riking out 11 in four scoreless innings with Triple-A Charlotte on

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Bubba Watson likes the way he looks in green. He wants to get that colour back in his wardrobe. Watson surged to the Masters lead with a spree of birdies on the back side Friday, positioning him for a weekend run at his second green jacket in three years. "Im trying to get the jacket back," Watson said. "I want that feeling again." The 2012 champion at Augusta National sparked the best run of the tournament so far when he stuck his tee shot at No. 12 within 3 feet of the cup. He tapped in for the first of five straight birdies that propelled him to a 4-under 68. Even after making his second bogey of the tournament by missing a short putt at the 18th, Watson walked off with his second straight round in the 60s, a 7-under 137 total and a three-stroke lead -- the biggest 36-hole advantage at Augusta since 2006. "Its not science here," Watson said. "Its try to hit the greens, and if youre hitting the greens that means youre obviously hitting your tee shots well. So thats all Im trying to do, just hit the greens." Look whos in the mix again, too: 54-year-old Fred Couples, who posted his second straight 71. This is the fifth straight year the 1992 winner has gone to the weekend in the top 10 -- he was leading two years ago -- but hes never been able to hang on. "I cant panic," said Couples, looking to become the oldest major champion in golf history. "Youre not going to pick up two or three shots here because you want to. Its not that kind of course. Youve got to hang in there, expect a tough shot here and there. Its going to be a tough day tomorrow." And dont count out defending champion Adam Scott, who got off to a rough start but rallied for 72. The Aussie was among those four shots back, still solidly in contention to become only the fourth back-to-back winner in Masters history. Watson opened Thursday with a 69 and went bogey-free through the first 26 holes, finally stumbling at the ninth. But that bogey was quickly forgotten when he put on a dazzling display of the golf that had the patrons roaring. He took advantage of both par 5s, sandwiched around a curling, 40-foot birdie putt at the 14th that prompted him to throw both arms in the air. Watson made it five in a row at the par-3 16th, pulling off another magnificent tee shot with the 9-iron, the ball rolling up about 4 feet short of the flag. He became only the fifth player in Masters history to run off nothing but birdies from the 12th to 16th holes. A year ago, the left-hander finished in a tie for 50th last year as the defending Masters champion, his worst showing in five previous appearances. He likes being two years removed from his title a whole lot better. "I was in awe when I was the champion," Watson said. "I didnt know how to handle it the best way, so I didnt play my best golf." Watsons closest pursuer was Australias John Senden, who birdied 14 and 15 on his way to a 68 and 140 overall. Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., shot an even-par second round, but his disappointing first round of 8 over will see him cut from the final weekend. The project cut is 4 over. Former Masters champion Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., will almost assuredly move on after a round of even par. He followed four birdies on the front nine with four bogeys on the back to sit at 1 over after two rounds. Scott bogeyed three of the first five holes but wound up at 141. He was joined by Denmarks Thomas Bjorn, who birdied four of the last five holes for a 68; Swedens Jonas Blixt, who managed 71 despite a double-bogey at the 11th; and 20-year-old Jordan Spieth, hardly looking like an Augusta rookie when he closed out 70 with a birdie at the tough finishing hole. Five shots back with Couples were Jimmy Walker, a three-time PGA Tour winner this season who shot 72, and Jim Furyk, whose 68 matched Watson, Senden and Bjorn for the best round of the day. First-round leader Bill Haas, teeing off on a warm, sunny afternoon with the wind picking up and the greens getting firmer, was still at 4 under approaching the turn. Then came a miserable stretch of holes starting at No. 9: bogey, bogey, double-bogey, bogey, bogey. He staggered to a 78 -- 10 shots higher than the day before, knocking him nine shots back. At least Haas gets to keep playing. Three-time winner Phil Mickelson missed the Augusta cut for the first time since 1997. Lefty had a triple-bogey at the 12th, where he knocked three straight shots in bunkers for his second triple of the tournament. Three birdies on the back side gave him a glimmer of hope, but 73 totalled up to 149 -- one shot too many. "Its tough to overcome those big numbers," said Mickelson, who had plenty of big-name company beyond the cut line. Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Angel Cabrera and Charl Schwartzel were all headed home as well before the weekend. 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Justin Reid Texans Jersey . - Chris Davis hit a two-run double, scoring Nelson Cruz in his Orioles debut in Baltimores 9-7 win over to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Chris Sale will return to the Chicago White Sox rotation Thursday. But closer Matt Lindstrom will likely not return before late August with surgery scheduled. Sale, an American League All-Star pitcher the past two seasons, will come off the disabled list Thursday and start against the New York Yankees. Lindstrom, who limped off the field in the ninth inning Monday with a left ankle injury, has a torn sheath protecting the outer tendon. He will undergo surgery Friday with the recovery time projected around three months. Lindstrom had the White Sox first six saves of the season before the injury. Manager Robin Ventura said right-hander Ronald Belisario, who logged a save Tuesday, would be his closer. Sale went on the disabled list April 22 with a flexor strain in his left arm. He allowed one run and one hit in seven innings against Boston on April 17 in his previous start, throwing a career-high 127 pitches and reported he was sore the next day. "Im excited," Sale said. "Its been a long time. Its something Ive been looking forward to.dddddddddddd Its been longer than I expected. I think it was just our taking time and not rushing back before the rehab process (was over), to come back at 100 per cent." Sale made a 68-pitch rehab start, striking out 11 in four scoreless innings with Triple-A Charlotte on Friday. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday at Kansas City before a game against the Royals with no problems. Sale, who has won 28 games the past two years, is 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA in four starts this season. "Its big," Ventura said having Sale back. "A guy like him you get a pretty good feeling that youre going to win. Hes proven that. With everything hes gone through, it feels good." The White Sox went into their game Wednesday against the Royals at 23-24 despite losing Sale for more than a month and with major league home run leader Jose Abreu and Lindstrom on the disabled list with ankle injuries. "Were happy with the way theyre competing," Ventura said. "The schedule doesnt stop. You miss the guys that are out, but you cant be thinking about that." ' ' '