Coco Crisp snaps out of slump as A's stop skid at 5  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland Athletics leadoff hitter Coco Crisp tinkered with his swing for a few days and finally got the results he had been looking for.  —  That is critical for a team trying to hang on in the American League West …

Cardinals edge Reds with walk-off HBP in 9th inning  —  ST. LOUIS — Jon Jay was hit by a pitch from J.J. Hoover with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.  —  Matt Holliday drew a leadoff walk to start the winning rally.

Pirates activate Andrew McCutchen from the disabled list  —  Andrew McCutchen is off the disabled list and back in the Pirates' lineup after missing the minimum 15 days with a fractured rib.  —  McCutchen actually remained on the active roster for most of that time before the Pirates finally shut …

Carter's three-run homer in ninth leads Astros over Yankees  —  NEW YORK, N.Y. - Chris Carter snapped a ninth-inning tie with a colossal three-run homer, extending his second-half power surge and sending the Houston Astros to a 7-4 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.

Yanks notes: Passing on Cuban star Castillo  —  Pass on Castillo  —  The Yankees have ended any pursuit of Cuban outfielder/second baseman Rusney Castillo, according to an industry source.  Castillo's power-and-speed element has him linked to interest by several other clubs …

Infante has three doubles, Royals rally late to beat Rockies  —  DENVER - Omar Infante had three doubles and drove in four runs to help the streaking Kansas City Royals beat the Colorado Rockies 7-4 on Tuesday night.  —  James Shields pitched six solid innings to get the win for the Royals …

Labourt strikes out nine in win for Vancouver  —  Left-hander Jairo Labourt, the Blue Jays' No. 16 prospect, struck out a career-high nine batters in six scoreless innings on Tuesday as Class A Short Season Vancouver defeated Boise, 2-0.  —  Labourt scattered seven hits and one walk.

PHILADELPHIA — The Mariners gave Hisashi Iwakuma an early lead and the pitcher took it from there.  —  Iwakuma struck out a season-high 11 batters in eight scoreless innings and Kyle Seager homered to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

Tigers Score 3 in 11th, Top Rays 8-6  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Victor Martinez drew a tiebreaking bases-loaded walk during a three-run 11th inning and the Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-6 on Tuesday night.  —  Ian Kinsler opened the 11th with a triple off Grant Balfour (1-5) …

Giants-Cubs called after 4.5-hour delay  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs were declared 2-0 winners over the San Francisco Giants in 4½ innings on Tuesday night after it was determined Wrigley Field was unplayable after a 4 hour, 34 minute rain delay.  —  As the Giants came to bat …

Braves Jump on Liriano in 11-3 Win Over Pirates  —  PITTSBURGH — Justin Upton smashed his 24th home run of the season to spoil Andrew McCutchen's return as the Atlanta Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-3 on Tuesday night.  —  Upton's three-run homer off Francisco Liriano (3-10) in the third broke things open early.

Astros' Jose Altuve Doesn't Let Height Be a Disadvantage  —  The Houston Astros may be the most data-driven organization in baseball, or at least the one most willing to try new ideas.  Yet there are no statistical models that would project the smallest player in the majors to be the game's best hitter.

Mets make it five straight games with four or fewer hits in loss to Cubs … The way the Mets have been struggling at the plate lately, a deficit must feel as hopeless as trying to swiftly navigate New York City rush-hour traffic.  —  For the fifth straight game, they were held to four or fewer hits.