Nats Trade Belliard To Dodgers  —  Minutes after playing in his final game with the Washington Nationals, Ronnie Belliard stood in the losing clubhouse — no longer his clubhouse — and weighed his emotions.  He recognized the good and the bad, he said.  He was heading into the thick of a playoff race …

Post-trade deadline deals paying off on mound  —  They were no more than blips on a radar screen a month ago, but these same pitchers are being asked today to save a season.  —  And they are delivering.  —  Paul Byrd, unemployed 3½ weeks ago, invigorated a Boston Red Sox staff looking …

Starter's Arm and Lead Are Protected  —  Without fanfare or a fist pump, Joba Chamberlain struck out A. J. Pierzynski to end the top of the third inning Sunday.  His 94-mile-per-hour fastball, Chamberlain's 35th pitch, had left Pierzynski motionless as it smacked into the catcher's glove.

Lackey joins elite group with 100th win  —  Ace becomes fifth Angels pitcher to reach milestone  —  ANAHEIM — John Lackey climbed a personal summit on Sunday, fittingly at the hands of the Athletics, an American League West rival he has dominated through the years.

Weekend Roundup  —  The always plain-spoken Charlie Manuel won't come out right out and predict that his team will become the first from the National League to win back-to-back World Series titles since the 1975-76 Reds.  However, the Phillies' manager likes his team's chances.  “I do.

Betances Out After Tommy John Surgery  —  Just had a great 15-minute chat with the Yankees Vice President of Scouting, Damon Oppenheimer.  —  He confirmed that Dellin Betances underwent Tommy John surgery several days ago and is rehabbing in Tampa.  —  There's TONS of great info from this interview as well, but that's the big one.

Ruiz's two-run double lifts Phillies over Braves  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joe Blanton (FSY) got just enough run support for a change.  —  Carlos Ruiz hit a two-run, go-ahead double in the seventh inning and Blanton pitched seven strong innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night.

Rookie Matusz leads O's over Tribe 5-2  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — Brian Matusz (FSY) pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, Felix Pie (FSY) homered, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Cleveland Indians 5-2 Sunday for a split of the four-game series.  —  Making his sixth major league start …

Thole to be Promoted to Mets  —  Prior to today's game in Chicago, Omar Minaya told reporters that Josh Thole will be promoted to the Mets in September.  —  Minaya did say that call-ups in general will be delayed until around September 6 due to the fact that the minor league teams are shorthanded.

Phillies shut down Drabek for rest of '09  —  Prized pitching prospect not injured, won't pitch in AFL  —  PHILADELPHIA — Double-A Reading right-hander Kyle Drabek, considered to be the prized pitching prospect in the Phillies' organization, has been shut down for the rest of the season …

Mets shift fall league to D.R.  —  (UPDATED: 11 P.M.) CHICAGO — Adding to the questions about their post-Madoff financial health, the Mets have quietly shifted their fall instructional league in a reported cost-saving maneuver.  —  Former Mets GM Jim Duquette, now a baseball analyst for Sirius XM Radio …

Twins rally in 8th inning for victory over Rangers  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Perched on third base, pinch-runner Carlos Gomez (FSY) got his order: Go on any grounder.  —  The speedy Gomez streaked home ahead of Texas first baseman Hank Blalock's (FSY) high throw in the eighth inning …

Wright Will Be Wearing New Helmet  —  As David Wright prepares to come off the disabled list Tuesday, he plans to make good on his word.  Even before he was struck on the helmet by a Matt Cain fastball on Aug. 8, he said he would wear the new extra-protective S100 helmet from Rawlings, no matter how it looked.