Top News:
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Verlander, Tigers search for sweep — Detroit (78-41) at Boston (68-50), 7:05 p.m. ET — No Tigers pitcher of any experience level has won 15 games in a full season since Willie Blair and Justin Thompson in 1997. Rookie Justin Verlander could this year do it just after the midpoint of August.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
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David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:
No Go For Wily Mo — Misplays Fly Ball In 9th, Watches Strike 3 To End It — BOSTON — A tough play? Hardly. — A tough loss? No doubt. — Wily Mo Pena dropped a fly ball in the ninth inning Tuesday night that allowed the go-ahead run to score, giving the Tigers a 3-2 victory …
Discussion:
The GYS Network
Associated Press:
Costly victory — Polanco separates shoulder as Tigers edge Red Sox — BOSTON (AP) — Placido Polanco's injury forced Ivan Rodriguez to play an unfamiliar position and left the Detroit Tigers wondering how the loss of their steady second baseman will affect their playoff run.
Howard Kussoy / MLB.com:
Wells wraps up series against Tigers — Detroit (78-41) at Boston (68-50), 7:05 p.m. ET — With darkness appearing one minute earlier each day and the temperature cooling down, even in the hottest of playoff races, the looming shadow of October baseball grows exponentially.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Bloop hit sends Red Sox to defeat — Pena unable to reach flare as Boston drops second straight — BOSTON — How could such an innocent looking flare off the bat of Craig Monroe cause so much havoc and heartbreak for the Red Sox? — It was just one of those plays that had Wily Mo Pena …
Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
Message hits home: No room for error — One hanging splitter . . . one fly ball that simply must be caught . . . one more lost opportunity. And then the news from New York? — It was a bad night for anyone who cares about the fortunes of the Boston Red Sox. — Curt Schilling didn't pull a Beckett.
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:Sox go up in flames — No disrespect to Worcester-raised actor …
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Marathon may prompt an early Miller arrival — HOUSTON — Tuesday night's 18-inning game against the Astros might have accelerated Wade Miller's return. — Manager Dusty Baker used all 25 players—including Wednesday's scheduled starter Rich Hill—meaning the Cubs might need to summon …
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Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Notes: Green sits out again — Outfielder the subject of trade rumors with the New York Mets — DENVER — For the second straight game, right fielder Shawn Green was out of the starting lineup. — D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said with the trade talk that has been swirling around Green …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Stairs' veteran presence a bonus — ARLINGTON — The Rangers' trade deadline addition of outfielder/designated hitter Matt Stairs didn't attract nearly the attention that adding outfielder Carlos Lee did, and that's a fair difference. — At 38 years old, Stairs is no longer the same home run threat he once was.
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Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Relief is hard to come by for Rangers — Rookie's meltdown illuminates a problem — ARLINGTON - Here's what the Rangers know about their bullpen: Akinori Otsuka is the closer. — What they don't know is who can handle the late-inning, pennant-contending pressure of holding a lead …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Bill Simmons / ESPN:
Who will wear the AL crown? — Not only has the National League transformed into Quadruple-A, as far as I can tell the Dodgers and Mets are the only two NL teams capable of doing anything in October. And by "anything," I mean not "getting swept in the World Series."
Steven Goff / Washington Post:
'Superb' Astacio Stymies Atlanta — Nationals' Starter Hurls Two-Hitter : Nationals 5, Braves 0 — The Washington Nationals, losers of three straight and 7 of 10, glanced at the standings yesterday and saw that the only National League teams enduring poorer seasons, the Chicago Cubs …
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Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Mets take El of a beating — Phillies romp again; Pedro results today — PHILADELPHIA - At least Orlando Hernandez lasted until the second inning before the Phillies got to six runs. — One game after Pedro Martinez was removed with a sore calf after being flogged for a half-dozen in the first inning …
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Kevin Baxter / Miami Herald:
Olivo, Amezaga hit stride — When the Marlins signed catcher Miguel Olivo to a free agent contract last December they weren't sure what to expect. — But there is no doubt they weren't expecting what they've gotten. — Although there are six weeks still left in the season …
Sports Illustrated:
Enough already — Media blitz of Lo Duca's personal life beyond absurd — All right, I'm calling Uncle. I have officially had enough of Paul Lo Duca's love life. — Look, any honest former sorority girl will admit that a little gossip can be entertaining.
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Close doesn't count — Padres one run short again against Giants — The Padres, empowered by sharp bullpens but also somewhat lucky, defied statistical norms when they won 75 percent of the games decided by one run in the first two seasons at Petco Park.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks Lash Orioles' Bullpen, and Lead in the East Grows — Bobby Abreu sliding into third after his double was misplayed by Nick Markakis in the seventh. Abreu scored to give the Yankees a 4-3 lead. — A cheer rumbled though the stands at Yankee Stadium just before the first pitch of the eighth inning last night.
Chris Kline / Baseball America:
Gonzalez, Hankerd Promoted — Diamondbacks outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was promoted from high Class A Lancaster to Double-A Tennessee after tearing up the California League at a .300/.356/.563 clip. The 20-year-old Venezuelan also led the league with 94 RBIs and 60 extra-base hits, including 21 home runs.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
