Killebrew opts for hospice care

Harmon Killebrew announced Friday that he no longer plans to fight his esophageal cancer and has settled in for the final days of his life, saddening friends and fans of the 74-year-old Hall of Fame slugger. In a statement released jointly by the Minnesota Twins and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Killebrew said "it is with profound sadness" that he will no longer receive treatment for the "awful disease." He said the cancer has been deemed incurable by his doctors and he will enter hospice care.

McDowell returnsHis eyes red and voice wavering, Roger McDowell returned as the Braves' pitching coach Friday and apologized for his crude conduct that led to a suspension. He spent a "very humbling" two weeks away from the game and promised there will be no repeat of such actions. McDowell had a confrontation with fans at a Braves-Giants game in San Francisco on April 23.

Verlander makes bid

Justin Verlander (4-3) made an impressive bid to become the second pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters before allowing an RBI triple to Kansas City's Melky Cabrera in the sixth inning of host Detroit's 3-1 win Friday night. In his first start since throwing a no-hitter at Toronto on Saturday, Verlander pitched 52/3 hitless innings before Cabrera sent a line drive to the gap in right-center field.

Rays 3, Orioles 0: Jeremy Hellickson threw a four-hitter and Matt Joyce and Johnny Damon homered for host Tampa Bay. Hellickson (4-2) struck out three and walked one in his first career complete game.

Indians 5, Mariners 4: Travis Hafner hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth off Seattle closer Brandon League, rallying host Cleveland and handing Seattle to its sixth straight loss.

Rangers 4, Angels 1: Alexi Ogando (4-0) pitched effectively into the seventh and Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre homered for host Texas.

Cubs 11, Giants 4: Ryan Dempster (2-4) struck out 11 in six innings and Reed Johnson drove in four runs as the host Cubs ended the Giants' winning streak at 6.

Phillies 5, Braves 4: Raul Ibanez snapped a tie with a run-scoring single in the eighth and Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer for visiting Philadelphia.

Marlins 6, Nationals 5: Omar Infante used a clever slide to score on Greg Dobbs' double in the top of the 11th for Florida. -- AP