Duda backs Dickey, lifts Mets with late RBI … PITTSBURGH — Lucas Duda smacked a go-ahead RBI-single in the top of the eighth in support of starter R.A. Dickey and the New York Mets edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on Tuesday night.  —  Dickey (6-1) struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings …

Harper Hell  —  Bryce Harper singled in the first and tripled in two runs in the third off Roy Halladay, the latter hit giving the Nationals a 2-1 lead over the Phillies.  He has four hits in the two games against the Phillies, making Thomas Boswell look prescient: … He's giving Halladay hell tonight.

Final: Orioles 4, Red Sox 1  —  Game over  —  The Red Sox - Pedroia, Ortiz and Gonzalez - go down in order against sinker-balling reliever Jim Johnson, who earned his 16th save.  The game was played before 25.171 in 2:57.  Brian Matusz improved to 4-4 and Felix Doubront fell to 4-2.

Rockies' owner says he still supports Jim Tracy, GM Dan O'Dowd  —  The Colorado Rockies have stumbled to one of the worst starts in team history, but owner Dick Monfort said today that he will not fire manager Jim Tracy or general manager Dan O'Dowd.  —  “I have had people get in my face and say …

Reds' Aroldis Chapman sued for $18M over Cuban conviction  —  MIAMI (AP) — A major league pitcher who defected from Cuba is being sued for $18 million by a Cuban-American man imprisoned on the communist island.  —  The lawsuit was filed recently in Miami federal court against Aroldis Chapman …

White Sox put 3B Morel on DL, sign INF Hudson … CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox placed third baseman Brent Morel on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday and signed infielder Orlando Hudson to a one-year contract.  —  Morel sat out the White Sox's weekend series against the Chicago Cubs due to lumbar back strain.

David Ortiz blasts naysayers  —  Red Sox slugger bristles at suggestions he's not leader in clubhouse … BALTIMORE — For David Ortiz, this may be one of the lasting scars from September's collapse, that the Boston Red Sox clubhouse was portrayed as a place where there were few, if any, leaders to be found.

Discussion: Should the Mets send Ike Davis to the minors?  —  In 40 games this season, Ike Davis is hitting .161 (22-for-137) with four doubles, five home runs, 15 RBI with ten walks and 41 strikeouts.  —  On Sunday, Terry Collins suggested Davis could be sent to the minor leagues, telling reporters “There is nothing etched in stone.

Cubs lose 7th straight game  —  HOUSTON — Forget about a win.  What does a team have to do to get a lead?  —  With Matt Garza turning in his worst start in the National League, it probably wouldn't have mattered if Tony Campana had scored after stealing second and third base in the first inning Monday night.

How scouts use formulas to evaluate tools  —  Scouts are often asked what they look for when evaluating players?  Actually, there's much more than meets the eye.  —  The recipe for predicting baseball player success includes a dash of conjecture mixed with a hefty portion of evaluative expertise, topped with a big helping of luck.

Lucky fan snags balls on back-to-back homers … CINCINNATI — What's more unusual than a team hitting back-to-back homers?  How about one fan catching both of them.  —  That's what Caleb Lloyd did on Monday night at Great American Ball Park.  —  The 20-year-old junior from Thomas …

Groin tightness forces Braun to exit  —  MILWAUKEE — After grounding out to end the bottom of the 10th inning Monday against the Giants, Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun left the game with tightness in his right groin.  —  Nyjer Morgan replaced Braun in left field in the top of the 11th with the game tied at 3.

Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Arrested After Traffic Stop  —  GROVE CITY, Ohio — Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman was arrested after he was caught driving 93 mph in Grove City early Monday, police said.  —  Police said Chapman, 24, was pulled over after he was recorded speeding …