K-Rod Makes Accountants Nervous  —  Rodriguez Is on Pace to Finish 61 Games, Which Would Trigger His Hefty $17.5 Million Option  —  LOS ANGELES—With 32 games finished so far this season, Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez entered Tuesday on pace to finish 61 games on the year.

Field of sluggers set for Home Run Derby  —  Ortiz, Fielder to captain strong teams in annual All-Star event  —  With some of the best power hitters in the game assembled and some tough decisions made, the 2011 State Farm Home Run Derby field is final.  —  Set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday …

Red Sox hang on vs. Blue Jays; Lester exits with back strain  —  BOSTON (AP) — Darnell McDonald threw out Edwin Encarnacion at the plate on a single to short left field for the final out and the Boston Red Sox held on for a 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

Theo Epstein Says Red Sox More Likely to Be in Market for Position Players As Trade Deadline Nears  —  Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein is a pretty busy guy all year long.  This time of year, though, business really starts to pick up.  —  With the trade deadline rapidly approaching …

Beckham and the Comeback Kids  —  Quick question: At the beginning of the season, who had Tim Beckham pegged to play in this weekend's Futures Game?  The answer is nobody, and his selection for the contest is proof of a very important point when it comes to player development: Sometimes, things simply take a while.

Skeptics view Pujols' return as unnatural  —  ST. LOUIS - The day after Albert Pujols(notes) broke a bone in his left wrist, he asked his hitting coach, Mark McGwire, to do something that seemed utterly wrong.  —  “Mark,” Pujols said, “check my hand.”  —  Pujols extended it.  He wanted McGwire to shake it.

Giants' Bruce Bochy criticizes the criticizers  —  The All-Star selection process always engenders hard feelings.  This year, it has strained friendships.  —  Jack McKeon and Clint Hurdle, who manage the Marlins and Pirates, respectively, criticized Bruce Bochy for snubbing players on their teams.

Andrus uses speed, defence for Rangers win over Orioles  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Elvis Andrus hustled home with the go-ahead run in the seventh, the same inning that he made two spectacular defensive plays, and the Texas Rangers went on to a 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.

No lie: Clemens trial is big waste of time  —  CLEVELAND — The word “perspective” has lately become a virus of our vocabulary, an easy catch-all to artificially minimize other problems.  —  Your air conditioner doesn't work?  Well, you just found out your next-door neighbor 's wife had an affair.

Phillies lash out season-high 18 hits in thrashing of Marlins  —  MIAMI — An intentional walk to Ryan Howard with a runner at first backfired when the next four hitters singled, and the Philadelphia Phillies went on to drub the Florida Marlins 14-2 on Tuesday night.

The information battle begins.  —  Barely a week after sending the Los Angeles Dodgers into bankruptcy, Frank McCourt has commenced with his effort to make baseball open its books.  In a motion and supporting papers filed today in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware …

Davidoff On Twins, Indians, Reyes, Rays  —  Since few teams have been completely eliminated from contention, the trade market is developing slowly, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff.  As of today, the top commodity available is relief pitching and there's lots of interest in that department.

Blue Jays Agree To Sign Wilmer Becerra, Jesus Gonzalez  —  The Blue Jays have agreed to sign Wilmer Becerra and Jesus Gonzalez, a pair of 16-year-olds from Venezuela.  Terms were not immediately available.  —  Becerra, 16, has worked out for teams at shortstop and in the outfield …

Freeman hits another homer as Braves beat Rockies  —  ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman's third homer in two games gave Atlanta the early lead, Derek Lowe hit a three-run double and the Braves beat the short-handed Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Tuesday night.  —  Freeman, who had two homers in Atlanta's 4-1 win …