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BoSox, A’s may meet in Tokyo

Boston pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka could be opening the 2008 season in Tokyo. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Boston pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka could be opening the 2008 season in Tokyo. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

The Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics are lined up to meet in a Tokyo Dome opener next season.

Major League Baseball gave the players’ union a 2008 schedule draft Monday, and the Red Sox would open the United States portion of their schedule at Oakland, according to Gene Orza, the union’s chief operating officer.

Baseball officials have spent several months formulating a plan in which the Red Sox – with Japanese stars Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima – would start the season in Japan against an A.L. West opponent, then return to the United States for a series at that same A.L. West team.

Orza said that while Boston and Oakland are leading candidates, it’s not a done deal yet.

Gibbons added to list

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons joined the list of players asked to meet with baseball officials after being linked to a Florida pharmacy that distributed prescription performance- enhancing drugs.

A day after SI.com reported Gibbons received steroids and human growth hormone from Signature Pharmacy after both substances were banned, baseball requested a meeting with him.

Gibbons got six shipments of Genotropin (a brand name for synthetic human growth hormone), two shipments of testosterone and two shipments of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) from October 2003 and July 2005, SI.com said, citing a Florida source with knowledge of a Signature Pharmacy client list.

Clearing the bases

Carlos Delgado (right hip flexor) is expected to miss the New York Mets’ entire homestand. … Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Jason Bay has tendinitis in his right knee but should be able to return to the lineup later this week. … Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman won’t need surgery on his sore right elbow, but his season likely is over. An MRI showed pinched cartilage in the right-hander’s elbow. … Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. … Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan missed the game against the Chicago Cubs after returning to St. Louis to have his sore groin examined.