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.”

Mets roster lacks building blocks  —  Mets on Twitter  —  This was always a season of discovery for the Mets.  —  Sure, upper management wanted to sell hope in spring because, well, which organization doesn't — particularly among those in financial distress?

Red Sox Sign Dedgar Jimenez For $175,000  —  The Red Sox have signed Dedgar Jimenez, a 16-year-old Venezuelan lefthander, for $175,000.  —  Jimenez has an extra-large, David Wells-type frame listed at 6-foot-3, 254 pounds.  He has represented Venezuela at international youth tournaments since he was 10 …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …