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 …

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.

Posey's surprise promotion  —  The Giants' surprise decision to promote 2008 first-round draft pick Buster Posey might have been made partly to light a fire under Bengie Molina, who has not returned from a quad injury as quickly as they would have liked, but manager Bruce Bochy …

Rays' 8th deals Red Sox setback  —  One to shrug off  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If there's a physical reaction that best sums up last night's 8-5 loss to the Rays, it would be a shrug.  —  Deep down, the Red Sox [team stats] …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Frustrated Pelfrey blows off steam; Mets' lose  —  DENVER - There is frustration,  —  and then there is the scorched-earth kind of rage that Mike Pelfrey was feeling when he was lifted from Tuesday's game after four terrible innings against the Rockies at Coors Field.

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.

Mets won't change dimensions at Citi Field  —  DENVER - David Wright better muscle up.  It's either that or accept modest home run totals for the rest of his career.  The Mets don't intend to adjust the dimensions or wall heights at Citi Field for the 2010 season, the Daily News has learned.

Ricciardi accepts blame for Jays' downfall  —  Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez, right, tags Toronto Blue Jays Randy Ruiz out at the plate during the fourth inning of American League MLB baseball action in Arlington, Texas September 2, 2009.  The Rangers won 6-4.

Beltran not 100% but game to play  —  One of the first things Carlos Beltran said before beginning his minor-league rehab assignment in Brooklyn Wednesday night was that he's “not 100% (healthy), for sure.”  —  But considering the absurd glut of injuries that has torpedoed the Mets this season …

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.