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Clayton Kershaw went right after St. Louis Cardinals hitters who had put up 15 runs the previous two games. It turned out to be the perfect game plan. The 20-year-old rookie worked seven dominant innings and Manny Ramirez homered for the fourth time in six games with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who averted a three-game sweep in a 4-1 victory over the Cardinals and 13-game winner Kyle Lohse on Thursday.
Cito Gaston will return as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays next year. "Cito's definitely going to be back," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said Thursday. "He's done a good job. We're six games over .500 since he took over. We've got a long way to go offensively, but he's really laid the groundwork for some of the right stuff offensively.
David Wright and Johan Santana were feeling a bit numb, for different reasons. Wright hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning after the Mets' bullpen blew another late lead for Johan Santana, lifting New York over the San Diego Padres 5-3 Thursday. Mets players tumbled out of the dugout to pile on Wright following the first game-ending homer of his major league career.
Chris Volstad treated a playoff-type atmosphere like just another start in the Southern League. Volstad tossed six sharp innings and combined with four relievers on a four-hitter, leading the Florida Marlins to a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday. The Marlins, who have the smallest payroll in the majors, took two of three from the NL East-leading Phillies to move within 1 1/2 games...
Lefty reliever Scott Eyre was acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Chicago Cubs on Thursday for a minor league pitcher. The Phillies sent right-hander Brian Schlitter to Chicago in the trade between NL division leaders. Eyre was 2-0 with a 7.15 ERA in 19 games over two stints with the Cubs. The 36-year-old was designated for assignment earlier this week.
The first-place Tampa Bay Rays acquired reliever Chad Bradford from Baltimore on Thursday, bolstering their bullpen with a proven postseason pitcher. The Rays claimed the submarining right-hander on waivers, then got him from the Orioles in a trade for a player to be named. The 33-year-old Bradford is 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA this year.
Brad Penny is expected to come off the 15-day disabled list to start the Los Angeles Dodgers' game at San Francisco on Friday night. Manager Joe Torre said the right-hander likely would be limited to around 90 pitches. "We're certainly going to look at it early in the game," Torre said after the Dodgers' 4-1 win at St.
Jeff Francis hoped to get his season turned around Thursday. Lastings Milledge spoiled that plan. Milledge homered twice and drove in a career-high four runs, and Jason Bergmann earned his first win in nearly three months to help the Washington Nationals beat the Colorado Rockies 6-3 in the first game of a doubleheader.
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Braves chairman Terry McGuirk and Skip Caray's longtime broadcast partner Pete Van Wieren are among those scheduled to speak at a tribute to Caray at Turner Field on Tuesday morning. Caray, 68, died Sunday. He was the son of well-known Cubs Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Caray and a member of the Braves broadcast team for 33 years.
The Washington Nationals put outfielder Elijah Dukes on the 15-day disabled list with a right calf strain Thursday and recalled right-handed pitcher Garrett Mock from Triple-A Columbus. The move with Dukes was retroactive to Sunday. Dukes was previously on the DL twice this season with injuries to his right hamstring and knee.
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