PLAYERS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT PAPELBON IN DUST-UP WITH HARPER … Baseball writers and bloggers hate Jonathan Papelbon, at least most do.  They hate him because he's gruff, cocky and obtuse.  He's that jock bully from high school who even as adults we can't seem to forgive.

Cardinals Inch Closer to NL Central Title, Top Pirates 3-0  —  PITTSBURGH — Matt Carpenter raced home to break a scoreless tie in the ninth inning when two Pittsburgh Pirates outfielders mishandled Jon Jay's single, and Mark Reynolds followed with a two-run homer to lift the banged-up St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-0 win on Monday night.

Denorfia's HR in 11th Gives Cubs 1-0 Win Over Royals  —  CHICAGO — Chris Denorfia hit a pinch-hit home run leading off the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.  —  Denorfia hit the first pitch from reliever Miguel Almonte …

Greinke, Dodgers Denied NL West as Giants Win 3-2 in 12  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Zack Greinke, for one, has little concern about the Los Angeles Dodgers closing out another NL West crown soon.  —  Greinke and the division-leading Dodgers were denied a playoff-clinching party for at least another day …

Verlander, Collins Lead Tigers Past Slumping Rangers 7-4  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Justin Verlander allowed one run in six innings, and Tyler Collins' three-run home run sparked a five-run fifth as the Detroit Tigers beat Texas 7-4 on Monday night, handing the Rangers their third straight loss.

Carter, McCullers Lead Astros to 3-2 Win Over Mariners  —  SEATTLE — Chris Carter drove in the go-ahead run with Houston's third solo homer, rookie Lance McCullers pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Astros enhanced their position in a crowded AL playoff race with their 3-2 victory …

Milone Starts for Ill Hughes, Pitches Twins Past Indians 4-2  —  CLEVELAND — Emergency starter Tommy Milone replaced an ill Phil Hughes and pitched the Minnesota Twins past the Cleveland Indians 4-2 on Monday night in a game crucial to the wild-card chances of both clubs.

Mariners notebook: Search for general manager could be in final stages … ANAHEIM, CALIF.  —  Increasing signs point to the Mariners hiring a new general manager in the near future.  —  One source close to the process said an announcement could come as soon as Monday.

Angels Rally Past A's in 9th for Their 6th Straight Win, 5-4  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Pinch-hitter David Murphy drove a bases-loaded single into left field to end it, and the Los Angeles Angels kept the pressure on in the AL wild-card race with their sixth consecutive victory, 5-4 over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night.

Boston Rookie E-Rod Halts Yanks' Playoff Push for 10th Win  —  NEW YORK — Eduardo Rodriguez became the first Red Sox rookie left-hander to win 10 games in 43 years, and Boston slowed the New York Yankees' march toward a postseason berth with a 5-1 victory Monday night.

Blue Jays Rally Past Orioles 4-3  —  BALTIMORE — The Toronto Blue Jays edged closer to clinching the AL East title Monday night, getting a homer from Edwin Encarnacion and scoring a ninth-inning run to secure a 4-3 comeback victory over the Baltimore Orioles.