The second game of the series for the NL Central lead between the Cardinals and Reds is marred by a 1st-inning bench-clearing brawl which starts when St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina has words with Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips about the latter’s earlier statements to the media which Cardinal players found demeaning. After the fracas, the Cards go on to win, 8 – 4, and tie the Reds for the division lead. Jaime Garcia beats Johnny Cueto. Major League Baseball will hand a seven-game suspension to Cueto, who spiked an opposing player during the brawl, and two-game suspensions to managers Dusty Baker and Tony LaRussa for their role in the melee; four players are issued fines, in addition to the two skippers.

ByBaseball

The second game of the series for the NL Central lead between the Cardinals and Reds is marred by a 1st-inning bench-clearing brawl which starts when St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina has words with Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips about the latter’s earlier statements to the media which Cardinal players found demeaning. After the fracas, the Cards go on to win, 8 – 4, and tie the Reds for the division lead. Jaime Garcia beats Johnny Cueto. Major League Baseball will hand a seven-game suspension to Cueto, who spiked an opposing player during the brawl, and two-game suspensions to managers Dusty Baker and Tony LaRussa for their role in the melee; four players are issued fines, in addition to the two skippers.

Meanwhile, the AL Central race is also close, but Minnesota now has a one-game lead over the White Sox following tonight’s 12 – 6 win over their rivals. They are propelled by five homers – by Jim Thome, J.J. Hardy, Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel; Scott Baker is the winner.

ByBaseball

Meanwhile, the AL Central race is also close, but Minnesota now has a one-game lead over the White Sox following tonight’s 12 – 6 win over their rivals. They are propelled by five homers – by Jim Thome, J.J. Hardy, Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel; Scott Baker is the winner.

The Reds obtain OF Jim Edmonds from the Brewers in a trade for OF Chris Dickerson. The 40-year-old Edmonds is hitting .286 after sitting out all of last season. His presence doesn’t help as the Reds drop the first game of a crucial three-game series with the Cardinals at home, losing 7 – 3. The Cards score all their runs off rookie Mike Leake in the 4th, highlighted by Skip Schumaker’s first major league grand slam, to pull within one game of division-leading Cincinnati.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Reds obtain OF Jim Edmonds from the Brewers in a trade for OF Chris Dickerson. The 40-year-old Edmonds is hitting .286 after sitting out all of last season. His presence doesn’t help as the Reds drop the first game of a crucial three-game series with the Cardinals at home, losing 7 – 3. The Cards score all their runs off rookie Mike Leake in the 4th, highlighted by Skip Schumaker’s first major league grand slam, to pull within one game of division-leading Cincinnati.

Brian Roberts hits his first homer of the season, a walk-off shot to lead off the 10th, as the Orioles defeat the White Sox, 3 – 2, for their 6th win in 7 games since Buck Showalter took over as manager a week ago.

ByBaseball

Brian Roberts hits his first homer of the season, a walk-off shot to lead off the 10th, as the Orioles defeat the White Sox, 3 – 2, for their 6th win in 7 games since Buck Showalter took over as manager a week ago.

David Price needs support from his bullpen, but he sets a club record with his 15th win of the season when Tampa Bay defeats Detroit, 6 – 3. Price strikes out 9 batters in 5 innings but has to leave the game because of a high pitch count, letting Chad Qualls, Joaquin Benoit and Rafael Soriano handle the last 4 innings.

ByBaseball

David Price needs support from his bullpen, but he sets a club record with his 15th win of the season when Tampa Bay defeats Detroit, 6 – 3. Price strikes out 9 batters in 5 innings but has to leave the game because of a high pitch count, letting Chad Qualls, Joaquin Benoit and Rafael Soriano handle the last 4 innings.

Citing he has lost confidence in his manager, Mariner GM Jack Zduriencik fires Don Wakamatsu and three coaches. Triple-A Tacoma manager Daren Brown is named as the interim pilot of the last-place club (42-70), becoming the team’s fifth skipper in a little more than three years.

ByBaseball

Citing he has lost confidence in his manager, Mariner GM Jack Zduriencik fires Don Wakamatsu and three coaches. Triple-A Tacoma manager Daren Brown is named as the interim pilot of the last-place club (42-70), becoming the team’s fifth skipper in a little more than three years.

Toronto’s Brandon Morrow keeps the Rays hitless for 8 2/3 innings before Evan Longoria bounces a single just outside the reach of 2B Aaron Hill. Morrow has to settle for a one-hit shutout when he fans the next batter, Dan Johnson, to complete the 1 – 0 victory. Johnson is his 17th strikeout victim on the day, one shy of the team record established by Roger Clemens in 1998.

ByBaseball

Toronto’s Brandon Morrow keeps the Rays hitless for 8 2/3 innings before Evan Longoria bounces a single just outside the reach of 2B Aaron Hill. Morrow has to settle for a one-hit shutout when he fans the next batter, Dan Johnson, to complete the 1 – 0 victory. Johnson is his 17th strikeout victim on the day, one shy of the team record established by Roger Clemens in 1998.

Boise Hawks manager Jody Davis is suspended six games and fined an undisclosed amount for pulling his team off the field and causing a forfeit in a Northwest League game against the Everett AquaSox yesterday. Davis argued that the field was unsafe after rain delayed the start of the game, and when the umpires disagreed, he ordered his players to walk off.

ByBaseball

Boise Hawks manager Jody Davis is suspended six games and fined an undisclosed amount for pulling his team off the field and causing a forfeit in a Northwest League game against the Everett AquaSox yesterday. Davis argued that the field was unsafe after rain delayed the start of the game, and when the umpires disagreed, he ordered his players to walk off.

For the first time since May, the major leagues’ all-time save leader, Trevor Hoffman, gets the ball in a save situation. He disposes of the Astros in order on 8 pitches to preserve a 5 – 2 Brewers win for his 597th career save. Hoffman blew 5 of his first 10 save opportunities this year to earn relegation to the outer reaches of the Brewers’ bullpen, while rookie John Axford has pitched extremely well since taking over as the team’s closer. Randy Wolf is the winner and Rickie Weeks hits an inside-the-park homer leading off the game for Milwaukee.

ByBaseball

For the first time since May, the major leagues’ all-time save leader, Trevor Hoffman, gets the ball in a save situation. He disposes of the Astros in order on 8 pitches to preserve a 5 – 2 Brewers win for his 597th career save. Hoffman blew 5 of his first 10 save opportunities this year to earn relegation to the outer reaches of the Brewers’ bullpen, while rookie John Axford has pitched extremely well since taking over as the team’s closer. Randy Wolf is the winner and Rickie Weeks hits an inside-the-park homer leading off the game for Milwaukee.

Two days after learning that starting 1B Kevin Youkilis is done for the season with a thumb injury, the Red Sox sign veteran Carlos Delgado, who has not played at all this year, to a minor league contract. He will be assigned to AAA Pawtucket but will fail in his bid to return to the big leagues.

ByBaseball

Two days after learning that starting 1B Kevin Youkilis is done for the season with a thumb injury, the Red Sox sign veteran Carlos Delgado, who has not played at all this year, to a minor league contract. He will be assigned to AAA Pawtucket but will fail in his bid to return to the big leagues.