Cards summon Cecil for hasty return  —  • That extended stretch of time that the Cardinals afforded lefty Brett Cecil to not just get well but get right ended late Friday when a need in the big-league bullpen put the veteran reliever on a flight from the disabled list to the West Coast, set to arrive around game time.

Contreras keeps on slugging, Cubs pound White Sox 11-2  —  CHICAGO (AP) - Willson Contreras had two homers, two doubles and drove in a career-high seven runs on his bobblehead day, and the Chicago Cubs pounded the crosstown White Sox 11-2 on Friday.  —  Contreras capped a five-run …

Piscotty goes on bereavement list  —  Oakland has placed outfielder Stephen Piscotty on the bereavement list and recalled righthander Kendall Graveman from Triple-A Nashville.  —  Piscotty's mother, Gretchen, died Sunday from Lou Gehrig's disease.  The 27-year-old, who was acquired …

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Washington Nationals … Right-hander Troy Scribner will start for the Diamondbacks on Saturday against the Nationals at Chase Field, manager Torey Lovullo said on Friday.  —  Scribner, 26, was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels in early April.

Gardy party: Tigers manager talks injuries, video games & ‘Karate Kid’  —  Albert Pujols picked up his 3,000th hit on May 4.  Which active player will be the next one to reach the milestone?  Video by Ryan Ford/DFP Wochit  —  CONNECT  —  Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire addressed injury updates …

Kevin Gausman pitches 7 1/3 innings, helps Orioles earn season-best third straight win  —  Kevin Gausman doesn't need reminding how fleeting success at this level can be, not when he's specialized at false dawns over his six years as a big leaguer.  —  Even he would characterize everything …

Amaya's walk leads South Bend to 5-1 win over Clinton  —  SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Miguel Amaya drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning, leading the South Bend Cubs to a 5-1 win over the Clinton LumberKings on Friday.  —  Brian Glowicki allowed a run, but got Eugene Helder to fly …

Miller returns but allows Perez HR as Royals beat Indians  —  Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez, right, and Lucas Duda celebrate after Perez hit a two-run home run off Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, May 11, 2018, in Cleveland.

Phillies ace Aaron Nola and his complementary pitches are killing opponents softly |  Brookover  —  Sure Aaron Nola wishes he had Noah Syndergaard's fastball.  He has stood in the batter's box and watched Thor's pitches zoom by him like a cheetah in the savanna.

Matt Harvey allows one hit over four scoreless innings against Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES — Matt Harvey cruised through four scoreless innings in his Cincinnati Reds debut Friday night, limiting the Los Angeles Dodgers to only one hit — on a fly ball that should have been caught — and striking out two batters.

Hamels shines in Rangers' 1-0 win over Astros; Springer hurt  —  HOUSTON (AP) - Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister said there was a noticeable edge to starter Cole Hamels when he took the mound on Friday night against the Houston Astros and that he “had that face.”

Reyes leads Greenville to 6-4 win over Kannapolis  —  GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Denyi Reyes allowed just two hits over five innings, leading the Greenville Drive over the Kannapolis Intimidators in a 6-4 win on Friday.  —  Reyes allowed two runs while striking out five.

Ramos leads Rome to 6-2 win over Augusta  —  NORTH AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Jefrey Ramos singled three times as the Rome Braves beat the Augusta GreenJackets 6-2 on Friday.  —  Down 1-0, the Braves took the lead for good with five runs in the fourth inning.  The Braves sent 10 men to the plate …

Dustin Pedroia set to take another step in rehab from knee surgery  —  Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, still recovering from offseason knee surgery, will start a rehab assignment for Triple-A Pawtucket early next week, manager Alex Cora said Friday.

Sierra's single leads Quad Cities to 8-1 win over Lake County  —  DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Miguelangel Sierra hit a run-scoring single in the sixth inning, leading the Quad Cities River Bandits to an 8-1 win over the Lake County Captains on Friday.  —  The single by Sierra, part of a two-run inning …