Gameday Live 85: Red Sox at Yankees  —  Hey everyone!  Katie here blogging tonight for game 1 of a four-game series against the Red Sox.  Andy Pettitte (9-5, 3.98) will be on the mound tonight for the pinstripes.  Jon Lester (6-3, 3.48) get the start for Boston.  Hope everyone is geared up for a great Fourth of July weekend!

“Open Letter to the Tampa Bay Rays” or “The Thing About Karma”  —  Okay, you swept us.  And while I do question a few moves made by the Glorious Teets — such as not pinch hitting Casey for Tek in the ninth last night, when it is painfully apparent to all that the Captain has become the Craptain …

Dodgers bringing up Nomar Garciaparra, Andruw Jones today  —  As L.A. starts a three-game series in San Francisco, Garciaparra will start at shortstop, a position he hasn't played regularly for four seasons.  Brad Penny's return is delayed for about a week.

O's interested in Toronto's Eckstein  —  Club engaged in talks with Blue Jays regarding veteran shortstop  —  Seeking to fill what has become the team's most glaring deficiency, the Orioles have engaged in talks with the Toronto Blue Jays regarding shortstop David Eckstein, according to industry sources.

Scherzer 101  —  Max the Stathead … Eric Seidman (ES): For starters, can you tell me how you came to be interested in analyzing baseball statistics?  —  Max Scherzer (MS): Well, it really started out with my pitching coach at Mizzou, who brought it to our attention by examining the percentage of first strikes and A3P percentage.

Sabathia deal is possible  —  Phoenix - The C.C. Sabathia rumors might turn out to be more than rumors.  —  As the Brewers continued to scout Sabathia in his outing for Cleveland against Chicago on Wednesday night, word came out of Brevard County that the Indians were looking at specific Milwaukee minor leaguers.

Hal: Yankees' new-look future is bright  —  Steinbrenner discusses Stadium, finances and philosophy  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium is fewer than two weeks away, but it will by no means be the last of the tributes that will be paid to the old Bronx yard on 161st Street …

Deadline deals don't match the hype  —  Well, the calendar says it's July.  And you know what that means.  —  No, not the long-awaited arrival of Agib Talib at Buccaneers camp.  No, not even the long-awaited arrival of your beach chair on a big white stretch of sand.  —  We mean, of course, it's trade-deadline month.

Alberts excited for rehab, thankful to avoid surgery  —  O's reliever has targeted late August or early September for return  —  Matt Albers intends to pitch again this season for the Baltimore Orioles.  His priority, however, is to avoid surgery on his right shoulder.

Cabrera's back  —  So am I, but that's not really news so much as it's the work schedule.  —  The lineups should be interesting this weekend because of the game times this series — essentially alternating night games and day games for four days.  Jim Leyland knew he wanted …

Andy Pettitte could be dragged into court  —  Andy Pettitte, the Yankees' hottest pitcher in recent weeks, could be pulled off the mound and dragged into court for a hearing on the defamation lawsuit filed by longtime pal Roger Clemens against his former trainer Brian McNamee.

A's snap White Sox's 7-game win streak behind Duchscherer  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Duchscherer pitched seven solid innings, Jack Cust and Donnie Murphy homered and the Oakland Athletics beat Chicago 3-2 Thursday night to snap the White Sox's seven-game win streak.  —  GAME REPORT: Athletics 3, White Sox 2

Game 86: Red Sox at Yankees  —  YANKEES (45-40)  —  RED SOX (50-37)  —  Jon Lester (6-3, 3.48) vs. the Yankee hitters.  —  Andy Pettitte (9-5, 3.98) vs. the Red Sox hitters.  —  Notes: Boston has lost five straight, four by one run.  They have not lost six straight since Aug. 25-30, 2006. ...

Nolasco turns in another solid outing  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Ricky Nolasco, the Marlins' newest ace, was watching Wednesday's game on a clubhouse TV when Alfredo Amezaga stepped to the plate after the 95-minute rain delay in the seventh.  —  “I'm just thinking, get a base hit, at least we can tie the game,” Nolasco said.

Raysmania taking hold at the Trop  —  Fans embracing Tampa Bay and shaking their cowbells  —  ST. PETERSBURG — When Rays manager Joe Maddon first spoke of turning Tropicana Field into “The Pit” this season, it was nearly laughable.  —  Years of being baseball's worst team had parlayed …