Youk's blast saves Sox from shame  —  Decisive eighth-inning homer negates blown 10-run lead  —  BOSTON — Remember that roller-coaster ride during your youth that seemed liked it twisted and turned so much you thought it would never end?  Turns out the Red Sox decided to construct one of their own on Tuesday.

Offense Gets Save as Rivera Falters  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The comments from Hank Steinbrenner swirled around the Yankees during batting practice Tuesday, before a crucial game against the Minnesota Twins.  It was not your standard motivational speech.  —  Steinbrenner, the Yankees' co-chairman …

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign (Marlins just can't read them)  —  MIAMI GARDENS — From a distance, it looked like yellow crime-scene tape stretched across the length of the Marlins' empty bench Tuesday afternoon.  —  That might have been appropriate after the mental errors that contributed …

Garcia to sign with Tigers … Freddy Garcia has agreed to a contract with the Tigers, SI.com has learned.  Garcia had been a free agent, and has not pitched since June of 2007 with the Philadelphia Phillies, when shoulder problems limited him to just 11 starts.

Source: Owings to be dealt to Reds  —  Righty, along with another player, would complete Dunn trade  —  PITTSBURGH — The return on the trade that sent outfielder Adam Dunn from the Reds to the Diamondbacks may soon become clearer.  —  There were indications on Tuesday …

Crawford to have surgery on hand  —  Two-time All-Star outfielder expected to be out 6-8 weeks  —  OAKLAND — Carl Crawford will have surgery on Thursday to repair the subluxation of his right middle finger tendon and is scheduled to be out 6-8 weeks.  —  “After going through …

Steinbrenner not writing off season, says Yanks ‘going to win it next year’  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Hank Steinbrenner blames injuries for the New York Yankees' slide from contention.  —  The Yankees are in danger of missing of the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

Lincecum Hurt by Line Drive  —  (08-12) 19:30 PDT HOUSTON - — Tim Lincecum is hurt.  —  Four words that no Giants fan wanted to read or hear.  —  The franchise is holding its collective breath because The Franchise limped off the mound in the fifth inning tonight, having gotten drilled …

Andruw Jones is put on the disabled list  —  The struggling outfielder is bothered by patellar tendinitis in his left knee, according to the Dodgers, who use the roster spot to activate Nomar Garciaparra.  —  Did the Dodgers place Andruw Jones on the disabled list because of a knee that bothered him or a swing that pained them?

Josh Hamilton ready to help Jeff Allison  —  Having waged his own successful and ongoing battle against drug dependency, Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton wants to reach out to other baseball players now walking in his shoes.  —  To that end, he plans to contact Peabody native Jeff Allison …

Kauffman renovations progressing  —  Project to update Royals' home ahead of schedule  —  KANSAS CITY — On Monday morning, they took away the seats.  —  About 15 hours before, people had sat there, on the first-base line and in the upper deck on the left-field side, and watched Tony Pena Jr. hit a walk-off single against the Twins.

Character references  —  “Just look at the guys we added: Character guys, winners.  We anticipate they're good clubhouse guys, guys with an edge which is something we needed a bit more of.”  —Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi  —  “If I stood for anything while I'm here in Toronto …

Wainwright's role up in air  —  Chris Carpenter (left) and Adam Wainwright  —  MIAMI — Even as Chris Carpenter made his way to St. Louis to meet with the team doctor about pain in his right arm, the Cardinals began to prepare in case the righthanded pitcher misses more than just Friday's start.