Games from May 23:

Seattle Mariners 5 - Texas Rangers 3 [Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 0-for-4: line into double play, ground out to third, ground out to short, strikeout swinging. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Koji Uehara (TEX) entered the game in the bottom of the 7th, with the Rangers down 5-0, and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Final line: 1 IP, 24-17 NP-S, 4 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Milwaukee Brewers 8 - San Francisco Giants 5
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in right and batted second.  He went 1-for-3: sac bunt (reaches on E1 - throwing, run scored), infield single (stole second, run scored), line out to right, strikeout swinging, walk. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

===

Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) threw forty pitches in the bullpen on Wednesday.  He also worked on his change while working from the wind and set positions.  Kuroda's next start will come against Oakland on May 27th.

===

Tsuyoshi Wada's (BAL) first day of rehab at the training facilities Sarasota, Florida on Wednesday lasted about three and a half hours and included stretching and riding an exercise bike.

Wada had his stitches removed on Monday.

===

Yu Darvish (TEX) kept his workouts light on Wednesday -- played catch, did some running, stretched in the outfield.

Games from May 21:

Seattle Mariners 6 - Texas Rangers 1
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 2-for-4: RBI triple to right, RBI single to center (run scored, advance to third on throwing error by center field), ground out to third (force), strikeout (foul tip). [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports]

Yu Darvish (TEX) started the game and allowed five runs (four earned) over four innings of work.  He took the loss and is now 6-2.  Final line: 4 IP, 96-56 NP-S, 22 BF, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Yoshinori Tateyama (TEX) entered the game in the bottom of the 6th, with the Rangers down, and gave up a run over two innings of work in relief.  Final line: 2 IP, 37-27 NP-S, 8 BF, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Kansas City Royals 6 - New York Yankees 0
Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) started the game and gave up three runs over 5.1 innings of work. He took the loss and dropped to 3-6 on the year.  Final line: 5.1 IP, 103-63 NP-S, 26 BF, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB (1 IBB), 4 SO, 1 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Oakland A's 2 - LA Angels 1
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game in the bottom of the 7th with a runner on first, one out, and the A's up 2-1.  Takahashi recorded one one out on a fly out to center.  The second out was picked off at first base.  Final line: 0.2 IP, 4-2 NP-S, 1 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

SF Giants 4 - Milwaukee Brewers 3
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in right and batted second.  He went 0-for-5: bunt ground out to third, strikeout swinging, ground out to third, reaches on fielding error by shortstop (run scored), strikeout swinging, walk. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Durham 3 - Charlotte 2 (AAA)
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 1-for-5: fly out to left, fly out to left, GIDP, line out to second, game-winning walk-off RBI single to right. [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Las Vegas 10 - Nashville 8 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) entered the game in the top of the 9th and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  He also recorded his fourth save of the year.  Final line: 1 IP, 18-12 NP-S, 5 BF, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR.

===

Komatsu will be maintaining the spokesperson contract they have had with Hideki Matsui (TBR) since 2003.

The Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin has the following update on Matsui:

OF/DH Hideki Matsui seems likely to join the Rays this week, maybe for the weekend series in Boston.

And from the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith:

Though there's no official date for DH/OF Hideki Matsui to be called up from Triple-A Durham, Maddon said he and executive VP Andrew Friedman are monitoring him more closely. Maddon said part of the timing is Matsui being ready and the other is need, with the Rays having a lot of left-handed bats. Matsui hit an RBI single in the 10th Monday to lift the Bulls to a 3-2 victory.

===

The latest on Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS), from the Providence Journals Tim Britton:

Daisuke Matsuzaka was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list effective Saturday with a strain in his right trapezius.

Matsuzaka received an injection in that trapezius over the weekend.

"The same area flared up a little maybe three weeks ago. It was the same symptoms," Matsuzaka said through interpreter Jeff Cutler. "It seemed to have cleared up, but it came up again. It restricts my movement when I throw. At this point, that's why I got the shot. Hopefully it gets better from here. MY rehab so far had been going really well, so it is a setback and it is a little disappointing."

===

Yoshinori Tateyama (TEX) made it back to the Majors on Monday.  From MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan:

Yoshinori Tateyama is back in the big leagues.

The Rangers called up Tateyama on Monday from Triple-A Round Rock after placing pitcher Neftali Feliz on the disabled list with a sprained right elbow. Tateyama goes into the bullpen while Scott Feldman will take Feliz's spot in the rotation.

Tateyama, who began the season on the disabled list with tightness in his lower back, pitched in 12 games for Round Rock and was 1-0 with a 0.54 ERA. In 16 2/3 innings, he allowed 12 hits and four walks while striking out 14.

===

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) kept himself busy during Monday's game by catching in the bullpen.

Games from May 16:

Cleveland Indians 9 - Seattle Mariners 3 [Nikkan Sports]
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 0-for-4: RBI on ground out to short, line out to left, fly out to left, ground out to the pitcher. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) entered the game in the bottom of the 5th inning, with the Mariners down 8-3 and allowed a run on three hits over four innings of work.  Final line: 4 IP, 65-38 NP-S, 18 BF, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

Toronto Blue Jays 8 - New York Yankees 1
Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) started the game and allowed seven runs over five innings of work.  He took the loss and dropped to 3-5.  Final line: 5 IP, 101-62 NP-S, 25 BF, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 3 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Houston Astros 8 - Milwaukee Brewers 3
Norichika Aoki (MIL) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Manny Parra in the top of the 9th inning and grounded out to second for the final out of the game. [Nikkan Sports]

Texas Rangers 4 - Oakland A's 1 [Nikkan Sports]
Yu Darvish (TEX) started the game and allowed one run over 7.2 innings of work.  He got the win and is now 6-1 on the year.  Final line: 7.2 IP, 118-73 NP-S, 28 BF, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Sponichi, Daily Sports, Nikkan Sports]

Pawtucket 5 - Duham 4 (AAA)
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 2-for-4: two-run double to left, reaches on catcher interference, single to left, GIDP, ground out to the pitcher. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Rochester 4 - Louisville 1 (AAA)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (ROC) started at second and batted eighth.  He went 0-for-2: fly out to left, fly out to left, walk. [Nikkan Sports]

===

Games from May 13:

Seattle Mariners 6 - New York Yankees 2
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 1-for-5: GIDP, ground out to second, ground out to second, double to left, pop out to second. [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Kansas City Royals 9 - Chicago White Sox 1
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Dayan Viciedo in the bottom of the 8th and struck out swinging.  He remained in the game and took over in left in the top of the 9th. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Texas Rangers 13 - LA Angels 6
Koji Uehara (TEX) entered the game in the top of the 7th with the bases loaded, two out, and the Rangers up 10-5.  Uehara got the first batter he faced, Howard Kendrick, to ground into a force to get out of the inning.  He also tossed a shutout 8th.  Final line: 1.1 IP, 20-15 NP-S, 5 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Chicago Cubs 8 - Milwaukee Brewers 2
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in center and batted first.  He went 2-for-4: single to center, triple to right, walk (caught stealing second), ground out to second (reach on FC), fly out to center. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

===

Hideki Matsui (TBR) will be heading to Triple-A on Tuesday.

===

Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) threw thirty-six pitches in the bullpen on Sunday in preparation for his next start against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 16.

===

Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) will get two more rehab starts at Triple-A Pawtucket before he makes it back to the MLB roster.  From ESPN's Joe McDonald:

Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka will make two more minor league rehab starts for Triple-A Pawtucket before being called up to Boston's starting rotation.

The right-hander is scheduled to start for the PawSox on May 17 and May 22 before his rehab assignment expires on May 23. Matsuzaka made his fourth minor league start on Saturday in Pawtucket, working 5 1/3 innings. He allowed five runs on seven hits, including two home runs, with one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 90 pitches, 54 for strikes.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine watched the game tape of Matsuzaka's outing and it was clear to the manager that Matsuzaka needs some more time.

"I didn't think he was as good as he should be," Valentine admitted. "His mechanics weren't very good at all. But he's throwing pain-free, so that's good." 

===

Norichika Aoki's (MIL) wife and daughter arrived in the US on May 10.  His mother was in the stands on Mother's Day.

===

Yu Darvish (TEX) wore a pink sweatband on his left wrist during workouts on Sunday.

Games from May 11:

New York Yankees 6 - Seattle Mariners 2 [Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 0-for-4: pop out to third in foul territory, fly out to left, ground out to third (force), ground out to the pitcher.  Ichiro also recorded his 100th career assist in the bottom of the 1st (threw out Robinson Cano at second). [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports]

Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) started the game and gave up two runs on six hits over seven innings of work.  He got the win and is now 3-4.  Final line: 7 IP, 105-59 NP-S, 29 BF, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO, 2 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Milwaukee Brewers 8 - Chicago Cubs 7
Norichika Aoki (MIL) entered the game as a defensive replacement in center in the top of the 9th.  He went 0-for-2: ground out to third (reach on fielder's choice), pop out to second. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Texas Rangers 10 - LA Angels 3 [Daily Sports]
Yu Darvish (TEX) started the game and gave up three runs on three hits over 5.1 innings of work.  He got the win and improved to 5-1.  Final line: 5.1 IP, 93-57 NP-S, 23 BF, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO, 2 HR. [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports]

Koji Uehara (TEX) entered the game in the top of the 8th, with the Rangers up 10-3, and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Final line:  1 IP, 22-15 NP-S, 5 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Pawtucket 5 - Columbus 1 (AAA)
Junichi Tazawa (PAW) entered the game in the top of the 7th and retired all three batters he faced.  Final line: 1 IP, 10-7 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Salt Lake 9 - Round Rock 6 (AAA)
Yoshinori Tateyama (RRE) entered the game in the bottom of the 8th and retired the side in order.  Final line: 1 IP, 11-8 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

===

Hideki Matsui (TBR) played in a minor league practice game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.  He started in left and went 2-for-4: single to center, walk, strikeout looking, strikeout swinging, infield hit.  Matsui also handled two chances in left.

===

Takashi Saito (ARI) threw thirty pitches at about fifty percent in the outfield at Chase Field on Friday.  He told reporters that his right leg (calf) was no longer giving him problems when he threw.  Saito could toss a bullpen session early next week.  Assuming no setbacks, he might be able to make it back to the MLB roster in two to three weeks.

===

Tsuyoshi Wada (BAL) had TJ surgery on his left elbow on Friday.  And from MLB.com:

Below is a statement from Orioles LHP Tsuyoshi Wada following his left elbow ligament replacement surgery earlier today in Los Angeles with Dr. Lewis Yocum. Wada will not be available for further comment until he begins his rehabilitation in Sarasota, FL, a date that has not yet been set.

"The procedure went as planned and Dr. Yocum felt good about how it went. He predicts a full recovery. I'm glad to have this over with and look forward to beginning my rehabilitation so I can get back to pitching for the Orioles as soon as possible."

===

Via Nikkan Sports, the Associated Press posted an article on Brad Penny and his failure to make it in Japan.  A snip:

"It takes a certain kind of ballplayer to make it in Japan," said author Robert Whiting, who has written several books on Japanese baseball. "I guess Penny wasn't one of those players. It's a sad day when $3 million isn't enough to keep you in Japan."

...

Penny isn't the only former major league player to struggle in Japan. When it comes to playing in Japan, former Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Jim Lefebvre, who played here from 1973-1976 summed it up best: "If you want to succeed in Japan, you have to forget everything you learned in the United States and pretend you are a rookie. Do everything they tell you and you just might make it."

Games from May 5:

Seattle Mariners 7 - Minnesota Twins 0
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 1-for-2: walk, GIDP, walk (run scored), two-run triple to right (run scored). [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Kansas City Royals 3 - New York Yankees 1
Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) started the game and gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits over 4.1 innings of work.  He took the loss and dropped to 2-4.  Final line: 4.1 IP, 91-54 NP-S, 23 BF, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Chicago White Sox 3 - Detroit Tigers 2
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Dayan Viciedo in the top of the 8th.  He went 0-for-1: ground out to second.  Fukudome remained in the game and took over in left in the bottom of the 8th. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

San Francisco Giants 5 - Milwaukee Brewers 2
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in center and batted first.  He went 0-for-5: fly out to center, fly out to center, fly out to left, fly out to right, ground out to short (force). [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Las Vegas 4 - Salt Lake 2 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) entered the game in the top of the 9th and retired the side in order for his second save of the year.  Final line: 1 IP, 10-6 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

===

Hideki Matsui (TBR) faced minor league pitchers during live batting practice on Saturday for the first time since September 28, 2011.  He ended up going 3-for-9 (he faced Zachary Quate and Alex Colome; saw a total thirty-one pitches and swung the bat fourteen times).

Matsui was slated to play in his first game on May 7, but it seems that has been pushed back a day until at least May 8.  The top priority for the team is to make sure Matsui is 100% when they call him up.

Matsui also started taking fielding practice on Friday at about full-speed.

===

Daisuke Matsuzaka's (BOS) next start has been delayed to neck pains.  NESN's Didier Morais posted the following update:

"He had a little neck issue that we wanted to make sure felt perfect before he threw a 'pen again," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. "So we kept pushing the 'pen back."

The pain resides on the left side of Matsuzaka's neck, which affects his pitching mechanics out of the stretch. If Matsuzaka pitches a clean bullpen session on either Friday or Saturday, he could be poised to start for Pawtucket on Monday.

Games from April 30:

Tampa Bay Rays 3 - Seattle Mariners 2 [Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 3-for-6: infield single, pop out to third, pop out to short, single to left, single to center, ground out to first. [Sponichi]

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) entered the game as a pinch-runner for Kyle Seager in the top of the 9th inning.  He remained in the game (took over at short) and went 0-for-1: ground out to third (bunt). [Sponichi]

New York Yankees 2 - Baltimore Orioles 1
Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) started the game and gave up one run on four hits over seven innings of work.  He won the game and is now 2-3 on the year.  Final line: 7 IP, 87-52 NP-S, 24 BF, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO,  0 HR, 1 WP, 1 HBP. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Boston Red Sox 11 - Oakland A's 6
Junichi Tazawa (BOS) entered the game in the top of the 7th with no one on, two out, and the Red Sox up 11-6.  Tazawa faced three batters and could not get anyone out: single, HBP, E5 (fielding error). Final line: 0.0 IP, 13-7 NP-S, 3 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 1 HBP. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Texas Rangers 4 - Toronto Blue Jays 1
Yu Darvish (TEX) started the game and gave up one run (solo homer to Edwin Encarnacion in the bottom of the 4th) on four hits over seven innings of work.  He got the victory and improved to 4-0.  Final line: 7 IP, 97-62 NP-S, 27 BF, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO, 1 HR, 1 HBP. [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Las Vegas 8 - Reno 7 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) entered the game in the bottom of the 9th and tossed a shutout inning for his first save of the year.  Final line: 1 IP, 14-10 NP-S, 4 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

===

The Tampa Bay Rays signed Hideki Matsui to a minor league contract.  A snip:

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed outfielder/designated hitter Hideki Matsui to a minor league contract.  The left-handed hitter will report to extended spring training at the Charlotte Sports Park complex in Charlotte County, Fla.

===

Bobby Valentine told reporters on Monday that Daisuke Matsuzaka's (BOS) next rehab start will likely take place at AAA Pawtucket on May 4 (dependent on the weather).

===

The Journal Sentinel's Todd Rosiak has the following quote from Milwaukee Brewers' manager Ron Roenicke on Norichika Aoki (MIL), taken on April 28:

"We've got three guys right now that I'd like to get in there a lot, and it's going to be tough to do it," Roenicke said. "I want to give (Aoki) more games, too. This guy is really growing on us. It's just trying to figure out how to do it isn't easy."

Games from April 27:

Seattle Mariners 9 - Toronto Blue Jays 5
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 0-for-5: ground out to first, fly out to left, ground out to short, ground out to the pitcher, ground out to third.  Ichiro also threw out J. P. Arencibia trying to score from third to end the 7th inning. [Daily Sports, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) entered the game as a pinch-runner for Kyle Seager in the top of the 9th and came around to score on John Jaso's single (deflected to center off short).  Kawasaki remained in the game and took after at short in the bottom of the 9th.  He singled to center in the top of the 10th and was thrown out trying to steal second. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Tampa Bay Rays 8 - Texas Rangers 4
Koji Uehara (TEX) entered the game in the top of the 7th, with the Rangers down 8-4, and retired the side in order.  Final line: 1 IP, 9-7 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Cleveland Indians 3 - LA Angels 2
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game in the bottom of the 7th, with the Angels up 2-0, and allowed one run to score before leaving the game with a runner on second and one out.  The runner Takahashi left on base also came around to score.  Final line: 0.1 IP, 11-9 NP-S, 3 BF, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

St. Louis Cardinals 13 - Milwaukee Brewers 1
Norichika Aoki (MIL) entered the game as a defensive replacement in right in the bottom of the 6th.  He went 0-for-1: fly out to center. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Las Vegas 5 - Tacoma 0 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) entered the game in the top of the 8th and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Final line: 1 IP, 14-10 NP-S, 4 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

===

Nikkan Sports notes that while Matt Moore is willing to talk about giving up his number 55 to Hideki Matsui, he also feels a connection to it so may not want to give it up.

===

Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) threw thirty-six pitches in the bullpen on Friday in preparation for his next start on April 30 against the Baltimore Orioles.

===

ESPN's Richard Durrett posted an interview he conducted with Yu Darvish's (TEX) father.  A snip:

Farsad Darvish, Yu Darvish's father, said Tuesday's win against the New York Yankees reminded him of how his son pitched in Japan.

"He's been getting closer to what he has been doing in Japan with the movement of his balls and changing speeds and location," said Farsad, who watched the game on television. "This isn't a one-game thing. I think he's been improving."

Nikkan Sports has posted some comments from Mariano Rivera on Darvish:

I was watching him from the TV in clubhouse.  Darvish throws well and keeps his pitches down.  I think he will do really well.  The stadiums, the baseball, and the language is different, but Yu is amazing.  I do not think anyone can take that away from him.

All of Darvish's pitches were good.  Including his cutter (laughter).  He is still young at twenty-five, but he throws like he is forty because he understands what he needs to do during games, and that is what is amazing.  All he needs to do is continue striving for the best.

Games from April 24:

Seattle Mariners 7 - Detroit Tigers 4 [Nikkan Sports]
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 3-for-5: pop out to second, infield single (run scored), single to right, line out to center, single to center (stole third, run scored). [Sponichi]

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) started at short and batted ninth.  He went 1-for-4: strikeout looking, fly out to center, bunt single, ground out to first.  Kawasaki also made a nice play at short in the third.  [Sponichi]

Texas Rangers 2 - New York Yankees 0 [Sponichi, Daily Sports, Nikkan Sports]
Yu Darvish (TEX) started the game for Texas and did not allow a run over 8.1 innings of work.  Final line: 8.1 IP, 119-82 NP-S, 33 BF, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) started the game for the Yankees and gave up two runs (both earned) on five hits over 6.2 innings of work.  Final line: 6.2 IP, 107-64 NP-S, 26 BF, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Oakland A's 2 - Chicago White Sox 0
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Brent Lillibridge in the top of the 9th and hit a single to center. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Tampa Bay Rays 5 - LA Angles 0
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game in the bottom of the 7th with no one on, two out, and the Angels down 5-0.  Takahashi struck out Ben Zobrist to end the inning and retired the side in order in the bottom of the 8th.  Final line: 1.1 IP, 18-12 NP-S, 4 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

Milwaukee Brewers 9 - Houston Astros 6
Norichika Aoki (MIL) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Randy Wolf in the bottom of the 6th and flied out to right.  He did not remain in the game for the top of the 7th. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Round Rock 7 - New Orleans 1 (AAA)
Yoshinori Tateyama (RRE) entered the game in the bottom of the 8th and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Final line: 1 IP, 19-11 NP-S, 5 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

Colorado Springs 11 - Las Vegas 6 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) gave up a run on one hit over 1.1 innings of work.  Final line: 1.1 IP, 21-14 NP-S, 6 BF, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

===

The Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin posted the following update on Hideki Matsui:

An expected minor-league deal with former All-Star OF/DH Hideki Matsui could be finalized today, with the Rays declining comment until then. Matsui, 37, will head eventually to Triple-A Durham, where the Rays will see if/how well he hits, then if they have a need.

Matsui may have to part with the number fifty-five since the number belongs to Matt Moore.  Sponichi notes a handful of numbers that are open, like 10, 13, 22, 24, 29, 44, and 66.

===

Sponichi is carrying the following comments from Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS), taken after his rehab start on Monday:

You threw fewer than the seventy pitches you were slated to throw.

I did throw [twenty-six] pitches in the 1st inning.  It would have been [seventy pitches] if I was getting through innings with fifteen or fewer pitches.  Twenty to twenty-five pitches meant cutting back on inning.

What did you think of the outing?

Knowing how they hit what I throw.  That is important.  And it is about what kind of adjustments I make for the next game.

Did you feel more comfortable the more innings you threw?

I started running out of steam at around the 4th inning the last time.  That I did not have that this time around, I think that means I am making progress.

Did Valentine say anything to you?

He said they did not want me to feel rushed.  Rushing is not good for me or for the team and it does no one any good if I am not 100% ready.  I want to use the time I have in the minors as best I can.

Matsuzaka is scheduled to make his second rehab start at Double-A Portland on April 28.

===

Tsuyoshi Nishioka (MIN) was placed on the seven-day disabled list.  From MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger:

Nishioka injured his ankle sliding into third base on a triple on Friday. He was hitting .203 with eight walks in 16 games before the injury.

"Nishi has a high ankle sprain, but I'm not sure how many days [he'll be out]," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "So right now, [Brian] Dozier is the main guy in the infield. We'll let him get more at-bats."

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The latest on Tsuyoshi Wada (BAL), from the Baltimore Sun's Dan Connolly:

Left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada, who has not yet thrown a pitch for the Orioles, had an MRA on his ailing left elbow Tuesday and it showed ligament damage, according to manager Buck Showalter.

"Wada has an elbow issue, problems with the ligament, the MRA showed. We will contemplate, along with him, what the next direction (is) to take," Showalter said. "But it showed some damage in there with the ligament that didn’t show up in the physical he took when he signed."

Showalter would not go into specifics, but it can be assumed that Wada has at least a partial tear in the ligament. If that is the case, he could require rest and rehab or surgery – but either way he is likely to be shelved for an elongated period.

Games from April 22:

Chicago White Sox 7 - Seattle Mariners 4 [Daily Sports]
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 2-for-5: single to right, single to center (run scored), ground out to first (force), pop out to third in foul territory, strikeout looking. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) started in center and batted seventh.  He went 1-for-2: ground out to first, walk (thrown out at home by Ichiro to end the top of the 4th), sac fly to center, RBI single to right. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Baltimore Orioles 3 - LA Angels 2
Wei-Ying Chen (BAL) started the game and gave up a run on five hits over 6.1 innings of work.  Final line: 6.1 IP, 96-58 NP-S, 26 BF, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

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The NY Yankees rain out on Sunday pushed Hiroki Kuroda's next start back to April 24.  That will pit Kuroda against Texas Ranger Yu Darvish.  The last MLB game to feature two Japanese starters: Hiroki Kuroda vs Hisanori Takahashi on July 22, 2010.

(Thanks to the handful of people that dropped me e-mails about this.)

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Takashi Saito (ARI) had his right calf examined by the team doctor on Sunday at Chase Field.  Saito will be re-examined if his calf does not improve with treatment over the next three days.

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Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) worked out with the Single-A Salem team on Sunday in preparation for his start against Wilmington on Monday.

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Tsuyoshi Nishioka (MIN) did not play on Sunday because of a sprain in his right ankle.  He is scheduled to get his ankle examined on Monday.

Nishioka suffered the injury while sliding into third base when he hit a triple during a game on Friday.

"It feels better than it did yesterday. ... I will be fine.  I will get back to playing in no time," said Nishioka.

Nishioka was not available to play on Saturday, but was suited up for the game on Sunday.

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Sponichi mentions that TV ratings for Yu Darvish's (TEX) start on April 19 averaged 8.3%.  The Dallas News' Barry Horn has a bit more:

Through 10 games this season on Fox Sports Southwest and one on KTXA (Channel 21), the Rangers are averaging a 7.4 (190,280 homes). Throw in one game on ESPN (8.5) and another on Fox's regional coverage last Saturday (8.2) and the average jumps to 7.5 or 192,850 homes.

That's a 450 percent increase over the number of homes watching in 2007. Your 401K should have done that nicely.

On Sunday, Darvish threw thirty-seven pitches in the bullpen at Comerica Park.