The Red Sox are now 0-5 after another loss to the Indians at Progressive Field. Holding a 3 – 2 lead, the Indians load the bases with none out against Dennys Reyes in the 6th when an unusual play occurs. Michael Brantleyhits a soft line drive to third base. 3B Kevin Youkilis drops the ball, picks it up and scrambles to the base while the runners hesitate, unsure about what to do; Youkilis then guns the ball to C Jason Varitek, who steps on home plate and moves aside, thinking he has completed a double play, but forgetting that the force has been removed when Youkilis recorded the first out. Travis Buck is as surprised as anyone to learn he is not out and that his run counts. Asdrubal Cabrera then follows with a three-run homer that breaks the game open. Shin-Soo Choo had opened the scoring with a solo shot in the 1st, and Matt LaPorta makes the final score 8 – 4 with another solo homer in the 8th.

The Chicago Cubs place two-fifths of their starting rotation on the disabled list today as Andrew Cashner has a shoulder strain and Randy Wells is experiencing pain in his forearm. The Cubs call up Casey Coleman from the minors and will give James Russell his first major league start in the pair’s absence.

Another of the game’s top sluggers undergoes an emergency appendectomy. Less than a week after Matt Holliday, the White Sox’s Adam Dunn goes under the knife, but the progress in surgical procedures means that he may only miss a handful of games.

Two pitchers making their first major league start show good form as the Rangers defeat the Mariners, 3 – 2, to remain unbeaten this year. Converted reliever Alexi Ogando pitches six scoreless innings for Texas to earn the win, while Michael Pineda, making his major league debut, allows three runs on five hits in six innings to take the loss, but keeps the homer-happy Rangers in the yard and strikes out four.

Panic is starting to set in for Red Sox Nation as the winless team loses its fourth straight game, 3 – 1, to the Indians. Josh Tomlin tames the Sox’s bats for the win. It is Boston’s worst start since 1996.

Chris Young becomes the first pitcher in New York Mets history to collect two hits in an inning as he defeats the Phillies, 7 – 1, in his first start for his new team. His hitting binge comes in the 3rd inning, which he leads off with a single; he scores the game’s first run, then has a two-out RBI single to bring the score to 6 – 0 and chase losing pitcher Cole Hamels. For good measure, he adds a third single in the 5th. David Wright also partakes in the fun with 4 hits, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI.

Rangers RF Nelson Cruz ties a mark set by Willie Mays in 1971 and Mark McGwire in 1998 by becoming the third player to homer in his team’s first four games to start the season. SS Elvis Andrus joins in the fun, ending a 705 at-bat home run drought dating back to 2009 when he connects in the 1st inning. Texas defeats Seattle, 6 – 4, to move to 4-0 on the year. For the Mariners, Erik Bedard is the loser in his first major league start since undergoing shoulder surgery on August 14, 2009.

The Orioles are also 4-0 after beating the Tigers, 5 – 1, in their home opener at Camden Yards. Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver throws the ceremonial first pitch, then Jake Arrieta takes over with six strong innings, the fourth straight outstanding performance by an Oriole starting pitcher. Brian Roberts hits a three-run homer off Rick Porcello to put the Birds ahead to stay.

In his first career start at 1B, the Indians’ Carlos Santana starts a triple play in the 4th by diving to catch a pop-up bunted down the first base line by the White Sox’s Alexei Ramirez. The two Sox baserunners are running on the play and are doubled off easily. In the bottom of the frame, Orlando Cabrera hits a two-run homer to send the Indians on their way to a 7 – 1 victory, with Justin Masterson getting the best of John Danks.

Orioles P Zach Britton is masterful in his major league debut, giving up a run on three hits while striking out six in as many innings as the Birds complete a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field with a 5 – 1 win. The Rays get more bad news before the game when they place All-Star 3B Evan Longoria on the disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle that will keep him out of action for three weeks.