American League News

The Oakland Athletics are a perfect 6-for-6 against the Houston Astros so far this season, and the first-year AL West foes will square off again Friday at Minute Maid Park to open another three-game series.

With about a quarter of the 2013 season in the books, the American League West still has its fair share of questions moving forward as it did at the beginning of the season.

When it comes to generating excitement around baseball prospects one attribute jumps off the page: power.

Francona, let go by Boston after the 2011 season, got a standing ovation after the first inning during a video tribute on the center-field scoreboard.

Jose Bautista homered twice and drove in the winning run with a 10th-inning single, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.

Detroit's Miguel Cabrera could be on his way to another Triple Crown. The American League's reigning MVP tries to stay hot on Thursday when the Tigers open a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park.

Lamar left fielder Darian Johnson, #16, gets under a foul pop fly during the Lamar University baseball game against Houston Baptist University on Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy throws to the plate during the fifth inning of their baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, May 7, 2013, in Los Angeles.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- C.J. Wilson and the Los Angeles Angels celebrated Arte Moreno's 10 years as owner by cruising to another easy victory over the slumping Seattle Mariners.

Nick Markakis added a solo home run for the Orioles, who took two of three from New York to pull within three games of the first-place Yankees in the AL East.

For the first time as an opposing manager, Francona will walk into famed Fenway Park to face the Red Sox, the team he led to two World Series titles during eight seasons.

And why not? After a miserable 2012 season the Indians find themselves atop the American League Central thanks to thrilling win after thrilling win and a never-day-die attitude that has led to six walk-off victories.

But, when a team has an unlucky season, it could mean a long 162-game stretch for the ballclub and its fans.

Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer and Max Scherzer retired 22 straight batters after the first inning, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 5-1 win over Cleveland on Tuesday night to stop the Indians' winning streak at five and trim their lead in the AL Central.

The 48-year-old Canseco will be with the Fort Worth Cats for their opening four-game homestand, which starts Thursday night.

Rookie right-hander Dan Straily pitched seven scoreless innings and Yoenis Cespedes homered as the Oakland Athletics won their fifth straight game, 1-0 over the Texas Rangers and Yu Darvish on Tuesday night.

Boston was coming off a miserable and tumultuous 69-93 season. New York entered this year with injuries to stars Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson.

Those cliches about it being a six-month season are based in reality. But so is this: The Royals, right now, are flat-lining after Monday’s depressing 6-5 loss to the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

The former Blue Jays shortstop, whose brief time on the city's sports scene will be remembered only for the homophobic slur he scrawled into his eyeblack stickers for one game last September, added to his villainous reputation on Monday by goading the Rogers Centre crowd after he hit a ninth-inning homer off Jays closer Casey Janssen.

Starting rotation Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen was on his way to his second strong performance in a row when he grabbed at his side and exited Sunday's game with a right oblique strain.