It's official, Sox are a done deal  —  It's liberating.  —  We can all stop now.  We can stop scoreboard watching, and doing math tricks, and harboring silly hope that there's a big surge ahead that will thrust the Red Sox into the 2010 playoffs.  —  Better to cease with the torment now and accept the obvious.

Happ throws 2-hitter as Astros shut out Cards 3-0  —  HOUSTON—J.A. Happ threw a two-hitter and rookie Brett Wallace had a career-high three hits and drove in a run to help the Houston Astros beat the struggling St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 on Monday night.  —  It was another tough loss for the Cardinals …

Four-run 11th gets White Sox past Indians  —  The Sports Network  —  Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Brent Lillibridge hit the tie-breaking home run in a four-run top of the 11th as Chicago coughed up a late lead only to come back to beat Cleveland, 10-6, to begin a three-game series.

Bruce's RBI single beats Brewers in 10th, open 6-game lead  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Jay Bruce (FSY) singled off Trevor Hoffman (FSY) with two outs in the 10th inning Monday night, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that extended their NL Central lead to a season-high six games.

Pena homers, Davis wins 6th straight for Rays  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Carlos Pena homered and drove in four runs, Wade Davis won his sixth straight decision and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 on Monday night.  —  Pena made it 5-1 with a three-run homer off Brett Cecil (11-7) in the third.

Dodgers beat Phillies 3-0 behind Kuroda's 1-hitter  —  LOS ANGELES—Hiroki Kuroda took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and Rod Barajas homered in his home debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 Monday night.  —  Kuroda walked Jayson Werth in the eighth …

Cano, Yankees tag Cahill in 11-5 rout of Oakland  —  NEW YORK—Trevor Cahill hardly looked like a Cy Young Award contender against the New York Yankees.  —  Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira and the Yankees tagged Cahill for the second time this season, emphatically ending the All-Star's run …

D'Backs down struggling Padres  —  The Sports Network  —  Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Mark Reynolds drove in five runs to aid Arizona starter Joe Saunders, as the Diamondbacks extended San Diego's woes with a 7-2 win in the opener of a three-game series at Chase Field.

Padres recall of Aaron Cunningham from Triple-A Portland; Option RHP Luis Perdomo to Portland  —  The San Diego Padres announced today that they have recalled outfielder Aaron Cunningham from Triple-A Portland and optioned right-handed pitcher Luis Perdomo to the same Portland club following Sunday's game in San Diego.

Heyward's homer, 4 RBIs lead Braves past Mets, 9-3  —  ATLANTA—Jason Heyward is recovering his power stroke just in time for the Atlanta Braves' September push for the playoffs.  —  Heyward homered and drove in four runs, Martin Prado drove in three runs and the NL East-leading Braves beat the New York Mets 9-3 on Monday night.

Angels get 3 HRs to beat Mariners 5-3  —  SEATTLE—Bobby Abreu, Hideki Matsui, and Peter Bourjos all homered in the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 5-3 Monday night.  —  Ervin Santana (14-9) allowed two runs and eight hits in 7 2-3 innings to win for the sixth time in eight decisions.

Holliday, La Russa take exception to pitch  —  WASHINGTON — Tensions between the Nationals and Cardinals resumed on Sunday in Washington's 4-2 win, even though they never quite boiled over.  —  Cards outfielder Matt Holliday and manager Tony La Russa took exception to a ninth-inning Drew Storen fastball …