American League notes

Baltimore:

IF Ryan Flaherty, a Rule 5 pick in the winter meetings from the Cubs organization, made his first major league start, playing second base. He struck out in each of his three at-bats. Flaherty’s only previous action this season was as a defensive replacement and a pinchrunner. . . . LHP Zach Britton, who opened the season on the disabled list, is regaining strength in his throwing arm after a procedure to eliminate inflammation in his shoulder. He has been throwing from 90 feet and recently threw for three consecutive days, according to Masnsports.com. There’s no timetable for his return.

Boston: OF Jason Repko and IF-OF

Nate Spears had their contracts purchased from Class AAA Pawtucket (R.I.), and RHP Michael

Bowden and C Luis Exposito were designated for assignment. . . . OF

Che-hsuan Lin, who made his major league debut Saturday, was optioned back to Pawtucket after one day in the majors.

Chicago:

Three of the team’s top offensive players — OF Alex Rios, 3B

Brent Morel and 2B Gordon Beckham — are hitting below .200, while 1B-DH Adam Dunn got over that mark with a two-hit game Sunday. “It’s going to be awhile,” manager

Robin Ventura said of any pending changes. “It’s more of their approach than what the numbers are. It’s what I see they bring, so it will be awhile.”

Cleveland:

RHP Jeanmar Gomez could be facing a suspension after his third-inning ejection for throwing at Kansas City’s Mike Moustakas on Saturday. Both teams had been warned in the top of the third inning after Royals starter Jonathan Sanchez hit OF Shin-soo Choo.

Detroit:

IF Brandon Inge, one day off the disabled list, made his first start as Detroit’s designated hitter. He had been sidelined because of a groin strain.

Kansas City:

RH reliever Louis

Coleman was recalled from Class AAA Omaha (Papillion, Neb.) as the Royals went to an eight-man

bullpen. Manager Ned Yost said the team needed pitching with the bullpen stretched thin after working 12z innings Friday and Saturday. Coleman had a save and a 1.69 ERA in three relief appearances with Omaha.

Los Angeles: OF Vernon Wells hit his 250th home run Saturday, making the Angels and Yankees the only teams to each have four active players with at least 250 homers.

Minnesota:

OF Clete Thomas had an auspicious debut, smashing a two-run homer and unloading a strong relay from the right-field corner to help nail Texas’ Adrian Beltre at the plate. The Twins op

tioned Ben Revere to Class AAA Rochester (N.Y.) to make room for Thomas.

New York: RHP Phil Hughes’ chances of sticking when either LHP

Andy Pettitte or RHP Michael Pineda returns have dimmed. Hughes allowed six runs and eight hits in 3z innings Saturday against the Angels. He had a 1.56 ERA in 17z innings in spring training but has fizzled during the season. “I felt good about myself when we broke camp, and things haven’t gone the way I’d like,” Hughes said.

Oakland: RHP Brandon Mccarthy is scheduled to make his major league-leading fourth start today in Anaheim. Mccarthy, who started three of Oakland’s first seven games because of the season-opening trip to Tokyo, is 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA in nine appearances (five starts) against the Angels.

Seattle:

LH reliever George Sherrill went on the disabled list with elbow trouble. He wasn’t healthy all spring and had an 8.44 ERA in six games. LH reliever Charlie Furbush was recalled from Class AAA Tacoma (Wash.).

Tampa Bay:

C Chris Gimenez and RH reliever Alex Cobb were called up from Class AAA Durham (N.C.). C

Jose Lobaton went on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder soreness, and RH reliever Dane

De La Rosa, who was called up Saturday to replace RH reliever Josh Lueke, was sent down.

Texas: Manager Ron Washington is considering juggling his rotation after today’s off day to move RHP Yu

Darvish or RHP Neftali Feliz. It would allow the Rangers to separate the two most inexperienced starters in the rotation, allowing the bullpen to be at its freshest if it needs to pitch long innings behind them.

Toronto:

RH closer Sergio Santos returned from paternity leave Sunday after missing two games for the birth of his third child. LH reliever Aaron Laffey was sent down to Class AAA Las Vegas to prepare for a possible start Saturday, the next time the Blue Jays need a fifth starter.