Zimmerman's homer lifts Nationals to 2-1 win vs Padres  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — With 33-year-old Edwin Jackson mostly frustrating the San Diego Padres for seven innings, Ryan Zimmerman and the rest of the Washington Nationals figured out a way to win on just four hits.

Jose Abreu steps in after White Sox rookie Reynaldo Lopez tries to pitch through soreness  —  White Sox manager Rick Renteria on removing Reynaldo Lopez from Thursday's game against the Rangers with right side soreness on Aug. 17, 2017.  (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Red Sox owner John Henry wants to rename Yawkey Way for David Ortiz  —  Retired Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz is honored with the renaming of a portion of Yawkey Way to David Ortiz Drive outside Fenway Park in Boston on June 22.  (Charles Krupa / Associated Press)

Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez ‘not going to sit there and complain’ about playing time  —  With the Los Angeles Dodgers in the midst of a historic season, it's easy to forget that the team's opening day first baseman has barely played this year.  —  Adrian Gonzalez hasn't played since June 11 due …

Toronto Blue Jays escape Tampa Bay Rays  —  TORONTO — Justin Smoak hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning, Josh Donaldson hit two solo homers and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Thursday.  —  Smoak hit his 33rd homer of the season with one out against Tommy Hunter (2-4) after Donaldson walked.

What You Need to Know  —  Engel in the Outfield  —  The Thursday Takeaway  —  There were 38,675 fans in attendance at Wrigley Field for the final game of a four-game series between the Reds and Cubs, and I'd imagine that two or three times that many people would've claimed …

County on Marlins home run sculpture: ‘It is not movable.’ (Also, the mayor doesn't like it.)  —  The kitschy home-run sculpture at Marlins Park can't be removed by Derek Jeter or anyone else who might buy the team, according to its owner: Miami-Dade County.

Twins avoid sweep, split doubleheader with Game 2 win  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aaron Slegers calmly took the mound for Minnesota in his major league debut and helped the Twins beat Cleveland at home for the first time all season.  —  Then the emotion came, when he left the field to a standing ovation in the seventh inning.

Steven Matz knocked out early, Luis Severino dominates as Yankees win 7-5 to sweep Mets  —  The Yankees finished off a Subway sweep of the Mets on Thursday night in this four-game, two-borough series thanks to the Kraken.  —  Gary Sanchez powered the Bronx Bombers to the club's second-ever …

Arizona Diamondbacks ride Patrick Corbin for split with Houston Astros  —  HOUSTON — Patrick Corbin came within an out of his first complete game in nearly four years, scattering four hits in 8 2/3 innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks earned a split of their four-game, home-and-home interleague series …

Always a Raven  —  The word explode is what got my attention.  —  It's just not a word you ever expect to hear from a doctor.  —  I'm sitting there, kind of dozing off.  You know how a doctor's office can put you to sleep?  Everything's white, it's quiet, kind of cold.

Tonight's lineup: Odubel Herrera sits again; struggling Tommy Joseph slides  —  The Phillies will be without their best hitter for a third straight game.  —  Because of a nagging left hamstring, Odubel Herrera is not in the lineup Thursday night when the Phillies kick off a four-game series against the Giants at AT&T Park.

Kris Bryant: Joey Votto is ‘the best player ever’  —  In the midst of arguably his best career season, Reds first baseman Joey Votto received the highest of praises from reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant.  —  “He's the best player ever,” Bryant said Wednesday, per CSN Chicago.

Giants bats cool off baseball's hottest pitcher  —  No one is going to mistake the San Francisco Giants for the 1927 New York Yankees these days.  Well, no one other than baseball's hottest pitcher, that is.  —  Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola should be excused if he left …