CORA AND NIESE LIFT METS OVER NATS  —  The Sports Network  —  Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Alex Cora drove in three runs to back Jon Niese's solid pitching performance, as the New York Mets held off the Washington Nationals, 5-3, in the second test of a four-game set at Nationals Park.

SCHERZER STRONG ON MOUND AS TIGERS TOPPLE MARINERS  —  The Sports Network  —  Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Johnny Damon hit a two-run home run and Max Scherzer worked eight innings to help the Detroit Tigers take a 7-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game set.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel covets ace pitcher over reliever as Cliff Lee remains top commodity  —  WASHINGTON - Jerry Manuel's priorities are clear in advance of the July 31 trade deadline: If forced to choose between an ace starter and a setup man, the Mets manager would take the ace.

BLOOMQUIST, ROYALS EDGE ANGELS IN 10  —  Sports Network  —  Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Willie Bloomquist singled home the winning run in the 10th inning to lift Kansas City to a 2-1 comeback win over the Angels in the opener of a three-game set at Angel Stadium.

Yankees Interested In Ty Wigginton  —  The Yankees have some interest in Ty Wigginton, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse.  Price suggests the Yankees would be interested in the 32-year-old as a part-time player, rather than as an everyday starter.  —  In 299 plate appearances for the Orioles …

Dukes signs deal with independent league  —  If Elijah Dukes wants to be a Major League outfielder once again, he will have to start that journey in the Atlantic League.  —  Dukes, who was released by the Nationals during Spring Training, signed with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League, the team announced on its Web site Thursday.

Manny appears headed to disabled list  —  Ramirez sits for second consecutive game against D-backs  —  PHOENIX — The Dodgers are expected to place outfielder Manny Ramirez on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained right hamstring.  It will be his second stint on the disabled list this season …

Price takes no-hitter into fifth but Twins rally to take down Rays ace  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Danny Valencia (FSY) had two hits and the go-ahead RBI in the seventh inning and the Minnesota Twins outlasted David Price (FSY) and the Tampa Bay Rays for a 2-1 victory Friday night.

Infante's 2-RBI single lifts Braves in 11th inning  —  ATLANTA—Omar Infante's two-run single with no outs in the 11th inning helped Atlanta rally for a 4-3 victory over the Florida Marlins on Friday night, the Braves' 15th final at-bat win.  —  The Braves have won two straight overall and five of seven.

Garcia, Cardinals muzzle Brewers 5-0  —  ST. LOUIS—Rookie Jaime Garcia bounced back from his worst start with seven innings of three-hit ball and Matt Holliday doubled twice and drove in a run in the St. Louis Cardinals' 5-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

Blum injures elbow while getting dressed  —  SAN DIEGO — Although Geoff Blum injured his right elbow in an unusual way on Thursday night, the impact of his injury is no less serious.  —  Blum felt a “pop” in his elbow while putting on his shirt following Thursday's contest against the Padres, according to manager Brad Mills.

Minor League Transactions  —  The numbers in parentheses denote draft round, of course, and I encourage one and all to check out our Draft Database.  It's the easiest place on the Web to find out, 1) who drafted whom, and from which school and which state, and 2) which players have signed.

Chris Young matches career high, Diamondbacks beat Dodgers  —  PHOENIX — Chris Young matched a career high with five RBIs, Edwin Jackson labored through five innings in the follow-up to his no-hitter and the Arizona Diamondbacks made Kirk Gibson a winner in his managerial debut with a 12-5 victory …