Top News:
Associated Press:
Webb replaces injured Fuentes on All-Star roster — NEW YORK — Reigning Cy Young winner Brandon Webb of the Arizona Diamondbacks will replace injured Colorado reliever Brian Fuentes on the NL roster for the All-Star Game. — Webb was 8-6 with a 3.27 ERA and tied for the third in the league …
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Mark Schmetzer / MLB.com:
Webb replaces Fuentes on NL team — Right-hander to make his second straight trip to All-Star Game — CINCINNATI — Brandon Webb won't be going to San Diego after all. — The Arizona right-hander instead will be making his second consecutive trip to the All-Star Game.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Kristie Rieken / Associated Press:
Mets outlast Astros 5-3 in 17 innings — HOUSTON (AP) — Carlos Beltran hit a go-ahead single in the 17th inning after making a saving, circus catch and the New York Mets won their longest game since 1993, beating the Houston Astros 5-3 Saturday night. — The 17 innings matched …
Discussion:
Mets Today
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D.J. Short / MetsBlog.com:
preGame: Mets at Astros (Game Three) — The Game: — The Mets (47-38) take on the Astros (38-49) in the third game of a four-game set at Minute Maid Park this evening, starting at 7:05 pm EDT. — The Lineup: — Jose Reyes leads off, followed in order by Ruben Gotay, Carlos Beltran …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Josh Dubow / Associated Press:
Mariners' Hernandez blanks A's again — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Felix Hernandez ended the first half of his season the same way he started it: with a dominating performance against the Oakland Athletics. — Hernandez held Oakland scoreless for a second straight start and Adrian Beltre homered …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Geoff Baker / Mariners Blog:
Hernandez reads internet letter; hear clips — No, Jarrod Washburn won't start tomorrow. Quash that rumor. The Mariners were just being secretive about the rotation pre-game, well, for the sake of being secretive. It will be Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista and Jeff Weaver pitching against the Tigers next week.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Buehrle talks crumble … Mark Buehrle was willing to go forward and make a deal with the Chicago White Sox that didn't include a no-trade clause, but his overture was rejected. — Now it appears that his contract talks have broken down for good, and he may soon be traded.
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Rodriguez, Angels make the plays to beat Yankees — Closer gets out of a two-on, one-out jam in the bottom of the 13th before 54,497 at Yankee Stadium, after two errors in the top of the inning allow Angels to take the lead. Match-up between Lackey and Clemens lives up to billing.
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Amanda Beard / Associated Press:
Ex-MLB pitcher banned from Pan Am Games — SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Jose Jimenez, who threw a no-hitter as a rookie with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999, was one of two Dominican athletes removed from the Pan American Games on Saturday after they tested positive for banned substances.
Associated Press:
Lilly, Soriano lead surging Cubs by Bucs — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan Theriot and the Chicago Cubs hitters easily singled out the reason they won Saturday night — they hit a lot of singles. — Despite being in their longest home run drought since 1999, the Cubs won for the 12th time in 15 games, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox want to be served youth — If the White Sox make a trade, keep in mind they covet 23-year-old Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. He entered the season ranked as the team's No. 2 prospect behind Daisuke Matsuzaka. Ellsbury is so fast he scored from second base …
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Ordonez, Holliday banging out the hits … We're halfway through another spectacular baseball season. And we know what you're thinking: — Has anyone else hit his 500th home run in the last 15 minutes? — Has George Steinbrenner fired anyone yet? — And, of course, how do you spell O-k-a-j-i-m-a?
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Elizabeth Botello / MLB.com:
Wells to face rookie on FOX — San Diego (48-37) vs. Atlanta (46-41), Saturday, 12:55 p.m. PT — The San Diego Padres will take on the Atlanta Braves and rookie pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes in the middle game of their three-game series on Saturday afternoon. — Reyes will make his Major League debut in PETCO Park.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Jackson willing to play outfield — CINCINNATI - Conor Jackson is willing to try something different to ease the Diamondbacks' corner infield logjam. Being willing is one thing, being allowed is another. — Jackson said Friday that he would not mind playing the outfield if it would mean …
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Quote: Willie and Reyes on Reyes Running — During the eighth inning of last night's game, Jose Reyes hit a dribbler down the third-base line, which was picked up by Mike Lamb, but Reyes did not run to first. Lamb jogged the ball half-way to first, looking to the home plate umpire …
Discussion:
Mets Today
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals welcome Detwiler to fold — Team feels pitcher could be in big leagues by September — WASHINGTON — Left-hander Ross Detwiler officially became a member of the Nationals on Friday afternoon after signing his contract and $2.15 million signing bonus check in front of the media …
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