Games from May 22:

Texas Rangers 3 - Seattle Mariners 1
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 2-for-4: single to right, fly out to left, ground out to second (force), single to center. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Minnesota Twins 9 - Chicago White Sox 2
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) entered the game as a defensive replacement in right in the top of the 8th.   He did get one at bat in the bottom of the 9th: he grounded out to the pitcher. [Nikkan Sports]

San Francisco Giants 6 - Milwaukee Brewers 4
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in right and batted first.  He went 2-for-4: triple to right, strikeout swinging, ground out to third, RBI double to right (run scored), walk. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Charlotte 5 - Durham 2 (AAA)
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 0-for-4: ground out to first, fly out to center, fly out to right, strikeout swinging. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Pawtucket 5 - Norfolk 3 (AAA)
Junichi Tazawa (PAW) entered the game in the bottom of the 6th and gave up a run (unearned) over two innings of work.  He got the win and is now 1-1 on the year.  Tazawa also recorded his second blown save of the year.  Final line: 2 IP, 28-20 NP-S, 9 BF, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Gwinnett 3 - Rochester 1 (AAA)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (ROC) started at second and batted eighth.  He went 0-for-2: pop out to the catcher in foul territory, walk, ground out to short. [Nikkan Sports]

===

The latest on Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS), from CBSSports.com:

Matsuzaka shifted to 60-day DL: Boston starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Tuesday as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. Matsuzaka was recently shut down from his minor-league rehab assignment after developing pain in his neck that restricted his movement when he pitched. He reportedly had a cortisone injection on Sunday. Matsuzaka's move cleared an additional spot on the 40-man roster. 

===

Yu Darvish's (TEX) next start will come against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 27.

Games from May 20:

Seattle Mariners 6 - Colorado Rockies 4
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 1-for-4: strikeout swinging, double to right (run scored), fly out to center, GIDP.  The double was Ichiro's 500th of his career (NPB+MLB). [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Chicago White Sox 6 - Chicago Cubs 0
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) started the game in right and batted sixth.  He went 1-for-4: infield single (advanced to second on throwing error by pitcher), ground out to the catcher, ground out to the catcher, strikeout swinging. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

San Diego Padres 3 - LA Angels 2
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game in the bottom of the 10th, with the scored tied at two, and retired the first two batters he faced before putting the next two on and leaving with runners on first and second and two out.  Final line: 0.2 IP, 13-6 NP-S, 4 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

Milwaukee Brewers 16 - Minnesota Twins 4
Norichika Aoki (MIL) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Ryan Braun in the bottom of the 7th inning and hit an RBI infield single.  He then came around to score on a grand slam by Jonathan Lucroy.  Aoki took over in left in the top of the 8th. [Nikkan Sports]

Washington Nationals 9 - Baltimore Orioles 3
Wei-Ying Chen (BAL) started the game and gave up six runs (all earned) over 4.1 innings of work.  He took the loss and is now 4-1.  Final line: 4.1 IP, 92-58 NP-S, 23 BF, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO, 2 HR. [Sponichi]

Durham 6 - Charlotte 0 (AAA)
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 1-for-3: sac fly to left, single to right (run scored), strikeout looking, fly out to left. [Daily Sports, Nikkan Sports, Sponichi, Sponichi]

Las Vegas 5 - Memphis 2 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) entered the game in the top of the 8th and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Final line: 1 IP, 15-10 NP-S, 4 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

===

Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) will miss his next rehab start on May 22 because of tightness that extends from the right side of his neck to his back.  A little more from the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham:

The righthander, whose minor league rehabilitation assignment was due to end on Wednesday, has been shut down because of pain in his right trapezius muscle. Matsuzaka received an injection in the area.

"That's been nagging him for quite a while and we've got to make sure that that's 100 percent before he's going out there again," manager Bobby Valentine said. "I talked to him [Saturday] about it being sore. He said he would maybe pitch through it. They examined him and didn't think it was wise."

And some more from ESPN's Gordon Edes:

The Red Sox have recalled Matsuzaka from his rehab assignment, and he remains on the 15-day disabled list. But he cannot begin a new rehab assignment until seven days after he was "returned from rehab," which the Red Sox did on Saturday.

Major League Baseball must approve any new rehab assignment, which is expected to be a formality, given the injury. As with any rehab assignment, Matsuzaka must give his approval, another expected formality.

===

A brief bit on Tsuyoshi Nishioka (MIN) from the Star Tribune's La Velle E. Neal III:

It's true. Tsuyoshi Nishioka homered yesterday for Class AAA Rochester, and manager Ron Gardenhire said he's getting favorable reports on Nishi's play of late.

Games from May 19:

Seattle Mariners 10 - Colorado Rockies 3
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 1-for-5: fly out to center, infield single (run scored), line out to short, ground out to third (force), ground out to short (force, run scored). [Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports, Sponichi]

Minnesota Twins 5 - Milwaukee Brewers 4
Norichika Aoki (MIL) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Taylor Green in the bottom of the 7th and struck out (foul tip).  Aoki did not remain in the game for the top of the 8th. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

San Diego Padres 3 - LA Angels 2
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game with a runner on second, two out, and the Angels down 3-2 in the bottom of the 7th.  He retired the one batter he faced.  Final line: 0.1 IP, 2-2 NP-S, 1 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Charlotte 7 - Durham 1 (AAA)
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 0-for-4: strikeout swinging, fly out to right, fly out to center, strikeout swinging. [Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports, Sponichi]

Rochester 6 - Gwinnett 4 (AAA)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (ROC) started at second and batted first.  He went 1-for-5: line out to first, reaches on fielding error (E4), two-run homer (1) to right, pop out to short, fly out to center. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

===

Yu Darvish (TEX) threw about thirty pitches in the bullpen on Saturday in preparation for his next start on May 21.

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 17:

Cleveland Indians 6 - Seattle Mariners 5 [Sponichi, Daily Sports]
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 0-for-6: fly out to left, ground out to first, fly out to center, ground out to short, line out to short, ground out to short. [Nikkan Sports]

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) entered the game as a pinch-runner for Justin Smoak in the top of the 10th and remained in the game at second in the bottom of the 10th. [Nikkan Sports]

Chicago White Sox 6 - LA Angels 1
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game in the top of the 6th, with the Angels down 4-0, and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Final line: 1 IP, 20-10 NP-S, 4 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

Houston Astros 4 - Milwaukee Brewers 0
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in center and batted first.  He went 3-for-4: ground out to second, double to right, single to right, HBP, single to center. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Durham 5 - Pawtucket 0 (AAA) [Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 0-for-3: ground out to first (force), fly out to left, reaches on catcher interference (run scored), fly out to center. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Daisuke Matsuzaka (PAW) started the game and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits over 6.2 innings of work.  Final line: 6.2 IP, 95-64 NP-S, 28 BF, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 2 HR, 1 HBP. [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

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

===

The Hideki Matsui - Daisuke Matsuzaka game will be shown on J-Sports 2/3 in Japan at 6pm today and against a 8am on Saturday.

===

The Durham Bulls plan to begin selling Hideki Matsui (TBR) t-shirts on Friday for $24.99.

Depending on how things turn out, Matsui could join the MLB roster as early as May 22.

===

Yu Darvish's (TEX) next start will come on May 21 against the Seattle Mariners.  Darvish will be going for his 100th career victory (currently at ninety-three NPB victories and six MLB victories).

Incidentally, Darvish tweeted that he threw at about seventy to eighty percent during his last start in order to give hitters something else to think about.

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 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 7:

Seattle Mariners 3 - Detroit Tigers 2 [Daily Sports]
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 1-for-3: double to right, line out to short, pop out to second, walk (run scored). [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) entered the game as a pinch-runner for Jesus Montero in the bottom of the 9th and came around to score the walk-off run. [Nikkan Sports]

Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) entered the game in the top of the 4th, with Seattle down 1-0, and allowed a run over three innings of work.  Final line: 3 IP, 48-35 NP-S, 12 BF, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Cleveland Indians 8 - Chicago White Sox 6 (Game 1)
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) started in left and batted eighth.  He went 1-for-2: ground out to short, sac fly to left, single to center.  Fukudome was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the top of the 9th. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Cleveland Indians 3 - Chicago White Sox 2 (Game 2)
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) started in left and batted sixth.  He went 0-for-3: strikeout swinging, ground out to second, ground out to second.  Fukudome was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the top of the 9th. [Sponichi]

LA Angels 8 - Minnesota Twins 3
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game in the 7th, with the Angels up 5-1, and retired the side in order.  Final line: 1 IP, 9-7 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Cincinnati Reds 6 - Milwaukee Brewers 1
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in center and batted first.  He went 0-for-4: fly out to left, ground out to first, strikeout looking, fly out to right. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Pawtucket 4 - Rochester 0 (AAA)
Daisuke Matsuzaka (PAW) started the game and did not allow a run over 4.2 innings of work.  He topped out at 92mph (~148km/h).  FInal line: 4.2 IP, 87-49 NP-S, 20 BF, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Daily Sports, Nikkan Sports]

Las Vegas 7 - Salt Lake 6 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) entered the game in the top of the 8th and retired the side in order.  He got the win and is now 1-1 on the year.  Final line: 1 IP, 16-12 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

===

Hideki Matsui's (TBR) workouts on Monday included fielding practice in left, base-running, and batting practice (fourteen pitches, eight swings).

===

Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) could return to the Majors for a start against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 17, which would be ten days ahead of schedule.

===

Tsuyoshi Nishioka (MIN) might be able to play in his first rehab game some time this week.

===

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) caught Kevin Millwood's bullpen session on Sunday (about fifteen minutes, worked signs in partway through).

===

Tsuyoshi Wada (BAL) was shifted over to the sixty-day DL.

===

Yu Darvish (TEX) kept his workouts on Monday light (running, playing catch).  His next start will likely come against the LA Angels on May 11.

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."

===

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]

===

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.)

===

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.

===

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

===

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.

===

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.