SFGate

NEW YORK (AP) Yankees fans showed Don Mattingly the love from the moment he took the lineup card to home plate Wednesday. Hiroki Kuroda, though, wasn't feeling nostalgic when facing his old team.

Kuroda shut down Los Angeles into the seventh inning, Ichiro Suzuki homered and drove in three runs, and the New York Yankees spoiled Mattingly's return to the Bronx with a 6-4 victory over the sloppy Dodgers in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.

"Once the game started I didn't really focus too much on who I was facing," Kuroda said through a translator. "I was trying to contribute for the Yankees."

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HOUSTON (AP) Mark Appel received high praise from MLB commissioner Bud Selig on Wednesday when the No. 1 overall pick signed with the Houston Astros.

Speaking at a MLB diversity business summit at a convention near Minute Maid Park, Selig praised Houston's rebuilding efforts. He then likened Appel, a right-handed pitcher, and Houston's 2012 No. 1 pick, shortstop Carlos Correa, to two of the franchise's greatest stars, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell.

DETROIT (AP) Chris Davis sent a pitch to opposite field over the left-field fence and pulled another one deep into the right-field seats.

His day gave him a major-league leading 26 homers and helped the Baltimore Orioles beat the Detroit Tigers 13-3 Wednesday.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Gregor Blanco had a pinch hit, two-run triple in the seventh inning, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

Brandon Belt and Marco Scutaro also drove in runs as the Giants won their second straight following a three-game slide. Scutaro and Hunter Pence each had two hits.

PHOENIX (AP) Cody Ross can see clearly now, so he must have had a nice view as his decisive pinch-hit home run sailed into the left-field seats.

Ross' three-run shot in the eighth inning spoiled an outstanding outing by Miami's young Jose Fernandez, and the Arizona Diamondbacks held off the Marlins 3-1 on Wednesday to take two of three in the series.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera has been placed on the 15-day disabled list because he injured his left hamstring.

Cabrera, the NL leader with 31 stolen bases was hurt during San Diego's 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. Outfielder Jaff Decker was recalled from Triple-A Tucson to take Cabrera's place on the 25-man roster.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has taken on-field batting practice for the first time since being cleared to increase his rehabilitation program for a broken left ankle.

Jeter took 21 swings on Wednesday at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. He looked comfortable at the plate, hitting balls to all fields.

ATLANTA (AP) Center fielder Eric Young Jr. caught a flight to Atlanta in time to lead off for the New York Mets on Wednesday night.

He arrived at Turner Field shortly before batting practice after being acquired late Tuesday from Colorado for right-hander Collin McHugh. Young was immediately put in the lineup against the first-place Braves, looking to build on the momentum of a doubleheader sweep the day before.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The Washington Nationals reinstated second baseman Danny Espinosa from the disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse before Wednesday night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Espinosa, who just completed a rehab assignment, is a career .230 hitter with 47 homers and 149 RBIs in four seasons with Washington. He was sidelined since June 3 with a right wrist injury. Anthony Rendon has placed well in his place.

CLEVELAND (AP) Chris Perez isn't ready to return to the mound for the Indians just yet.

Cleveland's colorful closer, who has been dealing with personal issues off the field while recovering from a strained rotator cuff, will throw at least one more bullpen session and may make another rehab appearance in the minor leagues before coming off the disabled list.