Games played Thursday (4/23/2015)

MLB

• Toronto’s Kevin Pillar and Danny Valencia were bookmarks in more ways than one Thursday. In Valencia’s second start of the season, the pair played right field and left field, respectively, and surprisingly, it was Valencia — in his first career game in left — who made the highlight-reel catch in a 7-6 win over Baltimore. Both players also walked and hit RBI doubles. Pillar went 2-for-3 with a two-run double that knocked in Valencia, and Valencia hit a one-run double. Valencia has made the most of his 14 plate appearances this season, hitting .538 with 3 doubles, 4 singles, 1 walk and a stolen base ***
• Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun went 2-for-4 and stole his first base of 2015 in a 4-2 win Thursday over Cincinnati ***
• Oakland’s Ike Davis went 1-for-4 and Sam Fuld went 0-for-4 in a 2-0 loss to the Angels ***
• L.A.’s Joc Pederson went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice in Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the Giants ***
• Detroit’s Ian Kinsler went 0-4 in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Yankees, and manager Brad Ausmus was ejected for arguing a balk call ***
• Hitless Thursday: Ryan Lavarnway (0-4)

Minors

• Happy Birthday to Oakland prospect Jeff Urlaub (AAA), who turns 28 today! ***
• White Sox prospect Brad Goldberg (A+) had his best relief outing of 2015, striking out the side in a one-inning stint Thursday ***
• Second-year Oakland prospect Mike Fagan (A) pitched 2 perfect innings Thursday ***
• Cardinals prospect Corey Baker (AA) pitched a shutout inning Thursday, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one ****
• Padres prospect Cody Decker had the only Jewish hit in the minors Thursday, going 1-for-3 with an RBI single and a walk ***

Want our daily updates sent free to your e-mailbox? Click here