Right hip pain forces Mets to place Pedro on DL  —  NEW YORK — All-Star ace Pedro Martinez was placed on the disabled list by the New York Mets on Thursday because of pain in his right hip.  —  Martinez missed his scheduled start on Monday and can now rest through the All-Star break.

Gagne May Face Back Surgery  —  Eric Gagne could be facing back surgery that would end his season and, with free agency pending, possibly his career-long affiliation with the Dodgers.  —  An MRI showed as many as two herniated disks in the relief pitcher's lower back, which could be corrected by surgery.

Nomar, A.J. named Final Vote winners  —  Dodgers first baseman, White Sox catcher join All-Star squads  —  Nomar Garciaparra and A.J. Pierzynski were American League All-Star teammates in 2002, the year that the Final Vote was introduced by MLB.com.  They did not have to rely on it to be selected …

Zimmerman Does It Again  —  Nationals' Rookie Third Baseman Delivers Another Game-Winning Hit: Nationals 8, Marlins 7  —  No, Ryan Zimmerman does not win baseball games for the Washington Nationals every time he has the chance, and his teammates won't let the 21-year-old forget it.

Newcomer to Pitch Sunday  —  CLEVELAND, July 6 — Growing up in Tampa, Fla., Kris Wilson had two dreams.  —  "I wanted to be Terry Bradshaw and I wanted to be Nolan Ryan," Wilson said.  "Turns out, I was neither."  —  Wilson, a former quarterback, quit football after his redshirt season at Georgia Tech …

Day after 'pen leaked, Reds deal for Guardado  —  CINCINNATI — Trying to bolster their struggling bullpen, the Cincinnati Reds acquired Eddie Guardado and cash from the Seattle Mariners on Thursday for minor league pitcher Travis Chick.  —  The Reds made the trade a day after blowing …

Kasten Hopes Others Feel Like Soriano  —  Stan Kasten, incoming president of the Washington Nationals, said yesterday he was heartened by the desire of left fielder Alfonso Soriano to remain with the team beyond this season, after which he will become a free agent.

Inner workings revealed  —  The breach in trust between Theo Epstein and Larry Lucchino that led to Epstein's departure from the Red Sox, and how principal owner John W. Henry was able to persuade Epstein to return as general manager less than three months later, is explored in a new book by Seth Mnookin …

Minor leaguer Steve Martin dies in crash  —  CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A minor league baseball player was killed in a car accident just hours after being released by the Chillicothe Paints of the independent Frontier League.  —  Steve Martin's car crossed the center line and veered off a county road …

Big Papi is money — again  —  All-Star slugger goes deep twice as Boston avoids sweep  —  ST. PETERSBURG — After yet another monster night, David Ortiz, fresh out of the shower, looked to the chair next to him and saw a stack of $20 bills.  —  "Is that my money?"  Ortiz, a little confused, asked multiple times.

Cards still in market for hitter  —  HOUSTON  —  As recently as Monday afternoon, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty maintained that finding another hitter remained a higher priority than acquiring help for a tattered starting rotation.  But when a deal for Los Angeles Angels righthander …

Free to play ball  —  JUPITER — His name is Amaury Cazana Marti.  At least, the St. Louis Cardinals are pretty sure.  —  His age?  Depends whom you ask.  Marti, who came to this country from Cuba a little more than a year ago, insists he's 27.  Without a birth certificate or proof otherwise …

Blogosphere therapy  —  Some Cubs fans take to the Internet to vent their vitriol over the team and manager Dusty Baker  —  From the streets of Wrigleyville to the hearts of Texas and Utah and every Cubs fans' wired outpost, many fed-up fans have replaced a bar stool with an office chair and bellied up to their computer desk.

Notes: Intriguing prospect  —  Melvin reportedly trying to acquire Greg Maddux  —  rbraun@journalsentinel.com  —  Having entered play Thursday just 3½ games out of first in the National League Central, the Milwaukee Brewers are in a position to be a buyer rather than a seller …

Astros 4, Cardinals 2  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  HOUSTON — The Houston Astros had just enough offense and plenty of defense to beat the St. Louis Cardinals.  —  Mike Lamb homered in the first inning and Lance Berkman made two pinpoint throws from right field …

Chat wrap: Move Tex from cleanup?  —  Evan Grant: Afternoon, everybody.  Here to answer your questions, but please let's hold off on trying to figure out if the Rangers can win the AL West with a .500 record  —  BReed: Am I the only one who thinks its time to bring up Volquez and see what the kid really has?