Nats hold off late charge to win Battle  —  Zimmerman comes through with go-ahead run to seal sweep  —  BALTIMORE — The Nationals and Orioles found themselves in a pitchers' duel on Thursday night, but when it was over it was Washington that won the battle as it edged Baltimore, 3-1, in front of 20,770 fans at Camden Yards.

Salty's at 1B; Stark fires back at Boras  —  The move that so many of you blog denizens have been pining for - can't say I blame you - is happening.  At least tonight it's happening, and I'd guess it'll happen some more.  —  Salty is starting at first base.

The Disastrous 1997 Marlins … The Marlins are making plans to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their 1997 title.  Has there ever been another team's World Series rings that has had such a disastrous effect on the Dodgers, if not the whole game?  The Marlins had the second highest payroll …

Speier's lingering absence remains an issue  —  Reliever doesn't seem any closer to returning to the bullpen after having to cut short a rehab assignment.  —  CINCINNATI — It's becoming more disconcerting as each day passes and there is no indication that Justin Speier is any closer …

Must see: Clemens in 2057  —  After watching its team's lead in the AL East shrink by seven games over the last two weeks, Red Sox Nation could use a pick me up.  —  We've got just the thing.  —  Boston Dirt Dogs dug up a hilarious short film created by a Massachusetts native named Michael Barber …

Just a nip and tuck, or major surgery for White Sox?  —  With team still sinking, big decisions await GM at trade deadline  —  PITTSBURGH — A run for redemption has turned into a series of survival for the White Sox.  —  They open a three-game series Friday night at perennial National …

Mike Lowell on the move?  —  Noise has been made the last couple days about Mike Lowell being shipped off to the Minnesota Twins.  The Twins have been looking to upgrade the hot corner for a while now, as their third baseman, Nick Punto, is not doing well.  Punto is hitting an anemic .227/.324/.294 …

Theo's Biggest Mistake  —  Letting Orlando Cabrera go was Theo Epstein's biggest mistake of his short career as a general manager, and we're feeling the effects of this to this day.  —  Let's backtrack a little bit.  On July 31st, 2004, the Red Sox traded away their icon, Nomar Garciaparra.

Salty gets a start at first base  —  Minneapolis — A sizeable segment of Braves Nation got what it's been clamoring for: Jarrod Saltalamacchia at first base.  —  The Braves' top prospect, a switch-hitting catcher, was in the lineup at first base Thursday night against Minnesota and ace left-hander Johan Santana.

Zambrano changing colors?  —  Pitcher jests about red shinguards from 'my next catcher'  —  Mark Buehrle still gets heat for wearing a St. Louis Cardinals cap at a World Series game last October, but Carlos Zambrano one-upped Buehrle before Thursday's Cubs game.

Yanks sweep D-Backs  —  For some reason, he's not entirely sure why, Joe Torre recently decided to stand on the dugout steps instead of sitting on the bench when the Yankees were batting.  —  They scored a few runs.  So he decided to keep on doing it.  —  They got a few wins.

Sox stone cold  —  Beckett loses first; Drew gets earful  —  The bats have gone quiet, the pitching has stumbled, and the Yankees are winning every day.  —  All of that means the gloves have come off at Fenway Park, where a sellout crowd of 36,939 did not let last night's 7-1 Red Sox loss …

Rockies manager faces high hurdles  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  While the managerial hot seats are ever-changing, the Rockies' Clint Hurdle appears in greatest danger of losing his job, followed by the Orioles' Sam Perlozzo, according to major-league sources.  —  Nothing is certain, however …

En Route to Bronx, Mets Now Team in Trouble  —  There is bad baseball, and there is pitiful baseball, and there is painful, embarrassing baseball, and there is the kind of baseball the Mets have played this month, which is none of these things, but is instead just depressing.

Nationals won't rush host of young prospects  —  Whenever there's a bump in the development road for Nationals' prospect Esmailyn Gonzalez, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden just has to remember one thing: At 17 years old, Gonzalez would likely be finishing up his junior year in high school.