McMahon HR replacing ailing Arenado, Rockies top Dodgers 5-4  —  DENVER (AP) As he rounded first base, Ryan McMahon turned back toward his teammates in the dugout, hollered and emphatically clapped twice.  —  It was just the emotion shining through.  —  McMahon hit a two-run homer …

Giants beat Pirates in a wild one, 13-10  —  The Giants were playing some of their worst ball of the year when manager Bruce Bochy decided to rely more heavily on his veteran hitters.  —  So on July 29, he stacked four of them at the top of his lineup, batting Andrew McCutchen first …

Explaining their decisions to the public should be second nature for umpires  —  Chicago Tribune  —  After greeting a pool reporter knocking on the door of the umpires room Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, Bill Miller explained his call ruling Willson Contreras out for interference …

Red Sox hit 3 HRs, erase 5-run deficit and top Orioles 19-12  —  BALTIMORE (AP) Down five runs in the third inning?  Hardly a challenge for the Boston Red Sox, who quickly wiped out the deficit with a display of patience and power.  —  Xander Bogaerts and Andrew Benintendi each hit three-run homers …

Martinez trying to right Nationals' ship in time to make the playoffs  —  Time is running out for the Washington Nationals to deliver on the mission Dave Martinez was hired to achieve.  The Nationals have spent most of the season chasing the top spot in the National League East and are currently …

Cruz's double in 8th helps Mariners beat Astros 5-2  —  Nelson Cruz hit a tiebreaking two-run double in a three-run eighth inning to lift the Seattle Mariners a 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night.  —  HOUSTON (AP) - Nelson Cruz hit a tiebreaking two-run double …

Next Slide  —  ATLANTA - After a crushing loss Thursday afternoon to end a disappointing home series, this was not the way the Milwaukee Brewers hoped to open a long, important road trip.  —  The Atlanta Braves hit starter Freddy Peralta harder than any opponent in his rookie season and cruised …

Blake Snell superb in Rays rout of Blue Jays  —  TORONTO — Blake Snell took the idea of quality over quantity to the next level on Friday night in Toronto, throwing five perfect innings on just 47 pitches.  —  That puts Snell in rare company, as he becomes just the fourth pitcher in the live-ball era …

Nix pitches six strong innings in major league debut  —  SAN DIEGO  —  Jacob Nix pitched six strong innings in his major league debut and the San Diego Padres beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 on Friday night.  —  Nix (1-0) got off to a rocky start.  He stranded three runners after a pair …

Daniel Palka leads off 9th with homer, Chicago White Sox beat Cleveland Indians 1-0  —  The loss spoiled another great outing by Tribe rookie Shane Bieber, who allowed just three hits in 6.2 innings, while striking out eight.  —  CHICAGO (AP) - Daniel Palka led off the ninth inning with a home run …

Next Slide  —  Ron Gardenhire had a question for Nicholas Castellanos.  —  It was in the middle of the eighth inning, after Castellanos made perhaps the best defensive play of his young right field career, leaping into the corner to make an outstanding catch to end the inning.

What Matz's imminent return could mean for the Mets' rotation  —  MIAMI — The Mets' rotation could become a six-pack within the next week.  —  With rookie Corey Oswalt pitching at a respectable level and Steven Matz potentially on the verge of coming off the disabled list …

Angels place Mike Trout on the 10-day disabled list  —  Before swinging a bat Thursday, Mike Trout attempted to exude confidence in regards to his inflamed right wrist.  —  “I was trying to convince myself it was getting better,” he said Friday.  “But it was still pretty painful.”

Aroldis Chapman's dip in velocity a red flag, but Aaron Boone doesn't believe it's an injury concern  —  Austin Romine knew it didn't feel right.  The Yankees catcher looked up at the video board and saw that Aroldis Chapman's fastball was coming in at 95 miles an hour and went into “emergency mode.”

Rangers rookie enjoys historic, magical night with his dad watching for the first time  —  NEW YORK  —  Manuel Guzman had never seen his son Ronald play a professional baseball game, let alone a major league game.  —  He's not thrilled about flying so traveling from the Dominican Republic was an issue.

Column: Sorry, Jayson Werth, but ‘super nerds’ are here to stay in baseball  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Jayson Werth was a slightly above-average outfielder who made more than $136 million during his 15-year career despite never driving in 100 runs and making only one All-Star appearance.

Carlos Santana's leadership has kept Phillies strumming right along in playoff push  —  SAN DIEGO — On a recent Friday night at Citizens Bank Park, with the Phillies leading the Miami Marlins by four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, rookie reliever Seranthony Dominguez gave …