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Sam Dykstra / Full Count:
Jonathan Papelbon: 'I wasn't even talking to' umpire Tony Randazzo — Jonathan Papelbon explained his point of view when arguing balls and strikes. (AP) — There are a lot of events that will get lost in the shuffle of a 14-inning game that features 16 different pitchers, 415 pitches and lasts five hours and 17 minutes.
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Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Varitek, Papelbon ejected in wild ninth inning — BOSTON — A comfortable Red Sox lead evaporated in the ninth inning of a 14-inning win Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park, and their self-control and patience with home-plate umpire Tony Randazzo disappeared along with it.
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Yahoo! Sports
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals place Slaten on DL, recall Stammen — PHOENIX — The Nationals placed left-hander Doug Slaten on the 15-day disabled list because of an elbow injury and recalled right-hander Craig Stammen from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. — While the velocity on his fastball never went down …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Riggleman: Nats not hitting Upton on purpose — PHOENIX — The Nationals have hit D-backs outfielder Justin Upton with pitches three times during the four-game series. They hit Upton once on Thursday and two more times on Friday. After he was hit the second time on Friday, Upton was clearly upset.
Associated Press:
Mark Reynolds' grand-slam powers Orioles past Blue Jays — BALTIMORE - Mark Reynolds hit a grand slam and Jake Arrieta pitched six effective innings to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night. — With the Orioles trailing 3-1 in the sixth …
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Associated Press, Bluebird Banter, baseballmusings.com and TSN.ca
Associated Press:
Miguel Cabrera's homer lifts Tigers over White Sox — CHICAGO — Miguel Cabrera hit a tiebreaking two-run homer with two out in the ninth inning, sending Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night. — Austin Jackson opened the ninth …
Associated Press:
Pirates hand Phillies 4th straight loss 6-3 — PITTSBURGH—Charlie Morton pitched seven solid innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Philadelphia Phillies to their fourth consecutive loss, 6-3 Saturday night. — Andrew McCutchen and Lyle Overbay each had three hits and Brandon Wood homered …
Joe Kay / Associated Press:
Kemp hits slam, Dodgers beat Reds 11-8 in 11 — CINCINNATI—Matt Kemp couldn't believe the mid-afternoon heat during batting practice. — “After BP, I was like this,” he said, dropping his head as if he was about to pass out. “Whew!” — The heat won't be the lasting memory from his career game.
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True Blue LA
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Alvarez continues to progress toward return — PITTSBURGH — Pedro Alvarez's stint on the disabled list could end as early as Sunday, though the third baseman remains at least days away from rejoining the big league club. — Alvarez, who is sidelined with a right quadriceps strain …
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Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Cubs' Garza to come off DL, make start Monday — ST. LOUIS — Chicago Cubs right-hander Matt Garza will come off the DL and pitch against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday after throwing his second side session of the week on Friday. — “Everything went great with [Garza's side session and recovery],” manager Mike Quade said.
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Call to the Pen
Associated Press:
Saunders shakes off early troubles; D-backs blank Nationals — PHOENIX — Joe Saunders escaped two early jams to go seven innings in a combined four-hitter, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 2-0 win over the Washington Nationals Saturday night. — Stephen Drew and Xavier Nady drove …
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Yahoo! Sports
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David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Games of the Day — The Red Sox moved their game against Oakland to 1 PM EDT as Trevor Cahill faces Josh Beckett. Cahill's road ERA is 0.6 runs high than his home ERA despite better strikeout and walk numbers away from Oakland. Beckett is coming off a very hot month of May in which he posted a 1.00 ERA in 36 innings.
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Over the Monster
NY Daily News:
Mets nemesis, Braves' Chipper Jones, says he would keep David Wright, even if Reyes can't stay — Eighteen years after he debuted, now 39 years old and fighting injuries, Chipper Jones is still the heart and soul of the Atlanta Braves. — Jones never wanted it any other way …
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HardballTalk and MetsBlog.com