Firing Bobby Valentine won't fix the Red Sox  —  Let's say the Red Sox had decided last winter that they just weren't ready for Bobby Valentine as manager and hired Gene Lamont instead.  —  Do you really think they would be 10 games over .500 instead of one game under?  —  Because that's who the alternative was.

Yankees shut down Manny Banuelos  —  The New York Yankees' top pitching prospect, Manny Banuelos, will not pitch again this year after throwing in six games all season, the team's vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman told ESPN New York on Monday.  —  “He's not going to be back this season,” Newman said.

Twins score 10 runs in second inning, rout Indians  —  CLEVELAND — Justin Morneau homered twice and drove in four runs, Joe Mauer had three RBIs and Ryan Doumit hit a three-run homer to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 14-3 victory over Cleveland on Monday night, the Indians' 10th straight loss.

Cubs' Garza out indefinitely with stress reaction  —  Cubs starter Matt Garza is out indefinitely with stress reaction in the back of his elbow, but no decision has been yet about the rest of his season.  —  Obviously the season has 55 games remaining, so it would seem as though the Cubs …

Next contract should be lucrative for Lohse  —  ST. LOUIS — Kyle Lohse maintains that he's not thinking much beyond 2012, a season in which he believes he can help lead the Cardinals back to the postseason.  If he did, however, Lohse would certainly find himself to be among the most attractive free-agent pitchers.

Padres sold to group headed by O'Malley heirs, Fowler, Mickelson  —  It took longer than expected, but the sale of the Padres to a group headed by heirs of the former owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego business and civic leader Ron Fowler and professional golfer Phil Mickelson was completed Monday night.

Tillman leads Orioles past Mariners 3-1  —  BALTIMORE—Chris Tillman took a three-hit shutout into the eighth inning to extend a run of successful starts by Baltimore pitchers, and the Orioles beat Jason Vargas and the Seattle Mariners 3-1 on Monday night.  —  Nick Markakis homered …

Yankees Pettitte, A-Rod slowly healing  —  The brittle Yankees are still a long way from being whole, but they are getting closer.  —  Both Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez received positive news after recent X-rays.  Mariano Rivera, though, remains out for the year.

Sheets solid as streaking Braves bump Phillies  —  Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  —  Recap  —  Box Score  —  Play-By-Play  —  Photos  —  Conversation  —  Ben Sheets improves to 4-1 as Braves coast past Phillies  —  PHILADELPHIA — Ben Sheets pitched …

Sale pitches eight solid innings as White Sox beat Royals  —  CHICAGO — Paul Konerko and Gordon Beckham homered late, Chris Sale pitched eight solid innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Monday night.  —  Konerko tied it leading off the seventh and Beckham gave …

Verlander ties career high with 14 Ks, Tigers down Yankees  —  DETROIT — Justin Verlander matched a career high with 14 strikeouts and got home-run support from Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera, leading the Detroit Tigers over the New York Yankees 7-2 Monday night.

Rockies' Todd Helton out for season, bound for surgery on hip  —  Todd Helton's season is over.  —  The Rockies' veteran first baseman will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip.  The surgery, to be performed Friday, marks the end of Helton's 15th full season in the major leagues.