MLB News Blog

Manny Ramirez returned to the big leagues and apologized to fans and his teammates. He refused to talk about steroids, though. The slugger's 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy ended Friday and he was set to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Diego Padres. "Showtime!" he said as he walked into a news conference about four hours before the first…

Boston right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will head to Florida on Monday to begin a spring training-like strengthening program that the Red Sox hope will get him back to the big leagues later this season. Matsuzaka was 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA and an opponents' batting average of .378 before going on the disabled list June 21.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit caught five innings of a Gulf Coast League game Friday, the first time he has played since breaking his right wrist April 19. Doumit was hitless in two at-bats with a walk in the first of two scheduled appearances for rookie league Bradenton. "I'll play one more game here (Saturday), then go to Indy (Triple-A Indianapolis) for four or five games.

Target Field has a target date. Outdoor baseball is tentatively set to return to Minneapolis on April 12 when the Minnesota Twins play their 2010 home opener against the Boston Red Sox. The date was contained in a draft schedule for next season that recently was sent to teams and revealed Friday to The Associated Press.

Jake Fox drew a bases-loaded walk off Mike DiFelice to force in the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Friday. Ryan Theriot singled off second baseman Craig Counsell's glove with one out in the 10th and went to second on a wild pitch from DiFelice (4-1).

Struggling Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with right wrist tendinitis. The move was made before Atlanta opened a three-game weekend series against the Washington Nationals on Friday. Braves manager Bobby Cox said Johnson's recent slump could be traced to the wrist problem.

The Reds activated third baseman Edwin Encarnacion from the 60-day disabled list Friday to replace infielder Danny Richar, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Wilkin Castillo, who had surgery Wednesday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, was moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day to make room for Encarnacion on the 40-man roster.

A.J. Burnett quickly got the New York Yankees back to their winning ways. Burnett scattered six hits over seven innings, Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez homered, and the Yankees opened the long holiday weekend with a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. Wearing jarring red caps as part of Major League Baseball's Fourth of July weekend celebration, the Yankees rebounded from…

The Seattle Mariners have activated right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Mike Carp to Triple-A Tacoma. The team said the 25-year-old Kelly would be available for Friday night's series opener against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Kelley is 1-1 with a 1.54 ERA in 10 games as a surprise rookie contributor in Seattle's bullpen.

The Blue Jays have purchased the contract of outfielder Dave Dellucci from Triple-A Las Vegas and cleared a roster spot by designating utilityman Russ Adams for assignment. The 35-year-old Dellucci hit .275 with one RBI in 14 RBIs this year for Cleveland, which released him June 1. Toronto signed him to a minor league contract nine days later.