Top News:
Bill Hutchinson / NY Daily News:
Yankee's A-Rod, wife separated — C-Rod has dumped A-Rod. — Yankee star Alex Rodriguez and his wife, Cynthia, have split after about three months of problems in their marriage, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Daily News Wednesday. — Word of the breakup comes …
Discussion:
New York Post, Us Weekly, Deadspin, SPORTSbyBROOKS, SOX & Dawgs, WasWatching.com, FanHouse and With Leather
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Newsday:
Reports: A-Rod's wife runs off with Lenny Kravitz — A-Rod may have made one too many errors — in his marriage, that is. — While Rodriguez deals with accusations that he's been cavorting with Madonna, now comes the news out of left field that his wife Cynthia has fled to Paris for a romantic fling with rocker Lenny Kravitz.
ESPN:
Report: A-Rod, wife splitting up after five years — NEW YORK — Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and his wife have split less than three months after the birth of the couple's second daughter, according to a report in the New York Daily News. — Rodriguez refused to address the topic …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Stinging Rays — Sox squander lead, are swept by Tampa Bay — Francona on sweep — Red Sox manager Terry Francona talks about Wednesday's loss to Tampa Bay that capped a three-game sweep by the Rays. — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - For three straight nights, it was easy to forget …
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
The pen authored disaster — 'Tek on pitching — Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek talks about the pitching performance, including the bullpen struggles, during Boston's 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay Wednesday. — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It's a long, lonely, dispiriting trudge out to the mound to remove a pitcher in the middle of an inning.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays sweep Red Sox — ST. PETERSBURG — They may not have a single player obviously worthy of All-Star selection, as Boston/American League manager Terry Francona said. They may not have the experience necessary to stay in the race, as Boston DH/team conscience David Ortiz said.
David Ginsburg / Associated Press:
O's Cabrera goes distance, tops KC again — BALTIMORE (AP)—Winless with a 7.06 ERA in June, Daniel Cabrera happily flipped the calendar with another dominant performance against the Kansas City Royals. — Cabrera pitched a seven-hitter to earn his first victory since May 20 …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Kelly mulling over his options — First-round choice may play quarterback for Tennessee — ST. PETERSBURG — Over the next few weeks, Casey Kelly is going to have quite the decision to make. Then again, it's almost as if he can't lose. — Drafted by the Red Sox in the first round …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
M's Cairo seeing double — Veteran makes the most of start at second with 3 RBIs — Maybe Jim Riggleman had a hunch. — Maybe the Mariners manager is just lucky. — Either way, he pushed a button Wednesday night that paid huge dividends. — Miguel Cairo, getting a one-game start …
Dave Skretta / Associated Press:
Yankees' Matsui may be out until break — NEW YORK (AP)—Hideki Matsui could be out until the All-Star break as the Yankees slugger tries to work his way back from a sore left knee. — General manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that Matsui was still hobbled by the injury, which landed him on the disabled list Friday.
Discussion:
iYankees
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Mychael Urban / MLB.com:
Fan arrested after altercation with Street — A's closer unharmed after man confronts him in parking lot — ANAHEIM — MLB.com has learned that a fan was arrested Tuesday night after an incident at Angel Stadium involving A's closer Huston Street, who was interviewed by Anaheim Police …
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs fall after Lyon falters in ninth — Closer gives up run after Branyan reaches on error — PHOENIX — Mike Cameron's ninth-inning single scored Russell Branyan with what proved to be the winning run as the Brewers beat the D-backs, 4-3, on Wednesday night in front of 22,324 at Chase Field.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Martínez Fails in Early Going, and Bullpen Flounders Late — ST. LOUIS — Jerry Manuel was fielding questions about Pedro Martínez's recent struggles before Wednesday night's game when he looked up at a clock in his office. Manuel, asked to gauge how far Martínez …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Dodgers' Furcal to have back surgery, out at least two months — HOUSTON (AP) — Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal will have surgery on Thursday to relieve pressure on a disk in his lower back and could be out at least eight weeks, manager Joe Torre said. — Furcal left a rehab assignment …
Daniel Brown / Boston Herald:
After rally, Giants can't hold off Cubs — SAN FRANCISCO - John Bowker splashed one into the water Wednesday night. But in the end, all the Giants got was that sinking feeling. — Mike Fontenot countered the Giants' rousing comeback by bashing a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning …
Discussion:
GoatRiders of the Apocalypse
Associated Press:
A's give 16-year-old Dominican $4.25M bonus … SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The Oakland Athletics and prized 16-year-old pitching prospect Michael Inoa of the Dominican Republic agreed Wednesday to a minor league contract with a $4.25 million signing bonus.
Discussion:
Baseball America
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