Top News:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Thanks to round-trip Cruz, Rangers sink Sox — Slugger belts first pitch he sees in 11th over left-field fence — ARLINGTON — Nelson Cruz was the one who was mobbed his teammates at home plate and showered with beer in the clubhouse. Josh Hamilton was the one who put him in that position …
RELATED:
Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:
Cruz homers in 11th, Rangers beat Red Sox 10-9 — ARLINGTON, Texas—Talk about more bang for the buck under the Texas Rangers' new ownership. — Nelson Cruz led off the 11th inning with a homer on the first pitch thrown by Tim Wakefield and AL West-leading Texas capped a 10-9 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Yahoo! Sports
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Gammons On Papelbon, Ramirez, Overbay — The venerable Peter Gammons appeared on WEEI's The Big Show to discuss a few Red Sox-related hot stove topics. WEEI.com's Sam Dykstra has the transcript of some of the interview's highlights... - The Red Sox will have a hard time finding takers …
Discussion:
Full Count, Over the Monster and Boston Globe
Charles Odum / Associated Press:
Hudson, Braves top Dodgers, 1-0 on Conrad's HR — ATLANTA—Tim Hudson extended his dominant stretch of starts with three-hit ball for eight innings and Brooks Conrad homered in the seventh to lift the Atlanta Braves to a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
RELATED:
Los Angeles Times:
Pushing the Dodgers' Matt Kemp issue closer to brink
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, ESPN and TYU
TSN.ca:
Guthrie, Orioles continue winning ways in blanking of Rays — Sports Network — St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Jeremy Guthrie allowed two hits in six innings and Luke Scott went 3-for-3 with a home run, as Baltimore continued to shine in the Buck Showalter era with a thorough 5-0 win over Tampa Bay.
Discussion:
DRaysBay
RELATED:
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Ellsbury headed home for MRI — Outfielder reinjures his ribs, side in early mishap — ARLINGTON, Texas — Just nine games into his attempt to salvage his lost 2010 season, Jacoby Ellsbury is headed for yet another MRI and hospital room today. The outfielder, who has missed most of the season …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Associated Press
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Yankees Ink Morton For $450,000 — The Yankees have yet to sign a 2010 draftee to a seven-figure bonus, but they have handed out six deals in excess of MLB's slot guidelines. New York's most recent above-slot bonus went to ninth-rounder Taylor Morton, who signed for $450,000 …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Ellsbury being sent for exam — Jacoby Ellsbury is being sent back to Boston tomorrow to be examined. — He landed on the same spot where he fractured his ribs in April. At the moment, it sounds like a possible return to the DL. — Also Jed Lowrie left the game with heat exhaustion.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox and Fenway West
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Chipper eying rehab, not retirement — ATLANTA — Chipper Jones has overcome the initial shock he felt when he was informed that he had once again suffered a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Now the Braves' third baseman is ready to dedicate himself to the grueling rehab process …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Post Game: Mets 1, Phillies 0 — The Mets (58-57) defeated the Phillies (64-51) by the score of 1-0 tonight at Citi Field. — The Mets have won back-to-back games for the first time since June 23. — In addition, in four games and 36 innings this season at Citi Field …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, Amazin' Avenue, Yahoo! Sports and The Good Phight
David Waldstein / New York Times:
Mets' Rodriguez Agrees to Treatment for Anger — Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez has agreed to have anger-management treatment after his arrest Wednesday night on charges that he assaulted the father of his common-law wife. The players union will help him find a therapist or counselor.
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog
RELATED:
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Mets organization shows a lack of backbone
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, New York Post, MetsBlog.com and HardballTalk
TSN.ca:
Reds bounce back in opener with Marlins — Sports Network — Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Jay Bruce homered and drove in three runs to back six sturdy innings from Edinson Volquez in Cincinnati's 7-2 win over Florida in the opener of a three-game set.
Discussion:
Red Reporter
ESPN.com:
San Francisco Giants acquire Jose Guillen from Kansas City Royals for player, cash — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have traded outfielder Jose Guillen to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for a player to be named later and cash considerations. — Guillen
Jane Lee / MLB.com:
Ynoa to have surgery on pitching elbow — MINNEAPOLIS — The A's injury bug is seemingly doing its best to make its way from the Major League level all the way down to the Minors, where highly regarded pitching prospect Michael Ynoa will shut things down and undergo surgery Aug. 24.
