Top News:
Steve Buckley / Boston Herald:
Julio Lugo: ‘I wanted it to work out’ — Julio Lugo has been designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox [team stats], ending a relationship that never quite clicked the way either party would have liked. — Lugo, reached at the airport in Toronto, where he was leaving the Red Sox to return to Boston …
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Rob Bradford / WEEI:
SOURCE: LUGO DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT — According to a source familiar with the situation, the Red Sox have designated Julio Lugo for assignment. The Red Sox will have 10 days to assign Lugo's contract to another major or minor league club, whether it be via trade or through waivers.
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Lugo designated for assignment — Julio Lugo, who was plagued by injuries and ineffectiveness during his 2 1/2 seasons with the Red Sox, has been designated for assignment. — The designation, which was confirmed by his agent, Sam Levinson, this afternoon, means the team has 10 days …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit, sox1fan.com, Cursed To First, The Joy of Sox, Over the Monster, Red Sox Monster, Surviving Grady and YFSF
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Sox, Bay break off talks — TORONTO — The Red Sox and All-Star left fielder Jason Bay failed to come to terms on a contract extension after the Red Sox made an “aggressive” offer about one week ago, general manager Theo Epstein said. The halting of negotiations means the Sox and Bay …
Associated Press:
Buchholz gets first win in a year as Red Sox sink Blue Jays — TORONTO (AP) — Clay Buchholz's reward for winning his season debut? A ticket back to Triple-A Pawtucket. — Buchholz pitched 5 2/3 innings to earn his first major league victory in more than a year, Kevin Youkilis hit …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox cut ties with Lugo — Club has 10 days to make move with shortstop — TORONTO — It appears that Julio Lugo has played his last game for the Red Sox, as the shortstop — according to a report on WEEI.com — was designated for assignment on Friday.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Dodgers enter race for Roy (cont.) — Dodgers aiming high — The Dodgers already have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball — statistically speaking, anyway. But they are looking for relief now. And their excellent performance thus far also won't prevent them from trying …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Dodgers enter race for Halladay; Jays freezing out Yankees, Red Sox … While the Phillies remain almost everyone's favorite to land superstar pitcher Roy Halladay, and the best-in-baseball Dodgers are now believed to be showing interest, two big-market contenders for the summer's big pitching prize …
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Braves 11, Mets 0: Redding out, Lugo in? — What next? — Gary Sheffield downplayed the extent of the injury to his right leg, calling it a hamstring cramp unrelated to the trouble he's had with the back of that knee. Mike Pelfrey allowed nine runs for the second time this season.
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 89: Tigers at Yankees — YANKEES (51-37) — TIGERS (48-39) — Pitching: LHP Lucas French (1-0, 1.93). — TIME/TV: 7:05 p.m., YES. — STATE OF THE STRIPES: The Yankees have had four days off since since being swept by the Los Angeles Angels last weekend.
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Associated Press:
Teixeira's go-ahead HR in seventh lifts Yankees over Tigers — NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Teixeira bailed out a shaky A.J. Burnett with a go-ahead, three-run homer off Joel Zumaya, and the New York Yankees opened the second half with a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
Associated Press:
White Sox 12, Orioles 8 — CHICAGO (AP) — Jim Thome hit a grand slam and a three-run homer for a career-high seven RBIs Friday night, carrying the Chicago White Sox to a 12-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. — With 14 RBIs in the last three games, Thome increased his career total …
Associated Press:
Cardinals 6, Diamondbacks 1 — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols hit two homers to add to his major league-leading total and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-1 on Friday night. — The multi home run game was the eighth for Pujols, who has 34 homers and 89 RBIs, which also leads the majors.
Associated Press:
Astros 8, Dodgers 1 — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Roy Oswalt continued his dominance over NL West teams with a four-hitter, Ivan Rodriguez homered among his four hits and Miguel Tejada also connected, leading the Houston Astros to an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.
Associated Press:
Rockies 5, Padres 3 — SAN DIEGO (AP) — Whatever flicker of hope the San Diego Padres had after scoring two runs in the fifth inning was quickly doused by Colorado right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. — Jimenez bounced back from his only shaky inning to finish with 10 strikeouts …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Phillies 6, Marlins 5, 12 Innings — MIAMI (AP) — A downpour led to an early exit for Cole Hamels on a long night for the Philadelphia Phillies. Yet they keep winning, rain or shine. — Chase Utley hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the 12th inning, and the Phillies extended their winning streak …
