Back Pain Could Keep Manny Out Longer Than Expected  —  NEW YORK - The Red Sox discovered the source of Manny Ramirez's pain Wednesday, and it is potentially more serious than just a sore back.  —  Ramirez was diagnosed with a strained left oblique by team internist Dr. Larry Ronan …

Dodgers claim Loaiza off waivers from A's  —  FOXSports.com, Updated 21 minutes ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Dodgers have added another starting pitcher to their rotation, claiming right-hander Esteban Loaiza on waivers from the A's.  —  The teams did not complete a trade for Loaiza …

44 Insurance  —  The Yankees defeat the Red Sox 4-3.  Alex Rodriguez hits his forty fourth home run of the season to make the score 4-1 in the seventh, and it proves to be the game winner as Youkilis hits a two run shot in the eighth to bring the Red Sox within one.

Tigers blanked, fall 4 1/2 out of 1st  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The AL Central gap is growing for the Detroit Tigers.  —  Esteban German hit a go-ahead triple in a five-run first inning against Andrew Miller, and the Kansas City Royals beat Detroit 5-0 Wednesday night in only the second shutout against the Tigers this year.

Harang throws 2-hit shutout for Reds  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Harang threw a two-hitter for his fourth career shutout, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Brandon Phillips homered and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-0 on Wednesday night.  —  Alex Gonzalez and Javier Valentin …

Humber may get his Phil on Saturday  —  PHILADELPHIA - Philip Humber or Mike Pelfrey, and not Brian Lawrence, will face the Braves on Saturday.  After Lawrence allowed five runs in 4-2/3 innings Monday night against the Phillies, lifting his ERA to 6.31 in five starts, the Mets optioned …

What a Way to Lose  —  The Mets' Marlon Anderson makes a huge mistake that costs the Mets a game.  Down 3-2 in the top of the ninth, the Mets have men on first and third, Anderson on first.  Green hits a slow roller to short.  Rollins flips to Iguchi at second, and Anderson slides …

It's Time for MLB to Rethink the Marlins Stadium Strategy  —  Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard that the Florida Marlins are laboring to get into a new stadium.  Current owner Jeffery Loria has been working to get into a new facility since purchasing the team in Feb. of 2002 …

Back troubles KO Kielty and Ramírez  —  NEW YORK — Red Sox outfielder Bobby Kielty said he is scheduled to undergo X-rays and perhaps other tests to determine the cause of continuing back pain, the result, he said, of colliding with the low bullpen wall in right field at Fenway Park in his first game with the team 10 days ago.

Braves strike out with switch  —  Smoltz comes up short on three days' rest; Francoeur ejection pivotal  —  Miami — Just when it looked like the worst night of Jeff Francoeur's major league career couldn't get any uglier, it did.  And it cost the Braves dearly.

It's tough to dislike Rangers' new crop  —  The logical part of the brain says it's too early — way too early — to evaluate how the Rangers did in their trading deadline deals.  The number of players acquired in those deals was impressive.  But most of those players are so far from the majors that any evaluation would be premature.

M's, Guillen close to reaching deal  —  The Mariners and outfielder Jose Guillen are close to completing a contract extension.  —  The deal, apparently for three years, would replace the one-year mutual option that would have kept Guillen in Seattle for the 2008 season.

eMailbag: MetsBlog Ignores the Bullpen  —  Rick from Brooklyn Heights sent in the following e-mail...  Since being traded to the Red Sox, Eric Gagne has a 9.00 ERA in 11 relief appearances.  —  Since being traded to the Brewers, Scott Linebrink is 1-3 with a blown save and a 4.97 ERA in 13 appearances.