Top News:
Mike Petraglia / MLB.com:
Red Sox continue roll against NL — Wakefield gets run support behind season-high 17 hits — BOSTON — The Red Sox made up for their lack of run support for Tim Wakefield and then some on Tuesday night as they continued to roll against the National League.
Discussion:
The Baseball Desert
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Chris Snow / Boston Globe:
Finally, a show of support — Red Sox back hard-luck Wakefield with 17 hits and 11 runs in a rout — Had he not caught the statistic on a clubhouse TV last night, Tim Wakefield never would have known or cared that in his eight losses this season, the Red Sox have scored a total of six runs while he was in the game.
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Armas Jr., Johnson hurting — No DL decision has been made as players return to D.C. — BOSTON — Nationals right-hander Tony Armas Jr. and first baseman Nick Johnson returned to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to be checked out by Dr. Ben Schaffer. Armas has elbow and forearm problems …
Discussion:
District of Baseball
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
No Relief From the Nationals' Starter — Hernandez Lasts Only 12/3 Innings: Red Sox 11, Nationals 3 — BOSTON, June 20 — Here were the two guys to defy any obsession with radar guns, who respond to urges for harder and faster with softer and slower. Tim Wakefield took the mound Tuesday night …
Associated Press:
If it's 'best for team,' Smoltz says he's open to trade talk — ATLANTA — John Smoltz said he's ready to leave Atlanta if a trade can help the last-place Braves. — The 17-year veteran, who's played his entire career in Atlanta, said his once-firm opinion against leaving the Braves changed this year.
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Notes: Smoltz not seeking trade — Veteran right-hander can veto any move — ATLANTA — Wearing his usual smile and showing no signs of being a disgruntled employee, John Smoltz came to Turner Field on Tuesday afternoon and proclaimed there's no reason for anybody to believe he's seeking a trade.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres edge Rangers but Trevor makes it exciting — ARLINGTON, Texas - Mike Cameron hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning to help the Padres beat the Texas Rangers 6-5 on Tuesday night - but just barely. — Trevor Hoffman got the final three outs for his 17th save of the season.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
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New York Times:
White Sox Collect 24 Hits and 20 Runs in Rout of Cardinals — Joe Crede and A. J. Pierzynski homered during an 11-run, 12-hit third inning last night and the Chicago White Sox used their biggest scoring output in a decade to rout visiting St. Louis, 20-6. — Pierzynski and Paul Konerko each drove …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Damon, Yanks rally to upend Phillies — Center fielder laces go-ahead two-run triple in four-run eighth — PHILADELPHIA — It appeared as though the Yankees had run out of chances on Tuesday after Ryan Howard's seventh RBI of the night gave the Phillies a two-run lead in the seventh inning.
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Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Howard drives in seven, but Phils fall — Slugger homers twice, only to see 'pen let lead slip away — PHILADELPHIA — Blaring rap music was supposed to drown out Ryan Howard's recollections of a career-high night at Citizens Bank Park. — Teammates were supposed to be gathered around …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
Chris Girandola / MLB.com:
Trachsel looking for third straight — Cincinnati (38-32) at New York (43-26), 7:10 p.m. ET — The Mets will try to bounce back after losing the first game of a series two times in a row. — Against the Orioles last Friday, the Mets were surprised by a team on a three-game losing streak.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
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Jack Curry / New York Times:
Baseball Won't Save Samples For Testing — While Commissioner Bud Selig reiterated that Major League Baseball was eventually hoping to find a urine test to detect human growth hormone, he said he did not envision freezing urine samples from baseball players for future testing.
Discussion:
The Griddle
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
Segui: I told O's about need for hGH … Former Orioles first baseman David Segui, who revealed over the weekend that he is one of the players named in Jason Grimsley's affidavit on drug use in baseball, said Tuesday that he informed the club in 2003 that he had obtained a prescription for human growth hormone.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Seat-diving, wall-crashing players … Where there's a wall, there's a way. — Where there's a will, there's a wall. — Something like that. — We're working on a slogan here, a slogan we'll be posting over the clubhouse door for our new favorite team: — The All-Run-Through-A-Wall team.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Keith Law / ESPN:
Devil Rays deal Gathright to Royals for LHP Howell … The Kansas City Royals have traded left-handed pitcher J.P. Howell to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for center fielder Joey Gathright, ESPN.com has learned. — The Rays also sent minor league second baseman Fernando Cortez to the Royals in that deal.
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Bill Simmons / ESPN:
State of the NBA Finals — Forget about who's winning the championship. I'm starting to feel like the future of the NBA is at stake. — We just spent the past two months raving about the "New And Improved" NBA — end-to-end action, loads of points, dramatic endings …
Karen Guregian / Boston Herald:
Boo hoo Sox fans: Renteria heard you last year — ATLANTA - Sitting at his locker in workout clothes prior to last night's game, a wad of smokeless tobacco clenched between his teeth, Edgar Renteria finally fessed up. — You got to him. — That's right, Red Sox fans.
