Holliday OK after having moth extracted from ear  —  ST. LOUIS  • Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday had to leave Monday's game in the eighth inning after a moth flew into his right ear and became lodged in the canal.  —  Holliday rushed off the field in clear pain and tugging at his right ear after the event.

Angel Pagan delayed in bathroom while on deck, New York Mets lose 10-0 laugher to Phillies  —  PHILADELPHIA - The count was 3-2 on Nick Evans in the top of the fifth inning Monday night when Angel Pagan realized he was needed on the field.  —  In the dugout, Terry Collins shrugged and began yelling for Pagan.

Top Starters Eschew Free Agency  —  Boras Corporation client Carlos Gonzalez bucked the agency's trend in January, signing a seven-year, $80MM deal instead of going to free agency as soon as possible.  Publicly, Scott Boras said, “I was very much on board with this decision,” …

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.

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 …

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.

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) …

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.

Cubs' Quade ‘disappointed’ in Castro's actions  —  Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade said he was disappointed after looking into Starlin Castro's on-field preparedness during Sunday's 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.  —  Quade decided to keep Castro out of the starting lineup Monday in Atlanta …