Another defeat: Hurdle's last stand?  —  It was the type of moment that defines games, and, over time, frames a season.  It arrived in the fifth inning Tuesday night: Aaron Cook vs. Andre Ethier.  —  Ethier, setting the stage for Casey Blake, won with a walk.

Church, Reyes to DL, FMart Up  —  Ryan Church and Jose Reyes have been put on the 15-day DL, Omar Minaya told reporters today.  —  Fernando Martinez has been promoted, and is on his way to Citi Field.  —  The Mets also traded cash to the Indians for minor-league SS Wilson Valdez …

X-rays negative on Braun's right wrist  —  Slugger leaves early on Tuesday, questionable for finale  —  MILWAUKEE — The Brewers were unsure of Ryan Braun's availability for Wednesday's series finale against St. Louis after the left fielder was struck on the right wrist by a pitch Tuesday night and left the game after four innings.

Smoltz: ‘My radar screen has Boston on it’  —  MANCHESTER, N.H. - After John Smoltz threw 60 pitches in 3 1/3 innings tonight in his second minor league rehab start, he set a crude timetable for his Red Sox debut: Three more minor league rehab starts, then join the Sox rotation.

Baltimore Orioles poised to call up prospect Matt Wieters on Friday  —  BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles are readying the welcome mat for their much-talked-about prized prospect.  —  Catcher Matt Wieters will be recalled by Baltimore on Friday and make his major league debut at home that night against the Detroit Tigers.

Game 46: Yankees at Rangers (with weather updates)  —  YANKEES (26-19)  —  Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (2-1, 3.70).  —  RANGERS (26-18)  —  Kinsler 2B  —  Young 3B  —  Hamilton DH  —  Cruz RF  —  Murphy LF  —  Byrd CF  —  Davis 1B  —  Saltalamacchia C  —  Vizquel SS

Cabrera Designated For Assignment  —  Unable to find a place for him in their rotation or their bullpen, and unable to tolerate the idea of watching his continued struggles, the Washington Nationals on Tuesday designated Daniel Cabrera for assignment, cutting ties with the pitcher they signed in the offseason.

Ortiz dropped to sixth  —  The Red Sox have dropped David Ortiz to sixth in the batting order, with J.D. Drew moving up to the struggling Ortiz's familiar third spot.  —  When asked by my Globe colleague Amalie Benjamin if he was going to talk to the media before the game, Ortiz replied, “After I go deep tonight.”

Greinke notches eighth win as Royals beat Tigers  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Probably the last thing Justin Verlander wanted to do was make Zack Greinke a better pitcher.  —  But unwittingly, he did.  —  GAME REPORT: Royals 6, Tigers 1  —  Greinke paid close attention to the way Verlander shut …

Diamondbacks end Padres' 10-game winning streak  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out 10 and drove in two runs, Chris Young made a leaping catch at the fence for the final out and the Arizona Diamondbacks held off San Diego 6-5 on Tuesday night to snap the Padres' 10-game winning streak.

Baseball Mired in a Mysterious Ratings Slump  —  Seven months after recording the lowest-rated World Series in history, Major League Baseball's national broadcast business is still waiting for a recovery.  —  Lousy weather, delayed games and a lackluster matchup hurt World Series ratings last October …