Top News:
Associated Press:
Ryan Howard gets help to beat Nationals again, 5-4 — WASHINGTON - Roy Halladay beat the Washington Nationals for the 10th straight time, thanks to some help from Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez. — Halladay (7-3) allowed 10 hits and four runs over 7 innings, striking out five without a walk.
Discussion:
The Good Phight and Associated Press
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Ankiel in starting mix presents tough choices — WASHINGTON — Nationals center fielder Rick Ankiel found himself in the starting lineup on Monday against the Phillies. It marked the second time in the last three games Ankiel has started. — Manager Jim Riggleman indicated that Ankiel …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Riggleman will stick with struggling Slaten — WASHINGTON — Entering Monday's action against the Phillies, Nationals reliever Doug Slaten has a 2.25 ERA, but that stat is misleading. Slaten has inherited 24 runners, and 12 of them have scored. — Asked if he'll stop using Slaten with runners on base …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Achy Desmond gets day off on Memorial Day — WASHINGTON — Nationals manager Jim Riggleman decided to give shortstop Ian Desmond the day off Monday, as Desmond has some aches and pains. Desmond is expected to be back in the lineup Tuesday against the Phillies. — “We play a long stretch.
Associated Press:
Jack Cust triples, helps Mariners beat Orioles — SEATTLE - Jack Cust hit the second triple of his career, driving in two runs to help the Seattle Mariners beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 Monday. — Doug Fister (3-5) went 7 1-3 innings to pick up his first victory since April 30.
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Steve Kelley / Seattle Times:
Ichiro needs to show leadership with more hustle — In a batting slump, star also seems to be passive in the field — Leading off the 11th inning of another in a series of remarkable Mariners wins Saturday night, catcher Miguel Olivo threw himself at first base, diving hard like a fullback at the goal line, beating the throw.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and HardballTalk
Gary Carter / Yahoo! Sports:
Draft rich in intrigue and talent — The rebirth of the draft within the last decade altered baseball, and so much for the better. After salaries exploded and payroll disparities spread during the 1990s, the chasm threatened to ruin lower-revenue markets. — How could they possibly compete with free-agency behemoths?
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Where Have You Gone … and Seattle Times
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Associated Press:
Hunter hits two home runs as Angels rally to beat Royals — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Torii Hunter's second home run, a two-run shot off Joakim Soria in the ninth, powered the Los Angeles Angels to a come-from-behind 10-8 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Yahoo! Sports and Royals Review
Associated Press:
Kyle Phillips' first homer lifts Padres past Braves — ATLANTA - Pinch-hitter Kyle Phillips broke a 2-all tie in the 10th inning with his first career home run and the San Diego Padres beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 Monday for their third straight win. — Phillips, a rookie with a .167 average …
Discussion:
Talking Chop and Associated Press
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Associated Press:
Andres Torres gets slam, Giants whip Cardinals 7-3 — ST. LOUIS - Madison Bumgarner won his second straight after losing his first six decisions and Andres Torres gave the National League's worst offense a big boost with his first career grand slam in the San Francisco Giants' 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Yahoo! Sports, baseballmusings.com, McCovey Chronicles and San Francisco Chronicle
Associated Press:
Bartolo Colon pitches Yankees past Athletics 5-0 — OAKLAND, Calif. — Bartolo Colon pitched a four-hitter for his first shutout in nearly five years and Mark Teixeira homered in the first inning to help the New York Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics for the eighth straight time, 5-0 on Monday.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Pinstripe Alley and baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Keppinger, Towles Lift Astros Over Cubs 12-7 — CHICAGO (AP) — Jeff Keppinger and J.R. Towles homered and the Houston Astros rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 12-7 on Monday afternoon. — Clint Barmes and Hunter Pence also added back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to help the Astros ended a three-game losing streak.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Bleed Cubbie Blue and The Crawfish Boxes
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Murphy could be a hot trade commodity — ST. PETERSBURG — The offensive production from left fielders has dropped dramatically in the Major Leagues this season. — Major League left fielders went in to Memorial Day with a combined .713 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), the lowest from that position in the past 30 years.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
There was another fire at Dodger Stadium this morning — On Saturday night there was a small fire in a storage room at Dodger Stadium that caused smoke to be visible from the stands and required that a bunch of fans be moved from the upper decks along the first base line to other seats.
Discussion:
KABC-TV, True Blue LA and Yahoo! Sports
Mike Mazzeo / ESPN:
Jose Reyes goes on bereavement list — NEW YORK — New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes has been placed on the bereavement list by the team after learning of the death of his grandmother Monday afternoon, the team announced. Reyes left the team immediately to fly home to Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports