Costly acquisition via a trade is up in the air  —  Ned Colletti says he hasn't talked to the team's owners about whether the Dodgers can take on a big contract this summer.  —  Reporting from Chicago — As the trade deadline approaches, General Manager Ned Colletti said Tuesday …

Game 70: Yankees at Braves (now with Sabathia update)  —  YANKEES (38-31)  —  Pitching: RHP Chien-Ming Wang (0-5, 12.30).  —  BRAVES (33-36)  —  McLouth CF  —  Escobar SS  —  Jones 3B  —  McCann C  —  Anderson LF  —  Kotchman 1B  —  Francoeur RF  —  Johnson 2B  —  Hanson RHP

What the Red Sox Invasion Looked Like  —  Ok, I'm not just spinning here.  The big takeaway from last night's game, for me, was that baseball in D.C. is gonna be a heckuva good time when/if this team gets good.  The weather would have made a dying man cry, the streets and concourses …

Cleveland Indians' Eric Wedge mum on status; meeting looms  —  PITTSBURGH — Eric Wedge talked about center fielder Grady Sizemore's return from the disabled list.  He commented on Tony Sipp's latest call-up to the Cleveland Indians' bullpen and Asdrubal Cabrera's rehabilitation assignment.

Trade request Ayala's last straw  —  The Twins were not happy with Luis Ayala's request for a trade after not being given the eighth inning role.  —  MILWAUKEE - As if the Twins weren't frustrated enough with Luis Ayala's pitching, the reliever helped force his way off the team by requesting …

Blue Jays 7, Reds 5  —  TORONTO (AP) — Marco Scutaro hit a two-run homer, Scott Rolen and Rod Barajas each added solo shots and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-5 on Tuesday night.  —  Pitching on three days' rest, Toronto left-hander Brian Tallet (5-4) …

Phillies snap skid, rout Rays in World Series rematch  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Chase Utley homered and drove in four runs Tuesday night, helping the Philadelphia Phillies rout the Tampa Bay Rays 10-1 in the first regular season meeting between the teams since last year's World Series.

Nats will be in tough battle with Boras  —  No. 1 pick Stephen Strasburg won't come cheap or without a fight.  Ken Rosenthal examines if he'll put pen to paper on a Nats deal.

Kelvim Escobar isn't optimistic about season as shoulder injury flares  —  The Angels pitcher, who missed all of 2008 and had just returned to the rotation June 6, has a ‘deep ache’ and probably will be shut down indefinitely.  —  The broken record plays on for Kelvim Escobar …

Angels rally in the eighth to cool off red-hot Rockies  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Bobby Abreu drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a bases-loaded single in the eighth inning after Colorado third baseman Ian Stewart messed up two bunt plays, and the Los Angeles Angels won 4-3 Tuesday night …

3 UP: ROCKIES, MARLINS AND PUNCHLESS NY  —  Yes.  I am on Twitter.  —  1. The Rockies had won 17 of 18 games before losing Tuesday night to the Angels.  That enabled them to vault into wild-card contention, which was bad news for the Mets.  But the move from non-contenders to contenders by the Rockies also may have helped the Mets.

Raburn's HR in ninth gives Tigers 5-4 win vs. Cubs  —  DETROIT — Pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a seesaw, 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.  —  Chicago's Micah Hoffpauir hit a go-ahead, two-run shot in the eighth inning off Joel Zumaya.

El Duque to pitch for Rangers' Triple-A ballclub … OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City RedHawks have activated former major league pitcher Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez.  —  Hernandez is a 43-year-old right-hander who was signed to a minor league contract by the Texas Rangers on June 12 in hopes he can bolster the pitching staff.

Farm report: Coney Island gets Green Wave  —  Sam Honeck was drafted in the 11th round (344th overall) on June 10, had a physical four days later, and signed a professional contract one day after that.  Now, the former Tulane University standout is manning first base and batting third for the Brooklyn Cyclones.