Kevin Youkilis talks about future … BOSTON — Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis was watching when rookie Will Middlebrooks homered twice in the same game in Kansas City, hitting home runs down both foul lines.  —  “They should have put a foul pole in center field so he could hit one off that, too,” Youkilis said.

Alvarez leads Blue Jays over Twins  —  Henderson Alvarez pitched seven strong innings to win his third straight start for the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-2 over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.  —  Alvarez (3-2) stretched his scoreless streak to 17 innings before second baseman Kelly Johnson's …

Orioles hit 5 HRs in 6-5 win over Rangers  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — The Orioles became the first AL team to open a game with three straight home runs, and Baltimore added two more long balls against Colby Lewis en route to a 6-5 victory over the Texas Rangers in a doubleheader opener Thursday.

CC Sabathia finally outpitches David Price, Yanks beat Rays  —  NEW YORK - CC Sabathia outpitched David Price for the first time in six career matchups between the All-Star lefties, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson homered and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 Thursday night.

Last-place Phillies: Buyers or sellers?  —  I don't care what Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says — I'll believe his team is a seller when I see it.  —  But know this:  —  According to major league sources, at least one club — the Toronto Blue Jays …

Nationals end slide as Strasburg K's 13 Pirates  —  PITTSBURGH — Stephen Strasburg struck out a season-high 13 over six innings and the Washington Nationals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday night.  —  Roger Bernadina and Adam LaRoche both homered …

MLB Poised to Pick Off 1st-And-3rd Trick Move  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano stepped toward third base and bluffed a pickoff throw, then twirled and made a soft toss to first.  No dice, the Tampa Bay runners didn't fall for that ol' trick — they'd seen it too often.

Mock Draft: Version 1.0  —  Trying to sort out a muddled class  —  Teams picking at the top of the 2012 draft privately lament their options.  There isn't an obvious choice like Stephen Strasburg in 2009 or Bryce Harper in 2010, and there isn't an embarrassment of riches like there was a year ago.

Phillies to give bullpen an in-house facelift  —  The Phillies are on the verge of shaking up the majors' worst bullpen.  —  Sources have confirmed that the team will call up lefthanders Jake Diekman and Raul Valdes from Triple A Lehigh Valley on Friday.  The news was first reported by reliever Michael Schwimer via Twitter.

Sources: Nationals, Angels have talked about Bourjos  —  The Nationals and Angels have had preliminary discussions about a trade that would send center fielder Peter Bourjos to Washington, major-league sources told FOXSports.com.  —  The Royals, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays also have checked on the availability of Bourjos, sources say.

The Mo Effect  —  I have come to respect the baseball analytical community over the past few years.  In the beginning I was like a lot of ignorant baseball players, I thought  —  you all were a bunch of geeks in your mom's basement.  You've proven otherwise and I see the value in what you do.

Totals  —  2B: Was 2, A. LaRoche (7), S. Strasburg (3).  Pit 1, M. McKenry (2).  —  HR: Was 3, R. Bernadina (1), A. LaRoche (6), R. Ankiel (2).  —  HR Detail: Was, R. Bernadina (Inning: 6 , 0 Out, 0 on) off K. Correia, Was, A. LaRoche (Inning: 6 , 0 Out, 1 on) off K. Correia, Was, R. Ankiel (Inning: 9 , 1 Out, 0 on) off C. Resop.