Red Sox claim Johnny Damon … Could the Boston Red Sox be looking to recapture the magic of 2004 that brought an end to their 86-year World Series drought?  —  Detroit Tigers outfielder Johnny Damon confirmed to reporters Monday that he has been claimed on waivers by the Red Sox …

Giants beat Reds to open key series of contenders  —  SAN FRANCISCO—Matt Cain ended a three-start winless stretch after being staked to an early cushion, Andres Torres hit a two-run homer and the San Francisco Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 11-2 on Monday night.  —  Aubrey Huff added a solo homer leading off the eighth.

Robert MacLeod  —  TORONTO — From Tuesday's Globe and Mail  —  Several hours before Monday's series opener against the New York Yankees, Jose Bautista went about his business in the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse - a routine that included some playful banter in Spanish with teammate Yunel Escobar …

Umpires should explain botched call  —  OK, WE'RE NOT going to revisit the ghost of Chico Ruiz.  —  This isn't 1964 and there are no indications that these Phillies are the type of team to let one setback mushroom into a pennant-crushing collapse.  —  In fact, the entire modus operandi …

Rob Dibble to Stephen Strasburg: “Suck it up”  —  The conventional wisdom on Stephen Strasburg's latest injury, whatever it is, was nicely summed up by Thomas Boswell on Monday: … For the unconventional wisdom, look no further than Rob Dibble, analyst for MASN by night, and radio host for SIRIUS XM's MLB Network Radio by day.

Rays beat Angels 4-3, tie for 1st place in AL East  —  ANAHEIM, Calif.—B.J. Upton homered on the first pitch of the game from former Tampa Bay teammate Scott Kazmir and doubled home another run to help the Rays defeat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Monday night and move into a tie with the Yankees atop the AL East standings.

YES finally catches up to Clemens case  —  This just in: Roger Clemens indicted for perjury.  —  Those trapped inside the pinstriped cocoon that is the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network were hit with the “bulletin” feeling Sunday when, during a rain delay (sixth inning) …

Study Finds Independent Bloggers “Least Trusted”, Likely Denied Press Credentials in Baseball  —  Independent bloggers represent the least trusted media type and are the most likely to be turned down for press pass requests, according to the first academic study to assess the sentiments …

Adam Dunn's a Wrigley fan  —  Nationals' slugging first baseman calls ballpark ‘great place to play’  —  WASHINGTON — One of Mike Quade's first orders of business as Cubs manager was to scuttle the Tyler Colvin-as-first-baseman experiment and put the rookie back in right field.

Don't forget, Rocket soared before the fall  —  Let me tell you the story of Clementine.  —  Clementine is a 6-foot-tall white teddy bear that sits in a shed behind my house.  Clementine is 16 years old and a little worn around the edges.  The big bear is dirty, moth-ridden …

Bud Selig statue to be unveiled Tuesday  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig's statue will soon join the likenesses of Hank Aaron and Robin Yount in front of Miller Park.  —  The Milwaukee Brewers are unveiling the bronze statue in a ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the stadium's Home Plate Plaza.

Nationals put Strasburg on DL with forearm strain … Stephen Strasburg is going back on the disabled list.  —  There's a decent chance the Washington Nationals rookie phenom could be shut down for the season as a precautionary measure.  He had an MRI on Sunday but will have a second one later this week with dye.