Cardinals hold on to beat Phillies, Halladay  —  PHILADELPHIA — If the Cardinals are still looking for omens, Kyle Lohse delivered one Monday night.  —  Paired against last season's unanimous choice for the National League Cy Young Award, Lohse offered the more compelling performance …

Boston splits set with Orioles; wild-card lead at two games  —  BOSTON — Jacoby Ellsbury hit an inside-the-park homer and Conor Jackson added a grand slam to cap a much-needed offensive outburst that helped the Boston Red Sox split their doubleheader with the Baltimore Orioles on Monday and stop …

As goes Vernon Wells, so goes Vernon Wells' Twitter account  —  Last night, I stumbled across Vernon Wells' “too blessed to be stressed” tweet.  It was a relic from a simpler, more optimistic time, when no matter how badly Vernon Wells was hitting we could reassure ourselves that the sample size …

His pitchers decision: They shouldn't win MVP award  —  It's a “you wanna step outside?” issue in Detroit.  The Big Meanies out there in the Great Beyond are going to deprive Justin Verlander of his rightful American League Most Valuable Player award.  —  The Tigers righthander has been the best pitcher in baseball this year.

Carp's 5 RBIs Lead Mariners Past Indians 12-6  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Mike Carp hit a grand slam into the second deck in right field and drove in five runs during Seattle's nine-run third inning, leading the Mariners to a rain-shortened 12-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Monday.

Kerry Wood out for 2011, may retire … CHICAGO — Cubs relief pitcher Kerry Wood said he has a torn meniscus in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season, and he said if the Cubs aren't interested in bringing him back next season he'll retire.  —  “I'm not going to play anywhere else,” Wood said.

Yankees' Rivera sets MLB mark with 602nd save  —  NEW YORK — It's been said again and again over his 16-year career.  And now it's official: Mariano Rivera is the top closer in baseball history.  —  Rivera  —  The seemingly ageless right-hander recorded his 602nd career save on Monday …

Kennedy Wins 20th, Diamondbacks Beat Pirates 1-0  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Ian Kennedy pitched eight dominant innings to become the NL's first 20-game winner, Justin Upton hit a broken-bat homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks moved a step closer to their first NL West title in four years with a 1- victory …

Defensive Letdowns Prove Costly for Angels in Loss  —  TORONTO (AP) — After two costly mistakes, the Los Angeles Angels needed a perfect play to save the game.  For once, their typically sparkling defense wasn't up to the task.  —  Adam Lind drove in the winning run with a grounder …

The current favorites for Fielder … Brewers star first baseman Prince Fielder is generally considered one of the three mega free agents of the 2011-12 offseason, along with Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes.  But so far Fielder's impending free agency hasn't garnered quite the publicity as the other two.

Mariners add Joe McIlvaine to front office  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Former major league general manager Joe McIlvaine was hired as a special assistant to Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik on Monday.  —  The Mariners announced the move in Seattle, shortly after beating the Cleveland Indians 12-6 …

Soto's two homers lead Cubs to win over Brewers  —  CHICAGO — Geovany Soto hit two two-run homers and drove in all the Chicago Cubs' runs in a 5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.  —  The loss and the St. Louis Cardinals' win over Philadelphia kept the Brewers' magic number for clinching the NL Central at four.

Agent: Giants could be in mix for Carlos Beltran  —  OAKLAND, Calif.—Agent Scott Boras says slugger Carlos Beltran is happy playing in San Francisco and might consider returning to the Giants beyond this season.  —  Boras plans to have lunch with his client on Tuesday in Los Angeles …