Red Sox bats take offense  —  Maligned lineup comes through when pitching, defense doesn't  —  NEW YORK - Until further notice, all permits and licenses for the Red Sox [team stats]' run prevention program have been pulled.  —  Taking over like Al Haig, the team's run production unit …

Dodgers look for more solid pitching to make up for loss of Andre Ethier  —  Joe Torre says team will need pitchers to continue doing well while the outfielder is on the disabled list.  —  Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier signs autographs prior to the Dodgers' game against the Houston Astros on Tuesday.

Hoffman must take Macha off hook  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Cincinnati - It's up to Trevor Hoffman now.  —  Hoffman has to go into manager Ken Macha's office Wednesay and tell him to remove the 42-year-old right-hander from his role as the Milwaukee Brewers' closer.

Hanley Ramirez won't apologize to Florida Marlins teammates, lost “little bit” of respect for manager  —  Here's the latest on the Hanley saga...  Wes Helms, Florida's veteran clubhouse leader, says Hanley Ramirez needs to apologize to his teammates for dogging it on a play last night.

Break Up the Brewers  —  Before the season began, some people (such as myself) expected the Milwaukee Brewers to at least give the St. Louis Cardinals a fight for the National League Central title.  It wasn't hard to look at an offense that featured Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder …

Source: Mejia to start again in minors  —  The Mets should have a new starting pitching option within a month.  —  Top prospect Jenrry Mejia, whose dazzling Grapefruit League performance prompted the Mets to place him on the Opening Day roster as a reliever, is expected to head to the minors to resume being used as a starting pitcher.

Game Time … ATLANTA — The Braves struggled with the fundamentals in the ninth inning.  —  No worries.  David Wright made the biggest blunder of all.  —  After failing twice to get down sacrifice bunts, Atlanta still beat the New York Mets 3-2 when Wright's throwing error allowed pinch …

DOWNS COMES THROUGH FOR GIANTS IN 12TH INNING  —  The Sports Network  —  San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Matt Downs went 3-for-5, drove in two runs in the 12th and scored the eventual game-winning run later in the frame, as the Giants held on to defeat the Padres, 7-6, for the first time this season.

SUZUKI DRIVES IN WINNING RUN IN 10TH AS A'S OUTLAST MARINERS  —  The Sports Network  —  Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Kurt Suzuki's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the Athletics a 6-5 win in a back-and-forth battle with the Seattle Mariners in the finale of a two-game set.

Updating the Top 25 MLB prospects  —  With Jason Heyward and others no longer mere prospects, the rankings change  —  We're about a fourth of the way through the minor league season, and a number of players from my ranking of the Top 100 prospects for 2010 have already made an impact …

Rays' David Price beats Indians for 6th win  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Evan Longoria drove in three runs and David Price pitched six strong innings to become the AL's first six-game winner as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Indians 6-2 on Tuesday.  —  The AL East leaders improved …

O'S RALLY PAST ROYALS IN 10 INNINGS  —  The Sports Network  —  Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Nick Markakis hit an RBI single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, as the Baltimore Orioles rallied past the Kansas City Royals, 4-3, to split a brief two-game set from Camden Yards.

Rockies' lineup is balanced enough  —  CHICAGO — The Rockies have had more plate appearances from the left side of the plate this season than any other team in the National League.  Entering Tuesdays' game, 53 percent of Colorado's trips to the plate have gone to a lefty hitter.