New York Yankees blank Rangers, 3-0  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — In seven scoreless innings, Mike Mussina (15-7) gave up eight hits, walked one, struck out six and held Texas 1-for-6 with men in scoring position in a 3-0 victory over Texas Thursday night.  —  How impressive was his performance …

Source: MLB investigating Manny's departure  —  Do you wonder a little about Manny Ramirez's unusual final days in Boston?  The commissioner's office apparently wonders as well.  We found this tidbit in a Dan Shaughnessy column posted on Boston.com this afternoon very interesting:

Tired Pettitte still set to start  —  Andy Pettitte says he feels well enough to pitch, but there are those within the Yankees organization that believe the lefthander may be suffering from some fatigue in his pitching arm.  —  According to a source with knowledge of the situation …

Postgame notes: Hughes set for 85 pitches Tuesday … The slider I thought I saw in the third inning was just a cutter with a lot of movement.  —  My own ignorance of the Phil Hughes arsenal aside, the guy pitched pretty well tonight.  His fastball touched 95 four times in the first inning, and regularly sat 93-94 most of the night.

Morton, Braves beat Diamondbacks  —  Promising rookie pitches seven scoreless innings for third win  —  Phoenix — The Braves don't score many runs when rookie Charlie Morton pitches, or lately when just about anyone pitches.  Thursday, they scored enough.  —  Barely.

Wins overshadow lack of homers  —  PHILADELPHIA - Take your pick as to the more amazing aspect of this week's series against the Phillies: That the Marlins failed to hit a home run in one of the most home run-friendly parks in baseball or that they did so and still won two of three.

Yankees' Pudge hurts knee in collision at plate  —  ARLINGTON, Texas - The Yankees took yet another injury hit last night when Ivan Rodriguez went down with a bruised right knee that leaves his status as day to day.  —  Rodriguez, who was acquired last week from the Tigers …

Trade made  —  Orioles reliever Chad Bradford has been assigned to the Tampa Bay Rays, via a waiver claim.  In exchange, the Orioles will receive a player to be named later.  —  That's how much times have changed in the AL East.  The Rays are acquiring a veteran reliever for the stretch drive.

Phils Get Eyre  —  We just caught wind that the Phillies have acquired lefthander Scott Eyre from the Chicago Cubs.  —  It appears single-A Clearwater pitcher Brian Schlitter was part of the trade.  —  Details to come.  —  Update: It's official.  The Phillies have traded Schlitter to the Cubs for Eyre.

Brewers in thick of pennant race  —  Club enters August with postseason hopes ablaze  —  MILWAUKEE — The Green Bay Packers hope their saga is over.  The Milwaukee Brewers hope theirs is just beginning.  —  With Brett Favre headed to New York, Packers fans can focus on football and Brewers fans can focus on another pennant race.

Red Sox put in claim for Giles; clock is ticking to stike a deal  —  Now that the Red Sox have put in a claim for Padres right fielder Brian Giles, what are the chances that the two teams work out a trade?  —  It could come down to whether Giles finds a salary increase enticing enough …

Ramirez homers again, Dodgers beat Cards  —  ST. LOUIS (AP)—Clayton Kershaw went right after St. Louis Cardinals hitters who had put up 15 runs the previous two games.  It turned out to be the perfect game plan.  —  The 20-year-old rookie worked seven dominant innings and Manny Ramirez homered …

Santana not upset with lack of wins for Mets  —  The routine has become all too familiar for Johan Santana.  Walk off the mound to a standing ovation at Shea, then stand at your locker an hour or so later, with that same empty feeling in your stomach, trying to explain how it all went wrong — again.

Owners to discuss blackout solution  —  Baseball's territorial blackouts, the scourge of so many frustrated television and streaming-video viewers, will be eliminated for the 2009 season if Major League Baseball's executive council follows suggestions president Bob DuPuy plans on presenting next week.

Answer Man: Mike Mussina talks New York, Orioles, economics  —  Before they go and tear down Yankee Stadium, the Answer Man had to get in at least one Q&A on the hallowed baseball grounds.  The victim was Yankees ace/smart guy Mike Mussina, who sat on the historical Bronx Bombers bench to talk …