Top News:
Rob Maaddi / Associated Press:
Howard, Utley power Phillies past Twins — PHILADELPHIA—Ryan Howard homered twice, Chase Utley also went deep and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Minnesota Twins 9-5 on Friday night. — Joe Blanton (2-5) threw six effective innings for the Phillies, who have won three straight and four …
Discussion:
The Good Phight
RELATED:
Jim Salisbury / CSNPhilly.com:
Amaro Disputes Lopes, Says Utley is Not Injured — For two weeks, Phillies officials, including general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Charlie Manuel, have shot down speculation and rumors that an injury is the cause of Chase Utley's extended hitting slump.
David Laurila / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Q and A: Davey Lopes by David Laurila — Davey Lopes … David Laurila: You've received a lot of credit for the team's improved baserunning in recent years. What have you done in that regard? — Davey Lopes: Actually, just getting them to pursue going first to third …
Associated Press:
Pirates' lose 12th straight, 4-3 to Indians — PITTSBURGH—Carlos Santana reached base four times and hit an RBI double to help the Cleveland Indians extend Pittsburgh's second-longest losing streak in 55 years to 12 games with a 4-3 win over the Pirates Friday night.
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Fox Sports:
Rockies' Tulowitzki has broken wrist — Tracy Ringolsby is a Hall of Fame baseball writer. He is in his 35th year covering Major League Baseball, is a co-founder of Baseball America, and appears on pre- and postgame shows for Colorado Rockies games on FSN Rocky Mountain. — DENVER
Larry Millson / MLB.com:
Molina brothers enjoy reunion — TORONTO — Giants catcher Bengie Molina took advantage of Thursday's day off in the schedule to visit with his brother, Jose, who catches for the Blue Jays. — Their mother, Gladys, also was there at Jose Molina's apartment in Toronto.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Colletti looking to acquire arm for rotation — BOSTON — Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti reiterated on Friday that he's looking to acquire a starting pitcher to bolster a rotation that currently includes two rookies. — “The conversations have picked up a little,” said Colletti.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
David Biderman / Wall Street Journal:
How to Call What You Can't See — Strasburg's Otherworldly Pitches Fool Batters—and Umpires; ‘Did the Ball Really Do That?’ — Since his debut with the Washington Nationals, Stephen Strasburg has displayed the kind of pitching repertoire that makes baseball historians scramble for their notebooks.
TSN.ca:
KAZMIR, ANGELS HOLD OFF CUBS IN CHICAGO — Sports Network — Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Scott Kazmir picked up his fourth straight win, backed by home runs from Howie Kendrick and Torii Hunter, as the Angels took the opener of a three-game interleague set from the Cubs, 7-6.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Baseball America:
Prospect Hot Sheet: June 18 — Team: high Class A Myrtle Beach (Carolina) — Age: 19. — Why He's Here: 1-0, 0.00, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 Ks — The Skinny: The only question seemingly surrounding Teheran is how high will he go this season. — The Braves promoted the Colombia native …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Question for Girardi: Why no Mo? — Yankees manager should've opted for Rivera with game still in reach … NEW YORK — In the space of one half-inning Thursday night, the Yankees took a winnable game and turned it into an unwinnable game. They took a close game and turned it into a blowout.
Neil Paine / Bats:
Keeping Score: Luck Is Likely to Catch Up to Jimenez — When Ubaldo Jimenez allowed three earned runs in a rain-shortened, six-inning victory against the Blue Jays last Friday, it was by far his worst outing of the season. Once upon a time, a pitcher would have considered himself fortunate …
