Wright field: Astros' reliever pitches, plays outfield, pitches again  —  I couldn't tell if I was watching another Little League World Series game or a Major League Baseball game last night.  —  To be honest, I was wondering that well before Houston Astros skipper Brad Mills(notes) …

Sources: Giants claim Padres' Heath Bell off waivers  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Four people with knowledge of the situation say the San Francisco Giants have claimed San Diego closer Heath Bell off waivers.  —  They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday …

Lackey proves cool in the heat  —  His sizzling stuff stifles Rangers  —  ARLINGTON, Texas - John Lackey was in his element last night.  —  Pitching in withering 100-degree heat, before a luxury suite full of family and friends, in a town where played collegiately, Lackey helped …

Why Did Joe Girardi Play for One Run in a Two-Run Game?  —  In the bottom of the ninth inning of Tuesday night's game against the A's at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees trailed 6-3 entering the frame.  Jorge Posada led off with a solo home run off of A's closer Andrew Bailey, closing the deficit to 6-4.

Bourjos' RBI single in ninth drives Angels past White Sox  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Peter Bourjos drove a single through a drawn-in infield with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 5-4 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

The case for bringing back Ivan Rodriguez  —  As his two-year, $6 million contract is coming to an end, Ivan Rodriguez wants to play for the Nationals next season.  Rodriguez has maintained all year he wants to finish out his career in Washington, and he reiterated that desire last week.

Kershaw wins 16th, Dodgers rip Cardinals 13-2  —  ST. LOUIS (AP)—Up eight runs after three innings, Clayton Kershaw(notes) went right after the hitters.  —  The 23-year-old lefty won his National League-leading 16th game and Rod Barajas(notes) homered twice in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 13-2 victory …

Pirates' Ryan Ludwick goes on DL with back spasms  —  PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Ryan Ludwick has gone on the 15-day disabled list with muscle spasms in the middle of his back.  —  Ludwick sat out Tuesday's 11-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers then underwent an MRI on Wednesday morning …

LoMo tweets: ‘Boogeyman is back’  —  Outfielder set to return for doubleheader  —  MIAMI — Logan Morrison will be back in a Marlins uniform when the club plays a doubleheader Wednesday against the Reds.  —  The 23-year-old outfielder tweeted at 6:23 p.m Tuesday night.: “6pm flight to FLL.

Cards attendance down almost 3,000 a game  —  The Cardinals have the fourth highest attendance decline in the major leagues at nearly 171,000, or 2,843 a game, before Tuesday night's game here.  The troubled Los Angeles franchise leads with a dropoff of more than half a million fans from this time last year.

TYA Interview With Marc Carig  —  Marc Carig is the beat writer covering the Yankees for the Newark Star-Ledger, as well as a columnist for Baseball Prospectus.  He also interacts with fans and other writers through his twitter account @Ledger_Yankees, and is one of the most accessible and engaging beat guys you will come across.

Blackburn expected to pitch again this season  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Twins right-hander Nick Blackburn saw a specialist on Tuesday to examine the results of an MRI taken on his injured right forearm, and received good news, according to Twins trainer Rick McWane.

Kansas City rises up on the road to stop Jays  —  TORONTO— From Wednesday's Globe and Mail  —  Maybe it was the unsettling trade news from earlier in the day, but Brandon Morrow was certainly off his game Tuesday night against the Kansas City Royals.  —  The Royals arrived at Rogers Centre …

And down the stretch they come  —  The Red Sox and Yankees are virtually tied for first place in the American League East.  Let's take a look at which team may have the edge down the stretch in terms of the schedule:  —  RED SOX (78-50)  —  Games remaining: 34  —  Home/road: 19/15

Kevin Kouzmanoff comes home with Rockies, starts today's game  —  His name has bounced around the Rockies' front office for years.  And now, Kevin Kouzmanoff's name is on a plate above a locker in the Rockies' clubhouse.  —  “It's a good place to be,” said Kouzmanoff, who will start at third base today and bat sixth in the lineup.