The New York Yankees opted to go without their highest-paid player with their season on the line. Fortunately, the one with the second-largest salary was able to provide a return on the team's investment.
The San Jose Earthquakes continue to look for the kind of result that will spark a turnaround in their season, and the club will hope to deliver that performance on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium against Real Salt Lake.
Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska, fourth- seeded Chinese star Li Na and last week's Tokyo titlist Petra Kvitova were among the winners Wednesday at the $5 million China Open.
The Detroit Tigers' quest toward another pennant begins the same way it did a year ago, with a best-of-five American League Division Series against the Oakland Athletics.