Nats won't ask Desmond to change approach  —  WASHINGTON — Entering Sunday's action against the Braves, Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond was 0-for-9 with no walks at the leadoff spot.  —  The Nationals don't want Desmond to change his approach at the plate.  They want him to be aggressive, according to hitting coach Rick Eckstein.

Saltalamacchia gets ring from Rangers  —  ARLINGTON — One day after the Rangers received their American League championship rings, Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia got his on Sunday morning.  —  Rangers general manager Jon Daniels came into Boston's clubhouse and personally presented Saltalamacchia with his ring.

Twins win stops Jays sweep  —  The Minnesota Twins salvaged the finale of a three-game series against Toronto by hanging on to defeat the Blue Jays 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre.  —  Danny Valencia and Denard Span homered while starter Nick Blackburn (1-) threw five-plus effective innings …

Pirates Rally With 2 Runs in 9th to Beat Cubs 5-4  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Pedro Alvarez drive in two runs with an infield single off closer Carlos Marmol in the ninth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for a 5-4 victory Sunday over the Chicago Cubs to take two of three in the opening series of the season.

For once, the joke is on Brian Cashman, Yankees in signing of former Mets reliever Pedro Feliciano  —  MIAMI - In one gilded corner: the royal spendthrifts from the Bronx, with their haughty pennants flapping in the breeze, their self-important Yankeeographies and their fancy 2-and-0 start this season.

Indians turn triple play against White Sox  —  CLEVELAND — It unlikely that Carlos Santana will forget his debut as a first baseman for the Indians.  —  Manning first for the first time in his Major League career, Santana helped begin a triple play during the fourth inning of Sunday's game against the White Sox.

Phil Hughes hit hard by Tigers, Mark Teixeira & Jorge Posada homers aren't enough in 10-7 loss  —  Sunday, Phil Hughes said he was not worried about his dwindling velocity in spring training.  All Yankee manager Joe Girardi would say was that he was curious, but not worried, about the speed of the young righthander's fastball.

LHP Jaime Garcia bats 8th for Cardinals  —  ST. LOUIS — Matt Holliday's injury convinced St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa to bat his pitcher eighth for the first time this season.  —  La Russa said if Holliday were healthy he would have used a standard lineup card Sunday …

Hudson shuts down Nationals in Braves' 11-2 rout  —  WASHINGTON—Tim Hudson pitched seven solid innings in another strong start against Washington and Brian McCann had four RBIs in the Atlanta Braves' 11-2 victory over the Nationals on Sunday.  —  Hudson (1-0) gave up one run and three hits, struck out five and walked one.

Derek Jeter ties Al Simmons on hits list  —  NEW YORK — On Opening Day, Derek Jeter put his much-maligned 2010 season behind him.  On Saturday, he picked up his first two hits of the 2011 campaign.  —  The New York Yankees shortstop went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored in his team's 10-6 win over the Detroit Tigers.

Britton pitches six effective innings as Orioles sweep Rays  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Zach Britton pitched six sharp innings in his major league debut while J.J. Hardy hit a two-run double as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 on Sunday to complete a season-opening three-game sweep.

Lee fans 11 in debut as Phillies beat Astros  —  PHILADELPHIA — In his first game back with the Phillies in front of fans who adore him, Cliff Lee even heard cheers after striking out.  —  Lee can do no wrong in Philadelphia.  —  The lefty struck out 11 in seven impressive innings …

McCutchen sits out finale with neck soreness  —  CHICAGO — Andrew McCutchen was a late scratch from the Pirates' lineup on Sunday with stiffness in his neck.  —  McCutchen's status was questionable when he arrived at Wrigley Field in the morning but after receiving treatment, he initially talked his way into the starting lineup.