David Ortiz, John Lackey lead Boston past Arizona 8-5  —  BOSTON - David Ortiz [stats] hit a two-run homer, Marco Scutaro had three RBIs and the Boston Red Sox [team stats] beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-5 on Thursday night.  —  John Lackey (8-3) pitched six innings as Boston became the only team with three eight-game winners.

Pirates disclose extensions for Huntington, Russell  —  One-year terms added last October were kept quiet by team president  —  The timing hardly could have been worse for Frank Coonelly, the Pirates' president, to disclose this afternoon that he quietly gave general manager Neal Huntington …

Arroyo homers, leads Reds over Dodgers 7-1  —  CINCINNATI—Hitting.  Pitching.  Defense.  Bronson Arroyo did it all.  —  The lanky right-hander hit the first of Cincinnati's three homers off rookie John Ely, pitched seven innings and completed three double plays while covering first base Thursday …

Manny Ramirez Explored Exemption to Drug Policy  —  Around the time Major League Baseball suspended Manny Ramirez for violating its drug program last season, his representatives told officials in the commissioner's office that they planned to file for permission to use a banned drug that would boost his testosterone levels.

SURGING WHITE SOX DEAL PIRATES 11TH STRAIGHT DEFEAT  —  Sports Network  —  Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Juan Pierre had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run in support of Mark Buehrle, as Chicago held off a late rally to down the reeling Pirates, 5-4, and finish off a three-game series sweep at PNC Park.

Yanks ban vuvuzela pests' instrument of torture  —  Those vuvuzela horns may be all the rage at the World Cup in South Africa, but the Yankees won't let fans toot, toot, toot for the home team.  —  When “bleacher creature” Anthony Zachariadis wailed on one of the plastic horns at Tuesday night's game …

Cubs close to signing first-round pick  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs have agreed to terms with first-round pick Hayden Simpson, pending a physical, and the right-handed pitcher could sign this weekend.  —  Simpson, who was the 16th overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft out of Southern Arkansas …

Suspended Torrealba rails against ump  —  Catcher is appealing his 3-game suspension  —  The suspension of Yorvit Torrealba had been issued, and while the Padres are appealing to have the length of punishment cut down, their catcher was making the kind of personal appeal that could have the opposite effect.

Cupid strikes: Mariners bullpen catcher marrying woman he spotted in stands  —  Jason Phillips grabbed a baseball, scribbled his phone number on it, got the woman's attention and tossed it to her.  And for the rest of the game, he was left to wonder how she'd respond.  —  The courtship started in a bullpen, of all places.

O's have chips to play at Trade Deadline  —  Wigginton, Millwood most likely to be dealt to contenders  —  SAN DIEGO — As June hits the midway-marker, the steady flow of trade rumors picks up steam and general managers around baseball make inquiries and begin to delve into the inventories of organizations.

Mets have eyes set on arms … Baseball Tonight Live … Touch 'Em All

Scioscia's in favor of scrapping baseball's postgame scrum  —  The season-ending injury via postgame party is threatening to become an epidemic in Southern California.  First, the Los Angeles Angels lost star first baseman Kendry Morales  —  for the season when he broke his leg celebrating his game-winning grand slam on May 29.

Angels may have to go looking for shortstop because of injuries  —  With Maicer Izturis is on the disabled list and Erick Aybar possibly joining him, General Manager Tony Reagins keeps open option of trade or free-agent signing.  —  With Maicer Izturis on the disabled list and Erick Aybar possibly …

Ubaldo wins 13th, Rockies snap skid with win over Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Having caught the night before, Joe Mauer wasn't in the starting lineup Thursday.  —  Lucky him.  —  Ubaldo Jimenez was on the mound for the Rockies and, well, you know the rest of the story.

Stephen Strasburg: 'I'm not the face of the franchise'  —  It feels like much, much longer, since he's crammed in a franchise-shifting debut, 22 strikeouts, an appearance on Letterman, a request from the Hall of Fame and the cover of Sports Illustrated.  But Stephen Strasburg has been a major leaguer for nine days.