(USATSI)  —  The Pirates upgraded their offense with their trade for outfielder Marlon Byrd on Tuesday, and they have their eye on Twins star first baseman Justin Morneau now.  —  Morneau, the former AL MVP, would appear to be their next target following the trade with the Mets that netted …

Soriano, Yankees use long ball to beat Blue Jays  —  TORONTO — Alfonso Soriano hit two of New York's four home runs and Andy Pettitte threw seven shutout innings as the Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre.  —  Soriano hit a towering three-run shot …

Niese allows three hits, has three RBI as Mets top Phillies  —  NEW YORK — Jonathon Niese pitched a three-hitter and lined a game-breaking three-run double Tuesday night as the New York Mets ended a five-game losing streak by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0.

Want to avoid injuries?  Let pitchers pitch more  —  Increase in arm ailments may be due to increase in clubs' cautiousness  —  Pitchers need to throw more.  That's the problem, and that's also the answer when it comes to this epidemic of starters and relievers completing a cycle these days.

Victorino's seven RBI's power Red Sox to rout of Orioles  —  BOSTON — Shane Victorino homered twice and drove in a career-high seven runs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 13-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.  —  Felix Doubront pitched 6 2-3 innings of four-hit ball for AL East-leading Boston.

Bryce Harper, Scott Boras and fun with 12-year contracts  —  It started with a small question.  Scott Boras turned the conversation into a dissertation on the future of baseball's economic structure and how it could lead the Nationals to sign client Bryce Harper - without ever mentioning his name - to a 12-year contract.

Buxton, Cubs quartet highlight AFL attendees  —  Baseball's finest young talents prepare to descend on Arizona for seasoning  —  While the seasons of the vast majority of Minor League players will end shortly, a group of advanced and talented players knows it will get the chance to head …

Desmond's three hits help Nationals beat Marlins  —  WASHINGTON — Ross Ohlendorf pitched neatly into the sixth inning, Ian Desmond had three hits and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 2-1 on Tuesday night.  —  Ohlendorf (3-) pitched five innings of two-hit ball …

Ramirez hits 350th career homer as Brewers edge Pirates  —  PITTSBURGH — Aramis Ramirez had three hits, including his 350th career home run, and drove in four runs as the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 on Tuesday night.  —  The 16-year veteran third baseman helped stake …

Angels get to Rodney in ninth in comeback win over Rays  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Erick Aybar drove in four runs and the Los Angeles Angels rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 on Tuesday night.  —  Aybar hit a two-run double off closer Fernando Rodney (5-4) to put the Angels up 6-5 in the ninth.

Brandon Moss' HR helps A's get rain-shortened win over Tigers  —  DETROIT — Brandon Moss hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Justin Verlander, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers 6-3 in a game cut short by rain on Tuesday night.  —  Seth Smith hit a leadoff homer in the sixth …

Rangers beat Mariners on Danny Farquhar's balk in 10th inning  —  SEATTLE — Ian Kinsler scored the go-ahead run on Danny Farquhar's balk in the 10th inning, handing the Texas Rangers a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.  —  Kinsler started the winning rally with a one-out single …

Shields solid in Royals victory over Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS — James Shields was sharp for 7 1-3 innings, Alex Gordon had three RBIs, and the Kansas City Royals scored five runs in the eighth inning to beat the Minnesota Twins 6-1 on Tuesday.  —  Shields — the key part in the deal …

Pence's monster shot helps Giants top Rockies  —  DENVER — Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval hit back-to-back homers and Yusmeiro Petit won his first game in four years, helping the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Tuesday night.  —  Pence and Sandoval went deep in the opening inning …