The Red Sox are facing a catching crunch, with back-up Jason Varitek apparently victim of a broken foot less than a week after starter Victor Martinez was placed on the disabled list with a broken thumb. With rookie Gustavo Molina the only healthy catcher on the roster, Boston repatriates veteran Kevin Cash from Houston, in a trade for infielder Angel Sanchez.

ByTom

The Red Sox are facing a catching crunch, with back-up Jason Varitek apparently victim of a broken foot less than a week after starter Victor Martinez was placed on the disabled list with a broken thumb. With rookie Gustavo Molina the only healthy catcher on the roster, Boston repatriates veteran Kevin Cash from Houston, in a trade for infielder Angel Sanchez.

On an interim basis, Kirk Gibson, the team’s bench coach, is promoted to be the manager of the Diamondbacks, replacing A.J. Hinch, who piloted the team to an 89-123 record in a little more than a full season in the dugout. In addition to letting go their manager, the last-place team also fires general manager Josh Byrnes.

ByTom

On an interim basis, Kirk Gibson, the team’s bench coach, is promoted to be the manager of the Diamondbacks, replacing A.J. Hinch, who piloted the team to an 89-123 record in a little more than a full season in the dugout. In addition to letting go their manager, the last-place team also fires general manager Josh Byrnes.

The Diamondbacks clean house, firing general manager Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch in one fell swoop. Bench coach Kirk Gibson will serve as interim manager, while team Vice-President Jerry DiPoto will take over GM duties. The Diamondbacks are last in the NL West with a record of 31-48, the third worst in the major leagues.

ByTom

The Diamondbacks clean house, firing general manager Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch in one fell swoop. Bench coach Kirk Gibson will serve as interim manager, while team Vice-President Jerry DiPoto will take over GM duties. The Diamondbacks are last in the NL West with a record of 31-48, the third worst in the major leagues.

The Rays come back twice to defeat the Twins, 5 – 4, in 10 innings. Carl Crawford goes 4 for 6 with 2 runs, 1 RBI, a stolen base and a great catch to rob Joe Mauer in the 5th inning. The Rays had not won back-to-back games since June 6-9th.

ByTom

The Rays come back twice to defeat the Twins, 5 – 4, in 10 innings. Carl Crawford goes 4 for 6 with 2 runs, 1 RBI, a stolen base and a great catch to rob Joe Mauer in the 5th inning. The Rays had not won back-to-back games since June 6-9th.

The Texas Rangers, leading the AL West, make a deal for veteran catcher Benjie Molina, acquiring him in a trade from the Giants for P Chris Ray. The Rangers have been winning in spite of lacking a proven backstop. In today’s game, Vladimir Guerrero’s bat does the damage, as he belts a grand slam and a solo homer among his four hits against his former teammates, the Angels, to lead Texas to a 6 – 4 victory. In his major league debut, Omar Beltre only goes 4 innings for the Rangers and Dustin Nippert picks up the win in relief – the team’s 21st this month, a franchise record. Josh Hamilton extends his hitting streak to 23 games in the contest.

ByTom

The Texas Rangers, leading the AL West, make a deal for veteran catcher Benjie Molina, acquiring him in a trade from the Giants for P Chris Ray. The Rangers have been winning in spite of lacking a proven backstop. In today’s game, Vladimir Guerrero’s bat does the damage, as he belts a grand slam and a solo homer among his four hits against his former teammates, the Angels, to lead Texas to a 6 – 4 victory. In his major league debut, Omar Beltre only goes 4 innings for the Rangers and Dustin Nippert picks up the win in relief – the team’s 21st this month, a franchise record. Josh Hamilton extends his hitting streak to 23 games in the contest.

For the second night in a row, the Yankees’ bats are stymied by a Mariners hurler. One day after Cliff Lee’s complete game win, Felix Hernandez pitches a two-hitter and strikes out 11 in a 7 – 0 win. Michael Saunders hits two homers for the winners.

ByTom

For the second night in a row, the Yankees’ bats are stymied by a Mariners hurler. One day after Cliff Lee’s complete game win, Felix Hernandez pitches a two-hitter and strikes out 11 in a 7 – 0 win. Michael Saunders hits two homers for the winners.

The Phillie Phanatic, the Philadelphia Phillies’ furry green mascot, is being sued by a Pennsylvania woman who claims that she suffered an arthritis flare-up, leading to knee-replacement surgery, after the creature climbed on top of her at a minor league game in Reading, PA in 2008.

ByTom

The Phillie Phanatic, the Philadelphia Phillies’ furry green mascot, is being sued by a Pennsylvania woman who claims that she suffered an arthritis flare-up, leading to knee-replacement surgery, after the creature climbed on top of her at a minor league game in Reading, PA in 2008.

The Rockies acquire veteran 2B Mark Ellis from Oakland in return for P Bruce Billings and a player to be named later. Ellis became expendable with the promotion of rookie Jemile Weeks a few weeks ago.

ByTom

The Rockies acquire veteran 2B Mark Ellis from Oakland in return for P Bruce Billings and a player to be named later. Ellis became expendable with the promotion of rookie Jemile Weeks a few weeks ago.

The Phillies suffer a tough blow as they place half of their starting infield – 2B Chase Utley and 3B Placido Polanco – on the disabled list. Utley suffers from a thumb injury sustained while sliding into second base, while Polanco feels discomfort in his right elbow and undergoes a cortisone injection. Both players are leading the All-Star balloting at their positions but are unlikely to play in the contest. In addition, SS Jimmy Rollins has been limited to 18 games this year because of a right calf strain.

ByTom

The Phillies suffer a tough blow as they place half of their starting infield – 2B Chase Utley and 3B Placido Polanco – on the disabled list. Utley suffers from a thumb injury sustained while sliding into second base, while Polanco feels discomfort in his right elbow and undergoes a cortisone injection. Both players are leading the All-Star balloting at their positions but are unlikely to play in the contest. In addition, SS Jimmy Rollins has been limited to 18 games this year because of a right calf strain.

Denard Span ties a modern major league record with 3 triples in the Twins’ 11 – 4 win over Detroit. The last player to do so was Rafael Furcal in 2002; Ken Landreaux is the only member of the Twins to have done it, in 1980. The all-time record was set by Bill Joyce with 4 triples in 1897. Span drives in 5 runs as the Twins retake first place from the Tigers, one day after losing it.

ByTom

Denard Span ties a modern major league record with 3 triples in the Twins’ 11 – 4 win over Detroit. The last player to do so was Rafael Furcal in 2002; Ken Landreaux is the only member of the Twins to have done it, in 1980. The all-time record was set by Bill Joyce with 4 triples in 1897. Span drives in 5 runs as the Twins retake first place from the Tigers, one day after losing it.