Harden leads A’s over Red Sox
Split two games, get back on a plane.
Rich Harden struck out nine over six innings and Emil Brown hit a three-run homer, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 5-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday in the finale of their season-opening series in Tokyo.
“Everyone’s looking forward to getting back to the Bay Area and recovering,” A’s manager Bob Geren said.
Rodriguez rebuffs allegations
Alex Rodriguez refused to address allegations by Jose Canseco, who claims he introduced the three-time MVP to a steroids dealer.
“It’s over as far as I’m concerned,” Rodriguez said. “No further comment on the matter. I’m just excited to be playing baseball.”
In the book, “Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and The Battle to Save Baseball,” Canseco claimed he introduced Rodriguez to a steroids dealer named “Max.”
During an interview to be broadcast today by ABC’s “Nightline,” Canseco said he won’t produce evidence to back his claim.
“The timing’s not right,” Canseco said. “Let’s see how Alex reacts. Let’s see if they all call me a liar again. How’s that for you? Let’s see if all of a sudden they’re going to call me a liar again.”
•Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte threw 36 pitches in a bullpen session and remains on target to start the third or fourth game of the season.
Clearing the bases
Atlanta right-hander Tyler Yates was traded to Pittsburgh for Double-A right-hander Todd Redmond. … Right-hander Ramon Ramirez was acquired by Kansas City from Colorado for a player to be named. … Veteran right-handed reliever Rudy Seanez was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers. … Baltimore GM Andy MacPhail said that he’s not close to completing a deal that would send Brian Roberts to the Chicago Cubs and that Roberts would likely begin the season as the team’s second baseman. … Former major league manager Preston Gomez, 84, was critically injured when he was struck by a pickup truck at a gas station in Blythe, Calif. … Kelvim Escobar, an 18-game winner for the Los Angeles Angels last season, said he has a tear in his pitching shoulder and might need surgery.