Tempers flare as Cardinals beat Brewers in 11 innings  —  MILWAUKEE - Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols was hit by a high-and-tight pitch.  Brewers all-star Ryan Braun took one in the back a few minutes later.  And St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina could face a suspension after making contact …

Strasburg slated to pitch in minors on Sunday  —  Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is expected to throw Sunday in the minor leagues, a significant step in his recovery from elbow surgery.  —  Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Wednesday that Strasburg will throw an inning …

Cubs' deadline overhaul turned out to be much ado about nothing … The noncontending Cubs seemed oddly possessive of several of their coveted veterans, including outfielder Marlon Byrd, first baseman Carlos Peña and catcher Jeff Baker, before the trade deadline.

Will star righty Darvish opt for Rangers?  —  DETROIT  —  Koji Uehara is a Texas Ranger for the same reason that Mike Adams is a Texas Ranger: The trade deadline arrived, the bullpen was in dire need of an upgrade, and general manager Jon Daniels seized the opportunity to acquire two of the best setup men in baseball.

Double-A playoff experience valuable to Trout  —  ANAHEIM — Mike Trout is back in Little Rock — for now.  —  The Angels sent their precocious 19-year-old outfielder back to Double-A Arkansas on Monday.  Infielder Andrew Romine was called up Tuesday from Triple-A Salt Lake to occupy …

Renteria's grand slam propels Reds to win over Astros  —  HOUSTON — Edgar Renteria hit a grand slam in Cincinnati's five-run fifth inning and Homer Bailey pitched eight solid innings to lead the Reds to a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.  —  Chris Heisey and Ramon Hernandez …

Fake Ichiro unwittingly gets in the action  —  SEATTLE — The Ichiro Suzuki impersonator at Safeco Field who has been posing for pictures and signing autographs for the past few home games was doing a pretty good job up until Tuesday's night game against Oakland.

A-Rod Played In Top Secret Poker Ring Where Drugs Were Used, Say Eyewitnesses  —  New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez played in an underground, illegal poker game where cocaine was openly used, and even organized his own high-stakes game, which ended with thugs threatening players.

Rolen has surgery, expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks  —  From the Reds:  —  3B Scott Rolen today had arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs and fragments from the acromioclavicular joint in his left shoulder.  —  The successful procedure was performed in Cincinnati Reds by medical director …

Ryan's hustle leads to unique basepath jaunt  —  Shortstop motors to third thanks to heads-up play on infield single  —  SEATTLE — Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan caught the A's napping in the first inning Tuesday night in a 4-2 victory with one of the more unusual baserunning plays imaginable …

About Last Night: The BB, HBP & the Throw  —  Last night in the top of the ninth, with the bases loaded, two outs, the infield in and the Mets up a run, a slow ground ball was hit to Justin Turner, who, instead of throwing home for the force out, or throwing to second to start a double play …

Cubs' Matt Garza a key for 2012, has been in fold since offseason  —  Matt Garza has blessed the Cubs with stellar pitching and, just as important, the right attitude.  Tom Gannam~AP  —  PITTSBURGH — If it looked like the Cubs' rebuilding process for next year moved at a snail's pace …

Saltalamacchia dives home for winning run in 9th  —  BOSTON—Pinch-runner Jarrod Saltalamacchia dived across home plate to score the winning run on Jacoby Ellsbury's single in the ninth inning and the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 3-2 on a rainy Tuesday night.

Games of the Day  —  Edwin Jackson makes his second start for St. Louis as he faces the Brewers and Randy Wolf in the rubber game of this important NL Central series.  Jackson held the Cubs to one run in seven innings in his first start.  Despite striking out just nine batters in 22 innings since …

Paul Goldschmidt powers D-backs past Giants  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Paul Goldschmidt hit his first career homer, a two-run shot off Tim Lincecum that helped the Arizona Diamondbacks move into a tie for first place in the NL West with the Giants by beating San Francisco 6-1 on Tuesday night.