Baltimore Orioles
Signed in February to a four-year, $50 million deal, starter Ubaldo Jimenez continued his strong run in May after an abysmal April in which he went 0-4 with a 6.59 ERA. This month, according to the Baltimore Sun, Jimenez has been nearly perfect. After seven scoreless innings Tuesday, Jimenez has allowed just one run in 19 2/3 innings (0.46 ERA). In that span, he has given up just 13 hits and five walks while striking out 20. “Everything is feeling really good,” Jimenez told the newspaper. “I am able to command the fastball, and all the breaking balls are good.”
Boston Red Sox
Dustin Pedroia gets Mariano Rivera’s endorsement over Robinson Cano. Could Rivera sway All-Star voting? … Jake Peavy has allowed a home run in nine straight regular-season starts. … Manager said Farrell said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and Indians manager Terry Francona will be his coaches for the All-Star game at Target Field in July.
New York Yankees
Derek Jeter’s parting gifts so far - pinstriped boots (Astros), pinstriped paddle board (Angels). Cubs planning to give pinstriped goat. … The best-case scenario for injured RHP Michael Pineda (upper back muscle, near shoulder muscle) is a return in the first or second week of June, GM Brian Cashman said. … Alfonso Soriano became the seventh player to get 1,000 hits in the American League and National League.
Tampa Bay Rays
RHP Heath Bell cleared waivers and was officially released, making him free to sign with any team. The Rays were paying $5.5 million of his $9 million salary and thus will owe him the remainder — around $4.2 million, minus what he signs for elsewhere, according to the Tampa Bay Times. … If it seems as if the Rays’ games are dragging, it’s because they are. Data from MLB shows that the Rays have by far the highest average time for nine-inning games, at 3 hours, 17 minutes, 45 seconds. Next are the Dodgers at 3:10:35, the Florida newspaper reported. … RHP Jeremy Hellickson said he felt great one day after throwing a bullpen session and curveballs on flat ground. “That’s a huge step,” he said.
Toronto Blue Jays
The team recalled Pillar from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned INF Jonathan Diaz to Triple-A. Pillar played in 36 games for the Blue Jays in 2013, batting .206 with three homers and 13 RBIs. … R.A. Dickey won for the third time in four starts last week. “I had some good changeups tonight, a swing-and-miss knuckleball,” Dickey said. … Casey Janssen, activated off the DL, earned his first save. Manager John Gibbons: “It’s definitely good to have him back.”
Compiled by Rick Crotts from wire reports.
