Yanks, Nova stymie Rays  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Ivan Nova pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning, Curtis Granderson drove in four runs and the New York Yankees moved within one win of a playoff berth by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0 on Tuesday night.  —  Granderson hit a three-run double …

Sources: A's manager Melvin getting 3-yr deal  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have reached agreement on a three-year contract to keep Bob Melvin as their permanent manager, two people with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Mark Trumbo, Vernon Wells homer as Angels beat Blue Jays 10-6  —  TORONTO - Mark Trumbo hit a three-run homer, Vernon Wells added a solo shot and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-6 on Tuesday night.  —  Trumbo went 2 for 5 with four RBIs and Erick Aybar stole home …

Dodgers' Kershaw beats Giants 2-1 for 20th win  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw impressed just about everybody except himself in becoming the Los Angeles Dodgers ' first 20-game winner in 21 years.  Fittingly, his accomplishment came against a team he has dominated this season.

Rivera congratulated by President of Panama  —  NEW YORK—When the phone rang this time for Mariano Rivera, it wasn't a call to the bullpen.  —  President Ricardo Martinelli of Panama called the New York Yankees closer to congratulate him on his record-setting save, a gesture that Rivera certainly appreciated.

Nationals Sweep Phillies in Day-Night Doubleheader  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ross Detwiler outpitched Cliff Lee by tossing 7 1-3 impressive innings and the Washington Nationals beat the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 on Tuesday night to complete a sweep of their day-night doubleheader.

On the line  —  Making the playoffs is sometimes easy compared to setting a postseason rotation  —  A version of this story appears in the October 3 issue of ESPN The Magazine.  —  FOR MONTHS NOW, New York Yankees fans have been buzzing about October.  With the postseason clearly in reach …

Blame Theo for reeling BoSox's bare staff  —  The Red Sox have the second-worst September record in the American League.  Their wild-card lead is down to an uncomfortable two games.  They are playing an ugly brand of baseball, and even Theo Epstein and Terry Francona (best organization evah!) are taking criticism.

Lasorda to be Dodgers coach on Thursday  —  LOS ANGELES — Hall of Famer Tom Lasorda will serve as an honorary coach Thursday, his 84th birthday and the final home game of the season for the Dodgers.  —  Current manager Don Mattingly made the invitation to Lasorda, whose Dodgers managerial …

Rockies' Jim Tracy will enter 2012 on last year of his contract, GM says  —  Rockies manager Jim Tracy will enter next season in the final year of his contract, and neither he, nor his boss, believe it's an issue.  —  “Jim is signed through next year, and we'd love to have him be manager here for much longer than that.

Glasses stolen off Ernie Harwell statue at Comerica Park in Detroit  —  Someone has stolen a pair of glasses off a statue of late Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell that stands at Comerica Park in Detroit.  —  Columnist Neal Rubin with The Detroit News reports that the team noticed the vandalism …

Holliday hits off a tee, but status remains uncertain  —  ST. LOUIS — Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday was cleared to take light swings off a batting tee this afternoon as general manager John Mozeliak said there is increased “optimism” about the slugger's availability at some point in the remaining week of the regular season.

Final Score: Cardinals 11 Mets 6  —  The New York Mets (73-81) were defeated by the St. Louis Cardinals (85-69) tonight by a score of 11-6.  —  For a complete box score and game recap, check out SNY.TV.  —  The Least You Should Know:  — Mike Pelfrey threw six innings and allowed five runs on ten hits, while striking out two.

Mike Carp has 5 hits, Mariners beat Twins 5-4  —  MINNEAPOLIS - From left field, Mike Carp looked around and saw fellow rookies at third base, shortstop, second base, and center field for the Seattle Mariners.  —  Alex Liddi, Kyle Seager, Dustin Ackley and Trayvon Robinson make up the promising future …

Morton shuts down D-backs in Pirates' 5-3 victory  —  PHOENIX—The Pittsburgh Pirates are making it tough for the Arizona Diamondbacks to wrap things up in the NL West.  —  Charlie Morton allowed three hits in six scoreless innings, one of his best outings of the season …