Top News:
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Bullpen Melts Down, Nats Limp Into Break — The phone rang in the Washington Nationals' bullpen in the middle of the sixth inning, with the home team leading by six runs, seemingly coasting to a series-salvaging win over the San Diego Padres. Manager Frank Robinson was on the line …
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Michael Gluskin / MLB.com:
Notes: Nats look toward second half — DC heads into break within striking distance of Wild Card — WASHINGTON — At the All-Star break a year ago, the Washington Nationals sat atop the National League East. They were a surprising 16 games over .500 and led the division by 2 1/2 games.
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Bush Can't Provide Power for Nationals — The former owner of the Texas Rangers came out to RFK Stadium last night to sit with his wife, Laura, watch a little baseball and, hopefully, see the Washington Nationals win, as had happened in both games he attended last season.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Schilling not overly concerned about elbow — CHICAGO — X-rays of Curt Schilling's right elbow were negative after the Red Sox ace was struck by Jim Thome's line drive in the sixth, the ball caroming more than 100 feet before landing in left-center field for a single.
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Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Worth the wait — Sox's Dye, Iguchi key 19-inning victory — In baseball terminology, you "run into" a pitch from a nasty closer like the Boston Red Sox's Jonathan Papelbon. But it was 10 innings after Jermaine Dye had done that, and now he was faced with something even tougher.
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Associated Press:
ChiSox's Iguchi wraps up 19-inning marathon against BoSox — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — CHICAGO — No one was happier than Tadahito Iguchi when he put an end to a pre-All-Star break marathon on Sunday. — Iguchi's bases-loaded single in the 19th sent the Chicago White Sox …
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
It's still Baker's team — Recent upswing and players' support could help the manager stick around in the 2nd half — MILWAUKEE — What funeral? — Sunday looked and sounded more like a revival for the Cubs and manager Dusty Baker after the team's third straight win, an 11-4 bashing of the Milwaukee Brewers.
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Larry Millson / Globe and Mail:
Slammed players in an interview — KANSAS CITY, MO. — Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said he was speaking from frustration late last week when he criticized the team's play. — "I'd probably do it in a different way," Ricciardi said yesterday from his home in Worcester, Mass.
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Hughes: Wait and see — PITTSBURGH - Phil Hughes isn't buying it. — Not yet, anyway. — Maybe he'll feel differently if July 31 passes and he still can wear a Yankees cap, as he did yesterday. — "You never know," the righthander said at PNC Park.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Notes: Red Sox show strong interest in Abreu — The Red Sox inquired about Phillies right fielder Bobby Abreu, but the talks apparently failed to progress — even though a rival GM describes the Sox's interest in Abreu as "very strong." — Here's why Abreu could make sense for the Sox:
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Tempers are lost, followed by lead — NEW YORK — The Marlins have been the National League's hottest team since pitcher Scott Olsen got punched in the eye by a teammate and shoved against the wall by his manager during separate incidents in May. — They would like to think Olsen's latest altercation …
New York Times:
Posada Takes Seat After Family Has Scare on Flight to Tampa — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 9 — Jorge Posada was among the last Yankees to arrive in the clubhouse on Sunday, showing up about 90 minutes before the game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. — Manager Joe Torre understood.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Futures Game showcases Nats prospect — Manriquez has emerged as club's top catching farmhand — PITTSBURGH — One wondered who would be the Nationals' starting catcher if Brian Schneider ever left via trade or free agency. In 2004, and last year, the Nationals/Expos didn't have anyone …
Elizabeth Aguilar / MLB.com:
Sele outduels Schmidt as Dodgers win — Home team finishes first half on high note with close victory — LOS ANGELES — Another solid pitching performance by Aaron Sele propelled the Dodgers to a 3-1 win over the Giants, as the Dodgers closed out the first half of the season in front of 41,849.
Discussion:
6-4-2
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
... Low-grade team / The Pirates' owners aren't playing ball — A lot has been written and much has been said about the abysmal play of the Pittsburgh Pirates. And it's not the usual fleeting barroom talk about the latest slump or the breaks of the game. — Fans are venting a simmering anger …
Discussion:
El Guapo's Ghost Rambles …
John Sahly / MLB.com:
Sheets feeling good after rehab start — Righty throws three innings for Triple-A Nashville on Sunday — MILWAUKEE — It wasn't the prettiest outing but at this point, Ben Sheets will take any outing. — Sheets threw 65 pitches — 45 for strikes — in three innings, gave up three runs on three hits …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Q&A with Tony Tavares — Departing president discusses franchise as tenure nears end — PITTSBURGH — One thing you can say about Tony Tavares: He has been never afraid to speak his mind when talking about the Nationals/Expos. Last year, for example, it was Tavares who said that the team …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Elizabeth Aguilar / MLB.com:
Gagne's back surgery goes well — Reliever able to walk briefly after Saturday operation — LOS ANGELES — There was finally some good news for Eric Gagne on Saturday. His morning surgery to repair a herniated disk was successful, and the Dodgers pitcher was able to walk for a limited time Saturday afternoon.
