Extra Innings: Do Braves need slugger?  —  Bonus notes from our MLB on Fox broadcast of the Braves-Reds game on Saturday . . . and other assorted items from around the league . . .  Brandon Phillips, the Reds' irrepressible second baseman, was kind enough to wear a microphone for our Braves-Reds broadcast on Saturday.

The lost art of the curveball  —  MINNEAPOLIS — If it seems as if nobody has thrown a curveball as good as Bert Blyleven's since he retired, maybe that's because few have tried.  —  Mastering the curveball became a lost art, as pitchers began relying more on the slider.

Kei Igawa: The Lost Yankee  —  TRENTON — In the middle of a bright Manhattan summer afternoon, the Yankees' $46 million pitcher steps from his fashionable East Side apartment building and slips into a waiting Lexus for a chauffeured ride to the ballpark.  —  But the car does not turn north for the five-mile drive to Yankee Stadium.

Red Sox send Mariners to 14th straight loss  —  Josh Beckett pitched seven strong innings, Jacoby Ellsbury [stats] hit a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh and the Boston Red Sox [team stats] beat Seattle 3-1 on Saturday night, sending the Mariners to their club record-tying 14th consecutive loss.

Twins finally beat Tigers after losing previous 11 meetings  —  MINNEAPOLIS — There was almost no point to the Minnesota Twins talking about getting back into the AL Central race while the division-leading Detroit Tigers were beating their brains out every time they took the field.

Blyleven and Alomar ready for Hall  —  COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.—Bert Blyleven knows what took him to where he's been and where he's headed — his heritage.  —  “I'm Dutch, I'm stubborn.  I think it's the stubbornness, the consistency.  You take the good with the bad,” said the 60-year-old Blyleven …

Blue Jays Designate Jo-Jo Reyes For Assignment  —  The Blue Jays have designated Jo-Jo Reyes for assignment according to the team (on Twitter).  The move frees up a roster spot for Wil Ledezma, who was called up from Triple-A.  —  Reyes, 26, posted a 5.40 ERA in 110 innings across 20 starts this season.

Cardinals power past Pirates again 9-1  —  PITTSBURGH - Lance Berkman and Yadier Molina homered during St. Louis' five-run fifth inning, Jaime Garcia won his 10th game and the Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second consecutive night, 9-1 on Saturday night.

Royals escape jam, rally for 10th inning win over Rays  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Joakim Soria worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 10th and Eric Hosmer doubled home the winning run in the bottom of the inning and the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night.

Florida Marlins option Chris Volstad to Class AAA New Orleans  —  Chris Volstad was already on a short lease before he took the mound last night.  But he did nothing in his performance Friday to help himself.  —  An hour ago he was optioned to Class AAA New Orleans.

Wells wins for first time since April  —  CHICAGO—Randy Wells pitched six strong innings to earn his first win since April 4 and Geovany Soto added a solo shot and an RBI single in the ninth to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 5-1 victory over the major league-worst Houston Astros on Saturday afternoon.

Matsui homers; A's end 11-game skid vs. Yanks  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Hideki Matsui homered against his former team, Rich Harden earned his second win of the season and the Oakland Athletics snapped an 11-game losing streak to the New York Yankees with a 4-3 victory Saturday.