MLB scores and more: Kuroda exits with injury, Worley demoted, Utley scheduled for MRI

Wednesday’s scores

Braves 8, Twins 3 - Rewarded with a start behind the plate following his pinch-hit home run on Tuesday, backstop Evan Gattis was at it again for Atlanta Wednesday. The rookie launched his first career grand slam off of Twins' Opening Day starter Vance Worley, who was demoted to Triple-A after the game.

Reds 7, Mets 4 - He didn't mean to do it, but Brandon Phillips' check-swing, go-ahead double in the ninth still counts in the boxscore. With a two-hit, two-walk day, Joey Votto's OBP is now up to a Bondsian .484.

Dodgers 9, Brewers 2 - Hyun-Jin Ryu's solid start as an MLB pitcher continued on Wednesday. The rookie southpaw tossed ⅓ of one-run ball to lead the Dodgers to the win. Ryu now has seven quality starts in 10 big-league games.

Rangers 3, A's 1 - Seeking to test the limits of their good fortune in regards to quality starting pitching, the Rangers called on 30-year-old right-hander Ross Wolf to take the hill Wednesday. He proceeded to throw five, three-hit innings, meaning Texas that limit is still a ways out there.

Rockies 4, D'Backs 1 - Carlos Gonzalez provided most of the excitement with a solo blast and a run-scoring triple off of AZ starter Trevor Cahill. Arizona and Colorado are now deadlocked with the Giants for first in the NL West.

Nats 2, Giants 1 (F. 10) - Bryce Harper found redemption Wednesday from the previous day's costly hesitation, knocking a solo shot in the sixth and kicking off the game-winning rally in extras. Both Gio Gonzalez and Madison Bumgarner pitched well, but neither factored in to the final decision.

Blue Jays 4, Rays 3 (F. 10) - Fernando Rodney has more than doubled his earned runs allowed total from last season in over 50 fewer innings. Welcome back to earth, Fernando. Jose Bautista provided the game-tying and game-winning hits for the Jays, only one of them coming off of Rodney.

Pirates 1, Cubs 0 - It's not often that one run on three hits will result in a win for your team, but that's exactly what the Bucs got on Wednesday. Jeff Samardzija pitched admirably yet again and had nothing to show for it but a big "L". Francisco Liriano tossed seven shutout frames for the Pirates.

Tigers 11, Indians 7 - Miguel Cabrera was at it again, upping the difficulty a bit by launching a two-run home run off the glove of Indinas center fielder Michael Bourn. Justin Verlander came away with the win despite being knocked around for the second straight start.

Orioles 6, Yankees 3 - The O's did all their damage via the long ball Wednesday. Nick Markakis, Chris Davis, and Matt Wieters all went deep off of NYY pitching. Hiroki Kuroda lasted just three innings and was forced to leave the game (again) after being nailed with a baseball.

Angels 7, Mariners 1 - C.J. Wilson shut down the M's with eight strong innings, fanning 10. Mike Trout began his day with a single and a triple, but couldn't muster the other two hits needed to complete the bicycle. The Halos are now winners of a season-high four straight.

Phillies 3, Marlins 0 - As everyone seems to do, Cliff Lee dominated the Marlins on Wednesday, earning the 12th shutout of his career. Delmon Young went deep for the second straight night.

Red Sox 6, White Sox 2 - Clay Buchholz moved to 7-0 with seven strong frames against the ChiSox. Big Papi came through in the clutch, as he does, notching two of the club's six runs.

Astros 3, Royals 1 - James Shields has become synonymous with no run support this season, and that trend continued Wednesday. Jordan Lyles and a trio of relievers held KC to just six hits.

Cardinals 5, Padres 3 - Tyler Lyons was stellar in his MLB debut, throwing seven four-hit, one-run innings and earning his first big-league hit in the process.

The Big Three

1. Hiroki Kuroda is a comebacker magnet this season. The veteran right-hander was forced to leave the game in the third Wednesday after taking a line drive off the bat of Manny Machado in the previous inning. As when Kuroda took one off his finger in the first start of the year, the quick hook is being classified as "precautionary" for the time being. The official diagnosis seems to be a right calf bruise, so he should be good to go for his next start, barring any more comebackers in the meantime.

2. The Minnesota Twins saw the Blue Jays' bold move of demoting their 2012 Opening Day starter, and decided to up the ante. The Twinkies optioned struggling right-hander (and 2013 Opening Day starter) Vance Worley down to Triple-A following Wednesday's brief outing against the Braves. Worley owns a 7.21 ERA through his first 11 starts, The only thing now keeping Joe Blanton from being the worst regular starter in the majors is former teammate Aaron Harang.

3. It was really only a matter of time before the injury bug found its way back to its old friend Chase Utley. The Phillies' second baseman has been sidelined since Tuesday with a "burning sensation" in his rib cage, which sounds like some sort of Oregon Trail malady. Utley is scheduled to get an MRI on his chest some time today, and will likely end up on the disabled list. Any time away for Utley would put a serious dent in the lineup of the already struggling Phillies (not to mention hurt his trade value).