Top News:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers ride Molina's cycle to win in Boston — Catcher hits tie-breaking slam, completes feat with rare triple — BOSTON — The Rangers, after their July 1 trade with the Giants, had won only once in seven games with Bengie Molina behind the plate before the All-Star break.
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Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Rangers C Bengie Molina hits for cycle — BOSTON—Bengie Molina of the Texas Rangers hit for the cycle against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. — His feat included a grand slam in the fifth inning. He completed the cycle with a drive over the head of center fielder Eric Patterson for a triple in the eighth.
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Rangers still may be interested in Lowell
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Orioles Insider, Over the Monster, Baseball Time in Arlington, Yahoo! Sports, NESN.com, FenwayNation and MLB Rumors
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Billingsley rocked but undaunted — Despite giving up seven runs in four innings, righty doesn't feel he pitched badly … ST. LOUIS — In the city where Yogi Berra was born and raised, it initially sounded like a case of deja vu all over again. But upon further review …
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NY Daily News:
New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter says he was unaware of scheduling of Bob Sheppard's funeral — The Yankees included a tribute to Bob Sheppard in their pregame homage to George Steinbrenner before Friday night's game, but also confirmed that no players attended any part of the funeral …
Discussion:
LADY AT THE BAT
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Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
New York Yankees say reports of a player bus being delayed en route …
Discussion:
NESN.com
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Beltran's back, but Mets fall to Giants — Dickey takes loss despite seven stellar innings — SAN FRANCISCO — Due up fourth in the first inning, Carlos Beltran stood on the top step of the visitor's dugout at AT&T Park, helmet on, bat in hand. With two outs and a man on first, it was his turn to bat.
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Red Sox are now over the luxury tax threshold — According to a major league source, the Red Sox have found out in the last few hours that they they have indeed gone over the luxury tax threshold for 2010 which will also affect their payroll for 2011. — This is not the best of news …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Konerko: Sox don't need outside help to keep rolling — MINNEAPOLIS — White Sox general manager Ken Williams is no stranger to pulling a veteran aside near the trade deadline and asking him, “What do you think about me adding so-and-so?” — As of Friday, he hadn't yet approached Paul Konerko …
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
Did Jim Konstanty deserve the 1950 MVP? — Thanks to the fantastic latest updates from Retrosheet and Baseball Reference, I am able to find out something I've wondered about a long time: Did Jim Konstanty lead the National League in Win Probability Added in 1950?
Steven Wine / Associated Press:
Strasburg pitches Nationals past Marlins 4-0 — MIAMI—Stephen Strasburg struggled through a 34-pitch first inning but escaped early jams to lead the Washington Nationals past the Florida Marlins 4-0 Friday night. — Strasburg (4-2) allowed two baserunners in each of the first three innings …
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Finger blister forces Wood back to DL — CLEVELAND — The Indians made a move involving closer Kerry Wood, but it wasn't the pre-Deadline trade so many are anticipating. — Rather, Wood was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 12, with a blister on his right index finger.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Joe Kay / Associated Press:
Phillips has 3 hits, Reds beat Rockies 3-2 — CINCINNATI—Brandon Phillips followed his first All-Star appearance with a three-hit game and Arthur Rhodes pitched out of a bases-loaded, none-out threat in the eighth inning Friday night, preserving the Cincinnati Reds' 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Associated Press:
Angels' Weaver beats Mariners, Hernandez 3-2 — ANAHEIM, Calif.—Jered Weaver outpitched Felix Hernandez for the third time this season in a matchup of the AL's strikeout leaders and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Friday night. — Weaver (9-5) allowed two runs …
