Top News:
Associated Press:
Sale Pitches 1st Complete Game, Chisox Top Seattle — CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Sale pitched a five-hitter for his first major league complete game and the Chicago White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 Sunday for their 10th win in 11 tries. — Sale (7-2) struck out eight and walked two.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Lookout Landing, South Side Sox, baseballmusings.com, ESPN and Associated Press
RELATED:
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
South Side seat syndrome —There are certain things you can count on happening every spring. The temperatures heating up. People mowing their green lawns. Birds returning from their southern migration. — And the Chicago White Sox urging fans to show up in greater numbers to U. S. Cellular Field.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Niese strikes out career-high 10, Mets beat Cards — NEW YORK—Jonathon Niese struck out a career-high 10 in six scoreless innings and the New York Mets shut down the slumping St. Louis Cardinals for the third straight game, getting a homer and three RBIs from rookie Kirk Nieuwenhuis in a 6-1 victory Sunday night.
Discussion:
ESPN, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Dodgers, Phillies, D-Backs head list of teams with early interest in Youkilis — The Dodgers, Phillies and Diamondbacks are among teams showing early interest in longtime Red Sox star Kevin Youkilis, according to people familiar with the situation. — Although one Red Sox person called talks …
Discussion:
NESN.com and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / The Boston Globe:
As MLB trade deadline nears, buyers and sellers will be sorted out
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Getting Blanked, Boston Globe and HardballTalk
John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Kevin Youkilis too good to give away
Kevin Youkilis too good to give away
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and MLB Rumors
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Bill Maher owns stake in Mets — NEW YORK — Political commentator Bill Maher, the host of HBO's “Real Time,” had VIP treatment Sunday night at Citi Field, including an escort from New York Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon during batting practice. — Maher — The access came with good reason.
Discussion:
New York Times, New Jersey Online, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Diamond, Twins Top Indians 5-3 to Win Series — CLEVELAND (AP) — Scott Diamond allowed three unearned runs over seven innings as the surging Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Indians 5-3 Sunday. — Joe Mauer hit an RBI single in the first off Justin Masterson (2-5).
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, Let's Go Tribe, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Alfonso Soriano open to being traded to contender — Alfonso Soriano constantly is reminded by his legs about how little time he might have left in baseball. — If that wasn't bad enough, the standings constantly remind him about how his chances of winning a World Series ring are diminishing.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Josh Dubow / Associated Press:
Zito throws gem for win 150 as Giants nip Cubs 2-0 — SAN FRANCISCO—Barry Zito pitched 8 1-3 scoreless innings for his 150th career win and Joaquin Arias snapped an 18 at-bat hitless stretch with an RBI single that led the San Francisco Giants to a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Astros End Skid With 5-3 Win Over Reds — HOUSTON (AP) — Jordan Lyles pitched seven strong innings and pinch-hitter Justin Maxwell had a two-run homer to lead the Houston Astros to a 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, snapping a season-worst eight-game skid.
Discussion:
Associated Press, boston.stats.com, The Crawfish Boxes and Red Reporter
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
10th anniversary: the Moneyball draft — Ten years ago today, one of the most famous drafts in baseball history occurred. It's not so famous for the spectacular level of talent in it. Oh, there was talent, but that's true of all drafts. No, this was the draft made famous because of its depiction in a bestseller.
NBCSports.com:
Zambrano does it all in Marlins' win — PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Carlos Zambrano homered and pitched into the eighth inning, and Hanley Ramirez went deep, too, to lead the Miami Marlins to a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. — Zambrano (4-3) allowed four hits …
Discussion:
The Good Phight, Fish Stripes and Associated Press
Associated Press:
B.J. Upton, Moore help Rays beat Baltimore — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—B.J. Upton hit a tiebreaking two-run double, Matt Moore won for the first time after losing four straight decisions and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-4 on Sunday. — Upton gave the Rays a 4-2 lead …
Discussion:
DRaysBay, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports

