Red Sox put Lackey on DL with strained elbow  —  BOSTON — About seven minutes before Monday night's game, the Boston Red Sox announced that John Lackey has been placed on the disabled list because of a right elbow strain and Scott Atchison has been called up from Pawtucket.

Jorge Posada told Brian Cashman he wanted out of Yankees after learning he was batting 9th Saturday  —  In the heat of his anger and frustration Saturday night, Yankee icon Jorge Posada told general manager Brian Cashman that he not only wanted out of the No. 9 spot in the Yankee batting order …

Drabek, Blue Jays end Tigers' win streak at 7  —  DETROIT (AP) — Kyle Drabek (FSY) pitched seven strong innings as the Toronto Blue Jays snapped Detroit's seven-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory Monday night.  —  Drabek (2-3) allowed only one run despite walking six, and gave up three hits and struck out two.

Pujols shows no rust playing third base  —  ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols moved back to his old home across the diamond for a day, and he looked as though he'd never left.  —  About two hours prior to the Cardinals' game against the Phillies on Monday night, the Redbirds announced that Pujols …

The Worst Pitching Performance Ever  —  The worst pitching performance in the history of baseball began innocently.  Vin Mazzaro entered the Kansas City-Cleveland game on Monday night in the top of the third inning, with his Royals losing 3-0.  He had to come into the game early …

Purchase Of Astros By Crane Will Rely Heavily On Debt  —  I have learned that the reported $680 million an investment group led by Jim Crane has offered to pay for the Houston Astros, lease to Minute Maid Park and a roughly one-third interest in a new regional sports network that will start next year …

Lewis' First Shutout Leads Rangers Past White Sox  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Colby Lewis pitched a five-hitter for his first career shutout and the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 4-0 on Monday night.  —  Endy Chavez added three hits and scored twice for the Rangers, who have won four of their last five games.

Gomes' HR rallies Reds over Cubs 7-4  —  CINCINNATI—Jonny Gomes hit his first homer in nearly a month Monday night, completing a seven-run rally that swept the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs, ending Carlos Zambrano's long run of road success.

Coffey plays catch day after getting hit  —  WASHINGTON — A day after being hit on the right elbow by a line drive off the bat of Marlins infielder Emilio Bonifacio, Nationals reliever Todd Coffey played catch and hopes to pitch in a game by Tuesday.  It's a matter of getting all of the swelling down in the elbow.

Rookie helps Mariners snap 6-game losing streak  —  SEATTLE—Michael Pineda allowed three hits over seven innings to help the Seattle Mariners break a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on day night.  —  The Twins have lost nine straight for the first time since Sept. 9-19, 1998.

Marcum, Brewers Beat Dodgers 2-1  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Carlos Gomez was at the right place at the right time to rob Juan Uribe of a home run.  Even though it happened in the second inning, it gave the Milwaukee Brewers the impetus to win a rare low-scoring game.

Rockies rough up Lincecum in 7-4 win over Giants  —  DENVER — Carlos Gonzalez capped a five-run sixth-inning outburst with a three-run homer off an unusually wild Tim Lincecum and the Colorado Rockies rallied for a 7-4 win over the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.

Hinske comes up big as Braves defeat Astros  —  ATLANTA — Fredi Gonzalez wouldn't accept credit for bringing Eric Hinske and Joe Mather off Atlanta's bench to start against the Astros.  —  “That was the only option we had,” the Atlanta Braves manager said.

Prospects Will Break Your Heart  —  U Got the Look: Hitters, Part II  —  Because of my ego and this convenient link drop, I'm going to assume you read my previous article, which, at least on an academic level, attempted to set the table for what I look for when scouting a hitter.

Marlins' Johnson leaves with bruised forearm  —  NEW YORK—Florida Marlins ace Josh Johnson has left Monday night's game against the New York Mets after the fifth inning with a bruise on his right forearm.  —  Johnson delivered a pitch with one on and one out that Carlos Beltran lined right back at him.

Yanks' skid reaches six  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Sam Fuld and B.J. Upton both hit two-run homers to help the Tampa Bay Rays rally and hand the New York Yankees ' their sixth consecutive loss with a 6-5 victory Monday night.  —  The New York slide includes a three-game sweep by Boston …