Youk moves ahead of Swish; Votto still leads  —  Races remain close with two days left in Final Vote balloting  —  Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis caught and passed right fielder Nick Swisher of the rival Yankees for the American League lead, while Major League home run co-leader Joey Votto …

Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox left game against Tampa Bay Rays with ankle pain, but says he expects to play Wednesday  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis abruptly left Tuesday night's game prior to leading off the fourth inning with what he said felt like a cramp in his right ankle.

Catcher Martinez hasn't received call from team  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It's a familiar scene before Red Sox games.  Victor Martinez shagging flies in the outfield, and watching his son, Victor Jose Martinez, and Little Papi (D'Angelo Ortiz), chasing each other around.

Get off my mound, and my back  —  A t-shirt has caused quite the uproar here in Oakland, and believe it or not, Dallas Braden wants no part of it.  I wasn't in the A's clubhouse when Braden talked to a few reporters last night, but apparently his message was simple.

Mariners keeping mum on Cliff Lee  —  But MLB insiders expect former Cy Young winner to be traded before deadline … If you're looking for hints on Seattle pitcher Cliff Lee's next destination, they won't be coming from the horse's mouth.  Right around the time Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan …

Sternberg: “Money won't be an object” for in-season additions  —  Rays prinicipal owner Stuart Sternberg just said “money won't be an object” in making in-season additions to bolster the team's bid to make the playoffs.  —  Sternberg didn't quite fully open the team checkbook, saying money would …

BERKMAN LEADS ASTROS OVER PIRATES IN HOUSTON  —  The Sports Network  —  Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Lance Berkman homered and drove in three runs to back seven sturdy innings from Wandy Rodriguez in Houston's 6-2 win over Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game set.

Zimmerman's walkoff helps Nats nip Padres 6-5  —  WASHINGTON—Ryan Zimmerman's second homer of the game, a shot to center field off Luke Gregerson leading off the bottom of the ninth, lifted the Washington Nationals to a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.

LITSCH STRUGGLES AGAIN AS BLUE JAYS LOSE TO TWINS  —  TORONTO — Jesse Litsch is giving the Toronto Blue Jays something to think about — and not in a good way.  —  For the third time in five starts since returning from elbow surgery, the 25-year-old right-hander delivered a dud …

Sox looking for relief  —  Red Sox scouts have been scouring the big leagues looking for a possible match to add to their bullpen, according to major league sources, but don't be surprised if they now look within, with news they are moving Pawtucket starter Michael Bowden to the bullpen.

Live-blogging the Beckett sim game  —  Josh Beckett is about to get to work here at Tropicana Field.  He'll be facing five players from the GCL Red Sox and maybe Jeremy Hermida, too.  —  Stay tuned for reports here.  —  UPDATE, 2:20 p.m.: Hermida is hitting first.

Colorado Rockies' Jhoulys Chacin sent to bullpen as Jorge De La Rosa readies to return  —  DENVER — Jorge De La Rosa is returning to the Colorado Rockies' rotation and that means Jhoulys Chacin is headed to the bullpen.  —  De La Rosa  —  De La Rosa  —  De La Rosa (3-1, 3.91 ERA) …

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes returns to the lineup on Tuesday night  —  NEW YORK — Shortstop Jose Reyes returned to the New York Mets' lineup on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, after missing the last six games with an injured right oblique.  —  Reyes went 2-for-4 with a run in the Mets' 3-0 win.

Curtis Granderson's BABIP  —  New York Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson is in the midst of his fifth full season in the major leagues.  After performing at roughly a league-average clip at the plate in 2006 (.333 wOBA), Granderson went on to crush the ball in 2007 and 2008.