Clemens gets out of a jam  —  Mistrial is Rocket's biggest victory ever  —  Call it the biggest win of Roger Clemens's career.  —  The Rocket won 354 games in the big leagues.  He won 192 games for the Red Sox, still a franchise record (along with Cy Young, which is somehow fitting).

Brett Lawrie - the name the Jays dare not speak  —  TORONTO— From Friday's Globe and Mail  —  Well, now the Toronto Blue Jays have gone and done it.  Mentioned the kid's name again, on Thursday night.  Talked about how they'd like to see Brett Lawrie in the majors in August, before the rosters expand.

Rangers doing all the right things  —  Payoff for sound approach should come to defending AL champs  —  You hear it from one general manager after another, one manager after another, one scout after another.  —  “How can the Rangers not be running away with the American League West?”

Epstein won't rest on laurels as Deadline nears  —  BOSTON — With the All-Star break coming to an end, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein will be looking at his team with a microscope over the next two-plus weeks, trying to identify what moves he might be able to make before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Paperwork error allowed Mets GM Sandy Alderson to trade Francisco Rodriguez to any team he wished  —  It was a paperwork screwup that allowed the Mets to deal Francisco Rodriguez to the Milwaukee Brewers.  —  Sandy Alderson confirmed a published report that K-Rod did have a limited no-trade clause.

Big changes afoot for MLB  —  Baseball is often described as the most staid of our major sports.  But if that's truly the case, why are so many decidedly progressive proposals still scattered about the bargaining table between Major League Baseball and the players' union?

Padres' bullpen meltdown leads to Giants' 6-2 win  —  SAN DIEGO - Aubrey Huff hit a tying homer off All-Star closer Heath Bell leading off the ninth inning and Mike Fontenot brought in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the 12th, helping the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants beat …

After K-Rod trade, Mets may close by committee with Bobby Parnell, Jason Isringhausen, Pedro Beato  —  It did not take long to replace Francisco Rodriguez - in the Mets' clubhouse at least.  As the team reconvened for the first time since its former fiery closer was shipped off to Milwaukee …

Justin Masterson records 8th victory for rejuvenated Indians  —  BALTIMORE — The All-Star break is supposed to have a restorative effect on teams.  At least that is the hope for clubs fighting for division championships.  —  If the Indians' 8-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night …

Sources: Rangers have asked about Marlins' pitching  —  The Rangers have checked in with the Marlins about their pitching but no names have been exchanged, major-league sources say.  —  The talks are “not far along,” one source said, but there is a good fit between the clubs.

Chipper progressing well after knee surgery  —  ATLANTA — Third baseman Chipper Jones has responded well since his right knee surgery last Saturday and will begin hitting off a tee Friday at Turner Field.  —  “[I] went out and threw a little bit just now [and] felt fine,” Jones said during Atlanta's workout Thursday.