Joba Chamberlain and soon-to-be Hall of Famer Goose Gossage had a "great conversation" via telephone on Tuesday, but not surprisingly given their mound demeanors, neither is in any particular hurry to back down.

Alex Rodriguez is planning to rejoin the Yankees' lineup next week, he told reporters on Tuesday at the club's Minor League complex.

The Yankees have shipped Kei Igawa off to their bullpen and are primed to recall rookie Ian Kennedy from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start on Thursday against the Rays.

The Yankees' Minor League complex in Tampa, Fla., used for player injury rehabilitation, is just a short drive away, so trips to play the Rays always present an opportunity for teammates to check in and renew acquaintances with those on the disabled list.

Andy Pettitte made an early exit, and an extra evening of rest didn't serve the Yankees' bats well, as the Bombers fell to the troublesome Rays in a 7-1 decision on Monday at Tropicana Field.

Josh Beckett labored through 5 2/3 innings, serving up a go-ahead, three-run homer to Luke Scott in the third, as the Red Sox were defeated 5-4 by the Orioles on Tuesday night.

Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew left Tuesday's game against the Orioles after sustaining a strained left wrist in the bottom of the third inning. X-rays were negative.

Julio Lugo reported some improvement on Tuesday, though the minor concussion he sustained in a second-base collision on Friday in Minnesota forced him to miss a fourth consecutive game.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona will miss Boston's two-game series at Camden Yards following the death of his wife's mother. Bench coach Brad Mills will fill in during his absence.

Accidents can occur anytime, anywhere

Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk will become a team ambassador and member of the White Sox Speakers Bureau, having an official job again with the organization he called home from 1981-93. He will be recognized May 22 before a game against Cleveland.

The Mariners' search for any kind of key hit or big pitch came up empty in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Rangers. Seattle lost for 12th time in 14 games and fell to 6-14 on the road.

Lyle Overbay and Shannon Stewart each hit run-scoring doubles and Matt Stairs added a solo homer to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night at the Metrodome.

Zack Greinke threw well, giving up two runs over six innings, and the Royals offense was helped by two Jose Guillen doubles as KC stymied the Tigers, 3-2, in Tuesday's series opener.

Shawn Estes worked into the sixth with a one-run lead, and the bullpen held the Cubs' bats down the rest of the way in San Diego's 4-3 win over Chicago at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night.