Top News:
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets fall to Phils, NL East lead at three — Game-ending interference call irks players, Randolph — PHILADELPHIA — Throughout his team's mostly unremarkable season, manager Willie Randolph often has bemoaned the Mets' inability to bury their opponents or at least create margins for error.
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Dan Gelston / Associated Press:
Interference call helps Phils beat Mets — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Marlon Anderson went a little too wide with his slide. — Anderson's hard takeout attempt might have been enough to bust up a double play in the ninth inning and allow the tying run to score for the New York Mets.
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Notes: Rotation suddenly overflowing — Hamels' return would give Phillies six starting pitchers — PHILADELPHIA — Cole Hamels' pending Sunday return creates a pitching quandary. Suddenly, the Phillies will have six starters in the rotation. — Again. — "Decisions need to be made," said righty starter Adam Eaton.
Discussion:
The Good Phight
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
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 …
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
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 …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
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David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
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.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Jim Caple / ESPN:
Shut up, Red Sox Nation — After Game 7 of the 2003 American League championship series between the Red Sox and Yankees, I walked out of Yankee Stadium with a colleague. Just 48 hours earlier it had seemed very possible that the Red Sox and Cubs would meet in the World Series.
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues, Roar from 34, Boston Sports Media Watch and The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
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 …
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts, The Griddle, True Blue LA, FanHouse, 6-4-2, MLB Trade Rumors, Babes Love Baseball and Baseball Musings
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ESPN.com:
Dodgers claim Loaiza from A's — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed right-hander Esteban Loaiza off waivers from the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, assuming more than $8 million in guaranteed salary. — Loaiza, a two-time All-Star, had made only two starts after missing …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Rumors and Rants, El Lefty Malo, Rockin' the Ravine, Washington Post, Bucs Dugout and True Blue LA
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Harang blanks Bucs for 14th win — Griffey Jr. goes deep in first inning for career home run No. 592 — PITTSBURGH — It was a shift from doubleheader debacle to singular bliss for the Reds. — Behind Aaron Harang's two-hit shutout in a smooth 8-0 win over the Pirates on Wednesday …
Discussion:
Blue-Collar Baseball
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Associated Press:
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 …
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Yankees' plan for future currently on display … Editor's Note: This story appears in the Sept. 10 edition of ESPN The Magazine. — The savior is summoned from the bullpen. As he begins his journey across the outfield grass, the crowd in Yankee Stadium rises to its feet.
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Doug Tucker / Associated Press:
Tigers blanked, fall 4 1/2 out of 1st — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jim Leyland figures an inspirational speech is the last thing his struggling Detroit Tigers need. — More than anything, after getting shut out by Kansas City 5- on Wednesday night, the Tigers could use a strong performance …
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Notes: Bard becoming workhorse — Padres catcher getting more time with injury to Barrett — SAN DIEGO — Less is apparently more for Padres' catcher Josh Bard these days, except when it comes to the number of innings that he's been logging behind the plate.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Martínez to Audition for Mets' Brain Trust — Get your T-shirts now: The Pedro Martínez Reunion Tour will make a one-time stop in Atlanta on Friday so that he can throw his between-starts bullpen session in front of some very interested Mets coaches and officials.
