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,” …

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 …

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.

Bucs designate reliever Beimel for assignment  —  PITTSBURGH — The Pirates designated reliever Joe Beimel for assignment on Tuesday in order to open up a roster spot for starting pitcher Ross Ohlendorf.  Ohlendorf will start Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

Phillies Catcher's Statistics Should Have a Win Column  —  PHILADELPHIA — Brian Schneider could easily be in a worse spot right now.  All he needed to do Monday night was look across the diamond to his former club, the Mets, who entered Tuesday's games 22 ½ games behind …

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) …

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 …