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Red Sox Look to Get Above .500 Against Rays: Fan Preview (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Following a successful road trip during which they climbed back to .500, the 22-22 Boston Red Sox return to Fenway Park to face the 27-18 Tampa Bay Rays from May 25 to 27. The Red Sox and Rays split a pair of games in Tampa last week and the Red Sox took three out of four from the Rays in Boston during their first home series in April.

 

American League notebook -- Thursday, May 24, 2012 (The SportsXchange)

Baltimore: LH reliever J.C. Romero and the Orioles agreed to terms on a minor league contract, and the 35-year-old veteran could be used in a situational role if he makes the majors. He'll report to Class AAA Norfolk (Va.). Romero was released by St. Louis on May 14 after posting a 10.13 ERA in 11 appearances. ... 2B Brian Roberts drew walks in both of his plate appearances and played three innings in the field Wednesday during his first rehab game for Class AA Bowie (Md.). ...

 

Rangers claim RHP Gaub off waivers from Rays (The Associated Press)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) The Texas Rangers have acquired left-hander John Gaub on a waiver claim from Tampa Bay.

 

Rays-Red Sox Preview (The Associated Press)

While winning 10 of 13 has evened the Boston Red Sox's record following a dreadful start, it hasn't been enough to dig them out the AL East cellar.

 

American League notebook -- Wednesday, May 23, 2012 (The SportsXchange)

Baltimore: RHP Jason Hammel is still penciled in to make his start Friday against the Royals despite problems with his balky right knee. Hammel missed a turn in the rotation earlier this month due to the knee, and he had fluid drained earlier this week. ... CF Adam Jones went 2-for-3 with a walk, extending his hitting streak to 15 games, a career long. He is 22-for-62 (.355) with six homers and 12 RBI during the streak.

 

Rays beat Toronto 5-4 in 11 on Upton double (The Associated Press)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) B.J. Upton helped the Tampa Bay Rays continue their home dominance over Toronto.

 

Girardi noncommittal on his closer (The Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) Yankees manager Joe Girardi will not commit to using David Robertson as his closer when the right-hander returns from a ribcage injury.

 

Tony Campana slide combines best of Superman, Pete Rose and Sam Fuld (Big League Stew)

The hiring of Theo Epstein as club president and Jed Hoyer as GM failed to turn the Chicago Cubs into a World Series contender in one season. Not a surprise, but the Cubs owning the worst record in the majors heading into action Wednesday still is a big downer for fans hoping the winds of change would bring something better, and sooner. At least there's Tony Campana. He's a holdover from the previous administration, but Campana has batted .306 with a .359 on-base percentage (that could be better) and 12 stolen bases. Campana optimistically boasted in spring training that he could steal 100 bases if given the chance. Perhaps he could. But his speed has made him fun to watch. Like here , after an errant pickoff attempt against the Houston Astros on Tuesday night: "Uh oh," goes Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper. But never fear, Len! Campana's acrobatic (and remarkably lucky) slide somehow eludes the tag of infielder Matt Downs at third base. The ninja move from the government was part-Pete Rose , part- Superman , part-Sam Fuld.

 

Sam Fuld: Targets August Return (Rotowire.com)

Update: Fuld (wrist) had a positive exam Tuesday and hopes to return by August, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

 

Brett Lawrie hits umpire with line drive totally by accident (VIDEO) (Big League Stew)

Brett Lawrie of the Toronto Blue Jays is having the worst luck in the world hitting umpires with baseball equipment. In his second game back from a suspension for a tantrum that resulted in an umpire getting hit with Lawrie's batting helmet after an angry bounce, Lawrie lined a pitch foul that struck first base umpire Andy Fletcher in the left arm during the fourth inning. Fletcher briefly left the game for treatment but was back by the fifth. The Tampa Bay Rays won the game 8-5 . While the incident a week ago created much conjecture about how much responsibility Lawrie should take for his helmet hitting ump Bill Miller in the hip after Miller made two bad calls to incur Lawrie's rage, this one is just an odd coincidence. Lawrie had no beef with Fletcher. And even if he did, it's hard to imagine even a major leaguer having that kind of aim. (Joe West probably would have accused Lawrie of doing it on purpose. Good thing he was umping another base.) ''It seemed like the further he moved, the more the ball chased him,'' Lawrie said. ''Just a bit of bad luck that it hit him.'' Just a bit. What's funny, or probably not funny if you're Lawrie, is that he had another dispute with a different umpire in the eighth. [ MLB Full Count: Watch live look-ins and highlights for free all season long ]