A-Rod takes another crack at 600  —  The finale of the series between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals could be a historic one, as Alex Rodriguez comes into the matchup one home run shy of becoming the seventh member of the 600 home run club.  —  Rodriguez has hit memorable homers …

Tigers lose game to Blue Jays, Ordonez to fractured ankle  —  DETROIT — Jose Bautista drove in a pair of runs to help the Toronto Blue Jays to a 3-2 win Saturday night over the Detroit Tigers, who lost Magglio Ordonez to a fractured ankle.  —  Ordonez broke his ankle sliding into home plate and is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks.

Timing of Minor League hGH Testing More Than a PR Move by MLB  —  On Thursday, MLB announced that it would immediately begin subjecting minor league players to random blood testing for the detection of human growth hormone (hGH) under Major League Baseball's Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Chicago surgeon trying for breakthough to help careers  —  (Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune / July 23, 2010)  —  Rush's Romeo has radical notion of not being so concerned with bicep muscle when repairing shoulders  —  One day Mario DiCostanzo felt a pop in his left arm after throwing a tennis ball.

Oswalt may be the subject of a moving story  —  The most fascinating study as the trade deadline nears is Roy Oswalt, the veteran righthander who has been a Houston Astro his entire career, and who could be moving on if the destination suits him.  —  Oswalt, with 143 wins one away …

Competition For Scott Downs Heating Up  —  The competition in the Scott Downs sweepstakes is “fierce,” tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Morosi suggests that the Yankees and the Red Sox are the current front-runners, but that the Mets, Reds, and Twins are also involved.

Dan Duquette believes there is more to be told about Roger Clemens' alleged use of PEDs  —  Dan Duquette let out a long, hearty laugh when told about Roger Clemens recently blasting him via Twitter, even calling the former Red Sox general manager a “loser.”  —  “I'm not sure that was about me.

Conrad's slam helps Braves beat Marlins 10-5  —  MIAMI—The Atlanta Braves enjoyed their best inning of the season by taking advantage of the Florida Marlins' mistakes, including the fat pitch Brooks Conrad hit for a grand slam.  —  Conrad's second pinch-hit grand slam of the year put …

Ausmus says he'll retire after season  —  LOS ANGELES — Confirming what was already widely assumed, Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Brad Ausmus said after Saturday's 3-2 victory over the New York Mets that he will retire after the season, bringing an end to a 17-year career in the majors that saw …

Ubaldo remains in U-turn as Rockies fall again  —  Rough trip continues as Jimenez walks six in just two innings to raise his ERA to 2.75.  —  The Denver Post  —  Colorado Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez wipes his face as he walks to the dugout after being pulled in the third inning …

Saunders homer sparks Seattle rally past Boston  —  SEATTLE—The zero that remained on the scoreboard as Boston's Jon Lester kept rolling through Seattle's offense was certainly being noticed in the Mariners dugout.  —  “We were all talking about it trying to jinx it,” Seattle left fielder Michael Saunders said.

Texas Rangers put catcher Matt Treanor (knee) on disabled list, recall Taylor Teagarden  —  Treanor put on DL with knee injury  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers catcher Matt Treanor was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.