Phillies acquire Hunter Pence  —  PHILADELPHIA — Hunter Pence is adding his big bat to a pennant race.  —  Pence  —  Philadelphia is counting on its latest All-Star acquisition from Houston to do what Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt did before him — help take the team with the best record in baseball deep into the postseason.

Rockies waiting for a decision on Jimenez  —  Ubaldo Jimenez is a Rockie — for now.  But other teams are ready to snatch him up.  —  The Denver Post  —  SAN DIEGO — Ubaldo Jimenez never thought it would come to this.  When he jogs onto the mound tonight at Petco Park, it could be for the last time as a Rockie.

Source: Cardinals, Dodgers have deal in place for Rafael Furcal  —  Update: A source tells our own Craig Calcaterra that the Cardinals and Dodgers have agreed to the particulars in a Furcal deal and that Furcal is leaning toward waiving his no-trade protection to go to St. Louis.

Red Sox Acquire Mike Aviles  —  The Red Sox acquired infielder Mike Aviles from the Royals for infielder/outfielder Yamaico Navarro and reliever Kendal Volz, according to the Royals' official Twitter feed.  —  Aviles, 30, has struggled this year, getting demoted in June …

TEAMS STILL ON BEDARD DESPITE BRUTAL START  —  Mariners left-hander Erik Bedard, in his first start since June 27, retired just four of the 11 batters he faced, permitting three hits and four walks while striking out two before leaving with his team trailing the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-0 …

Tigers Acquire Doug Fister, David Pauley  —  10:40am: Larry Stone of the Seattle Times tweets that the Mariners will also get a player to be named later, and it could be a “pretty significant name.”  The Tigers may make one more trade before tomorrow, tweets Jon Paul Morosi.

Brewers Acquire Jerry Hairston Jr.  —  The Brewers acquired infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. from the Nationals for Double-A outfielder Erik Komatsu today, the teams announced.  —  Hairston, 35, gives the Brewers additional depth at second base in the wake of Rickie Weeks' injury …

Smith: Ubaldo is more A.J. than answer  —  There was a 1-hour, 49-minute rain delay to the start the Bombers' game against Baltimore at Yankee Stadium Friday night.  —  Unlike the two rain delays that derailed CC Sabathia's potential perfect game on Tuesday night, no one anxiously awaited …

Reynolds and Lee homer as Orioles beat Yankees  —  NEW YORK — Jeremy Guthrie shut down the New York Yankees for seven innings, perhaps driving up his price in a trade, and the Baltimore Orioles got homers from Mark Reynolds and Derrek Lee in a 4-2 victory Friday night.