Cubs send Murton down, call Rapada  —  Outfielder needs regular at-bats; lefty should stabilize bullpen  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs called up reinforcements for the bullpen, adding left-hander Clay Rapada on Wednesday and sending outfielder Matt Murton to Triple-A Iowa where he should get some regular playing time.

Guerrero leads Angels over Reds  —  Drives in four runs; Lackey wins his 10th game of the season  —  CINCINNATI — The big man in the lineup and the big man on the pitching staff pooled their impressive resources on Wednesday night and came up with something big — a 6-3 win over the Reds that snapped a two-game Angels losing streak.

Red Sox ask MLB to sub Youkilis for Ortiz on ballot … The Boston Red Sox have asked Major League Baseball to substitute hot-hitting Kevin Youkilis for David Ortiz as the team's first base entrant on the All-Star ballot distributed to other players, a gesture meant to help Youkilis' chances to help make the American League squad.

Notes: Rangers place McCarthy on DL  —  Blister problem shelves righty; Loe to pitch Thursday  —  PITTSBURGH — Brandon McCarthy's terrific five-inning performance against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday proved to be an illusion.  —  His blister problem is still just that.

ABOVE WATER  —  Alex Rodriguez hits his 25th homer as the Yankees win their eighth straight game.  —  IN THE ZONE  —  Right-hander Jake Peavy allowed two hits in seven innings as the visiting Padres thumped the Devil Rays 9-0, ending San Diego's season-high four-game losing streak.

Report: Selig close to suspending Yankees' Giambi  —  Bud Selig told Jason Giambi that he better cooperate with former Sen. George Mitchell's investigation of steroid use or else.  The else might be coming.  —  A high-ranking MLB official told USA Today on Wednesday that the commissioner …

Player Profile  —  Bobby Crosby  —  Bobby Crosby had some big shoes to fill when he was first brought up to the Athletics to take over at shortstop.  Miguel Tejada—the Most Valuable Player award winner and a productive player for Oakland over the years—had jumped ship to sign with Baltimore …

Are Dunn's days with Reds numbered?  —  CINCINNATI — First baseman Joey Votto is learning left field at Class AAA Louisville.  Coincidence?  Who believes in coincidence?  —  The annual Adam Dunn trade rumor is circulating baseball this week.  Isn't he a left fielder?  —  "Unofficially?

Indians earn testy 7-3 win over Marlins  —  MIAMI (AP) — Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez wasn't happy when he left for the clubhouse three innings early.  And the Cleveland Indians only made his night worse from there.  —  David Dellucci broke a tie with a three-run homer in a wild sixth inning …

Notes: Stanford to start on Thursday  —  Minor Leaguer to take the mound in series finale vs. Marlins  —  MIAMI — It was a revelation on par with the end of a Scooby Doo episode.  —  Just who is that mystery starter behind the mask?  —  Why, it's Jason Stanford, the man who'll take the hill for Cleveland on Thursday!

A's GM Beane gets seven-year extension  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Athletics general manager Billy Beane, the architect behind Oakland's four division titles since 2000, was rewarded with a seven-year contract extension Wednesday.  —  Team president Michael Crowley also received …

No help in sight for Seattle bullpen  —  The Mariners apparently will go with what they have Wednesday night in Chicago.  —  One night after using six of the seven members of an already weary bullpen to cover the final seven innings of a 13-inning 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs …

Your Mostly Arbitrary Guide to The AL All-Star Ballot  —  It's that time of year again.  The season is more than a third over, the parks are crowded with sunbathers, the days are long, Roger Clemens is back in his firmament, and the smell of garbage has begun to drown out the smell of urine over on 7th Ave.

Nats unleash power on road  —  BALTIMORE — A benefit of interleague play for the Washington Nationals is a road series just a short bus ride away every year to provide a temporary respite to the typical travel grind.  —  Another is the opportunity to play three games at cozy Camden Yards.