Angels owner not Joshing

Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno said he isn’t certain Josh

Hamilton will play for the team again after his latest relapse into substance abuse.

Moreno also said the outfielder’s contract contains language protecting the team against a relapse by Hamilton, apparently contradicting his previous statements. The players’ association later issued a statement denying Moreno’s claims.

Moreno spoke briefly to reporters before the club’s home opener on Friday night. When asked if Hamilton definitely would play again for Los Angeles, Moreno replied: “I will not say that.”

Hamilton isn’t with the team while undergoing rehabilitation on his surgically repaired shoulder, and he isn’t expected to be ready to play until May.

Cesar Hernandez had a goahead, two-run single in a wild four-run seventh, leading the host Phillies to a 4-1 victory over the

Nationals . Joey Votto hit a pair of tworun homers as the host Reds (4-0) remained unbeaten with a 5-4 victory over the Cardinals .

Jose Bautista went 3-for-3 and scored four runs as the Blue

Jays ruined the Orioles’ home opener with a 12-5 victory. Mark Buehrle (1-0) earned his 200th win.

Tommy Milone pitched twohit ball into the eighth and the

Twins beat the White Sox , 6-0, to give manager Paul Molitor his first victory and send Chicago to 0-4.

DEKKER ENTERING DRAFT

Wisconsin junior forward Sam

Dekker , who helped lead the Badgers to Monday’s NCAA Tournament final, said he will enter the NBA draft.

STRICKEN PLAYER DIES

Lauren Hill , a 19-year-old freshman basketball player at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati who fought an inoperable brain tumor this past season, died at a hospital Friday morning, the co-founder of her nonprofit foundation said. Hill achieved her dream of playing for St. Joseph on Nov. 2, when she scored the first and last basket on layups in a victory over Hiram College. Her foundation helped to raise more than $1.5 million for cancer research.