Major League Baseball News

"His nickname here is Textbook," said Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter, who appreciates Hardy's defense far more than the bat that last year produced 25 home runs and earned the 31-year-old a Silver Slugger Award.

In addition to St. Patrick's Day parties, the city is hosting a major construction industry convention and Major League Baseball's Big League Weekend, featuring the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets at Cashman Field.

"It's the back of the elbow, which is good," Niese said. "I'm almost 100 percent sure it's nothing serious."

Tanaka, who signed a $155 million, seven-year contract in January, struck out six and walked two.

C.J. Wilson pitched into the sixth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 5-3 in a spring game on Sunday.

The Detroit Tigers will start the season without Jose Iglesias , though just how long the injured shortstop is sidelined will not be known until after he sees a foot and ankle specialist on Tuesday.

Schmidt was diagnosed in August with stage 3 melanoma. He has undergone two operations, radiation and chemotherapy.

Left-hander Jon Lester pitched four innings of one-run ball for Boston. He gave up two hits, struck out five and walked one.

The 27-year-old Yoon didn't exactly face a Murderer's Row of Yankees, who sent most of their stars to Panama for an exhibition game.

Williams homered twice as Texas rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 16-15 on Saturday.

Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw struggled in his final start before opening the regular season in Australia, allowing five runs on eight hits in 5 2-3 innings in the Dodgers' 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night.

Chris Heisey hit his fifth spring homer and Cincinnati had 18 hits in a 16-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday after Reds starter Homer Bailey was scratched with a sore right groin.

Erik Bedard pitched into the fifth inning in his bid to win a spot in Tampa Bay's rotation, helping a Rays split-squad beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Saturday.

Johnny Cueto became the first Cincinnati pitcher to finish five innings this spring, limiting the Texas Rangers to five hits and one run in the Reds' 2-1 victory Friday.

Torii Hunter was 4 for 4, and the Detroit Tigers had 22 hits in a 12-6 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday.

In this Feb. 20, 2014 file photo, Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy pets Hank at spring training baseball practice, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Phoenix.

Conor Gillaspie and Josh Phegley hit back-to-back homers for the Chicago White Sox on Friday in a 2-2 tie with the Cleveland Indians.

Giants opening-day starter Madison Bumgarner pitched five stellar innings and Hunter Pence hit a pair of solo homers, pacing the San Francisco Giants to a 4-0 victory over a Colorado Rockies split-squad on Friday.

KISSIMMEE, Florida -- Michael Wacha struck out five in 3 2-3 scoreless innings Friday and Matt Carpenter and Xavier Scruggs each drove in two runs for the St. Louis Cardinals in a 6-4 win over the Houston Astros.

David Hale provided a bright spot for the Atlanta Braves' beleaguered rotation, allowing one run in four innings while striking out three to lead the Braves past the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Friday.