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 18:

Seattle Mariners 4 - Colorado Rockies
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batter third.  He went 2-for-4: ground out to short, single to left, single to center (stole second and advanced to third on throwing error E2, run scored), ground out to first. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Texas Rangers 4 - Houston Astros 1
Koji Uehara (TEX) entered the game in the bottom of the 8th, with the Rangers up 4-1, and retired the side in order.  Final line: 1 IP, 13-8 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports] 

Minnesota Twins 11 - Milwaukee Brewers 3
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in center and batted second.  He went 2-for-4: single to left, RBI double to center, ground out to the pitcher, ground out to second. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Durham 6 - Pawtucket 5 (AAA) [Nikkan Sports]
Hideki Matsui (DUR) started in left and batted fourth.  He went 0-for-3: pop out to third, strikeout swinging, walk, ground out to first.  Matsui also threw out Alex Hassan at home plate on a fly out to left in the top of the 2nd. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Junichi Tazawa (PAW) entered the game in the bottom of the 7th and allowed four runs (none earned) over 1.2 innings of work.  He took the loss (including his first blown save) and is now 0-1.  Final line: 1.2 IP, 34-22 NP-S, 12 BF, 4 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Fresno 5 - Round Rock 2 (AAA)
Yoshinori Tateyama (RRE) entered the game in the top of the 8th and tossed two shutout innings in relief.  Final line: 2 IP,  21-18 NP-S, 7 BF, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Memphis 9 - Las Vegas 6 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) entered the game in the top of the 8th and did not allow a run over an inning of work.  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]

Rochester 5 - Louisville 3 (AAA)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (ROC) started at second and batted first.  He went 1-for-4: fly out to right, single to left (run scored), ground out to short, walk (run scored), ground out to third (force). [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

===

Brad Penny signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.  From the SF Chronicle's John Shea:

Brad Penny is a Giant again. Well, at least he’s a Giants minor-leaguer. The pitcher who  went 4-1 with a 2.59 ERA in six September starts for the 2009 Giants, signed a minor-league deal and will report to extended spring training on Monday.

The Giants see him as a possible reliever. Brian Wilson is done for the season, and Guillermo Mota is serving a 100-game drug suspension.

There's also a short bit about Japan:

On Japan: "It just didn't work out. He wasn't happy where he was over there. He wanted to come back here. The shoulder or elbow, that's not an issue. He showed it today in the bullpen. We'll make sure he is healthy and make sure he will help us. It'll take a little time. When he thinks he's ready and he thinks he's ready, it'll be a mutual agreement, and we'll have him here to help us."

Games from May 15, 2012:

Boston Red Sox 5 - Seattle Mariners 0 [Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 2-for-4: fly out to center, single to center, infield single (stole second and third), ground out to first. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) started at short and batted ninth.  He went 0-for-3: strikeout swinging, fly out to center, ground out to second. [Sponichi]

Kansas City Royals 7 - Texas Rangers 4
Koji Uehara (TEX) entered the game in the top of the 8th, with the Rangers down 7-3, and retired the side in order.  Final line: 1 IP, 10-8 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Milwaukee Brewers 8 - New York Mets 0
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in center and batted first.  He went 2-for-5: ground out to short, ground out to first, infield single, fly out to center, single to left (deflected by shortstop)  [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi, Daily Sports]

Baltimore Orioles 5 - New York Yankees 2
Wei-Ying Chen (BAL) started the game and allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings of work.  Final line: 7 IP, 105-65 NP-S, 26 BF, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Pawtucket 8 - Durham 2 (AAA)
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 0-for-4: strikeout swinging, fly out to right, ground out to second, ground out to first. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Rochester 5 - Louisville 4 (AAA)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (ROC) started at second and batted eighth.  He went 1-for-2: fly out to right, sac fly to center, single to left, intentional walk. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

===

Takashi Saito (ARI) was cleared to toss a bullpen session on Tuesday -- he threw twenty-one pitches, including off-speed pitches.  Saito is scheduled to toss another bullpen session on May 18.

===

Yu Darvish (TEX) took some batting practice during workouts on Tuesday.  He also played some light catch in the outfield and did some sprints.

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 8:

Detroit Tigers 6 - Seattle Mariners 4
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batetd third.  He went 1-for-4: pop out to second, RBI single to right (run scored), fly out to left, fly out to second, IBB. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Chicago White Sox 5 - Cleveland Indians 3
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Dayan Viciedo in the top of the 10th inning and flied out to center.  Fukudome took over in left in the bottom of the 10th. [Nikkan Sports]

Minnesota Twins 4 - LA Angels 0
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game in the bottom of the 8th (runner on first, two out, and the Angels down 4-0) and got Joe Mauer to ground out to second to end the inning.  Final line: 0.1 IP, 3-1 NP-S, 1 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

Texas Rangers 10 - Baltimore Orioles 3
Koji Uehara (TEX) entered the game in the game in the bottom of the 7th inning (Rangers up 8-1) and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Final line: 1 IP, 15-11 NP-S, 4 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

Milwaukee Brewers 8 - Cincinnati Reds 3
Norichika Aoki (MIL) entered the game as a defensive replacement in left in the top of the 9th inning. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Round Rock 11 - Salt Lake 9
Yoshinori Tateyama (RRE) entered the game in the bottom of the 8th and gave up three runs (none earned) over an inning of work.  Final line: 1 IP, 24-17 NP-S, 6 BF, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 1 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

===

Ichiro Suzuki, Munenori Kawasaki, and Hisashi Iwakuma visited an elementary school on Tuesday as part of the Seattle Mariners D.R.E.A.M. program.

===

Kosuke Fukudome's (CWS) single to center in the 7th inning of Monday's game against the Cleveland Indians (Game 1) was the 7,000th hit collected by a Japanese player.  Masanori Murakami collected the first hit on June 29, 1965.

Japanese players are also three homers away from 500.

===

Hideki Matsui (TBR) wore the number fifty-five during practice on Tuesday.  During situational batting practice, Matsui was the starting DH and batted third -- he collected a two-run double to right-center in his first at bat, grounded out to first in his second at bat, and flied out to center in his third at bat.

Matsui faced Bryan Augenstein during batting practice on Monday and collected two hits (eight swings) on fourteen pitches.

===

WEEI's Alex Speier provides the following update on Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS):

While Matsuzaka reported no problems in the neck issue that delayed his latest outing by a few days, he acknowledged that his rebuilt elbow varies on a day-to-day basis. That being the case, he did not exude certainty about whether he might be ready to return to the majors with another couple of starts.

"Overall, my body feels good, so that's fine, but my elbow, depending on the day — some days it feels better than others. Right now, I'm hoping when I start, it hits the day I'm feeling good," he told reporters. "Regarding being ready in two more games, it's hard to say because it's a step-by-step process, a game-by-game process. I'll just go see how I pitch my next outing and see how that goes and see where I stand then."

===

Tomochika Tsuboi will continue his playing career with the San Rafael Pacifics (North American Baseball League).  Tsuboi will head to the States last this month.

Games from May 6:

Seattle Mariners 5 - Minnesota Twins 2
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 0-for-2: ground out to first, walk, fly out to center, walk. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Detroit Tigers 3 - Chicago White Sox 1
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Brent Morel in the top of the 9th inning and walked. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

San Francisco Giants 4 - 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 first.  He did not remain in the game after the inning. [Nikkan Sports]

Cleveland Indians 4 - Texas Rangers 2
Yu Darvish (TEX) started the game and gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits over six innings of work.  Darvish took the loss and is now 4-1 on the year.  Final line: 6 IP, 112-63 NP-S, 28 BF, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 11 SO, 1 HR. [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Koji Uehara (TEX) entered the game in the 8th inning, with the Rangers down 4-2, and retired the side in order.  Final line: 1 IP, 15-10 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Pawtucket 7 - Scranton/WB 5 (AAA)
Junichi Tazawa (PAW) entered the game in the bottom of the 7th and gave up two runs (both earned) over two innings of work.  Final line: 2 IP, 42-25 NP-S, 11 BF, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR. [Sanspo]

===

Hideki Matsui (TBR) is scheduled to play a minor league practice game agaisnt the Minnesota Twins on May 9.

===

There is still no timetable on Takashi Saito's (ARI) return.  He did start throwing off flat ground at the Scottsdale, AZ facilities, but his right calf is still at only about sixty percent.

Games from May 2:

Tampa Bay Rays 5 - Seattle Mariners 4
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 2-for-3: walk (run scored), strikeout swinging, single to center, bunt single. [Sponichi, Daily Sports, Nikkan Sports]

Cleveland Indians 6 - Chicago White Sox 3
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Brent Morel in the bottom of the 9th inning and flied out to left to end the game. [Nikkan Sports]

Toronto Blue Jays 11 - Texas Rangers 5
Koji Uehara (TEX) entered the game in the bottom of the 8th and retired the side in order.  Final line: 1 IP, 10-8 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Daily Sports, Nikkan Sports]

Las Vegas 12 - Reno 4 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) entered the game with no out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th inning. Igarashi gave up a two-run double to the first batter he faced before retiring the next three in order.  He faced and retired two more batters in the bottom of the 8th before getting replaced by Chad Beck.  Final line: 1.2 IP, 35-24 NP-S, 6 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi]

===

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) suited up in catcher's gear during pre-game practice on Wednesday.  The Seattle Times' Larry Stone has more:

With Miguel Olivo's injury, the Mariners' catching corps is down to Jesus Montero and John Jaso. And considering that Montero is still going to see a lot of time at designated hitter, and is also a candidate to be removed for a pinch-runner late in games, manager Eric Wedge feels compelled to identify an emergency third catcher.

Brendan Ryan lobbied for the job, but the manager settled on reserve infielder Munenori Kawasaki.

"He's the first guy that came to mind," Wedge said. "I guess that covers about everything. He has good hands, he's a good athlete. He's more than willing and able to do anything."

===

The latest on Tsuyoshi Wada (BAL), from MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli:

Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada, who had an MRI exam and a CT scan on his left elbow during a visit to Dr. Lewis Yocum, has decided to undergo Tommy John surgery. The procedure will be performed May 11 in Los Angeles by Yocum.

"I am very disappointed," Wada said. "I will work hard for the rehab and try to recover to be as strong as I can to help the team win. I appreciate the support from the Orioles through this process."

Wei-Ying Chen (BAL) offered the following comments on Wada, via Sponichi: "This is sad.  I think rehab will be difficult.  I want him to get better and return to the team as soon as possible. ... The training in the US is different from Japan so if you get hurt, it can not be helped. ... Getting hurt overseas and going under the knife can can make things a lot more difficult than if you have surgery in your own home country."

===

Yu Darvish (TEX) was named Rookie of the Month for April.  A snip from MLB.com:

...right-hander Yu Darvish was named Rookie of the Month in voting by writers and broadcasters.

... Darvish became just the sixth rookie starter since 1957 to win at least four games without a loss in April. He was 4-0 in five starts in his first Major League action, tying for the league lead in wins. He was also among the league leaders in ERA (sixth, 2.18) and strikeouts (tied for fifth, 33). Darvish is just the third Rangers player to win AL Rookie of the Month since it was first awarded in 2003. Gerald Laird won in 2004 and Neftali Feliz took home honors in 2010. Hamilton has won a club-record four Player of the Month awards: in April and May of 2008 and June 2010. Rafael Palmeiro and Alex Rodriguez both won three.

Darvish's next start will be against the Cleveland Indians on May 6.

Habikino City, Osaka mayor Tsuguo Kitagawa told reporters that the mayor of Arlington, Texas mayor Robert Cluck sent him an invitation to visit the city some time during the season.

Habikino City is where Darvish grew up.

Games from April 28:

Toronto Blue Jays 7 - Seattle Mariners 0 [Nikkan Sports]
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 2-for-4: infield single, ground out to second, single to center, ground out to short. [Sponichi, Daily Sports, Nikkan Sports]

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) entered the game in the top of the 9th as a pinch-hitter for Kyle Seager and walked.

Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) entered the game in the bottom of the 8th inning, with the Mariners down 3-0, and gave up a four runs (grand slam) over one inning of work.  Final line: 1 IP, 22-14 NP-S, 7 BF, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Boston Red Sox 1 - Chicago White Sox 0
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Tyler Flowers in the bottom of the 9th inning and grounded out to the pitcher. [Nikkan Sports]

Texas Rangers 7 - Tampa Bay Rays 2
Koji Uehara (TEX) entered the game in the top of the 9th inning, with the Rangers up 7-2, and retired the side in order.  Final line: 1 IP, 7-6 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

St. Louis Cardinals 7 - Milwaukee Brewers 3
Norichika Aoki (MIL) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Jose Veras in the top of the 9th inning and hit a single to right. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Baltimore Orioles 10 - Oakland A's 1
Wei-Ying Chen (BAL) started the game and gave up a run (solo homer to Jonny Gomes in the top of the 6th) over seven innings of work.  Final line: 7 IP, 107-66 NP-S, 29 BF, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

Oklahoma City 11 - Round Round 5 (AAA)
Yoshinori Tateyama (RRE) entered the game in the bottom of the 6th inning and tossed two shutout inning in relief.  Final line: 2 IP, 16-10 NP-S, 7 BF, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

Portland 9 - Reading 1 (AA)
Daisuke Matsuzaka (POR) started the game and gave up a run (earned) on three hits over 4.2 innings of work.  He also topped out at 93mph (~150km/h).  Final line: 4.2 IP, 74-44 NP-S, 17 BF, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

===

Yu Darvish (TEX) threw about thirty pitches in the bullpen on Saturday.  Darvish will be making his next start on five days of rest (May 30 vs Toronto) for the first time since joining the Texas Rangers.

And a TV commercial featuring Darvish and Mike Napoli will air during the Texas-Toronto game on Fox Sports Southwest.

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.

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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.

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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.