Kazmir gets into — and out of — a first-inning jam for Angels  —  It was an eventful first inning for new Angels pitcher Scott Kazmir, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays for three minor leaguers last Friday.  —  The Seattle Mariners loaded the bases with no outs when Ichiro Suzuki reached …

Francona: Varitek behind plate tonight  —  Jason Varitek will start at catcher tonight for the Red Sox with Josh Beckett on the mound, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said during his weekly conversation with the hosts of WEEI's “The Dale and Holley Show.”  —  Victor Martinez …

Penny throws eight shutout innings in Giants' debut  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — After a sensational and surprising debut with San Francisco, Brad Penny (FSY) kept his eyes on the Red Sox game on TV as he dressed.  —  “Those are my buddies over there,” he said.  “I love all those guys.”

Senate hopeful of the day: Curt Schilling  —  Add another name to the growing list of pols and would-be pols eyeing a run for Edward M. Kennedy's Senate seat: former Red Sox ace Curt Schilling.  —  That's right, Mr. Bloody Sock himself told NECN's Brad Puffer in an interview today that he has been …

Joe Nathan blows it for Twins in 4-2 loss to White Sox  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Nathan gave up back-to-back home runs to Gordon Beckham and Paul Konerko with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Chicago White Sox got to Minnesota's four-time All-Star closer to win 4-2 on Wednesday.

Update on Mariano Rivera  —  He first felt “tightness” in his left groin on Aug. 15 in Seattle.  It went away and came back on Tuesday night.  —  Were this the playoffs, Rivera said, he would be pitching.  But the Yankees have the luxury of a large lead, expanded roster and Phil Hughes.

Giambi pinch hit keeps Rockies in wild-card lead … DENVER(AP) The Colorado Rockies ' celebration over Jason Giambi 's heroics quickly turned to concern over closer Huston Street 's ailing right arm.  —  Giambi's pinch-hit two-run single off Brian Stokes broke an eighth-inning tie and powered …

Gardner starts rehab assignment Thursday  —  Center fielder could rejoin big club for Labor Day  —  BALTIMORE — Brett Gardner cleared his final hurdle with the Yankees and will begin a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.

Sternberg talks attendance, Kazmir  —  Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg addressed the media this afternoon, touching on the hot topics of the moment—primarily attendance and the team dealing away Scott Kazmir last week.  —  Sternberg didn't seem too interested in latching onto …

Teams interested in Braves pitching surplus  —  The Rockies and D-backs both sent scouts to watch Tim Hudson make his return last night.  Like Hudson, these clubs are wondering whether the Braves will bring the veteran right-hander back to Atlanta next year.

Harper: Cy of relief for Mariano  —  BALTIMORE - If this were the Oscars, where a long career of unrewarded greatness has been known to help put a deserving nominee over the top, Mariano Rivera would be a shoo-in this season to win his first Cy Young Award.  —  In baseball, however …

A Losing Streak, Elbow Soreness For Stammen  —  On Wednesday afternoon, the Nats, again looking punchless/hapless/toothless (pick your favorite 2009 adjective; insert), lost to the Padres 7-0.  The updated math is pretty depressing.  This team has lost six in a row.  It was just swept by a last-place team.

Sabathia wins 16th as Yankees pound Orioles  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — CC Sabathia (FSY) allowed one run in seven innings to earn his AL-leading 16th victory, Alex Rodriguez (FSY) got his 2,500th hit and drove in four runs, and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-2 Wednesday night for a three-game sweep.