RANGERS
Hamilton 0-4 in rehab game
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton went 0 for 4 in a rehab appearance with Class AAA Round Rock on Monday night.
Hamilton played left field for the first seven innings of an 8-2, 10-inning victory against Nashville at First Tennessee Park. The 2010 AL MVP is 1 for 7 for a .143 batting average in his first two rehab games.
The 33-year-old Hamilton is on the 15-day disabled list after undergoing right shoulder surgery in February. He was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels on April 27, with Los Angeles expected to pay most of the remaining $80.2 million he is owed.
Hamilton hit .305 with 142 home runs and 506 RBI in five years with Texas before he signed with the Angels before the 2013 season.
Hamilton came up with a runner on first in the first inning and struck out swinging against Kendall Graveman, who began the year in Oakland's rotation. He then had three consecutive groundouts.
"I saw more pitches," Hamilton said. "It felt better overall, just my swing. After that first at-bat, I put good contact on that (pitch), a good swing so it was a lot better."
Defensively, Hamilton made a nice catch on Jason Pridie's long fly ball at the wall in the third.
"Defensively, I thought he looked real well," Express Manager Jason Wood said. "That ball he ran down in the left-center field gap was tremendous. He got a good jump on the ball. Physically, he looks good.
"I think the offense is more of a timing issue. This is somewhat of a spring training for him, so he's got to get some at-bats under his belt. His batting practice is very good so it's a matter of time before he starts getting to where he needs to be offensively."
The No. 1 overall selection in the 1999 draft has had trouble with drugs and alcohol for much of his career. He self-reported a cocaine and alcohol relapse this winter.
TIGERS
Verlander tosses light session
DETROIT -- Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander threw a light bullpen session, taking another step in his recovery from a triceps strain.
The right-hander says he wasn't trying to push things too much, and the next step will be a full bullpen session at some point, assuming his arm responds well to Tuesday's work.
The 32-year-old Verlander hasn't pitched yet this season. He's made fewer than 30 starts in a season only once in his career -- when he pitched only 11 1/3 innings while making his major league debut in 2005.
REDS
Frazier wants another derby go
CINCINNATI -- Reds third baseman Todd Frazier is aching for another chance at the All-Star home run derby after finishing second last season.
This time, he would have home-field advantage. The game and the home run competition will be held at Great American Ball Park in July.
Frazier was a first-time All-Star last season in Minneapolis when he reached the home run derby final and lost to Oakland's Yoenis Cespedes 9-1. Frazier is currently second in homers in the National League with 10, trailing Washington's Bryce Harper.
If he makes the All-Star game and is picked for the home run derby, he plans to have his brother Charlie pitch to him again like last year.
YANKEES
Tanaka has bullpen session
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has thrown his first bullpen session since going on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right forearm and tendinitis in his right wrist.
Tanaka still has no timetable for when he will return.
Tanaka threw 30 pitches before Tuesday night's game against Tampa Bay.
"Happy about it," he said through a translator. "Threw everything. Didn't feel anything."
When Tanaka went on the DL on April 29, general manager Brian Cashman said the pitcher would miss at least a month. The Japanese ace is 2-1 with a 3.22 ERA in four starts this season.
Also, Ivan Nova threw 33 pitches broken down into three innings during his third extended spring training start. With manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild watching, Nova retired seven of 11 Philadelphia minor league batters.
Nova is coming back from elbow ligament replacement surgery in April 2014. He is expected back next month.
METS
Lagares strains right side
CHICAGO -- Mets center fielder Juan Lagares has a slight strain on his upper right side and was ruled out Tuesday for New York's game at the Chicago Cubs.
Lagares, who won a Gold Glove last season, has been playing with the injury for about a week, but was held out Tuesday night when it got worse. New York Manager Terry Collins says he also might sit out today.
Collins says the injury is "somewhere underneath his right armpit, probably caused by the diving catch he made in New York last week."
Lagares, who had played in all 32 games before Tuesday, had an MRI earlier in the day to rule out anything serious.
TWINS
Hicks returns for fourth time
DETROIT -- The Minnesota Twins have recalled outfielder Aaron Hicks from Class AAA Rochester and placed outfielder Shane Robinson on the family emergency list.
The move was made Tuesday before the Twins began their series in Detroit.
Outfielder Eddie Rosario was promoted ahead of Hicks last week when outfielder Oswaldo Arcia went on the disabled list. But Hicks has hit his way back to Minnesota by batting .336 with 10 doubles, 4 triples, 2 home runs and 15 walks in 27 games for Rochester.
This will be his fourth stint with the Twins. In 150 major league games, Hicks has hit .201. He was the opening day center fielder in 2013 and 2014, but he lost his spot both years. After a slow spring, he was sent to the minors to start this season.
ORIOLES
Flaherty goes on 15-day DL
BALTIMORE -- Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty has returned to the 15-day disabled list with the same groin injury that recently kept him sidelined.
Flaherty was out from April 23 to May 8 with a right groin strain. He aggravated the injury on Monday night in the third inning against Toronto and was removed from the game.
Flaherty is batting .250 with 3 doubles and 2 RBI in 13 games.
To fill out the infield, Baltimore recalled Rey Navarro from Class AAA Norfolk. The 25-year-old made his major league debut with Baltimore on April 24 and was sent to the minors when Flaherty was activated from the DL on Friday.
Navarro went 6 for 19 with 2 doubles in 7 games with the Orioles.
Sports on 05/13/2015