MLB scores and more: McCann suffers setback, Brewers ink K-Rod, Headley activated

Wednesday’s scores

Royals 1, Braves 0 - Well, I suppose Atlanta's win streak had to come to an end at some point, I just didn't expect it to be at the hands of Wade Davis and the Royals. An early RBI single from Jeff Francoeur made all the difference.

A's 7, Astros 5 - Oakland is really excited about having the Astros in its division this year. The A's now have 12 wins on the year, and six of them have come against Houston. Trade candidate Bud Norris got roughed up for six runs in ⅔ of an inning.

Reds 1, Phillies 0 (Gm. 1) - It took all of nine minutes for Cincinnati to end Tuesday's suspended game in walk-off fashion. Jay Bruce provided the heroics with a bases-loaded single to plate Zack Cozart.

Reds 11, Phillies 2 (Gm. 2) - Mike Leake dominated the Phillies on the mound and at the plate by tossing seven scoreless frames and going 3-for-4 with three runs on the day. The Reds scored nine of their runs in the first three innings, ending John Lannan's day early.

Yankees 4, D'Backs 3 - Travis Hafner hit a pinch-hit, solo blast in the eighth to seal the comeback win for New York, who were down 3-0 headed into the seventh. Watch out world, the Yanks have now won seven of eight.

Red Sox 6, Indians 3 - Mike Carp took advantage of his start of the year, lashing three extra-base hits in three plate appearances on the day. Each of the Red Sox's top five hitters in the lineup had at least two hits on Wednesday. Boston's win streak now stands at five.

Pirates 5, Cardinals 0 - A.J. Burnett flirted with his second no-hitter but lost it with two outs in the seventh to Carlos Beltran, who doubled. Coincidentally, Beltran had become Burnett's 2,000th strikeout victim earlier in the day.

Rays 6, Orioles 2 - Tampa Bay's offense made an appearance Wednesday, backing yet another strong outing from youngster Matt Moore. Kelly Johnson and Shelly Duncan homered for the Rays. James Loney notched two doubles.

White Sox 7, Blue Jays 0 - Southpaw Jose Quintana earned his first win (and decision) of the year, holding the Blue Jays silent for 6⅔ while K-ing seven. Tyler Flowers launched a slump-busting three-run jack for the ChiSox.

Nats 6, Marlins 1 - Miami returned to its normal, hapless self on offense Wednesday, managing just one run and seven scattered hits off of left-hander Ross Detwiler. Future MVP Bryce Harper had a four-hit day.

Brewers 4, Giants 3 - Ryan Vogelsong and Kyle Lohse dueled to a 3-3 draw after seven, setting the stage for the Brewers' bullpen to blow yet another game. But they didn't! Blake Lalli came through with the pinch-hit, walk-off single in the ninth after Yuniesky Betancourt was intentionally walked (LOLOLOL).

Tigers 2, Mariners 1 (F. 14) - Seattle and Detroit's pitchers were having such a good time Wednesday night, they almost played two whole games. The two squads combined to strike out 40 batters on the night, starters Felix Hernandez and Max Scherzer accounting for 12 each.

Padres 7, Dodgers 2 - Clayton Kershaw did not have his best stuff Wednesday. The southpaw allowed three big flies in 5⅓, failing to go at least seven for the first time this year. With the win, the Friars sealed their first series sweep at Dodger Stadium since July 2006.

Postponed (Rain/Snow)

Rangers @ Cubs - More bad weather is expected Thursday, so a double-header appears unlikely. So, essentially, both teams just lost two off days later in the season. Tough break.

Angels @ Twins - After bad losses in the first two games in Minnesota, the Angels are probably grateful to be snowed out and get an extra day to figure out what the heck is going wrong and how to fix it.

Mets @ Rockies - The Mets have now been snowed out three times in two cities over the last four days. They have to endure one more day in Colorado before heading home.

The Big Three

1. With the way rookie catcher Evan Gattis is crushing the ball right now, the Braves aren't really missing All-Star backstop Brian McCann all that much. But that doesn't mean McCann's latest setback shouldn't be a big worry for Atlanta. McCann has been on the mend from off-season shoulder surgery and was supposed to return to the lineup by early May, but he's had to put rehab on hold because of an unrelated wrist injury. The severity of the injury is unknown at this point, so he's been sent to Atlanta to have it checked out. Gattis and the rest of the Braves will eventually come down to earth, and when they do Atlanta's going to hope McCann is healthy and back in the lineup.

2. The big-name, free-agent clients of Scott Boras are now all officially off the board, leaving the super agent to do whatever the hell it is he does in the middle of the baseball season. Crocheting, maybe? Francisco Rodriguez pulled a Jose Valverde on Wednesday, re-signing on a minor-league deal with the team that let him walk at the end of 2012: the Milwaukee Brewers. K-Rod has 30 days prove his worth at extended Spring Training before Milwaukee must either call him up or release him. Given the Brew Crew's massive 'pen struggles early this season, I wouldn't be surprised to see Rodriguez reassert himself in a late-inning role with Milwaukee. He certainly can't do any worse than John Axford. If K-Rod does make the squad, he'll reportedly earn upwards of $2 million.

3. Chase Headley is finally off the disabled list and back in action, so let the trade speculation re-commence. The Friars' star third baseman has just one year of arbitration remaining, so if San Diego is planning on dealing him, this summer is going to be their last, best chance to get an impressive return. The big problem for the Padres is that most of the teams with deep and promising farms systems have no need for a third baseman. The Nats, Rays, Rangers, and Cardinals are all set at the hot corner for the next several years, leaving the team to negotiate with clubs like the White Sox, Angels, and Dodgers, whose cupboards have already been picked dry of promising, tradable prospects.

In Other News...

1. After a week of not-all-that-exciting trade speculation surrounding Julio Borbon, the Rangers have been forced to place the outfielder on outright waivers. The move means that Houston will likely claim him and make him the starting center fielder next week, because why not.

2. Hanley Ramirez might return from his broken thumb "way sooner" than expected. The Dodgers shortstop/third baseman was targeting late May, but could be back to save the anemic left side of LA's infield in a few weeks.

3. Angels closer Ryan Madson is targeting a May 1 return to Anaheim. Someone should tell Ryan that all the other guys who targeted that date have hit setbacks in their recoveries. Change it to May 2 or something.