April 16 1929 — Cleveland’s Earl Averill became the first American League player to hit a home run in his first major league plate appearance. The Indians won the game 5-4 in 11 innings on Carl Lind’s double. 1935 — Babe Ruth, 40, made a sensational National League debut in Boston. His single and homer off Carl Hubbell led the Braves over the Giants 4-2. 1940 — Bob Feller of Cleveland defeated the Chicago White Sox 1-0 in the only opening day no-hitter in major league history. 1948 — WGN-TV televised a baseball game for the first time. It was an exhibition game at Wrigley Field with Jack Brickhouse doing the play-by-play. The White Sox defeated the Cubs 4-1. 1972 — Burt Hooton of the Cubs no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 at Wrigley Field. 1978 — Bob Forsch of the St. Louis Cardinals no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0. Less than a year later, Bob’s brother Ken of the Houston Astros pitched a no-hitter against Atlanta. They are the only brothers to throw no-hitters. 1984 — Dave Kingman... [More]

April 161929 — Cleveland’s Earl Averill became the first American League player to hit a home run in his first major league plate appearance. The Indians won the game 5-4 in 11 innings on Carl Lind’s double.1935 — Babe Ruth, 40, made a sensational National League debut in Boston. His single and homer off Carl Hubbell led the Braves over the Giants 4-2.1940 — Bob Feller of Cleveland defeated the Chicago White Sox 1-0 in the only opening day no-hitter in major league history.1948 — WGN-TV televised a baseball game for the first time. It was an exhibition game at Wrigley Field with Jack Brickhouse doing the play-by-play. The White Sox defeated the Cubs 4-1.1972 — Burt Hooton of the Cubs no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 at Wrigley Field.1978 — Bob Forsch of the St. Louis Cardinals no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0. Less than a year later, Bob’s brother Ken of the Houston Astros pitched a no-hitter against Atlanta. They are the only brothers to throw no-hitters.1984 — Dave Kingman of... [More]

April 141910 — William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to throw out the first ball at a baseball opener in Washington.1910 — Chicago’s Frank Smith pitched a one-hitter in the season opener to give the White Sox a win over the St. Louis Browns.1915 — In the opening game at Philadelphia, left-hander Herb Pennock of the A’s blanked the Red Sox 5-0. He gave up only one hit — a scratch single by Harry Hooper with two outs in the ninth.1917 — Ed Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns.1925 — The Cleveland Indians opened the season with a 21-14 victory over the St. Louis Browns, the most runs by one club on opening day. The Indians scored 12 runs in the eighth inning when the Browns made five errors. Browns first baseman George Sisler had four errors in the game.1967 — Boston rookie Bill Rohr lost a no-hit bid in his first major league start when Elston Howard singled in the ninth inning for the New York Yankees’ only hit in a 3-0 loss to... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Leonys Martin's struggles at the plate forced the Indians to make a tough decision with the outfielder.Martín, who overcame a life-threatening bacterial infection last summer after arriving in a trade, was designated for assignment on Saturday. He was batting .199 with nine home runs and 19 RBIs in 65 games.Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said the decision to part ways with the 31-year-old Martín was difficult."Obviously, with all the things we've been through with Leonys and his family to this point, it wasn't easy," Antonetti said before the Indians hosted the Detroit Tigers. "But we also have an obligation to do what we think is the right thing for the rest of the team."Cleveland acquired Martín from the Tigers at the trade deadline last season, but he played only six games before becoming ill and being hospitalized.Antonetti said the move had nothing to do with the argument Martín had with star shortstop Francisco Lindor in the dugout on Wednesday... [More]

April 141910 — William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to throw out the first ball at a baseball opener in Washington.1910 — Chicago's Frank Smith pitched a one-hitter in the season opener to give the White Sox a win over the St. Louis Browns.1915 — In the opening game at Philadelphia, left-hander Herb Pennock of the A's blanked the Red Sox 5-0. He gave up only one hit — a scratch single by Harry Hooper with two outs in the ninth.1917 — Ed Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns.1925 — The Cleveland Indians opened the season with a 21-14 victory over the St. Louis Browns, the most runs scored by one club on opening day. The Indians scored 12 runs in the eighth inning when the Browns made five errors. Browns first baseman George Sisler had four errors in the game.1967 — Boston rookie Bill Rohr lost a no-hit bid in his first major league start when Elston Howard singled in the ninth inning for the New York Yankees' only hit in a 3-0... [More]

Sizemore is back in the lineup Friday.

With the Rays set to take on R.A. Dickey and the Blue Jays, Sizemore will take over in left field and hit second in the lineup.

Sizemore is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

With Sizemore on the bench, the Rays will use Joey Butler in left field Sunday against Royals left-hander Danny Duffy.

Sizemore is not in the lineup Thursday against the Twins, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune reports.

Sizemore has started each of the past eight games, but will get the day off with left-handed Tommy Milone set to take the mound for the Twins. Brandon Guyer will slide over to right field while Joey Butler will draw the start in left.

Sizemore is out of the lineup Monday against the Astros, Roger Mooney of The Tampa Tribune reports.

Sizemore continues to see most of the starts in right field, but the lefty will get the day off with the club facing a southpaw in Scott Kazmir. As a result, Brandon Guyer will receive the start in his place Monday and he'll lead off for the Rays.

Sizemore went 2-for-4 Saturday with a two-run shot, his fifth home run of the season and third in his last five games.

All of a sudden the veteran is red hot and getting steady at-bats thanks to Steven Souza's latest hand injury. It's highly doubtful that Sizemore will be able to maintain anything close to this pace, so if you have him rostered just enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Sizemore will get more time in the outfield due to Steven Souza's injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Sizemore has been used near the top of the lineup and at right field in the past, so him taking up Souza's old role would make some sense. However, Rays manager Kevin Cash mentioned Brandon Guyer and Mikie Mahtook as other options, so it's more likely to be a fluid situation with little predictability.

Sizemore has been called up by the Rays and is starting in left field for Saturday's game, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Sizemore could figure to slot into the traded David DeJesus' old role going forward as an occasional starter against right-handers and left-handed bench bat. However, any continuity at left field would be a surprise from the Rays given that Sizemore will be the sixth different starter at the position in the last six games.

Sizemore was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Monday.

The Rays needed to make a move to bring Steven Souza off the DL, and Sizemore was the casualty. He went 2-for-3 with his first walk as a Ray and a run scored Monday, but it's hard to ignore how quickly he faded after a big start with Tampa.

Sizemore went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored Monday against the Phillies.

The veteran hit the skids before the All-Star break, but now has three hits in his last 10 at-bats. Now 32, Sizemore has struggled mightily this season with Tampa and the Phillies, registering a negative-1.4 WAR this season.

Sizemore is not in Saturday's lineup, the Tampa Tribune's Roger Mooney reports.

Sizemore will start Saturday's game on the bench with lefty Dallas Keuchel on the mound for the Astros. Look for the veteran outfielder to be back in the mix Sunday against righty Lance McCullers. John Jaso is getting the nod at DH Saturday with Joey Butler starting in right.

Sizemore is out of the lineup Sunday against the Yankees, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune reports.

Since his promotion to the Rays last weekend, Sizemore has settled in as the team's primary DH, but he'll get a rest Sunday with manager Kevin Cash opting to use Evan Longoria in that role. Sizemore has gone 9-for-25 (.360) with a homer and four RBI at the dish during his time in Tampa.

Sizemore went 3-for-5 as the DH in his Rays debut Sunday against the Red Sox.

Sizemore could be very busy this week - the Rays play seven games, all against right-handed starters.

The Rays purchased Sizemore's contract Sunday from High-A Charlotte, Steve Carney of WDAE 620 AM reports. Sizemore will serve as the DH and bat second in Sunday's lineup against the Red Sox, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

Sizemore's return to the big leagues in 2014 after a lengthy hiatus due to injury was a nice story, but it doesn't appear that he has much left in the tank at this point. He slashed a pedestrian .245/.288/.296 over 104 plate appearances with the Phillies before earning his release, but the platoon-happy Rays evidently still think he can be an asset from the left side of the plate. He'll likely have to perform well right away for the Rays if he hopes to avoid getting dumped off the 40-man roster.

Sizemore will play five innings in left field for High-A Charlotte on Monday, Josh Vitale of the Charlotte Sun reports.

This will be Sizemore's first game in the Rays organization since being signed in mid-June. He hit .245 with six RBI for the Phillies earlier this season before being released on June 1. The Rays want Sizemore to get back into game shape before he rises through the team's system and competes for playing time at the major league level.

Sizemore signed a minor league deal with the Rays on Monday and will report to High-A Charlotte, Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Sizemore was DFA'd by the Phillies at the end of May and was subsequently released a few days later. The veteran will head to his third team in two seasons as he continues to attempt to regain the form that made him a three-time All-Star for the Indians fro 2006-08. He'll have to prove himself at the minor league level before the Rays give consideration to bringing him up to the major league roster.