David Ortiz exits game with back spasms  —  Here's some potentially bad news for the reeling Red Sox.  —  Brian McPherson of the Providence Journal reports that David Ortiz left tonight's game against the Blue Jays due to back spasms.  Ortiz was in the original starting lineup as the designated hitter …

Angels keep pace in West, ride Kendrick's two homers past A's  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Howie Kendrick homered twice, Erick Aybar scored the go-ahead run on a wild throw home in the seventh inning and the Los Angeles Angels picked up a needed and rare win at the Oakland Coliseum, beating the Athletics 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Report: Selig angry Mets took hat flap public  —  New York Mets manager Terry Collins says “hat flap” has become a distraction.  Bud Selig would reportedly take it a step further.  —  The Major League Baseball commissioner called the Mets on Sunday night irate that the Mets had gone public …

Enter 600-man: Mo marks milestone  —  SEATTLE — Yankees closer Mariano Rivera recorded his 600th save on Tuesday, preserving a 3-2 victory over the Mariners at Safeco Field and becoming just the second pitcher in history to reach that plateau.  —  Rivera joins Trevor Hoffman in the 600-save club …

Aaron at the movies: “Moneyball” review  —  Last night I attended an advance screening of the “Moneyball” movie, which is set for a wide release on September 23.  —  I've read Michael Lewis' book twice and consider it some of the best, most important baseball writing of all time …

Verlander earns league-best 23rd win; Tigers beat White Sox  —  CHICAGO — Justin Verlander pitched seven strong innings to earn his major league-best 23rd win and the Detroit Tigers blanked the Chicago White Sox 5-0 on Tuesday night for their 11th consecutive victory.

Barmes' 3-run homer leads Astros over Phillies 5-2  —  HOUSTON—Clint Barmes hit a three-run homer and J.A. Happ pitched six solid innings against his former team as the Houston Astros beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Tuesday night, preventing the Phillies from wrapping up a playoff spot.

Braves call rare meeting to ‘get mojo back’  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Mired in their first four-game losing streak of the season, the Atlanta Braves called a rare team meeting before facing the Florida Marlins.  —  Third baseman Chipper Jones says the meeting Tuesday was “basically a circling of the wagons” …

Phillips homers to back Leake as Reds end three-game skid  —  CINCINNATI, Ohio — Brandon Phillips homered again, hitting a leadoff shot that helped Mike Leake and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 Tuesday night and end a three-game losing streak.  —  Phillips homered for the third time in two games.

HRs by McCann, Uggla Carry Braves Past Marlins 7-1  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Brian McCann and Dan Uggla each hit a three-run homer and the Atlanta Braves snapped their longest losing streak of the season, beating the Florida Marlins 7-1 Tuesday night to end a four-game skid.

La Russa hates losing, loves overmanaging  —  For some reason, the Tony La Russa moment I always remember is his postgame television interview after his Oakland A's got swept by the underdog Cincinnati Reds in the 1990 World Series.  I don't remember the reporter, only that La Russa …

Tigers roaring toward postseason  —  Flaws fixed through trades, Detroit's suddenly the hottest team in the game  —  Stop us if you've heard this line before:  —  In October, it isn't the best team that wins the World Series.  It's the hottest team.  —  Well, if that's true …

Manny Ramirez out of jail after battery charge  —  Former baseball star Manny Ramirez has been released from jail after deputies say he struck his wife during an argument.  —  The 2004 World Series MVP walked out of a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., jail Tuesday after spending the night.