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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats come up short in sweep attempt — Soriano cracks two homers; Armas roughed up — SAN FRANCISCO — A ninth-inning rally fell a little short as the Nationals were edged by the Giants, 8-6, in front of 38,283 fans at AT&T Park on Wednesday afternoon. — The loss broke the Nationals' modest …
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Washington Post
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Armas Falters, Stanton Rises — Nats' Rally Can't Trump Poor Start: Giants 8, Nationals 6 — A week ago, Mike Stanton wore a cap with a script "W" above the brim and tutored the young men in the Washington Nationals' bullpen, some of them more than 15 years his junior.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Will Robinson return? — Players would like manager to come back next season — SAN FRANCISCO — With left fielder Alfonso Soriano expected to stay with the Nationals for the rest of the season, the next question that lingers around this franchise is if Frank Robinson will remain the manager of the team past the 2006 season.
Bob Herzog / Newsday:
Heat exhaustion — Trachsel gets win, but bullpen lets it get too close for comfort — MIAMI - Winning pitcher Steve Trachsel was waiting to open the door to the clubhouse for Billy Wagner last night, an appropriately symbolic gesture after Wagner had just slammed the door on the Marlins in dramatic …
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Kevin Fiorenzo / MLB.com:
Notes: Maine gets the nod over Pelfrey — Ring called up from Triple-A to take rookie's spot on roster — MIAMI — It's not a decision that any manager likes to make, but with six men in his rotation, Mets skipper Willie Randolph was forced to make a move.
Associated Press:
Cubs' Wood opts against surgery to repair shoulder — CHICAGO — Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood has decided against having surgery to repair his injured right shoulder. — Wood made just four starts this season following shoulder surgery on Aug. 31 and will miss the rest of the year with a partially torn rotator cuff.
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The Cub Reporter
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Wood opts for rehab, not knife — Cubs rained out; Doubleheader Thursday — Kerry Wood felt all along he would decline the option of surgery on his torn rotator cuff, opting instead to rehab it and hopefully be ready for spring training. — After consulting with several pitchers …
William S. Hupp / MLB.com:
Dunn nominated for Hank Aaron Award — Left fielder has been the Reds' most productive hitter — CINCINNATI — It hasn't mattered where Adam Dunn has hit in the batting order this season. — The Reds left fielder has batted second, fourth, fifth and sixth in the lineup …
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Barrett in running for Aaron Award — Cubs catcher claimed Silver Slugger honors last season — CHICAGO — Michael Barrett didn't adjust his stance or drop his elbow or change his grip. The difference at the plate this season for the Chicago Cubs catcher is mental, not physical.
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GROTA
Associated Press:
Kim shuts down Brewers as Rockies roll — Box score — Byung-Hyun Kim allowed one run in eight innings and Todd Helton homered and drove in three runs to lead the Colorado Rockies over the Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 Wednesday night. — Kim (7-6) yielded seven hits, struck out five and didn't walk …
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Purple Row
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Toronto's road woes continue in loss — Glaus' two-run ninth inning homer provides only runs — NEW YORK — It's been a long, frustrating road trip for the Blue Jays, and there's still one game left before they can catch a flight back to the comforts of the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
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The Joy of Sox
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Notes: Sele no longer a starter — Righty to pitch in relief with Maddux joining Dodgers' rotation — CINCINNATI — The acquisition of 40-year-old Greg Maddux, who makes his Dodgers debut Thursday night, has meant the demotion to the bullpen of 36-year-old Aaron Sele.
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Sowers hungry for another gem vs. Sox — Cleveland (46-59) at Boston (63-42), 7:05 p.m. ET — Jeremy Sowers already showed what he can do for an encore. So how about the encore of the encore? — Six days after tossing a complete-game shutout at home against the Twins …
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Amanda Branam / MLB.com:
Notes: Park's prognosis looks good — Right-hander will receive blood transfusion on Thursday — SAN DIEGO — Chan Ho Park is on his way to feeling better, and he shouldn't miss much time in the process. — Although Padres trainer Todd Hutcheson said Park will likely undergo …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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Bill Simmons / ESPN:
Larry Legend vs. Big Papi — Four years ago, back when David Ortiz was just The Fat Guy on the Twins, I tackled "Pacino or DeNiro?" and called it the most important mailbag question in Sports Guy history. Now I'm wondering if that question has been surpassed by "Big Papi or Larry Legend? …
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Bonser knocked out early in finale — Twins suffer first losing homestand of the season — MINNEAPOLIS — Boof Bonser's return lasted one game and four innings. — His defense didn't help him, but Bonser is still on his way back to Triple-A Rochester after giving up seven runs …
Discussion:
Twins Nation Blog
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Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Diamonds in the rough — COMPTON, Calif. - Cy Wiggs does not realize he is caught in the middle of a fight, and because he is 12 years old, he does not worry about that kinda stuff, either. Right now, the only thing on his mind is pizza. — It's what's for lunch today at the Urban Youth Academy …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Ramirez denies he wants out — Infielder may try to renegotiate deal — Aramis Ramirez disputed an Internet report that said he was considering opting out of his contract at the end of the season to become a free agent. — "I've never said I want to leave," Ramirez said before Wednesday night's game …
