Rays down Red Sox again  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Matt Garza pitched seven strong innings in his first outing since throwing a one-hitter, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Boston and nemesis Tim Wakefield [stats] 3-1 on Tuesday night.  —  The win extended their lead in the AL East to 2 games over the second-place Red Sox [team stats].

NY Yankee Alex Rodriguez at Madonna's Apartment Right After Wife Gave Birth  —  New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez was at Madonna's Central Park West apartment in New York City shortly after his wife gave birth to their second daughter, Usmagazine.com has learned.

This is confusing  —  The Yankees had a runner on first base with no outs in the bottom of the ninth and were down 3-2 tonight.  —  Derek Jeter was on the bench.  But Melky Cabrera stayed in the game and grounded into a double play.  This would be the same Melky Cabrera who was 0 for his last 18 when he stepped to the plate.

Dodgers' Rafael Furcal in pain after rehab start  —  He will be examined by doctor after he feels back discomfort the morning after playing in his first minor league game following nearly two months on the disabled list.  —  HOUSTON — Nearly two months after going on the disabled list …

Phillies option Myers to Triple-A  —  GM Gillick hopes righty can return to form by second half  —  ATLANTA — The Phillies optioned struggling right-hander Brett Myers to Triple-A Lehigh Valley before Tuesday's game against the Braves.  General manager Pat Gillick announced the move in a statement.

Red Sox might be wise to wash hands of Manny  —  Being Manny is one thing.  His latest gaffe is another.  Ken Rosenthal wonders if the man with the $20M option is worth the hassle.

Anderson's HR lifts Angels over A's 5-3  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—No matter how badly Garret Anderson may be slumping, he's always a dangerous hitter.  —  Anderson hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning after Vladimir Guerrero had tied it with an RBI single …

A conversation with USA Olympic team manager Davey Johnson  —  When you sit down and talk to Davey Johnson, you get the sense that he could talk about baseball all day.  The former major league player and manager has spent almost his entire life in the game.

Rangers get to Rivera in Yanks' loss  —  Steady closer allows tiebreaking run to score in ninth inning  —  NEW YORK — With the Yankees' offense — in manager Joe Girardi's words — “sputtering” lately, the team turned to its model of consistency with the game tied in the ninth inning against the Rangers on Tuesday.

Reynolds to return as baseball analyst for TBS  —  Harold Reynolds, off national TV since being fired by ESPN in July 2006, is back working on national TV.  —  Reynolds will debut Sunday as a studio analyst on a special where TBS will announce the All-Star Game rosters.

What they're saying about the Orioles  —  A roundup of national media coverage  —  Here's a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Orioles:  —  • NBCSports.com's Tony DeMarco says to count him among those surprised by the Orioles' record at this point in the season:

Mets' top picks grow in Brooklyn  —  All three on Monday's roster; Davis gets game-winner  —  NEW YORK — Coney Island was mostly dark when the ninth inning began, and by the time Ike Davis stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and the score tied, more empty seats than adoring fans surrounded him.

Melvin keeping “ears open” for trades  —  Phoenix - Brewers general manager Doug Melvin laughed this afternoon when I asked him if his team really was the leader in the C.C. Sabathia Sweepstakes.  —  “Just the same old rumors,” said Melvin.  —  ESPN's Buster Olney has ranked the Brewers …