretty good if he puts the ball on the ground.  —  Maybe that's why he was so keen on popping a pitch over the outfield wall instead.

Josh Hamilton rips four 2-run HRs  —  BALTIMORE — Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton's torrid 2012 season now includes his first career four-home-run game, all of them two-run shots.  —  Hamilton, who turns 31 later in May, hit three two-run homers through his first four at-bats during Tuesday's …

Giants Beat Dodgers 2-1, Sending Kershaw to Loss  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ryan Vogelsong pitched into the eighth inning for the first time this season, Brett Pill hit a two-run homer off Clayton Kershaw and the San Francisco Giants defeated the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 Tuesday night …

Casey Blake tells the Register that he's retiring  —  Conversation with Casey Blake - Part 1 Conversation with Casey Blake - Part 2 Conversation with Casey Blake - Part 3 Casey Blake in haunted house  —  Major League Baseball veteran Casey Blake said today that he officially has decided to retire …

Beltran's 2 HRs, 6 RBIs Lead St. Louis to 6-1 Win  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Carlos Beltran homered in his first two at-bats, including a grand slam, matching his career high with six RBIs, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat Arizona 6-1 on Tuesday night, handing the Diamondbacks their fourth loss in a row.

Teams Dig For Ways Around New International Rules  —  Whenever Major League Baseball changes the rules, people throughout the industry learn how to adjust.  —  As soon as MLB announced the new Collective Bargaining Agreement in November that will limit each team to a $2.9 million international bonus pool …

Evil Empire?  Rockies' Jerry McMorris first called out the Yankees in 2002  —  Jerry McMorris, then owner of the Colorado Rockies and seen at left, at Coors Field in 2001 when then-president George W. Bush watched a game in Denver.  —  Contrary to long-held belief, it was not former Boston …

Brewers Extend Melvin, Roenicke  —  The Brewers announced that they have extended the contracts of their general manager and field manager.  Doug Melvin, the club's GM since 2002, receives a promotion to president of baseball operations under his new contract, which runs through 2015.

On Pedroia, Gonzalez and perceptions  —  KANSAS CITY — Here's a little lunch time quiz for you.  —  Red Sox Player A: Is 13 of 33 (.394) with runners in scoring position this season with a .425 in-base percentage and .606 slugging percentage.  He has 15 RBIs this season.

Duda's RBI Single in 7th Leads Mets Past Phillies  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lucas Duda had a tiebreaking, two-out RBI single in the seventh and the New York Mets took advantage of Philadelphia's defensive blunder, beating the Phillies 7-4 on Tuesday night.  —  Duda and David Wright had two hits …

Robertson Earns First Save as Yankees Top Rays 5-3  —  NEW YORK (AP) — David Robertson struck out Carlos Pena with the bases loaded to end a rocky ninth inning in his first save chance since Mariano Rivera's season-ending knee injury, helping the New York Yankees end a seven-game skid …

Wedge is patient as young club improves  —  SEATTLE — Eric Wedge wants to make one thing clear: The Major League Baseball season is 162 games.  —  And that doesn't change yearly.  —  “I know everybody gets frustrated, but we're what, 30 games in or whatever it is?” the Mariners manager said.

Bruce Has Three-Run Homer, Lifts Reds Over Brewers  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jay Bruce hit a three-run home run and Bronson Arroyo pitched solidly into the seventh inning, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.  —  Bruce's ninth home run capped …