Red Sox agree to terms with top pick Marrero  —  Shortstop from Arizona State set to report to Class A Lowell  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox's top pick from the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, shortstop Deven Marrero, was at Fenway Park taking grounders with the Major League infield on Wednesday …

Gee Pitches Shutout Ball Into 8th, Mets Beat O's  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Dillon Gee extended the Mets' shutout streak to 29 innings before Baltimore broke through late, and New York held off the Orioles 4-3 on a steamy Wednesday night for a three-game sweep.  —  The Mets nearly shut out the Orioles for the third straight day.

Why Do First Basemen Get Paid So Much?  —  This April, Joey Votto signed a contract to man first base for the Reds for the next 12 years.  For context, a dozen years ago, Jeff Bagwell was the first baseman who had just led the league in WAR.  Votto is unlikely to be very productive in 2023, but the Reds already know this.

Yanks agree with Cuban teen Rodriguez  —  Left-handed pitcher Omar Luis Rodriguez, 19, and the Yankees have agreed on a Minor League deal worth an estimated $4-5 million, according to an industry source.  —  Rodriguez, who projects to be a starter, burst onto the international scene during …

Weaver Returns From DL, Beats Giants 6-0  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jered Weaver pitched six innings of two-hit ball in his return from the disabled list and the Los Angeles Angels beat the San Francisco Giants 6-0 on Wednesday night, handing Ryan Vogelsong his first loss in almost seven weeks.

Visualization: How Matt Cain's perfect game stands in baseball history  —  If a pitcher strikes out 14 batters in a single game, it'll be the lead story on every sports news program of the night.  After all, it's only happened a few hundred times in baseball history.

AL Central Notes: Turner, Doumit, Royals  —  The Tigers are calling on Missouri native Jacob Turner to make his season debut against the Cardinals this afternoon.  Turner, who started three games for Detroit last year, had a 3.43 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in 42 innings at Triple-A before getting called up.

Injured Padres join ‘The Breakfast Club’  —  SAN DIEGO — Padres manager Bud Black was talking about “The Breakfast Club” on Wednesday, though it wasn't the John Hughes movie he was referring to.  —  Black has dubbed the group of injured players who get treatment and work out each morning at Petco Park as “The Breakfast Club.”

Carp progressing with bullpen sessions  —  DETROIT — Chris Carpenter threw his fourth bullpen session on Wednesday and is expected to add the challenge of facing hitters the next time he gets on the mound.  —  Assuming Carpenter doesn't feel any day-after pain from his latest work …

It's our national game, too  —  “Japan Beats Team USA 14-4 before a Crowd of Almost 10,000, Taking the Gold in the Women's World Series.”  —  That isn't the kind of headline we see on our sports pages.  But it represents what's really happening in baseball.

Helton's Error Helps Phillies Beat Rockies 7-6  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Todd Helton missed tagging first base to allow the winning run to score on Placido Polanco's grounder in the ninth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied to beat the Colorado Rockies 7-6 on Wednesday night.

Strasburg Strikes Out 10 as Nationals Top Rays 3-2  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 to win a fast-ballers' duel with newbie Chris Archer, Joel Peralta managed to pitch without having his glove inspected, and the Washington Nationals snapped a four-game losing streak Wednesday night …