Marlins looking to end costly free passes  —  Florida (31-25) at Atlanta (30-28), Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET  —  ATLANTA — Magnified in this road trip is the necessity for pitchers to throw strikes while avoiding walks.  —  Where the Marlins have gotten into trouble is allowing extra baserunners to reach.

Source: Ortiz out at least a month  —  Season-ending wrist surgery a possibility  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  If the Red Sox [team stats] are going to repeat as world champions this season and win their third title in five years, they may have to do it without David Ortiz [stats].

Nats' Zimmerman on DL with shoulder tear  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals placed third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day disabled list on Monday because of a a small tear in his left, non-throwing shoulder.  —  Zimmerman has missed the last seven games because of soreness in the shoulder …

Giants 10, Mets 2  —  SAN FRANCISCO - As soon as Oliver Perez waved the white flag with a seven-pitch walk to Emmanuel Burriss, the Giants' No. 8 hitter, manager Willie Randolph had seen enough.  —  And it was only the first inning.  —  Just by the brisk pace of his stride …

More Give Than Take for Pettitte and Yankees  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Andy Pettitte stood on the mound at the Metrodome, hands on his hips, as the crowd of 20,168 roared around him.  For the third time, Pettitte had given back a lead the Yankees had provided him, this time in spectacular fashion …

Joba's big night will be a success — if there are two of him  —  It is finally here, the moment up to which every sports fan's life has been building.  A happening that will make the Gods cheer and the seraphim sing.  An event so monumental it will make the first of Michael Jordan's re-un-retirements look anticlimactic.

Hall wants a trade  —  Bill Hall wants out.  —  Hall's agent, Terry Bross, told me tonight that he believes it would be best for both the Brewers and his client if Hall is traded to another club where he could play regularly.  —  Hall made no qualms about being unhappy when the Brewers called …

Lowe, Dodgers extend Rockies' skid to 8  —  LOS ANGELES (AP)—Derek Lowe had to wait more than five weeks between his previous victory and this one, so he didn't care how injury-riddled the Colorado Rockies were.  —  Lowe pitched eight strong innings and got home run support from Jeff Kent …

Draft 2008: Alvarez would be ‘honored’ if Pirates pick him  —  Vanderbilt third baseman considered best hitter available  —  In many ways, the Pirates and Pedro Alvarez appear to be a perfect match.  —  Vanderbilt University's exceptional third baseman is widely viewed as the best hitter available …

Twins Notes: Offense!  — Not only was Joe Mauer's game-tying homer off Andy Pettitte in the seventh inning last night his first long ball of the season, it was just the third time in his career that he's taken a left-hander deep.  His previous two homers off southpaws both came in 2006 …

Beyond Moneyball: Player development … Lewis' book Moneyball talks about how the Oakland Athletics use sabermetrics to enhance their player selection productivity, what Lewis terms “the art of creating the unfair advantage.”  Moneyball also exposes major league baseball's soft underbelly …

Utley goes deep in fifth straight game  —  Second baseman ties franchise record by connecting off Arroyo  —  PHILADELPHIA — Brad Lidge saw smoke coming from the ball as it rocketed past him toward center field.  —  He'd be forgiven for thinking, “Uh oh,” but Chase Utley squelched that notion before it could form in Lidge's head.

Bruce homers again, but Reds fall  —  Rookie phenom has now gone deep in three straight games  —  PHILADELPHIA — Jay Bruce at home and on the road?  No different thus far.  —  The Reds at home and on the road this season?  Big difference.  —  Bruce had what's become his requisite multihit game …