Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Valentine shuffles rotation leading into All-Star break — OAKLAND — Manager Bobby Valentine made some adjustments to his pitching rotation, bumping Aaron Cook up to Wednesday, when he will pitch the finale of this seven-game road trip against the Oakland Athletics.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Germano joins Red Sox bullpen — OAKLAND — The Red Sox will purchase the contract of Justin Germano today. The 29-year-old righthander was 9-4 with a 2.40 earned run average in 17 games (16 starts) for Triple A Pawtucket. — In 105 innings, Germano allowed only 82 hits and 13 walks while striking out 72.
Discussion:
the joy of sox
Jimmy Durkin / ESPN:
Red Sox place Matsuzaka (neck) on 15-day DL
Red Sox place Matsuzaka (neck) on 15-day DL
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and baseballmusings.com
Fox Sports:
Giants must address Lincecum's woes — WASHINGTON, DC — The San Francisco Giants are the new National League West frontrunner. They are in first place. They have the division's most balanced roster. As Pablo Sandoval fan club president Sandy Alderson could tell you, they boast the most All-Star starters of any NL team.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Cruz steals home on suicide-squeeze try, Dodgers beat Reds — LOS ANGELES — Luis Cruz doubled home the go-ahead run in his second game with the Dodgers and stole home on the next pitch, leading Los Angeles to a 3-1 victory over Johnny Cueto and the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.
Discussion:
True Blue LA and Associated Press
RELATED:
Ramona Shelburne / ESPN:
Dodgers' Todd Coffey out for season — LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Todd Coffey will miss the rest of the season with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that will require Tommy John surgery. — Coffey — Coffey was roughed up for two runs in the eighth inning …
Discussion:
ESPN and HardballTalk
MLB:
Ozzie erupts in profanity-laced rant after loss … Heath Bell's latest blown save led to Ozzie Guillen's latest blowup. — In an attempt to divert attention from the embattled Bell, Guillen unleashed a profanity-laced tirade Tuesday following the Miami Marlins' heartbreaking 13-12 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, CBSSports.com Sports News …, HardballTalk and Baseball Prospectus
Fox Sports:
Never underestimate Cardinals GM — A few weeks back, a high-ranking Cardinals official said that the team's strategy at the July 31 non-waiver deadline would hinge largely on the health of right-hander Chris Carpenter. — Well, that strategy is now defined.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Associated Press:
Sutton's Walkoff HR Lifts Pirates to 8-7 Win — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Drew Sutton hit a one-out solo homer in the bottom of the ninth and the Pittsburgh Pirates improved to eight games over .500 for the first time in 20 years with an 8-7 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Bucs Dugout and Yahoo! Sports
Mperri / MetsBlog.com:
Final Score: Mets 11 Phillies 1 — The Mets (44-37) defeated the Phillies (36-46) by the score of 11-1 tonight at Citi Field. … For a full recap and box score, check out SNY's In-Game Live. — Meredith Perri: Just about everything went right for the Mets tonight.
Discussion:
The Good Phight, Amazin' Avenue and Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Orioles slip past Mariners 5-4 — SEATTLE—Robert Andino homered in the ninth off Seattle reliever Charlie Furbush to give the Baltimore Orioles a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night after starter Wei-Yin Chen flirted with a perfect game for more than six innings.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and Associated Press
Associated Press:
Twins top Tigers for season-high fifth win in a row — DETROIT — Josh Willingham and Trevor Plouffe hit homers in a five-run third and Ryan Doumit had a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, lifting the Minnesota Twins to an 8-6 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
Charles Odum / Associated Press:
Volstad loses again as Cubs fall to Braves 10-3 — ATLANTA—The Chicago Cubs hoped Chris Volstad would return from the minors a better pitcher, more mature and better equipped to avoid big innings. — Instead, Volstad gave up five runs in the fifth as Chipper Jones had five hits and drove …
Discussion:
Talking Chop

