Texas Rangers cut ties with pitcher Ponson  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  ARLINGTON - Citing a lack of respect for teammates and the club, the Rangers suddenly severed ties with No. 3 starter Sidney Ponson on Friday.  —  General manager Jon Daniels declined to reveal specific reasons …

Rays try to minimize impact on pitching staff  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — The Rays won't know the full impact of the suspensions handed down for a few days.  —  By having James Shields (six games) and Jonny Gomes (five games) appeal their suspensions, which were to begin Friday …

Hal on Cash: We'll ‘wait until after the season’  —  There are no plans to sit down and talk with general manager Brian Cashman about his contract status, Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner said Friday.  —  Steinbrenner was at Yankee Stadium for Friday night's game against the Royals.

Padres' Wolf outpitches Mets' Santana  —  SAN DIEGO (AP)—Randy Wolf pitched seven strong innings and Kevin Kouzmanoff drove in the go-ahead run to lead the San Diego Padres to a 2-1 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.  —  The Padres won their third straight game, all by 2-1 scores …

Did Youkilis ignite scrap?  —  Multiple Red Sox players confirmed yesterday that Thursday night's dugout altercation between Manny Ramírez and Kevin Youkilis resulted from Ramírez objecting to what he believed was excessive - and chronic - complaining about the strike zone …

Hank Steinbrenner: Do your own jobs  —  Do your own jobs, and stop worrying about Joba.  —  That was Hank Steinbrenner's strongly worded message Friday for Johnny Damon or any other veteran Yankee who wants to see Joba Chamberlain switched back to the bullpen.

Home Run Derby Swaps Ortiz for 2 to Be Named  —  David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox was supposed to try to mimic Babe Ruth during a Call Your Shot promotion in next month's All-Star Game festivities at Yankee Stadium.  After the Yankees protested and Ortiz was injured, officials decided to have two players replace him.

Tigers could lose Bonderman  —  As if the Tigers didn't have enough problems, they begin a 10-game homestand tonight with new concerns about right-hander Jeremy Bonderman.  —  After reporting some discomfort around his right shoulder, Bonderman went to see a doctor this afternoon.

Brandon Webb pitches, hits Diamondbacks past Pirates  —  PITTSBURGH — Brandon Webb didn't like how he was throwing early in the game.  His legs didn't feel right.  The ball didn't feel comfortable when he released it.  —  Every pitcher should go through these problems.

Hiroki Kuroda shuts down Cubs  —  He throws a complete game shutout and Dodgers acquire shortstop Angel Berroa from Royals.  —  Hiroki Kuroda said he felt he regained something that he lost when he left Japan to play in the major leagues: the ability to deliver every pitch with everything he had …

Victorino's hit, throw lift Phils in 10  —  ATLANTA (AP)—Kelly Johnson's unlikely ninth-inning error gave the Philadelphia Phillies new life.  —  Shane Victorino took advantage with his bat and arm the next inning.  —  Victorino drove in the go-ahead run with a triple in the 10th …