Yankees' Pettitte closer to returning

ANDY PETTITTE allowed three earned runs and seven singles in five-plus innings for Double A Trenton on Wednesday night in his third minor-league start as he works toward making the New York Yankees' rotation.

Pettitte, 39, trying to come back after retiring following the 2010 season, struck out three and walked one in a 10-4 loss to the Erie SeaWolves, a Tigers affiliate at Trenton's Waterfront Park.

"I felt good," said Pettitte. "It was another step in the right direction."

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Pettitte will make at least one more minor-league start and possibly as many as three more before returning to the big leagues.

Boston outfielder Carl Crawford is going to see orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on the left elbow that has plagued him since he reported to spring training. Crawford had surgery in January on his left wrist and has not played in a game this season.

* New York Yankees starter Michael Pineda will miss the rest of the season because of a tear in the labrum of his right shoulder. He hasn't appeared in a game this season after being traded from Seattle in January.

* Baltimore pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada will get a second opinion on his ailing left elbow from orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter says Wada was diagnosed with ligament damage. Yocum examined Wada before the lefthander signed a 2-year, $8.15 million contract in December. Wada experienced elbow discomfort in February and was placed on the disabled list before the season. He has yet to make his major league debut.

At Oakland, Kila Ka'aihue blooped a winning single in the 14th inning soon after Yoenis Cespedes' tying two-run homer, and the Athletics rallied past the Chicago White Sox, 5-4.

Cespedes delivered his fifth homer of the season against Hector Santiago (0-1) after Chicago took the lead in the top half. Then Ka'aihue came through in a game that lasted 3 hours, 56 minutes. Alexei Ramirez hit a go-ahead two-run double with two outs in the top of the 14th. Paul Konerko hit his 400th career home run to tie the game at 2 in the Chicago ninth.

* At Detroit, Felix Hernandez (2-1) allowed only a run in seven innings, rookie Alex Liddi hit a two-run homer and the Seattle Mariners beat the Tigers, 9-1.

* At St. Petersburg, Fla., Jeremy Hellickson (3-0) overcame early struggles to pitch six effective innings, Ben Zobrist homered, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels, 3-2.

* At Baltimore, Jason Hammel (3-0) pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, Wilson Betemit and Chris Davis homered, and the Orioles blanked the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-0.

* At Arlington, Texas, Adrian Beltre hit a home run and had a pair of RBI singles as the Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees 7- 3, winning their sixth consecutive series to start a season for the first time in franchise history.

* At Cleveland, Billy Butler hit two of Kansas City's four home runs to help the Royals snap a 12-game losing streak by beating the Indians, 8-2.

* At Minneapolis, Mike Aviles hit a three-run homer for the Boston Red Sox, who squandered a six-run lead en route to a 7-6 win over the Minnesota Twins.