Top News:
Associated Press:
Harang Pitches Dodgers Past Hometown Padres, 8-1 — SAN DIEGO (AP) — Aaron Harang held his former team to four hits in seven shutout innings and had one of Los Angeles' 12 hits as the Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 8-1 Thursday night to split a two-game series.
Discussion:
True Blue LA and Yahoo! Sports
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NBCSports.com:
Jays drop Yankees into 4th — TORONTO (AP) - Jose Bautista and J.P. Arencibia each hit two-run home runs, Drew Hutchison won consecutive starts for the first time and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 4-1 Thursday night, sweeping their two-game series.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
RELATED:
Canadian Press:
Blue Jays demote Adam Lind
Blue Jays demote Adam Lind
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, MLB Daily Dish, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and Yahoo! Sports
Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Blue Jays send struggling Lind to Minors
Blue Jays send struggling Lind to Minors
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
ESPN:
Source: Cubs' Kerry Wood retiring — Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood will retire on Friday, a source familiar with the situation told ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine. — Wood, 34, is 0-2 with a 8.64 ERA and has been battling health issues all season. — Wood is best-known for his 20-strikeout …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and NESN.com
Robert Falkoff / MLB.com:
Wieters earns break after marathon duty — KANSAS CITY — Orioles manager Buck Showalter had a preliminary plan to pencil in Matt Wieters as his starting catcher on Thursday. But the plan changed after Wieters worked 15 innings in a 4-3 win over the Royals on Wednesday night.
Discussion:
Camden Chat and Yahoo! Sports
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Bruce Markusen / Hardball Times:
Cooperstown Confidential: The tale of Charley Lau — Mickey Hatcher had become a polarizing figure in Southern California. The Angels' manager, Mike Scioscia, felt fierce loyalty to his batting coach, who had worked with him for the past 13 seasons. Many in the organization liked Hatcher's sense …
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Interleague Play set to add intrigue to season — When Jeff Samardzija throws the first pitch for the Cubs in their Friday afternoon game against the White Sox at Wrigley Field, it will signify a powerful and memorable moment for Major League Baseball in 2012: the return of Interleague Play.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Associated Press:
Lowrie, Happ Lead Astros Past Brewers 4-0 — HOUSTON (AP) — Jed Lowrie hit a two-run homer and J.A. Happ threw six sharp innings before three relievers completed the Houston Astros' 4-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night. — The win wrapped up a two-game sweep for the Astros, who took the opener 8-3.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Fox Sports:
Chapman to stay in Reds 'pen for now — NEW YORK — One day, the Reds promise, left-hander Aroldis Chapman will be a starting pitcher. But it can't happen yet, not when two of the team's top setup men remain on the disabled list. And not everyone with the team is certain it should happen it all.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
McCutchen, McDonald lead Pirates over Nats 5-3 — WASHINGTON—James McDonald had a nasty curveball Thursday night, and the Washington Nationals couldn't lay off. — McDonald took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and struck out a career-high 11, and the Pittsburgh Pirates got two home runs from Andrew McCutchen in a 5-3 victory.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and Associated Press
Nick Collias / MLB Rumors:
Venezuelan Links: Mora, Escobar, Cervelli — A trio of venezolanos try to claw their way back to la gran carpa. Yes, that literally translates to “the big carp,” but it also means “the big top.” Links are in Spanish... - Melvin Mora will fly to the states this weekend to begin negotiations …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Associated Press:
Beachy Throws Shutout, Braves Beat Marlins 7-0 — ATLANTA (AP) — Brandon Beachy improved his major-league best ERA with a couple of career milestones and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 7-0 Thursday night. — Beachy (5-1) threw a five-hit shutout, the first of his career, in the first complete game of his career.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Talking Chop
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Mets fan arrested for trespassing ... for moving to a better seat — My friends and I call it “trading up.” You've done it before. Don't lie. A little late in a game. House only half full. You move down to better seats. No harm, no foul. — Unless you're in Citi Field, where it's a criminal trespassing beef.
Discussion:
NY Daily News
Pat Graham / Associated Press:
Upton's 2-run homer lifts D-backs to 9-7 win — DENVER—Justin Upton hit a two-out, two-run homer off closer Rafael Betancourt in the ninth inning to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 9-7 on Thursday in a game that was briefly delayed by a swarm of bees.