As quickly as Cardinals tie the game, Brewers answer, hold 2-1 lead  —  MILWAUKEE  • When given the choice in the top of the fifth inning to go for the runs now or try to eek out another inning from starter Michael Wacha, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny sided with the runs.

Joe Maddon defends Willson Contreras after confrontation with umpire  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon on the 3-0 loss to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs avoided what could have been a precarious situation …

Sonny Gray debuts with just one job: Pitch the Yankees to a pennant  —  If enthusiasm counts for anything, then the newest New York Yankee, Sonny Gray, figures to be just fine.  Gray's attitude about coming to the Bronx Bombers has ranged from excitement to ecstasy.

Granderson homers, Mets rally from 5 down to beat Rockies  —  DENVER (AP) — The New York Mets weren't fazed by a big early deficit on Wednesday night.  —  Remember, things can change in a hurry in the thin air of Coors Field.  —  Curtis Granderson hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the sixth inning …

Yu Darvish hoping to make good impression as newest Dodger  —  ATLANTA — Yu Darvish is eager to avoid making a bad first impression with his new Los Angeles Dodgers teammates.  —  Darvish, a four-time All-Star right-hander who was traded from Texas to Los Angeles for three prospects on Monday, joined the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton robs home run for last out … The Miami Marlins were in no danger of losing to the Washington Nationals in the ninth inning Wednesday, but Giancarlo Stanton still ended the game with a dramatic catch.  —  Miami led Washington 7- with two outs in the bottom …

Phillies prospect Carlos Tocci forces way into team's plans  —  READING - Carlos Tocci celebrated his 16th birthday by hosting a few Phillies officials in his Venezuelan living room.  He was one of the baseball-crazed country's top amateur players.  And Tocci was ready to sign a contract to start his professional career.

Ten years ago, Barry Bonds became king  —  Ten years ago, former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds became the new home run king in Major League Baseball, passing Hank Aaron on the all-time list with 756 career bombs.  —  Bonds would eventually jack 762 balls out of major league ball parks in his career.

Brewers Outright Wily Peralta, Kirk Nieuwenhuis  —  The Brewers announced today that right-hander Wily Peralta and outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis have both cleared waivers and been sent outright to Triple-A Colorado Springs.  —  The 28-year-old Peralta was designated for assignment on Saturday …

Preview: Twins vs. Rangers  —  MINNEAPOLIS — When the Minnesota Twins left home for a West Coast trip, they believed they were in the thick of the playoff race and were nearing a trade for starting pitcher Jaime Garcia from the Atlanta Braves.  —  Minnesota returns to Target Field …

Column: Price is wrong going after Hall of Famer Eckersley  —  David Price sure has a lot of issues for a guy making $31 million a year.  —  It showed in June when the pitcher went off on the Boston media over some perceived slights.  Nothing terribly newsworthy there …

Rookie Austin Pruitt delivers win to Rays in hometown Houston  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie Austin Pruitt and three relievers combined on a five-hitter and the Tampa Bay Rays handed Dallas Keuchel his first loss of the season, beating the Houston Astros 3-0 on Wednesday night.  —  Logan Morrison hit a two-run homer.

Angels back Ramirez with big 3rd inning, beat Phillies 7-0  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels are finally getting the offensive production they've craved all season.  —  Mike Trout, C.J. Cron and Kaleb Cowart all homered in a seven-run third inning, JC Ramirez pitched eight strong innings …

Giants Designate Conor Gillaspie For Assignment  —  Following last night's game, the Giants designated third baseman Conor Gillaspie for assignment and optioned infielder Jae-gyun Hwang back to Triple-A Sacramento, as Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area writes.  In their place, the Giants …

Aaron Judge is now one of multiple Yankees struggling mightily at the plate  —  At precisely 4:50 p.m. — nearly four hours after the first so-called rain delay of the afternoon began (with very little actual precipitation, it should be noted) - two huge claps of thunder shook Yankee Stadium …

Mets could pick up Asdrubal Cabrera's club option, sources say  —  DENVER — The Mets have warmed to the idea of picking up Asdrubal Cabrera's $8.5-million team option for next season, sources told Newsday, even after the drama that unfolded earlier this season when the infielder resisted a move from shortstop.