Philadelphia Phillies earn rare series victory over New York Mets  —  NEW YORK — It took the Philadelphia Phillies more than a year to win a series against the New York Mets.  It took just one night for the Phillies to rediscover the middle of their lineup and find a second closer.

Cards' Wainwright has HR, 4 RBIs in first win of season  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Adam Wainwright homered and drove in four runs while getting his first victory of the season, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 Friday night.  —  Wainwright ripped a two-run homer …

Yankees Stumble Against the Pirates in an Unfriendly Setting  —  PITTSBURGH — Perhaps there was a time when Joe Girardi embraced his inner rebel, when he took a joy ride just so he could feel the wind in his hair.  But when he puts on his uniform and manages the Yankees, there is no such frivolity.

Jon Lester, Cubs trail Reds 4-2 in 5th inning  —  Photos from the Cubs-Reds game on Friday, April 21, 2017, in Cincinnati.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Reds 4, Cubs 2 (sixth inning)  —  Jason Heyward hit his first home run of the season, but pitcher Tim Adleman responded with a two-run double off Jon Lester …

RHP A.J. Griffin to miss at least 1 start due to gout in his left ankle  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin will miss at least one start because of gout in his left ankle.  —  Griffin was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday with inflammation related to gout …

Brewers Designate Kirk Nieuwenhuis  —  The Brewers have designated outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis for assignment, per a club announcement.  Lefty Brent Suter will come up to take his roster spot and bolster the club's pen.  —  [RELATED: Updated Brewers Depth Chart]  —  Nieuwenhuis, 29, was off to a sluggish start in 2016.

Royals demote Orlando, Mondesi, recall Strahm, Bonifacio  —  The Royals aren't sitting on their hands as they try to ignite their offense.  —  The Royals shook up their roster Friday, sending two starting players to Triple-A Omaha and replacing them with a new bat and a reliever who opened the season with the major league club.

Rangers Release Josh Hamilton, Who Will Undergo Knee Surgery  —  The Rangers announced today that they have released outfielder Josh Hamilton from the minor-league deal that the sides struck during the offseason.  Per the club, Hamilton suffered another knee injury during his rehabilitation efforts and will again require surgery.

Would a ‘good hands’ lineup help Cardinals find true glove?  —  Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com  —  ST. LOUIS  • By at least one count, Cardinals reliever Kevin Siegrist had to get seven outs in the eighth inning Wednesday to hold a one-run lead against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

White Sox Select Mike Pelfrey, Place James Shields On 10-Day DL  —  The White Sox have swapped out veteran hurlers with a roster move today, placing James Shields on the DL and selecting the contract of Mike Pelfrey, as JJ Stankevitz (Twitter links) and Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago (Twitter link) report.

Daniel Murphy's Keen Eye Bolsters a Nationals Pillar  —  The Mets glimpsed this Daniel Murphy for nine glorious playoff games that helped them win a pennant.  The Washington Nationals have gotten the sustained version, a feared cleanup hitter who arrived at Citi Field on Friday to start …

Carmelo Anthony-to-Celtics scenario picking up steam … With the Celtics fading in the first round, the chances of Carmelo Anthony wearing green are increasing.  —  According to an NBA source, the Celtics coaching staff was in favor of trading for Anthony at the trade deadline …

Madison Bumgarner lands on DL after dirt bike accident  —  DENVER (AP) — Giants ace left-hander Madison Bumgarner has been put on the disabled list for the first time in his big league career after a dirt bike accident that sent him to a hospital with bruised ribs and a sprained joint in his pitching shoulder.