Lee goes seven sharp as Phillies hammer Mets  —  PHILADELPHIA — Cliff Lee is such a perfectionist that he nitpicks even the minor stuff.  —  Lee threw seven sharp innings, John Mayberry Jr. and Hunter Pence each hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 10-0 Monday night.

Cardinals LF Matt Holliday gets moth stuck in ear  —  ST. LOUIS (AP)—This was a different sort of injury bug for Matt Holliday(notes).  —  In a bizarre episode, a moth got stuck deep in Holliday's right ear, forcing the St. Louis Cardinals star to walk off the field while the Los Angeles Dodgers batted …

Red Sox have been Texas toast  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Yes, umpire Doug Eddings made a lousy call that cost the Red Sox a run in the third inning.  —  Yes, the Red Sox were using a lineup that seemed better suited for a split squad game in Fort Myers in March.

Nationals beat punchless Diamondbacks 4-1  —  WASHINGTON (AP)—Nearly five months into his first season with the Washington Nationals, Jayson Werth(notes) believes he's finally getting into a groove at the plate.  —  Given the lofty expectations that came with his $126 million contract, the upswing is quite overdue.

Jurrjens takes shutout into seventh as Braves beat Cubs  —  CHICAGO — Jair Jurrjens pitched in and out of trouble for 6 1-3 innings, Dan Uggla and Freddie Freeman homered and the Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 Monday night for their fifth straight win.  —  Jurrjens (13-5) allowed eight hits and walked five.

Curtis Granderson makes case for American League MVP, one voter calls Yankees CF ‘the front-runner’  —  All it took were two sessions in a Texas batting cage last August to transform Curtis Granderson from Bronx bust to AL MVP candidate.  —  With five weeks remaining in the season …

Chacin Leads Rockies Past Astros, 9-5  —  DENVER (AP) — Jhoulys Chacin threw seven solid innings and had a two-run double while Carlos Gonzalez homered and drove in three runs to help the Colorado Rockies beat the Houston Astros 9-5 on Monday night.  —  All nine starters reached base for Colorado, which won its third straight.

Gutierrez's sacrifice fly in 9th lifts Mariners  —  CLEVELAND—Franklin Gutierrez lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the ninth inning and the Seattle Mariners scored the go-ahead run without getting a hit to beat the Cleveland Indians 3-2.  —  The Indians, swept by AL Central-leading Detroit …

Verlander Wins 19th, Tigers Beat Rays 5-2  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Justin Verlander became the first 19-game winner in the majors, Alex Avila hit his 15th homer and the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 on Monday night.  —  Verlander (19-5) …

Pirates End Skid Against Brews, Split Doubleheader  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan Doumit homered and drove in two runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates ended more than a year of futility against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 9-2 win in the second game of a doubleheader on Monday night.

Work with old coach helped Jeter find swing  —  MINNEAPOLIS — At the time, the right calf strain that sent Derek Jeter to the disabled list on June 14 appeared as though it would simply delay his chase for 3,000 hits by three weeks.  —  Two months later, the time off looks like a blessing in disguise.

J.J. Hardy gets a helping hand as O's Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS — A fan in a Joe Mauer jersey reached up for a foul ball Monday night at Target Field, denying Mauer himself the chance at a catch after roaming over from his first base position.  —  “Was it a Mauer fan?”  J.J. Hardy said with a grin.

Timetable for Duncan's return unknown  —  CHICAGO — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and general manager John Mozeliak could not say whether pitching coach Dave Duncan would rejoin the club in time for tonight's opener of a three-game series against the Dodgers.  —  Duncan left the club Friday night for personal reasons.