Top News:
Michael Schwartz / MLB.com:
Dodgers drop finale as Kershaw falters — Left-hander optioned to Triple-A after disheartening defeat — WASHINGTON — Dodgers manager Joe Torre has talked all week about needing one big hit to win one big game that could snap Los Angeles out of a funk that gets worse by the day.
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David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
Duking It Out — Elijah Dukes hits two home runs tonight against the Dodgers. He's scored three time and knocked in four as the Washington Nationals are blowing out the Dodgers 9-2 in the eighth. Cristian Guzman is a triple short of the cycle as he drives in two. — Kershaw lasts just 2 1/3 innings, allowing five runs.
Discussion:
Associated Press
David Lefort / Boston Globe:
Beckett scratched — Josh Beckett has been scratched from his scheduled start on Friday, and the Red Sox ace plans to have his ailing right elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews in Alabama. — In a postgame interview, manager Terry Francona said Beckett was seeing Andrews as a precaution.
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ESPN:
Beckett scratched, plans visit with Andrews in Ala. — NEW YORK — Josh Beckett was scratched again from a scheduled start, and the Boston Red Sox ace plans to have his ailing right elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews. — Beckett is to see Andrews in Alabama on Friday …
Discussion:
A Red Sox Fan …
Rob Bradford / Archive:Beckett's Go-To Guy: Ace Continues to Lean on Andrews in Tough Times
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, Boston Globe and Boston Sports Media Watch
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Aceves works his way up to bigs — Yanks option Robertson down to Triple-A to call up righty — NEW YORK — When Alfredo Aceves walked along the blue line to the Yankees' clubhouse for the first time on Thursday, the newly called-up right-hander already had an idea of what he hoped to see in his Yankee Stadium locker by game time.
Discussion:
YanksBlog.com
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The Times-Tribune:Aceves called up … UPDATE: Sounds like Aceves is going to work …
Discussion:
Pending Pinstripes, Pinstriped Scranton, The Chuck Knoblog, The Bronx Block and River Ave. Blues
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sweep snatched by Giambi, Yanks — Sox head home with winning trip, series victory over Bombers — NEW YORK — For the Red Sox, Thursday was not the time to wax poetic over the likelihood of playing at Yankee Stadium for the final time. — Instead, the hope was to break out the brooms …
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Cashman still believes in Yankees' youth movement — Their 3-2 walk-off victory over the Red Sox allowed a little euphoria and relief into the Yankees' clubhouse for a day, but no one should kid himself. There will be no sprint to the finish line for this team.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Yahoo! Sports:
Angels place 2B Kendrick on DL — ANAHEIM (TICKER) —The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim took another hit to their ailing infield on Thursday, placing second baseman Howie Kendrick on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in his left hamstring. — Kendrick joins infielder Maicer Izturis …
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MLB.com:
“There's Only One October” says Frank Caliendo, Randy Jackson and Stewie from Family Guy — Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Timothy Hutton and other celebrities join largest ever Major League Baseball postseason ad campaign; television partner personalities appear for first time in ads promoting Major League Baseball's postseason
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
One month ... and 10 key questions — One month to go. — That's all. There's just one month to the day before this amazing baseball season hits the finish line. It's hard to know where to train your eyes in this 87-ring circus. But Rumblings is here to help, as always, by presenting 10 key questions for the final month:
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Jays designate Stairs for assignment — Trade talks indicate veteran may sign with contending club — ST. PETERSBURG — The Blue Jays have designated Matt Stairs for assignment and are working out a trade that could potentially send the veteran to a contending club.
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Sox on Mariotti's split: 'It's about time' — BALTIMORE — Word of Jay Mariotti's split with the Chicago Sun-Times reached the White Sox' clubhouse minutes after their victory Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles, and the reaction could be heard outside.
Discussion:
Deadspin, Boston Sports Media Watch, Dan Shaughnessy Watch, The Big Lead, SPORTSbyBROOKS and MLB FanHouse
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Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Hamels outstanding, but 'pen falters — Ace's seven innings of one-run ball spoiled by Cubs' rally — CHICAGO — No one had to move or look. Everyone knew. — Aramis Ramirez left no doubt on the final landing spot of this unfortunate baseball. The roar of 40,362 told Phillies reliever Chad Durbin …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Rays take series behind Jackson — Starter hurls seven innings of one-run ball for 11th victory — ST. PETERSBURG — Diving catches in left field? Solo homers? A dazzling seven starting innings? — Just about the only thing on Thursday night that didn't mirror Wednesday's win was the fate of the Red Sox-Yankees game.
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Kotsay gone; Schafer won't be up in Sept. — Game's approaching and I've got a bunch of stuff to lay on you, so let's just dive right into this. — Just talked to the GM, Frank Wren, about the Mark Kotsay trade and the prospect they got for him, Luis Sumoza.
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Main story: Arbiter to decide Alvarez's future with Pirates — Was it a minute before midnight? — A minute after? — The Pirates and first-round draft pick Pedro Alvarez are publicly disputing precisely when the Vanderbilt University third baseman verbally agreed to a $6 million signing bonus …
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