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.

Prospectus Today  —  Dunn Deals  —  In what is shaping up as a light midseason trade market, the big prize is Reds left fielder Adam Dunn.  Dunn has been a lightning rod for criticism in Cincinnati, where his take'n'rake approach and Three True Outcomes output seen as a drag on the team's offense rather than a boost to it.

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 …

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.

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 …

Lilly goes eight as Cubs top Padres 4-1  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Mike Fontenot and Alfonso Soriano homered off David Wells in the sixth inning and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 4-1 Friday, overcoming the efforts of two fans who reached over the outfield wall at Wrigley Field.

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 …

Tigers suspend Colon  —  Fight gives other Hen broken bones  —  The Tigers have suspended right-hander Roman Colon for seven days after a physical altercation with teammates in the Triple-A Toledo clubhouse.  —  The club announced that Colon has a contusion on his left shoulder, but teammate Jason Karnuth was injured more severely.

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.

Pirates Notebook: Van Benschoten's big day at hand  —  One year away, two shoulder surgeries and countless doubts later, John Van Benschoten is on the verge of making it all the way back.  —  His phone rang shortly before 3 p.m. yesterday in Durham, N.C., with the news that the Pirates …

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 …

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.

Yankees run winning streak to nine games  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Torre found his new lucky spot in the dugout, then watched Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte and the rest of the team go to work.  —  Yep, things are falling into place nicely for the New York Yankees.