Valentine criticizes Youkilis, apologizes

Kevin Youkilis' teammates came to his defense yesterday after Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine questioned his commitment to the game and then apologized to his third baseman.

During an interview Sunday on WHDH-TV, Valentine said he didn't think Youkilis was "as physically or emotionally into the game." That drew a sharp response from Dustin Pedroia before yesterday's 1-0 loss to visiting Tampa Bay.

"I know he plays as hard as anybody I've ever seen in my life. I have his back and his teammates have his back," the second baseman said.

Valentine said he apologized yesterday morning when Youkilis came into his office and asked for an explanation. "I don't know if he accepted my apology," Valentine said. "It was sincere."

Youkilis had a poor spring training and is batting .200 (6-for-30), but Valentine said his comments weren't aimed at motivating him. After a 2-for-20 start, he was 4-for-10 in the first three games against the Rays. He missed yesterday's series finale because of a minor groin injury.

"I'm more confused than anything," Youkilis said before the game. "Everybody knows I go out and play the game as hard as I can."

In the game, James Shields (2-0) allowed four hits in 8 1/3 innings. Boston had a chance to tie it in the ninth when Shields left after walking Pedroia. Fernando Rodney got his fourth save when he retired Adrian Gonzalez on a groundout, walked David Ortiz intentionally, then got Cody Ross on a called third strike. Ross slammed his helmet and argued with plate umpire Larry Vanover that the last two pitches should have been balls.

The only run came when Daniel Bard (0-2) walked Evan Longoria on four pitches with the bases loaded in the seventh. Bard also walked the previous batter, Carlos Peña, on four pitches.

Orioles 10, White Sox 4: Matt Wieters homered twice, including a two-out grand slam that capped a six-run 10th inning for visiting Baltimore. The Orioles trailed 4-1 before Wieters homered in the eighth and Nolan Reimold and Adam Jones went deep in the ninth.

Tigers 3, Royals 2: Austin Jackson led off the game with a homer and Brandon Inge added a two-run shot for visiting Detroit.

Nationals 6, Astros 3: Stephen Strasburg (2-0) pitched six innings for host Washington, walking one and striking out five. Steve Lombardozzi had three singles and a two-run double in the sixth that gave the Nats a 4-2 lead.

Giants sign Bumgarner

Madison Bumgarner and the Giants agreed to a six-year, $35.56-million contract through the 2017 season, locking him up through arbitration and his first year of free agency.-- AP