Top News:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Zambrano ‘retires’ after dismal 10-4 loss — Cubs ‘respect his wishes’ after he gives up 5 homers to Braves — Carlos Zambrano looks to first base vs. the Braves. — ATLANTA — Carlos Zambrano cleaned out his locker and told friends he was retiring Friday night after serving up five home runs …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Bleed Cubbie Blue, HardballTalk and NESN.com
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Dan Uggla's streak at 32, Braves beat Cubs 10-4 — ATLANTA - Dan Uggla belted a pair of solo homers off Carlos Zambrano to extend his hitting streak to an Atlanta-record 32 games and lead the Braves to a 10-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night. — Uggla passed Rico Carty's 31-game streak …
Discussion:
Talking Chop and Yahoo! Sports
Matthew Pouliot / HardballTalk:
Carlos Zambrano says he's retired after giving up five homers — This has to be it for the Cubs and Carlos Zambrano. If the right-hander is to be believed, this is it for him period. — After giving up a career-high five homers and getting ejected for throwing at the Braves' Chipper Jones …
Associated Press:
Reddick's Homer Caps Rally as Red Sox Top M's 6-4 — SEATTLE (AP) — The final estimate shown on the video board said Josh Reddick's go-ahead homer went 393 feet. — Try convincing the patrons enjoying a meal in the cafe wedged in the second deck of right field that Reddick's home run only traveled that far.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Lookout Landing
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Game 117: Red Sox at Mariners — Here are the lineups as the road trip continues: — RED SOX (72-44) — Ellsbury CF — Pedroia 2B — Gonzalez 1B — Youkilis 3B — Ortiz DH — Crawford LF — Saltalamacchia C — Reddick RF — Scutaro SS — Pitching: RHP John Lackey (10-8, 6.14)
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Surviving Grady and U.S.S. Mariner
Associated Press:
Rays hit 5 solo HRs off Sabathia, beat Yanks 5-1 — NEW YORK — Johnny Damon, Casey Kotchman and Kelly Shoppach all connected in the third inning for three of Tampa Bay's five solo home runs against CC Sabathia, and David Price again came out on top in a matchup of these elite lefties …
RELATED:
John Autin / Baseball-Reference Blog:
CC serves up 5 HRs — Friday in the Bronx, 5 different Rays ripped a solo HR off CC Sabathia in his 8 IP. — In 347 career starts before Friday, Sabathia had never allowed more than 3 HRs. The most he'd given up in his last 143 starts was 2 HRs. He'd yielded just 8 HRs in his first 25 starts …
Discussion:
joy of sox and DRaysBay
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Angry Aramis Ramirez fires back at Todd Hollandsworth — ATLANTA — Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez took exception to former teammate Todd Hollandsworth calling him out publicly Friday for lack of effort and for failing to be a positive influence on younger players, and he took his own shot in response.
RELATED:
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Mets lose; Pelfrey says he didn't like team's chances this season — Mets on Twitter — PHOENIX — Mike Pelfrey swallowed a dose of truth serum yesterday and admitted he never gave the Mets much of a chance in 2011. — The beleaguered right-hander, speaking about his struggles …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Mets Merized Online
Associated Press:
Livan Hernandez leads Nationals over Phillies — PHILADELPHIA - Livan Hernandez had a feeling in batting practice that he would do some damage at the plate. Oh, by the way, he did just fine on the mound, too. — Hernandez pitched 6 2-3 strong innings and drove in two runs with a pair of singles …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and The Good Phight
Canadian Press:
Wells homers in return to Toronto, Angels beat Blue Jays — TORONTO — Vernon Wells homered on the first pitch in his return to Toronto as an Angel and Ervin Santana pitched his fourth complete game of the season as Los Angeles beat the Blue Jays 5-1. — Right-hander Santana (9-8) …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, Yahoo! Sports and TSN.ca
ESPN:
Cashman: ‘Smoke the objective pipe’ — Reality potion? — Not strong enough. — When it comes to A.J. Burnett, Brian Cashman encourages everyone to “smoke the objective pipe.” — In the eyes of many, Burnett (8-9, 4.60 ERA) hasn't pitched well enough to keep his spot in the rotation.
Discussion:
Subway Squawkers and WasWatching.com
Associated Press:
Greinke Sharp as Brewers Top Pirates 7-2 — MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder hit back-to-back homers and Zack Greinke remained perfect at Miller Park to lift the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers to a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and Bucs Dugout
Carroll Rogers / Atlanta Braves:
Legendary Braves broadcaster Johnson dies - updated — A day meant to celebrate Bobby Cox's induction into the Braves Hall of Fame, turned bittersweet on Friday evening when word came that legendary Braves broadcaster and fellow Braves Hall of Famer Ernie Johnson Sr. died. He was 87.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Wilson Helps Rangers Beat Athletics 9-1 — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — C.J. Wilson stopped a mini-slide with his first career victory in Oakland, and it didn't change a thing. — He still hates playing here. — Wilson pitched six effective innings to earn his first win in a month …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Butler, Cabrera Homer to Lead Royals Over ChiSox — CHICAGO (AP) — Billy Butler and Melky Cabrera homered to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 5-1 win over the Chicago White on Friday night. — Bruce Chen continued his mastery of the White Sox, holding Chicago to one hit over six innings.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Associated Press:
Kemp's RBI hit in 10th lifts Dodgers over Astros — LOS ANGELES - Matt Kemp hit an RBI single in the 10th inning, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night. — Casey Blake led off the 10th against David Carpenter (0-2) with a double inside first base …
Discussion:
True Blue LA, Canadian Press and Associated Press
Associated Press:
Kennedy wins 15th game leading Diamondbacks to win over Mets — PHOENIX — Ian Kennedy won his seventh straight start to become the National League's second 15-game winner and the Arizona Diamondbacks widened their newfound NL West lead with a 4-3 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
