Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sox drop opener to Yankees — Wakefield hit hard in loss; Youkilis extends hitting streak — BOSTON — Tim Wakefield's season has turned into a highly contrasting two sections: His outings against the Yankees, and his matchups with everyone else. — Once again, Wakefield was left without …
Discussion:
Fenway Blogger
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
A painful defeat: Lowell, Drew injured — Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew [stats], on opposite ends of the performance spectrum, both had to leave last night's 9-5 loss to the Yankees because of injuries. — Lowell, hit by a pitch on the top of his left hand, is questionable for today's game but Drew …
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Bombers look to make dent in standings — New York (22-29) at Boston (36-16), Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET — The vibe may be a little different by the time the Yankees' team bus pulls up on Yawkey Way on Friday afternoon, unloading cases of road-gray New York uniforms, equipment and — of course …
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
'Not a good team' — Scout rips Yanks, calls Abreu 'piece of garbage' — The Yankees continue to express confidence that they will turn their season around and make a run at the postseason, but a big-league scout from an opposing team isn't so sure they'll be able to do it.
George King / New York Post:NO FENWAY FAVORS — SUBPAR RECORD WON'T SAVE YANKEES FROM FAN VENOM
Discussion:
SawxBlog
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Giambi Will Be Out Several Weeks With a Foot Injury
Discussion:
It's Mets For Me
Joe Maxse / Plain Dealer Sports:
Indians' five in ninth top Tigers — This has the makings of one of those years. — Jacobs Field and the Indians will not be denied. Rallying with five runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Tribe kept up its home field magic by knocking off the stunned Tigers, 12-11, in front of 41,365 delirious fans on Friday night.
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Associated Press:
Indians rally for 5 in ninth, top Tigers — CLEVELAND (AP) — A different city, venue and sport produced yet another memorable Cleveland victory over Detroit. — David Dellucci singled home the winning run with two outs to cap a five-run ninth off closer Todd Jones as the Indians rallied past the Tigers 12-11 Friday night.
Discussion:
The Wayne Fontes Experience
Billfer / The Detroit Tiger Weblog:
Game 54: Tigers at Indians — PREGAME: The Tigers are looking for some way, some how to get their first W against the Tribe. Tonight it will be a rematch of Mike Maroth and Fausto Carmona. — Maroth was touched for a 4 run first inning, but then only allowed 6 more baserunners and managed to stick around for 8 innings.
Bleed Cubbie Blue:
Indefensible — I haven't even read the game thread yet, but I can just imagine what it looks like, over 600 comments after I posted it this morning. — But today's 8-5 loss to the Braves — one that was, in the proverbial phrase, "not as close as the score indicated" …
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Zambrano, Barrett will face discipline — Cubs 'disappointed' by actions of batterymates during loss — CHICAGO — Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano and catcher Michael Barrett will be disciplined Saturday after the two had to be separated following a skirmish in the dugout in the fifth inning Friday.
Associated Press:
Zambrano shoves Barrett in dugout — CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Cubs didn't need another team at Wrigley Field on Friday to find an opponent. — Carlos Zambrano and catcher Michael Barrett shoved each other in the dugout, then the pitcher busted his teammate's lip in the clubhouse so badly that Barrett wound up in a hospital.
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Five and Fly: Giants close door on Benitez — On top of being a combustible closer, Armando Benitez was an emotional drain on the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse and season, which is why they'd pay most of his salary and take a hittable right-handed reliever in return from the Florida Marlins for removing him from both.
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Woody Paige / Denver Post:
Rockies again so mediocre — With a third of the season completed, the 25-29 Rockies are on pace for a 75-87 record this season. — The team clearly is improved. Over the past nine seasons, the Rockies have averaged 74 victories. — But the Rox did win 76 in 2006. — This is a trend.
Chris Haft / MLB.com:Giants trade Benitez for Messenger
Discussion:
Only Baseball Matters, Loge 13, El Lefty Malo, San Francisco Chronicle and Across the Seams
Hal Bock / Associated Press:
Webb leads Arizona past depleted Mets — NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets will be interested to learn that Arizona's Brandon Webb didn't really feel that great Friday night. — The Cy Young Award winner allowed just four hits over eight innings in a 5-1 Diamondbacks victory …
USA Today:
Three men have peeked into Bonds' other side — BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — They drive around town in convertible Bentleys, Aston Martins and Mercedes-Benzes. They live in mansions with tennis courts, swimming pools, gymnasiums, wine cellars, even walk-in fireplaces.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
ESPN:
Price is right for the Devil Rays — With the draft just six days away — you can see the first round, with analysis from Peter Gammons, Steve Phillips, and myself on ESPN2 on June 7 beginning at 2 p.m. ET — here's a projection of how the first round might unfold.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
