Peralta, Scherzer lead Tigers over Blue Jays  —  TORONTO — Jhonny Peralta hit a three-run homer and Max Scherzer threw eight strong innings as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 on Thursday.  —  Gerald Laird also went deep with a two-run shot for the Tigers (64-64) …

Pujols hits 400th, but Nats top Cards 11-10 in 13  —  WASHINGTON—Ian Desmond singled home Nyjer Morgan in the bottom of the 13th inning and the Washington Nationals overcame Albert Pujols' 400th home run Thursday night in an 11-10 roller-coaster win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Mets' Jose Reyes (oblique) exits game  —  NEW YORK — A strained oblique forced Mets shortstop Jose Reyes to leave Thursday night's game versus the Florida Marlins in the second inning.  The Mets described the injury as “mild,” but said Reyes will not play again until he has no pain in the oblique.

Yankees' New Boss Determined to Carry On  —  Hank Steinbrenner brought to mind the image of the Boss as he barked at his players to get onto the stage for a news conference.  “Let's go!” he said.  —  Steinbrenner was not directing his major leaguers but rather Hank's Yanks, the 18-and-under team he sponsors.

Pedroia probably done for the year  —  Nothing is official yet, but according to major league source Dustin Pedroia will likely shut it down for the remainder of the season.  Pedroia is expected to spend the next 10 days back in a boot to stabilize the left foot that got sore again after two games.

Andy Pettitte throwing bullpen session in front of New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi Friday  —  CHICAGO - It wasn't all that long ago that the Yankees' starting rotation was considered the strongest in the American League, boasting three pitchers on the All-Star team last month in Anaheim.

Pete Rose's advice for Roger Clemens  —  Rose was quixotic, arrogant and desperate in his denials.  Does that sound familiar?  —  Twenty-one years after his adamant denials began, six years after he finally conceded the charade was up, Pete Rose remains baseball's gold standard for obstinacy in the face of incriminating evidence.

Liriano outpitches Lee, Twins beat Rangers 6-4  —  ARLINGTON, Texas—Francisco Liriano allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings, Delmon Young hit a three-run homer, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers and struggling Cliff Lee 6-4 on Thursday night to avoid a four-game sweep.

Oliver Perez wants to stay with Mets … NEW YORK — Even after being essentially ostracized by the New York Mets, pitcher Oliver Perez still wants to be with the team next season.  —  “I want to be back here,” Perez told ESPNNewYork.com.  “I want to have a championship because I know the fans want it and I want it, too.”

A tale of two first basemen  —  Ike Davis is a lot like John Olerud — a comparison that suits the ex-Met just fine  —  John Olerud misses baseball.  —  “I miss the challenge, the competition, the trying to get your swing right and get in a zone where whatever is thrown, you hit hard …

Rodriguez goes 7 strong, Astros sweep Phillies  —  PHILADELPHIA—Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven sharp innings, Carlos Lee homered and the Houston Astros beat the Phillies 5-1 Thursday to complete their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia in 11 years.  —  The two-time NL champion Phillies …

Beltre's banter results in pair of ejections  —  Third baseman, Francona tossed by home-plate umpire  —  BOSTON — Trash talking between friends occurs often in sports, and in Adrian Beltre and Felix Hernandez's case, this time was no different.  —  Just one small problem: Home-plate umpire Dan Bellino didn't know it.