Lou Piniella retires after Sunday game … CHICAGO — Lou Piniella's long and colorful career has spanned 48 years, from an aggressive outfielder with a sharp batting eye to a successful manager whose highlight-reel base-throwing tantrums sometimes overshadowed his baseball acumen.

Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 0  —  Clay Buchholz lowers AL-best ERA to 2.26 in 5-0 win  —  BOSTON - Clay Buchholz has grown from a frustrated pitcher into one of baseball's best in just two years.  —  The Red Sox [team stats] right-hander pitched six innings of five-hit ball to lower his AL-best ERA …

Oswalt sharp for 7 innings, Phillies beat Nats  —  PHILADELPHIA—Roy Oswalt struck out eight in seven sharp innings and led the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-0 win over the Washington Nationals on a rainy Sunday.  —  Oswalt (9-13) has won three straight starts for the first time this season …

Scully to return to Dodgers booth in 2011  —  LOS ANGELES — Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will return for a 62nd season at the microphone in 2011, the Dodgers announced on Sunday.  —  “I'm just honored and humbled to continue my association with the Dodgers, which has been a major part of my life …

Sports of The Times: An Old Baseball Town, Cincinnati Is Coming Back to Life  —  Sometimes, Joey Votto stops for a bite to eat in downtown Cincinnati, a few blocks from the ballpark by the river.  He feels the hunger in a baseball town with long memories.  —  Votto, going on 27 …

Chacin's strong outing helps Rockies snap skid in the desert  —  PHOENIX — If, after back-to-back losses to the lowly Diamondbacks, it was time for the Rockies to look to the future on Sunday, they had to like what they saw of Jhoulys Chacin.  —  Chacin, whose 5-9 record going into the game …

Dodgers Claim Barajas On Waivers  —  10:37am: The Dodgers have claimed Rod Barajas on waivers, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.  The Mets will receive cash considerations in return, according to the Dodgers (via Twitter).  —  Barajas, who turns 35-years-old in September …

Padres' Stairs sets record for most pinch-hit homers  —  Matt Stairs hit his 21st homer as a pinch-hitter Saturday, the most in the history of Major League Baseball.  —  The Fredericton native connected on a two-run shot in the eighth inning of the San Diego Padres' 6-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers …

Pair of three-run homers help Rangers beat Orioles  —  The Sports Network  —  Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero hit three-run home runs in support of Tommy Hunter's eight effective innings as Texas topped Baltimore, 6-4, in the last of a four-game set.

Verlander helps Tigers sweep Indians  —  Sports Network  —  Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Justin Verlander worked eight sturdy innings and Will Rhymes collected a career-high four hits and scored three times in Detroit's 8-1 romp over Cleveland to complete a three-game sweep.

Tampa Bay Rays might be willing to take chance on Manny Ramirez  —  In its simplest form, the question has an easy answer: Would the Rays be better with Manny Ramirez's bat in their lineup?  —  Have you been watching? ...  Of course, it's not that simple.

Carpenter outduels Lincecum as Cardinals cut down Giants  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Chris Carpenter (FSY) outdueled Tim Lincecum (FSY), newcomer Pedro Feliz (FSY) drove in two runs and the St. Louis Cardinals snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the San Francisco Giants 5-1 Saturday night.