Top News:
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Saunders impresses in first Bronx start — Rookie wins fourth straight game to stay perfect on the year — NEW YORK — Joe Saunders had a sleepless night, as he considered every possible outcome in his first start at Yankee Stadium. — The left-hander was in his room around 2 a.m. ET on Friday …
Discussion:
6-4-2
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
It's a Dream Start for Rookie — After a restless night, Saunders shakes off the nerves to lead the Angels to a 7-4 victory over the Yankees as Izturis continues his hot streak. — NEW YORK — The butterflies began tap-dancing in his stomach long before rookie Joe Saunders stepped onto the Yankee Stadium mound Friday night.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Despite Cabrera's Slump, Lineup Staying the Same — NEW YORK — There is no question the Angels' offensive resurgence and their 19-7 run in July coincided with Orlando Cabrera's move from the second to third spot in the batting order. — The Angels were 35-41 on June 27 …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Support Lo Duca as Gambling Stories Swirl — Paul Lo Duca signing autographs at R.F.K. Stadium. Lo Duca was acquired from the Marlins in December. — The Mets rode into town Friday with a 14-game division lead that is swelling at the same pace as the potential headache surrounding their All-Star catcher, Paul Lo Duca.
Discussion:
The Griddle
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Beltran playing with sore knee — All-Star says pain comes and goes, and that treatment helps — WASHINGTON — Carlos Beltran was back in the starting lineup Friday night after being off Thursday and resting his sore right knee. The Mets center fielder said the pain has been diagnosed as tendinitis.
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
Ben Walker / Houston Chronicle:With tabloids humming, Lo Duca hits away
Discussion:
Archie Bunker's Army
Howard Kussoy / MLB.com:
Benson makes his return at Fenway — Baltimore (51-65) at Boston (66-48), 1:25 p.m. ET — In the midst of a six-game road trip against the top two teams in the American League East, the Orioles need all the help they can get. — Looking to turn around Baltimore's 3-6 start to August …
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
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Howard Kussoy / MLB.com:
Boston eyeing repeat win vs. Baltimore — Baltimore (51-65) at Boston (66-48), 1:25 p.m. ET — Snapping a season-high five-game losing streak with Friday night's win, the Red Sox showed how happy they are to return home after a horrific 1-5 road trip against two last-place teams.
Conor Nicholl / MLB.com:
Mulder shaky in second rehab start — Left-hander allows four runs in four innings of work — MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Through two innings, Mark Mulder felt great. The next inning, though, yielded a far different outcome. — Making a rehab start for Triple-A Memphis on Friday night at AutoZone Park …
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mulder nets mixed results in minor league start — MEMPHIS — Lefthander Mark Mulder took another step in his seven-week rehab from shoulder stiffness Friday night at Auto Zone Park. The Cardinals will devote this weekend to determining whether it was a sideways shuffle or a step forward.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Prior to DL? Velocity dip a concern — DENVER — Mark Prior's lost season grew dimmer Friday. — Instead of flying with the Cubs from Milwaukee to Denver, the club sent the right-hander to Chicago to have team physician Stephen Gryzlo examine his shoulder.
Discussion:
CubsNet.com
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Without Varitek, young staff caught off guard — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One thing is obvious: The Red Sox pitching staff really misses Jason Varitek. — Nobody is pointing fingers at Javy Lopez and Doug Mirabelli, but the small nuances of Varitek's game are lost inside the white lines.
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Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
Pavano in fan flap — Carl Pavano was involved in a verbal dispute with a fan at his rehab outing in Tampa on Thursday night, during which he made an off-color remark alluding to the fan's sexual orientation, according to sources. — The fan was heckling Pavano all night …
Michael Walsh / MLB.com:
Nats, Mets recognize Negro Leagues — Teams don uniforms of Homestead Grays and NY Cubans — WASHINGTON — With just two hours remaining before Friday night's game between the Nationals and Mets, neither New York's road gray jerseys nor Washington's home whites hung in the respective players' lockers.
Discussion:
District of Baseball
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Pat Borzi / New York Times:
Liriano's Eagerness Leads to a Lesson in Honesty — The meeting, as Minnesota Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire described it, was not even close to a dialogue. — Pitcher Francisco Liriano sat in the visiting manager's office at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday afternoon listening to Gardenhire …
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Girardi was to be fired — PHOENIX — Turns out there was a good reason Sunday for the Marlins to make preparations for an impromptu news conference: Owner Jeffrey Loria was going to announce that he had fired manager Joe Girardi. — But Loria was persuaded to change his mind …
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Tigers' passion play — CHICAGO - Jim Leyland is smoking a cigarette. — Wait. No. Every Jim Leyland story starts with him smoking a cigarette. Jim Leyland is not about cigarettes. He is about passion. So let's try again. — Jim Leyland is standing on the grass at U.S. Cellular Field.
Discussion:
TigerBlog
