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John Tomase / Clubhouse Insider:
Penny granted release, making room for Wagner — Veteran right-hander Brad Penny requested and received his release tonight in a move that clears a roster spot for reliever Billy Wagner and gives Penny time to join a new team before postseason rosters are set. — “I asked for my release and I got it,” Penny said.
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Red Sox-White Sox: Updates — (9:43. Game Over, Red Sox 3, Chicago 2)The good old days returned to Fenway as David Ortiz stroked a walkoff homer to right field, his second of the night. It was Ortiz' 10th walkoff homer, ninth with the Red Sox, breaking the team record his shared with Jimmie Foxx.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Angels had interest in reliever Billy Wagner — General Manager Tony Reagins says he continues to explore waiver claims and trades. But Angels could face Red Sox in the playoffs. — Former Mets reliever Billy Wagner went to the Red Sox on Tuesday as the Angels continue to look for bullpen help.
John Barone / MLB.com:
Martinez accepts challenge of knuckler — Chicago (63-63) at Boston (72-53), 7:10 p.m. ET — BOSTON — At 30 years of age, Victor Martinez already has quite the Major League resume. — A veteran of 843 career games, he's made three trips to the All-Star Game, finished in the Top 10 …
Paul Elias / Associated Press:
Court: Investigators wrong to seize MLB drug list — SAN FRANCISCO — An appeals court ruled Wednesday that federal agents were wrong to seize the infamous drug list and samples of 104 Major League Baseball players who allegedly tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Mid-day reading: Hideki Matsui, Ken Griffey, Jr., Oliver Perez and the Nick Swisher bunt — For my Midweek Insider, I asked Hideki Matsui whether he would be all right playing with Ichiro Suzuki. Matsui said yes. Thanks to Sandy for inspiring me to ask the question.
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Joba to go on regular rest, start Sunday — Yankees look ahead on young righty with eye on innings — NEW YORK — Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced prior to Tuesday's game that Joba Chamberlain will make his next scheduled start on Sunday against the White Sox.
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Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Dodgers shut down Rockies 6-1 — The Rockies faced a reality check Wednesday night. They quickly discovered that without Aaron Cook in their rotation, reality really bites. — Josh Fogg, Cook's stand-in, made his first start in a Rockies uniform since the 2007 World Series.
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Yahoo! Sports
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Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
The Rockies' Road to the Playoffs — With another extra-inning win, their second straight, the Rockies closed the Dodgers' National League West lead to just two games, the closest any NL West team has been to Los Angeles since April 24, coincidentally a day the Dodgers won at Coors Field.
Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Perez latest to be shut down — (UPDATED: 6 P.M.) MIAMI — Oliver Perez's incredibly disappointing season is officially over: The left-hander will have season-ending surgery to address tendinitis in his right knee. — Perez had been sent back to New York on Tuesday to be examined by team …
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Covering the bases with Youkilis — He is the Swiss Army Knife of baseball players. The late Billy Mays would have been perfect for a Kevin Youkilis infomercial. — “Youuuuuk! He plays first base! He plays third base! He plays left field! He'll pitch if you want him to pitch!
Jack Curry / Bats:
Would You Have Asked? — The Yankees were staging a dramatic comeback against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. They scored four runs in the ninth inning to trim their deficit to 10-9, and they had runners on first and second with no outs. Frank Francisco, the Rangers' closer, was aching to get an out.
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Tom King / Nashuatelegraph.com:
Defenders locked out of Holman — sports@nashuatelegraph.com — NASHUA - Parked at nearly the same spot at home plate in Holman Stadium where the Nashua Pride era began 11 years ago, a city tractor may have signified the end to the American Defenders of New Hampshire era.
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Starting 9 — September a key month for Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and several managers — Employed, unemployed or retired in 2010? For some, final month could be key — ESPN.com — September is a time for college dorm openings, Jerry Lewis sightings, foliage tours to begin booking seats …
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Rockies activate Rincon from DL — Righty headed back to 'pen; Murton designated for assignment — The hot Colorado Rockies got a bullpen boost Wednesday when they reinstated reliever Juan Rincon from the 15-day disabled list. — Rincon, the veteran right-hander, will take the roster spot …
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MLB Rumors
TMZ.com:
Former Mets Pitcher Sued for Balking on a Bill — Just days after being dropped by the New York Mets for being a terrible baseball player, Livan Hernandez had a lawsuit dropped in his lap for allegedly being a terrible payer. — A guy named Franklin Vizcaino — who claims …
