Judge HR backs Gray's pitching as Yankees beat Orioles 4-1  —  BALTIMORE (AP) - The New York Yankees had a laugher against the Baltimore Orioles, and it had nothing to do with a lopsided final score.  —  Rounding second base and barreling for third, Yankees rookie Gleyber Torres lost …

Mets' Jay Bruce leaves game with lower back discomfort  —  NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets right fielder Jay Bruce left Friday night's game against the Chicago Cubs with lower back discomfort.  —  Bruce was lifted for a defensive replacement to begin the fifth inning.

Swanson's 3-run homer backs dominant ‘Folty’ performance vs. Nats  —  When Mike Foltynewicz is on his game, the hard-throwing Braves redhead can be a truly dominant pitcher.  —  Dude was absolutely on his game Friday night against the Nationals, throwing a two-hit shutout with 11-strikeouts in a 4-0 Braves win at SunTrust Park.

Martinez, Molina close to return  —  The Cardinals, constantly on the prowl for reinforcements to shore up an injury-ravaged club, are expected to add an All-Star pitcher as well as an All-Star catcher Tuesday when they open a series here against the Miami Marlins.

Brewers starter Zach Davies heads back to disabled list  —  MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers have placed starting pitcher Zach Davies on the 10-day disabled list with right rotator cuff inflammation and recalled first baseman-outfielder Ji-Man Choi from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Cincinnati Reds … Sometimes, during the moments between pitches, David Peralta will step out, clear his mind and reframe his at-bat.  What he is trying to do is summon confidence.  It's an exercise that has been harder for the Diamondbacks' left fielder to do effectively in recent weeks.

Phillies trying to manage Jorge Alfaro's usage as season wears on  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Gabe Kapler spent one of his final major-league seasons in Milwaukee, playing alongside Jason Kendall.  Kapler marveled that summer as Kendall, who was then 34 years old, crouched behind home plate to catch 149 of the Brewers' 162 games.

Rays journal: Alex Colome says trade ‘hard for me’ but thanks club for all it did for him  —  SEATTLE — The shock of being traded by the Rays to the Mariners a week ago has finally worn off for RHP Alex Colome.  —  The adjustment to a new team and, more importantly, a new role behind closer Edwin Diaz has gone well.

Detroit Tigers strand Toronto Blue Jays, 5-2, in Miguel Cabrera's return … CONNECT  —  At Comerica Park.  —  The Detroit Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-2, on Friday night at Comerica Park.  Miguel Cabrera returned to the lineup after nearly a month off.  He went 1-for-3.

Homer Bailey's demotion is only the first move with Cincinnati Reds starting rotation  —  Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani had a rough second outing in spring training Sunday, allowing three earned runs on five hits in two innings against the Kansas City Royals The Enquirer/Adam Baum

Mookie Betts placed on DL with left abdominal strain  —  HOUSTON — The Boston Red Sox have put major league batting leader Mookie Betts on the 10-day disabled list because of a left abdominal strain.  —  The Red Sox made the move retroactive to Tuesday.  The AL East leaders …

Votto: Letterman, Seinfeld ‘incorrect in their assumptions’  —  Joey Votto's sense of humor is gold, Jerry!  Gold!  —  Votto responded to the stories David Letterman and Jerry Seinfeld told about their encounters with the Cincinnati Reds All-Star first baseman on Letterman's Netflix show …

Washington U. alum's side project turns into popular Twitter account, job with MLB  —  Jake Mintz interviews AJ Ramos after the pitcher's trade to the Mets in = 2017.  Mintz graduated from Washington University in St. Louis earlier that year.  Photo courtesy of Jake Mintz.

France, Allen lift San Antonio over Springfield 5-3  —  SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Ty France homered and singled as the San Antonio Missions topped the Springfield Cardinals 5-3 on Friday.  —  Austin Allen homered and singled for San Antonio.  —  Springfield started the scoring in the first inning …

Red Sox release Hanley Ramirez  —  HOUSTON — The Boston Red Sox have released Hanley Ramirez, a week after designating him for assignment.  —  The AL East leaders made the move before playing at Houston on Friday night.  The Red Sox are responsible for the $15.25 million remaining on his contract …

Santana picks up win in debut, Dodgers beat Rockies 11-8  —  Chris Taylor hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth, Dennis Santana earned the win in his major league debut and the  —  Los Angeles Dodgers beat the NL West-leading  —  Colorado Rockies 11-8 on Friday night.

What does being in first place on June 1 mean?  —  As baseball enters June, the Red Sox, Indians, Astros, Braves, Brewers and Rockies might feel like they're sitting pretty, holding the division lead as the season enters the summer months.  —  But the longevity of that divisional prowess is not a given.

Rockies reinstate DJ LeMahieu, place David Dahl on DL  —  DENVER — The Colorado Rockies have placed outfielder David Dahl on the 10-day disabled list with a broken right foot and reinstated second baseman DJ LeMahieu.  —  LeMahieu was in the starting lineup Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers and batting leadoff.

Diaz's single leads Tulsa to 4-3 win over Corpus Christi  —  TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Yusniel Diaz hit a two-run single in the seventh inning, leading the Tulsa Drillers to a 4-3 win over the Corpus Christi Hooks on Friday.  The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Drillers and a five-game winning streak for the Hooks.

Salem beats Blue Rocks 4-2  —  Sox strike late to secure victory  —  SALEM, Va. - (Courtesy of SalemSox.com)  —  The Salem Red Sox and Wilmington Blue Rocks were neck and neck most of the evening, but the Sox scored three in the eighth inning to top the visitors 4-2 Friday night at Haley Toyota Field.

Grichuk hoping change in mechanics at the plate will bring positive results  —  DETROIT — Randal Grichuk would like to be known as a stand-up guy.  —  The Blue Jays outfielder put some work into that while rehabbing in the minors from from a sprained right knee.

Wilson leads Rome to 7-1 win over Columbia  —  ROME, Ga. (AP) — Isranel Wilson hit a two-run home run and had two hits as the Rome Braves defeated the Columbia Fireflies 7-1 on Friday.  —  Rome got on the board first in the third inning when Wilson hit a two-run home run and Jean Carlos Encarnacion hit an RBI single.

How drastically will Beltre's return cut into Kiner-Falefa's playing time?  —  ANAHEIM, CALIF.  —  Nothing is wrong with Adrian Beltre, though those who saw him start Thursday at designated hitter and then tuned in Friday night to see him back on the Texas Rangers' bench might have been alarmed.