Cook holds Yanks in check at JetBlue Park  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — It might be a year or two before prospect Adam Warren becomes part of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry.  But the New York righty got the chance to pitch under the lights of JetBlue Park on Thursday night and made the most of it during a 4-4 tie in nine innings.

Visa Approved For Yankees' Jose Rafael DePaula  —  A premium prospect who has been involved in one of the longest, most fascinating sagas in the Dominican Republic has taken a major step toward beginning his professional career.  —  Righthander Jose Rafael DePaula, who agreed to sign …

Utley set to rejoin Phillies in camp  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Chase Utley could rejoin the team Friday in Clearwater.  —  He left the team Monday — he had been spotted this week in the Phoenix area — to visit an unnamed specialist about the chronic condition in his knees.

Mets' Pelfrey pitching with sprained ankle  —  Mets on Twitter  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Just one more reason it's been a spring training to forget for Mike Pelfrey: He has battled a high ankle sprain for most of camp.  —  The beleaguered Mets right-hander is refusing to use it as an excuse …

Jeff Moorad steps down, Tom Garfinkel to become new Padres CEO  —  OMG.  —  In what looks a lot like a strange switcheroo, Jeff Moorad is going to step down as CEO and become Vice Chairman of the Padres while Tom Garfinkel will move from Padres President to Padres CEO.

Soriano belts one of Cubs' four homers in win  —  Slugger hits fifth of spring; Mather, Stewart, Jackson go deep  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Alfonso Soriano hit his Cactus League-leading fifth home run, this one off of Rangers starter Colby Lewis, to help lead the Cubs to an 11-4 victory at Surprise Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

Weaver off against KC, but bats pick up ace  —  Morales has two hits in return; Aybar, Kendrick pace offense  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Kendrys Morales had two hits in his first Major League game since May 2010, Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick stayed hot at the top of the order …

Statistics don't paint defensive picture for Mets  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets took the field earlier this week with their Opening Day lineup mostly intact for the first time this spring: A converted first baseman was starting in right field.  Another natural first baseman was at second base, with yet another at catcher.

Dodgers partake in Ping-Pong to unwind  —  Much as on the mound, Kershaw dominates on the table  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — In the middle of the Dodgers' clubhouse at Camelback Ranch-Glendale is a Ping-Pong table.  —  Since a Ping-Pong table helped thaw Cold War relations with China 40 years ago …

Cards' Garcia strikes out nine in dominant outing  —  JUPITER, Fla.—St. Louis manager Mike Matheny liked what he saw from Jaime Garcia on Thursday.  —  Garcia struck out nine in five innings and the Cardinals roughed up Gio Gonzalez in a 9-0 win over the Washington Nationals.

O's offense complements Chen's start in win  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen tossed five strong innings, and Wilson Betemit and Chris Davis homered to lead Baltimore to an 11-1 win over the Twins on Thursday at Hammond Stadium.  —  Chen allowed just one run on four hits …