Yankees Beat Orioles 3-2 for 4-Game Split  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — Freddy Garcia returned from the disabled list to pitch six innings of two-hit ball, Nick Swisher homered and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 Monday night earn a split of the four-game series.

Bautista hits 38th homer as Blue Jays beat Rays  —  TORONTO — Jose Bautista hit his 38th home run, Ricky Romero won his sixth straight decision and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 on Monday night to avoid a four-game sweep.  —  Adam Lind added a two-run homer as Toronto snapped …

Victorino's HR Leads Phillies Over Reds 3-2  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Shane Victorino hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning Monday night, and Cole Hamels was solid in his return from the disabled list, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Plenty of room for debate on MVP discussion, plus my picks … Blue Jays star Jose Bautista deserves strong consideration for the American League MVP award, and if someone thinks he's the MVP because he's been the best player in the league, that's understandable.

Royals Hit Three Homers, Beat Tigers 9-5  —  DETROIT (AP) — Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar hit back-to-back homers and the Kansas City Royals beat the first-place Detroit Tigers 9-5 Monday night.  —  Alex Gordon also homered and Johnny Giavotella added a bases-loaded double for the Royals …

Santana Homers as Indians Beat A's 2-1  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Carlos Santana homered and David Huff and four relievers combined to limit the Oakland Athletics to five hits in the Cleveland Indians' 2-1 win Monday night.  —  Huff (2-2) gave up three hits over six scoreless innings to win …

Moyer to Rehab in Clearwater  —  Jamie Moyer is giving baseball one more shot.  —  He is going to be continuing his rehab from Tommy John surgery at the Phillies' Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla. The Phillies have not signed Moyer to a contract, so he remains a free agent …

Francona deserves more credit  —  BOSTON — It's not just that Terry Francona has never been voted the American League's Manager of the Year.  In his first seven seasons as Red Sox manager, he has not received so much as a single first-place vote.  —  This despite two World Series titles …

High school teammates shave heads for player with leukemia  —  A 16-year-old baseball player in Farmington, N.M felt anxious about what chemotherapy treatments would do to his hair, so he decided to take control and shave it all off.  —  Worried that Justin Solomon would feel …

Nelson Cruz expected to miss 3 weeks  —  Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz is expected to miss three weeks after an MRI on Monday revealed a Grade I strain of his left hamstring.  —  Cruz will receive a PRP injection from Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister to stimulate the healing process.

Storm Over, Dickey Pitches Mets Past Marlins 2-1  —  NEW YORK (AP) — R.A. Dickey pitched seven spotless innings and the New York Mets, back on the field following a two-day break because of Hurricane Irene, beat the Florida Marlins 2-1 in the opener of a doubleheader Monday.

Berkman among Rangers' options if Cruz replacement needed  —  St. Louis' Lance Berkman is the top alternative should the Texas Rangers decide they need an outfielder to fill in for the injured Nelson Cruz.  —  Cruz came out of Sunday's win against the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning because of a strained left hamstring.

Dodgers' Andre Ethier clarifies comments  —  A day after saying the Dodgers have told him to ‘Grin and bear it’ through injury, Andre Ethier says: 'It's always been my choice to keep playing ... ' Don Mattingly then holds Ethier out of starting lineup in loss to Colorado.