Robinson questions one pitch in loss  —  Manager criticizes Rauch, Schneider for Mets' go-ahead homer  —  WASHINGTON — The tension was heavy in the home clubhouse after the Nationals lost to the Mets, 3-1, in front of 37,732 at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Notes: Nixon swings in cage  —  Ortiz rests with series vs. Tigers and Yankees on horizon  —  BOSTON — Wily Mo Pena is becoming a fan favorite in Red Sox Nation, keeping the seat holders at Fenway on their toes by rocketing balls into the stands with cartoonish-like power and helping the Red Sox in their playoff push.

Movin' on up  —  South Siders make up 4½ games in 6 days  —  Now it really gets interesting.  —  It's the Tigers' turn to check their psyches, feel the breath of the charging champions on their neck and sweat the small stuff after their hope of a runaway season was shattered by a White Sox sweep.

Bat shards nearly injure Olivo  —  PHOENIX — Arizona center fielder Eric Byrnes has a penchant for slamming his bat on the ground in frustration when he makes an out.  —  On Sunday, Byrnes' antics almost caused a serious injury to Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo, who was struck in the face …

Heaven and Hell  —  In the dugout before Sunday's game, Kim Jones, the beat reporter for the YES network, asked Yankee manager Joe Torre if Jared Weaver made him of think of Weaver's older brother and former-Yankee, Jeff Weaver.  "It's hard not to," said Torre.  "He's got the same look, the same willowy body.

Baker downplays not utilizing Theriot  —  DENVER — At 26, Ryan Theriot already may be at a career crossroads.  —  Theriot's future with the Cubs is uncertain because Ronny Cedeno probably will be the starting second baseman for the next few years.  —  But the Cubs have kept Theriot …

EVERYBODY PANIC!!!  - Message board edition  —  Over at Mack Avenue Tigers, Kurt had a very levelheaded post about the Tigers current slump.  The slump that all teams have, but the Motor City Kitties managed to avoid...till this week. … Unfortunately, that isn't what most fans are currently thinking.

Leyland cites tipping point  —  Earlier this season, the Cardinals accused the White Sox of stealing pitch-selection signs from center field.  Now the Tigers are claiming the Sox knew what was coming from rookie Justin Verlander in Friday night's game by picking up tip-offs on his pitches.

Full Play-by-Play Chicago vs. Detroit  —  GameCenter  · Full Play-by-Play  · Box Score  · Recap  · Game Chart  · Photos  —  TIGERS 1ST  —  Jose A. Contreras pitching:  —  Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Granderson popped out to shortstop.

Notes: Ramirez optioned to Triple-A  —  Righty struggling of late; lefty Shackleford takes his spot  —  PHILADELPHIA — Elizardo Ramirez had one of the best games of his young career on July 27 in Houston, striking out eight and allowing just one run in 6 2/3 innings.

The Papel-bunch  —  BOISE, Idaho - At Memorial Stadium, a sign notes that the Boise Hawks' front offices are "Now located on the corner of Glenwood and Chinden behind Arby's."  —  Inside, the closest thing the 3,450-seat stadium has to a luxury box is a pair of leather lounge chairs …

Radke has devised ways to get around pain  —  Wanting to get his team to the playoffs in what appears to be his final season, the Twins veteran has taken to using his right arm as little as possible in between starts.  —  For the past four days, Brad Radke washed his hair with his left hand …

B-Mets boasting A-talent  —  Mets: Minor League Report  —  The Binghamton Mets stood 12 games under .500 after play on June 6.  But under manager Juan Samuel, the Double-A team suddenly has been surging, so much so that they entered the weekend in position for a berth in the Eastern League playoffs.

Hafner ties Mattingly for slams in season  —  Indians slugger hits sixth as part of an 11-run first inning  —  CLEVELAND — Travis Hafner took a curtain call Sunday.  —  Actually, Hafner had little choice, because the 25,251 fans in Jacobs Field insisted that the man called "Pronk" …

Padres-Astros Preview  —  Houston Astros starter Brandon Backe has lost some velocity on his fastball, but he's finding other ways to get batters out.  —  The right-hander looks to build off a pair of impressive outings when the Astros (57-59) wrap up their three-game series with the San Diego Padres …

Trip to DL all but ends Prior's season  —  Shoulder tendinitis lands Cubs pitcher back on disabled list  —  DENVER — Mark Prior was placed on the disabled list Saturday with tendinitis in the right rotator cuff, a move that likely will force the Cubs right-hander to miss the rest of the season.