Jason Kubel

Toronto 18, at Texas 10: Adam Lind and Rod Barajas each hit two home runs, with Lind's first career grand slam helping power the Blue Jays to a big early lead. The Rangers rallied from an 11-0 deficit to make it 11-10, but Toronto scored seven runs in the ninth inning. Tampa Bay 11, at Detroit 7: Carlos Pena hit his American League-best 38th home run and drove in four runs for the Rays. at Minnesota 4, Chicago 1: Home runs by Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel in the third inning lifted Nick Blackburn (9-9)

Matt Kemp was back in center field. The lineup changed. And if Manager Don Mattingly's closed-door meeting the previous night did what was intended, so did feeling in the Dodgers' clubhouse. But it didn't matter. The Dodgers lost again to the Arizona Diamondbacks, this time falling, 4-3, in 11 innings. Jason Kubel, whom the Dodgers wanted but couldn't afford last winter, welcomed back Matt Guerrier to the major leagues by hitting a solo home run off him that decided the game.

Jason Kubel, the silent hero at Highland High, speaks softly, carries a big bat and has been compared to John Wayne. His teammate, John Santor, is the opposite, barking out orders around the basepaths, behaving loud and raucous off the field and, at times, playing the role of a distinctly different John . . . Belushi. Apart, they're as different as can be. Together, they have turned around the fortunes of the Highland baseball team. Kubel, a senior center fielder rated the nation's No.

The Arizona Diamondbacks reached agreement on a two-year, $15-million contract with free-agent outfielder Jason Kubel . General Manager Kevin Towers confirmed the deal late Monday afternoon, saying it was contingent on Kubel passing a physical. The contract includes a mutual option for a third year. The addition comes as something of a surprise because it would send left fielder Gerardo Parra to the bench as the Diamondbacks' fourth outfielder. Parra had a breakthrough season a year ago, batting .292 and winning a Gold Glove as one of the game's best defensive outfielders.

Game 1: Today, 3 p.m. Minnesota (Nick Blackburn, 11-11, 4.03) at New York (CC Sabathia, 19-8, 3.37) Game 2: Friday, 3 p.m. Minnesota (Carl Pavano, 14-12, 5.10) at New York (A.J. Burnett: 13-9, 4.04) Game 3: Sunday, TBA New York (Andy Pettitte, 14-8, 4.16) at Minnesota (Scott Baker, 15-9, 4.36) Game 4: Monday, TBA New York (Sabathia) at Minnesota (TBA) Game 5: Oct. 14, TBA Minnesota (TBA) at New York (Burnett) Projected lineup P YANKEES AVG HR RBI SS Derek Jeter .334 18 66 LF Johnny Damon .282 24 82 1B Mark Teixeira .292 39 122 3B Alex Rodriguez .286 30 100 DH Hideki Matsui .274 28 90 C Jorge Posada .285 22 81 2B Robinson Cano .320 25 85 RF Nick Swisher .249 29 82 CF Melky Cabrera .274 13 68 P TWINS AVG HR RBI CF Denard Span .311 8 68 SS Orlando Cabrera .284 9 77 C Joe Mauer .365 28 96 RF Jason Kubel .300 28 103 1B Michael Cuddyer .276 32 94 LF Delmon Young .284 12 60 DH Brendan Harris .261 6 37 3B Matt Tolbert .232 2 19 2B Nick Punto .228 1 38...

Detroit 7, at Chicago 6 (10 innings): Miguel Cabrera broke out of a slump with a solo homer in the 10th inning to lift the Tigers. Cabrera, who had been hitless in his last 12 at-bats, led off the 10th with a shot to left-center off White Sox reliever Scott Linebrink (2-4). It was Cabrera's 11th homer of the season. Minnesota 10, at Oakland 5: Jason Kubel and Justin Morneau each hit a home run and the Twins ended a three-game losing streak. Former first overall draft pick Delmon Young drove in three runs for the Twins, who scored more runs than in their previous four games combined.

At Angel Stadium Monday, 7 p.m.: Jered Weaver (16-8, 3.75 ERA in 2009) vs. Scott Baker (15-9, 4.36) Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Joe Saunders (16-7, 4.60) vs. Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.03) Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Ervin Santana (8-8, 5.03) vs. Carl Pavano (5-4, 4.64) Thursday, 7 p.m.: Joel Pineiro (15-12, 3.49) vs. Kevin Slowey (10-3, 4.86) On the air: TV: FS West on Monday and Wednesday; Channel 13 Tuesday and Thursday. Radio: 830, 1330. 2009 series: Angels, 6-4. Opening-day facts: Former Angels outfielder Tim Salmon will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the national anthem will be sung by 12-year-old Taylor Longbrake, who made her first appearance with the Angels at age 8. Torii Hunter, Brian Fuentes, Howie Kendrick and General Manager Tony Reagins will take part in a pregame ceremony raising the Angels' 2009 American League West championship flag.

Reporting from Minneapolis It was hard to tell who was tougher on Dan Haren on Friday night, the Minnesota Twins or Haren. After giving up seven runs and 11 hits, including Jason Kubel's three-run homer, in seven innings of a 7-2 loss, Haren said he was "embarrassed with the way I threw the ball," calling his performance since his July 25 trade from Arizona "unacceptable. " Mike Scioscia thought Haren, who is 1-4 with a 4.39 earned-run average in six starts with the Angels, was too hard on himself, a topic that came up in the manager's closed-door meeting with Haren before Saturday's game.

Matt Kemp was back in center field. The lineup changed. And if Manager Don Mattingly's closed-door meeting the previous night did what was intended, so did feeling in the Dodgers' clubhouse. But it didn't matter. The Dodgers lost again to the Arizona Diamondbacks, this time falling, 4-3, in 11 innings. Jason Kubel, whom the Dodgers wanted but couldn't afford last winter, welcomed back Matt Guerrier to the major leagues by hitting a solo home run off him that decided the game.

The Arizona Diamondbacks reached agreement on a two-year, $15-million contract with free-agent outfielder Jason Kubel . General Manager Kevin Towers confirmed the deal late Monday afternoon, saying it was contingent on Kubel passing a physical. The contract includes a mutual option for a third year. The addition comes as something of a surprise because it would send left fielder Gerardo Parra to the bench as the Diamondbacks' fourth outfielder. Parra had a breakthrough season a year ago, batting .292 and winning a Gold Glove as one of the game's best defensive outfielders.

Reporting from Minneapolis It was hard to tell who was tougher on Dan Haren on Friday night, the Minnesota Twins or Haren. After giving up seven runs and 11 hits, including Jason Kubel's three-run homer, in seven innings of a 7-2 loss, Haren said he was "embarrassed with the way I threw the ball," calling his performance since his July 25 trade from Arizona "unacceptable. " Mike Scioscia thought Haren, who is 1-4 with a 4.39 earned-run average in six starts with the Angels, was too hard on himself, a topic that came up in the manager's closed-door meeting with Haren before Saturday's game.

At Angel Stadium Monday, 7 p.m.: Jered Weaver (16-8, 3.75 ERA in 2009) vs. Scott Baker (15-9, 4.36) Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Joe Saunders (16-7, 4.60) vs. Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.03) Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Ervin Santana (8-8, 5.03) vs. Carl Pavano (5-4, 4.64) Thursday, 7 p.m.: Joel Pineiro (15-12, 3.49) vs. Kevin Slowey (10-3, 4.86) On the air: TV: FS West on Monday and Wednesday; Channel 13 Tuesday and Thursday. Radio: 830, 1330. 2009 series: Angels, 6-4. Opening-day facts: Former Angels outfielder Tim Salmon will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the national anthem will be sung by 12-year-old Taylor Longbrake, who made her first appearance with the Angels at age 8. Torii Hunter, Brian Fuentes, Howie Kendrick and General Manager Tony Reagins will take part in a pregame ceremony raising the Angels' 2009 American League West championship flag.

Game 1: Today, 3 p.m. Minnesota (Nick Blackburn, 11-11, 4.03) at New York (CC Sabathia, 19-8, 3.37) Game 2: Friday, 3 p.m. Minnesota (Carl Pavano, 14-12, 5.10) at New York (A.J. Burnett: 13-9, 4.04) Game 3: Sunday, TBA New York (Andy Pettitte, 14-8, 4.16) at Minnesota (Scott Baker, 15-9, 4.36) Game 4: Monday, TBA New York (Sabathia) at Minnesota (TBA) Game 5: Oct. 14, TBA Minnesota (TBA) at New York (Burnett) Projected lineup P YANKEES AVG HR RBI SS Derek Jeter .334 18 66 LF Johnny Damon .282 24 82 1B Mark Teixeira .292 39 122 3B Alex Rodriguez .286 30 100 DH Hideki Matsui .274 28 90 C Jorge Posada .285 22 81 2B Robinson Cano .320 25 85 RF Nick Swisher .249 29 82 CF Melky Cabrera .274 13 68 P TWINS AVG HR RBI CF Denard Span .311 8 68 SS Orlando Cabrera .284 9 77 C Joe Mauer .365 28 96 RF Jason Kubel .300 28 103 1B Michael Cuddyer .276 32 94 LF Delmon Young .284 12 60 DH Brendan Harris .261 6 37 3B Matt Tolbert .232 2 19 2B Nick Punto .228 1 38...

Toronto 18, at Texas 10: Adam Lind and Rod Barajas each hit two home runs, with Lind's first career grand slam helping power the Blue Jays to a big early lead. The Rangers rallied from an 11-0 deficit to make it 11-10, but Toronto scored seven runs in the ninth inning. Tampa Bay 11, at Detroit 7: Carlos Pena hit his American League-best 38th home run and drove in four runs for the Rays. at Minnesota 4, Chicago 1: Home runs by Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel in the third inning lifted Nick Blackburn (9-9)

Detroit 7, at Chicago 6 (10 innings): Miguel Cabrera broke out of a slump with a solo homer in the 10th inning to lift the Tigers. Cabrera, who had been hitless in his last 12 at-bats, led off the 10th with a shot to left-center off White Sox reliever Scott Linebrink (2-4). It was Cabrera's 11th homer of the season. Minnesota 10, at Oakland 5: Jason Kubel and Justin Morneau each hit a home run and the Twins ended a three-game losing streak. Former first overall draft pick Delmon Young drove in three runs for the Twins, who scored more runs than in their previous four games combined.

Jason Kubel, the silent hero at Highland High, speaks softly, carries a big bat and has been compared to John Wayne. His teammate, John Santor, is the opposite, barking out orders around the basepaths, behaving loud and raucous off the field and, at times, playing the role of a distinctly different John . . . Belushi. Apart, they're as different as can be. Together, they have turned around the fortunes of the Highland baseball team. Kubel, a senior center fielder rated the nation's No.

The Minnesota Twins spoiled Justin Verlander's stellar start and rallied past the Detroit Tigers, 6-2, in front of 43,338 on Saturday, the largest crowd in the Metrodome since opening day. The Twins moved to within two games of the American League Central-leading Tigers. Jason Kubel's two-run single with the bases loaded in the eighth inning sent Verlander (16-9) to the dugout, and Michael Cuddyer greeted Brandon Lyon with a three-run home run. -- associated press

Pitcher Matt Harrington of Palmdale High has been rated the fourth-best high school prospect in the nation by Baseball America magazine. Scott Heard, a catcher at Rancho Bernardo in San Diego, is No. 1 on the magazine's top 100 list. Pitcher Jamie Shields of Hart is No. 16, shortstop Conor Jackson of El Camino Real is No. 34, outfielder Jason Kubel of Highland is No. 50 and pitcher Jesse Kozlowski of Westlake is No. 95. Harrington, who signed with Arizona State, has a fastball clocked at 94 mph.