Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sox seek sweeping success — Boston (3-1) at Baltimore (2-2), 1:35 p.m. ET — The Red Sox enter Sunday's contest with proverbial brooms in hand, looking to finish off their first road trip of the season with a three-game sweep over the Orioles. — To accomplish that mission …
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Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
O's look to avoid sweep — Boston (3-1) at Baltimore (2-3), 1:35 p.m. ET — The Orioles and Red Sox waited out a 90-minute rain delay to play a tight, one-run ballgame Saturday night. Starting pitchers Curt Schilling and Bruce Chen dueled through the fifth inning, but Schilling went deeper in the game and earned a 2-1 win.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Chilling in Charm City — Red Sox ace dominates Birds to notch second victory — BALTIMORE — Frigid air filled Camden Yards on Saturday afternoon, with one exception. It came in the form of the heat that emanated from Curt Schilling's right arm. — With two on and two outs in the bottom …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Red Sox follow familiar path for win on road — BALTIMORE — Who would have thought a quick trip to Kinkos would result in another win for the Red Sox? — After all, last night's 2-1 win over the Orioles was a virtual carbon copy of the Sox' 2-1 victory over the Rangers Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Schilling again provides right answers — BALTIMORE — If many of the questions about Curt Schilling's readiness for this season were answered when he allowed just two runs to the Texas Rangers to open the season, a good deal of the rest were dealt with after his stifling performance in Camden Yards last night.
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Notes: Lopez looks to catch on — Reserve backstop to get first start behind dish on Saturday — BALTIMORE — Ready or not, Javy Lopez is going back behind the plate on Saturday. Lopez has worked at designated hitter for most of the last two weeks and hasn't practiced his catching skills …
Discussion:
The Baltimore Chop
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Notes: Defense leaving its mark — With new blueprint in place, Red Sox winning close games — BALTIMORE — Run prevention. It was a buzz phrase around the offices of Yawkey Way all winter, as the front office reconstructed a team that was successful last year, but flawed.
Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins shift for Delgado — NEW YORK — Marlins coach Perry Hill is not a big proponent of over-shifting his infielders. But Hill had a different scouting report on Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado. — One that included 521 at-bats. — "I don't like to shift,'' said Hill, who coaches the infielders. "
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:
Mets get Vargas turned around — NEW YORK — When starting pitcher Jason Vargas left the Marlins' team hotel Friday for Shea Stadium, he got on a train and went in the wrong direction, ended up in Brooklyn and frantically doubled his way back to Manhattan before catching the right train.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Notes: Lee relaxes deal deadline — Young Cedeno opens season on a hot streak — CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee softened his call for a Saturday deadline to resolve his possible contract extension, but he did reiterate that he wants the matter resolved soon so he can focus on baseball.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Defense, Not Bat, Is Rescuing Hernandez — When Anderson Hernandez singled in the second inning of Friday's game against the Florida Marlins, he notched his first hit of the season and doubled his career total over 34 at-bats. — Batting eighth in a powerful lineup, Hernandez …
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Notes: Belliard sits with odd injury — Tribe second baseman strains calf walking to the dugout — CLEVELAND — It's not often a player gets injured between innings. — But that's just what happened to Ronnie Belliard on Friday night. — The Indians' second baseman suffered a mild strain …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Associated Press:
Wells gives up seven runs in rehab start — PAWTUCKET, R.I. — David Wells was hit hard in a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket, giving up seven runs and six hits in five innings Friday night. — "It is what it is, it's a bad night," said Wells, placed on the disabled list last Saturday — retroactive to March 27.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
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Bernie Miklasz / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
As a 'core guy,' Encarnacion must improve — CHICAGO — Four games are hardly a fair or indicative trial, but Cardinals right fielder Juan Encarnacion is struggling to get out of the gate in the early days of the season. — In Friday's 5-1 loss to the Cubs at a chilled, windswept Wrigley Field …
Amanda Branam / MLB.com:
Brazelton set to take the bump — Colorado (2-2) at San Diego (1-2), 7:05 p.m. PT — Pitcher Dewon Brazelton's Padres debut on Saturday against the Rockies is arguably one of the more anticipated debuts for San Diego this season. — The 25-year-old came to San Diego in December in a trade …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
