Yankees' Gardner has cast removed  —  NEW YORK - Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner had the cast removed from his broken left thumb on Monday and will now have the finger supported by a splint until he is examined again this coming Monday.  —  If all goes well, Gardner may return soon after.

Red Sox have a brawl  —  Mike Lowell delivers after fight  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  The Red Sox [team stats] struck upon a novel solution to their four-guys-for-three-spots conundrum last night.  —  Kevin Youkilis [stats] starts, charges the mound and gets ejected.

Moyer Unhappy, Feels Misled  —  Jamie Moyer did not answer questions about his demotion to the bullpen this afternoon at Wrigley Field, but he certainly spoke his mind.  —  In short, Moyer is unhappy and feels misled.  —  “I'm really not happy with this decision that the Phillies have made …

Los Angeles Angels release Justin Speier after extended struggles  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Right-hander Justin Speier has been unconditionally released by the Los Angeles Angels, four days after the struggling reliever gave up three homers in one inning.  —  Speier was 4-2 with a 5.18 ERA for the Angels …

Wagner's return set for Sunday; top pick near deal  —  PHOENIX - Billy Wagner's return to the major leagues is targeted for Sunday against the Giants at Citi Field, the Daily News has learned.  —  Wagner has tossed five scoreless innings against Single-A batters since beginning a rehab assignment.

Arizona Diamondbacks put Scott Schoeneweis on DL with depression  —  PHOENIX — Scott Schoeneweis has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Arizona Diamondbacks because of depression, less than three months after his wife was found dead at their home.

Hardy Not Placed On Waivers  —  Tom Haudricourt at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who dismisses rumors that J.J. Hardy might have been claimed by the Red Sox, and says in fact Hardy was not placed on waivers at all.  —  Buster Olney at ESPN had reported yesterday …

Manny Ramirez finding his swing  —  After a slow stretch when he might have been thinking about home runs, Ramirez gets hot against the Giants.  —  Reporting from San Francisco — Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly said he has noticed that Manny Ramirez has fouled off more pitches …

Marking the 500 HR Creation  —  80 years ago today, on August 11, 1929, Babe Ruth stepped in against Willis Hudlin and hit his 30th home run of the season, on his way to 46 that season.  That home run also marked the 500th of Ruth's career, the first time (by a wide margin) that anyone in Major League history reached that feat.

Closer Troy Percival unlikely to return to Tampa Bay Rays because of shoulder problems  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Troy Percival visited his Tampa Bay Rays teammates before Tuesday night's game with the Los Angeles Angels and the closer sounded every bit like someone who has thrown his last pitch in a major league game.

Calls, opener go L.A.'s way  —  (08-10) 22:50 PDT — The Giants and Dodgers were about to cross swords for the first time in three months, in a series that really means something, and manager Bruce Bochy made it clear he did not want his players getting “over-amped” for any three games in August.