CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Indians may have found a boost for their stagnant offense.
The team has reached agreement on a $1.25 million, one-year contract with free-agent outfielder Johnny Damon, a person familiar with the deal said Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Indians had not yet announced the agreement.
Damon is 277 hits from 3,000 and was looking to catch on with a team to prolong his career.
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Johnny Damon
Damon needs hits to reach the milestone. The Indians simply need hits.
Agent Scott Boras has worked out a deal with Indians general manager Chris Antonetti, who has been looking for a player to help a Cleveland team off to a 1-4 start and batting just .176 - worst in the majors. Damon can play both left and center field and will give manager Manny Acta another option in his lineup and outfield until Grady Sizemore returns from the disabled list.
Sizemore, who underwent minor back surgery last month, is not eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list until June 3. Damon could provide a stopgap, or if he produces, the Indians may want to keep him for the entire season.
The 38-year-old Damon, who confirmed the deal was near completion earlier in a text message to the AP, can make another $1.4 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances..
TIGERS 7, RAYS 2
DETROIT (AP) - Brennan Boesch drove in four runs on his 27th birthday Friday, leading Detroit to a victory against Tampa for its fifth in six games to start the season.
Drew Smyly gave up a run in four-plus innings in his major league debut. Despite having the American League's best record, Tigers starters have not earned a win.
Collin Balester (1-0) won this one with two innings of relief.
The Tigers trailed 1-0 until scoring three runs off Jeff Niemann (0-1) in the fifth.
RANGERS 5, MARINERS 3
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Michael Young hit a two-run homer and had four RBIs to back Derek Holland, leading the Rangers over Seattle.
Young put Texas ahead with an RBI single. Then with the Rangers leading 1-0 in the fifth inning for the third straight game, Young hit an opposite-field homer into the first row in right for a 3-0 lead against Jason Vargas (1-1). Young added a run-scoring single in the eighth off Erasmo Ramirez.
Holland (1-0) allowed two runs and five hits in 7 1-3 innings, struck out eight and walked none. He extended a scoreless streak by Texas starters to 22 2-3 innings before Alex Liddi's RBI single in the sixth.
TWINS 10, ANGELS 9
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Justin Morneau hit a two-run, tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and Minnesota rallied from six runs down to beat the Angels.
Joe Mauer went deep, too, hitting a three-run shot off Dan Haren in the fifth that cut into a 6-0 lead the Angels built against Francisco Liriano. Every Twins batter had at least one of the team's 20 hits, enough to make up for the 14 men left on base, including eight in scoring position.
Denard Span had four hits, including an infield single that tied it at 6 in the seventh inning.
Rich Thompson (0-1) gave up Morneau's first home run of the season.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
DENVER (AP) - No victory for the ages. Or, for that matter, the aged.
Madison Bumgarner took a no-hit bid into the sixth and scattered four hits in 7 1-3 innings in the San Francisco Giants' 4-2 victory against the Colorado Rockies.
At 49, Moyer failed in his second attempt to become the oldest pitcher to win a major-league game.
PHILLIES 3, MARLINS 1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Shane Victorino and Ty Wigginton homered, Joe Blanton pitched seven strong innings and Philadelphia beat Miami in the Marlins' second game without suspended manager Ozzie Guillen.
NATIONALS 3, REDS 2, 10 INNINGS
WASHINGTON (AP) - Ryan Zimmerman scored on Alfredo Simon's wild pitch with two outs in the 10th inning, helping the Nationals extend their best start since moving to Washington.
CUBS 8, BREWERS 0
CHICAGO (AP) - Matt Garza pitched three-hit ball for 8 2-3 innings, and the Cubs roughed up Zack Greinke to avoid a four-game sweep.
Garza (1-0) struck out nine and walked two as the Cubs improved to 2-5.
