In their words: Remembering Bob Sheppard  —  “I am deeply saddened by the death today of Bob Sheppard, a good friend and fine man whose voice set the gold standard for America's sports announcers.  For over a half century, fans were thrilled to hear his unforgettable voice and players …

Dodgers beat Cubs 7-0 behind Padilla  —  LOS ANGELES—Vicente Padilla pitched eight innings of two-hit ball and James Loney hit a three-homer off Carlos Silva before the Cubs pitcher was ejected in the second inning, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7- victory over Chicago on Sunday night …

Legends, celebrities hammer home fun  —  ANAHEIM — Please, Hammer, don't get hurt.  —  This was just for fun, after all, and the way MC Hammer hacked his way through batting practice before the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game made you wonder whether his obliques would hold up.

Sources: O's, Showalter close to deal  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on MLB on FOX.  Follow him on Twitter.  —  The Orioles are close to terms with Buck Showalter to become the team's manager, major-league sources said Sunday.

Adrian Beltre limps into break  —  All-Star moment in jeopardy  —  TORONTO - Just when the Red Sox [team stats] thought they could reach the All-Star break with what little remained of their health, third baseman Adrian Beltre added his name to the injured list.

A New Role for Francoeur  —  Jeff Francoeur is used to being in the lineup.  When he was 22, he played in all 162 games for the Atlanta Braves.  As a 23-year-old, he did the same.  Never in his six-year major league career has Francoeur not been an every-day player.

Pujols ‘jets’ All-Star teammates to Anaheim  —  • It wasn't exactly 25 cabs for 25 players after the Cardinals' 4-2 win Sunday over the Houston Astros, but there were close to 20 destinations.  —  With most players ticketed for a three-day layover at home, first baseman Albert Pujols concluded …

Untested Derby cast offers plenty of intrigue  —  With five first-time participants, power display sure to excite  —  ANAHEIM — Prince Fielder won't be out to defend his title.  Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard will be taking a spectator's view for a change.  Even Josh Hamilton has taken a pass.

Lots of comments online about our stories in recent days concerning the Mariners and their decision to trade for Class AA pitching prospect Josh Lueke in the Cliff Lee deal.  —  Lueke, it turns out, pleaded no contest last year to a charge of unlawful imprisonment with violence against a woman …

Phoenix Suns close to acquiring Josh Childress, Hedo Turkoglu  —  LAS VEGAS - The Suns are on the verge of acquiring forwards Hedo Turkoglu and Josh Childress, swiftly rebounding from the loss of Amar'e Stoudemire with two quality impact players.  —  The Suns would send guard Leandro Barbosa …

Conger's 3-run homer lifts US team to Futures win  —  ANAHEIM, Calif.—Mike Trout stole a glance up at the scoreboard and gazed around the stands, taking in the scene at the very ballpark where he soon hopes to play.  As a regular major leaguer, that is.  —  At 18, Trout was the youngest player …

Bagwell named Astros hitting coach  —  HOUSTON — Former Houston Astros star Jeff Bagwell has taken over as Houston's hitting coach after the team fired Sean Berry.  —  General manager Ed Wade said Sunday that Berry became “a victim of circumstances” as the Astros offense has sputtered this season.