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 …

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.

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.

Texas trouble for Red Sox in recent years  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — It would be inaccurate to portray these four games in Texas as a playoff preview for the Red Sox.  —  Jon Lester is not starting any of the four games.  And presumably come October the Red Sox will field a lineup …

Mets broach Mike Pelfrey to bullpen, R.A. Dickey gets little support as Mets fall to Brewers, 6-2  —  Mets starting pitcher R.A. Dickey gives up two runs on six hits Sunday.  The Mets ask Mike Pelfrey (below) is he would be open to closing next year - an indictment of the current bullpen.

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.

A.J. Burnett spot in question  —  NEW YORK — With A.J. Burnett having his “typical terrible August,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that the pitcher's five-year, $82.5 million contract will not prevent him from being dropped from the rotation.  —  “No, money is never going to be a factor,” Cashman told ESPNNewYork.com.

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.

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) …

Strasburg returns to form in rehab start … HAGERSTOWN — On the heels of perhaps the worst outing of his brief professional career, Stephen Strasburg returned to form Monday night with three solid innings of work in his latest rehab start.  —  Strasburg allowed two runs (one earned) …

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 …

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.

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.

Heath Bell, Carlos Pena, Kubel Placed On Waivers  —  Heath Bell, Jason Kubel, and Carlos Pena were placed on trade waivers today, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  Rosenthal tweeted earlier about Jim Thome being placed, also.  The placement on waivers starts a 48 hour period during which teams can put in claims.

Hardy's homer powers Orioles past Twins 4-1  —  MINNEAPOLIS — J.J. Hardy homered against the team that traded him in the offseason, Zach Britton won for the first time in 10 weeks and the Baltimore Orioles snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Minnesota Twins 4-1 on Monday night.