Bombers get major jolt from Joe  —  Skipper shows fire, gets tossed and sparks lethargic Yankees to victory … DETROIT — For those of us inclined to view Joe Girardi as a buttoned-up automaton with red-stitched seams hidden under his crew cut, his colorful exit from Thursday's Yankees-Tigers game might have been his finest hour.

Red Sox Drop 3rd Straight, 5-3 Loss to Indians  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Before his team's game against Cleveland, Boston manager Bobby Valentine expressed confidence that the Red Sox were ready to make a run at the playoffs.  —  Asked why he held that opinion, Valentine said, “We're due.”

Billy Butler helps Royals top O's to spoil Manny Machado's debut  —  BALTIMORE — Billy Butler came within a single of hitting for the cycle, and the Kansas City Royals beat Baltimore 8-2 on Thursday night to end the Orioles' five-game winning streak and take the luster off Manny Machado's impressive major league debut.

Soriano's HR lifts Cubs over slumping Reds 5-3  —  CHICAGO—Alfonso Soriano hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the slumping Cincinnati Reds on a rain-soaked Thursday night.  —  With the score tied at 3 …

Amaro doesn't have many options at third for Phillies in 2013  —  When Ruben Amaro Jr. recently engaged a few of his rival general managers in discussions, the topic of third base arose, and they all reached one conclusion: It is a difficult position to fill.  —  “Somebody's going to play there,” Amaro said.

Moore sharp for six as Rays sweep Blue Jays  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Matt Moore pitched six sharp innings and Jose Lobaton drove in three runs as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 Thursday for a three-game sweep.  —  Tampa Bay has won 16 straight series against Toronto at Tropicana Field.

Playoffs open with inaugural Wild Card games Oct. 5  —  Major League Baseball on Thursday announced the schedule for its revamped postseason, which will open on Friday, Oct. 5, with the inaugural Wild Card games and run through the 108th World Series, set to get under way on Wednesday, Oct. 24.

Dodgers' Abreu accepts assignment to minors  —  Bobby Abreu has cleared waivers and accepted a minor-league assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the veteran outfielder's agent said Thursday.  —  The Dodgers designated Abreu for assignment last week to create a spot on the roster …

Votto progresses, but sore after sliding practice  —  CHICAGO — The projected return timetable for injured Reds first baseman Joey Votto remains uncertain, but he continues to make strides ... literally in this case.  —  Votto, who tore the medial meniscus in his left knee on June 29 …