Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Mussina to Lose His Spot in the Rotation, for Now — There are no games to waste in a race to the postseason, no time to let a proud veteran work through his problems with a playoff spot at stake. The Yankees delivered that point after last night's game, announcing that the rookie Ian Kennedy …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
O's yield 11 in 8th as skid reaches 7 — The Orioles wandered into the danger zone again last night, clutching a slim lead like an overstuffed purse, the late innings their dark alley. — Teams usually try to win games at this juncture. The Orioles try to avoid another mugging.
Baltimore Sun:
Start of fall — Summer's end has been a cruel time for the Orioles, who have suffered dismal finishes the past nine years — The humidity thickens, the Ravens' preseason begins, kids prepare for a new school year and the Orioles downshift from mediocre to below bad.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Blast from their past — Damon levels Sox with decisive HR — NEW YORK — It's the time of year, Joe Torre said, when it doesn't matter whether you're seven games ahead or seven games behind. — "You really have to put the blinders on and deal with the present," said the Yankees manager …
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
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Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Pettitte stays hot as Yankees beat BoSox — NEW YORK (AP) — Andy Pettitte proved reliable again for the New York Yankees, right after they lost faith in Mike Mussina. — Pettitte halted another Yankees slide by winning his sixth straight start, and Johnny Damon hit a tiebreaking homer …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Back troubles KO Kielty and Ramírez — NEW YORK — Red Sox outfielder Bobby Kielty said he is scheduled to undergo X-rays and perhaps other tests to determine the cause of continuing back pain, the result, he said, of colliding with the low bullpen wall in right field at Fenway Park in his first game with the team 10 days ago.
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever
Dan Gelston / Associated Press:
Howard's HR in 10th lifts Phils by Mets — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Aaron Rowand's swinging bunt took three small hops until it trickled to a dead stop maybe 45 feet down the third-base line, the baseball's stitches kissing the chalk. — Ryan Howard's hefty cut went about 400 feet and sent the Phillies faithful into a frenzy.
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
Padres score 6 off Webb, now only 1 back — SAN DIEGO (AP) — No team in the NL West has beaten Brandon Webb more than San Diego, and the Padres came up with a big one on Tuesday night. — Mike Cameron homered to start a four-run rally off the reigning NL Cy Young winner in the sixth inning …
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Notes: Gregg focused on winning — Closer not concerned with lack of save chances recently — MIAMI — One byproduct of being in a losing cycle is your closer gets very few save chances. — Marlins closer Kevin Gregg is going through that right now. — Gregg's last four outings …
Discussion:
FishStripes
David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Big lead, bigger loss for Mariners — Seattle scores five early; Weaver gives them all back — Ervin Santana did his best imitation of early-season Jeff Weaver on Tuesday night at Safeco Field. — Unfortunately, the real thing showed up later. — The Mariners jumped on Santana …
Discussion:
Associated Press
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Notes: Botts wants to get bat going — Designated hitter expects to contribute more at the plate — ARLINGTON — The temperature was 97 degrees at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington about four hours before game time on Tuesday, but Jason Botts was still among those out on the field for early batting practice.
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington
Chris Duncan / Associated Press:
Cooper takes over as Astros manager — HOUSTON (AP) — Cecil Cooper has never had a problem communicating with players individually. It's the group settings Cooper is going to have to get used to as the new manager of the Houston Astros. — Cooper took over as manager after Phil Garner was fired Monday …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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Alan Robinson / Associated Press:
Sanchez's slam helps Bucs cool off Reds — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Freddy Sanchez kept his hot August going with a grand slam and five RBIs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates ended the Cincinnati Reds' six-game winning streak with a 6-4 victory Tuesday in a doubleheader opener.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats' power surge for naught — Young, Pena, Zimmerman go deep in loss to Dodgers — LOS ANGELES — For the third game in a row, the Nationals had problems getting quality innings out of their starting pitcher and it ended up hurting them as they lost to the Dodgers, 5-4, at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.
John Shea / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's Loaiza auditions well in loss — Esteban Loaiza made his final start of August, and we'll know soon if it was his final start with the A's. — Contenders have until Friday, the final day of August, to add players to their rosters and make them eligible for the postseason.
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