Clint Barmes’ tumbling grab, game-ending double play help Rockies hold off Cardinals 4-3

DENVER — A giant welt on his forehead was the least of Clint Barmes’ worries.

Bobby Valentine returns to ESPN as analyst for league championships, World Series

NEW YORK — Bobby Valentine is returning to ESPN as an analyst on “Baseball Tonight” for the league championship series and World Series.

Braves keep rolling behind Jair Jurrjens, creep closer to Rockies with 4-0 win over Marlins

ATLANTA — Jair Jurrjens wants to please his father. Chipper Jones is trying to salvage a disappointing season.

Rod Barajas hits go-ahead double in eighth inning as Blue Jays beat Mariners 5-4

TORONTO — Pinch-hitter Adam Lind had a tying RBI single in the eighth inning and Rod Barajas followed with a go-ahead double, helping the Toronto Blue Jays rally for another dramatic 5-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.

Yankees sweep Red Sox with 4-2 win to clinch AL East and home-field throughout playoffs

NEW YORK — Even before Mariano Rivera fielded the final ball, the party started for the New York Yankees.

Toronto’s Adam Lind hits three homers against Boston

BOSTON — Toronto designated hitter Adam Lind has hit three homers against the Boston Red Sox.

Angels celebrate Nick Adenhart’s memory after routing Rangers 11-0 to clinch AL West crown

LOS ANGELES — With a departed teammate in their thoughts and celebrations, the Los Angeles Angels ended the AL West race with one emphatic win — followed by one cathartic party.

Dodgers look to firm up rotation, and enjoy for a moment, as postseason awaits

PITTSBURGH — The Los Angeles Dodgers will use the final week of the season to settle on their playoff rotation and try to get Manny Ramirez’s bat going.

Yankee Stadium to host college bowl game starting in 2010

NEW YORK — A college football bowl game will be played at Yankee Stadium starting in 2010.

Braves win again behind Jurrjens and Jones, creep closer to Rockies with 4-0 win over Marlins

ATLANTA — Jair Jurrjens pitched seven outstanding innings, Chipper Jones homered and the Atlanta Braves beat Florida 4-0 Monday night for their 15th win in 17 games, a stretch that has lifted them into playoff contention with less than a week to go in the regular season.

Mariners perfect mix: Hernandez strong on mound and Griffey homers in Seattle’s 6-2 win

SEATTLE — Ken Griffey Jr. started what might be his final homestand with career homer No. 628, and Felix Hernandez added another strong effort to his AL Cy Young Award resume in the Seattle Mariners’ 6-4 win over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.

US beats Cuba 10-5 to defend baseball World Cup title, finish with 14-game win streak

NETTUNO, Italy — The United States defended its baseball World Cup title on Sunday with a 10-5 victory over Cuba that was powered by four RBIs from Lucas May, including a three-run home run.

Chris Iannetta’s pinch-hit homer in 11th lifts Colorado Rockies past Milwaukee Brewers 7-5

DENVER — Pinch-hitter Chris Iannetta hit a two-run homer off David Weathers in the 11th inning to give the Colorado Rockies a 7-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.

Albert Pujols sets NL mark for assists in a season by a first baseman

DENVER — Albert Pujols has recorded his 181st assist of the season, setting a National League mark for first basemen.

Clint Barmes’ diving catch and game-ending double play help Rockies hold off Cardinals 4-3

DENVER — Second baseman Clint Barmes made a diving catch to start a game-ending double play, preserving the Colorado Rockies’ 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

After Beckett is scratched, Blue Jays beat Boston 11-5 to keep Red Sox from clinching

BOSTON — The Toronto Blue Jays took advantage after Josh Beckett was scratched from his scheduled start, scoring seven runs off substitute Michael Bowden to beat the Boston Red Sox 11-5 Monday night in a game that was called in the seventh inning because of rain.

Showdown in Motown: Tigers beat Twins 6-5 to split DH and get AL Central lead back to 2 games

DETROIT — Justin Verlander kept the Detroit Tigers on top in the AL Central, pitching eight innings in a 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night that salvaged a split of their critical doubleheader.

Angels eliminate Rangers from playoff picture with 5-2 win, clinching wild card for Red Sox

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Bobby Abreu homered, fill-in starter Sean O’Sullivan earned his first win in two months and the Los Angeles Angels eliminated the Texas Rangers from playoff contention with a 5-2 victory Tuesday night.

Kendry Morales’ 3 RBIs lead Angels to 7-4 win over A’s, reducing magic number to 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Kendry Morales homered and drove in three runs, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their first four-game losing streak of the season with a 7-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.

Ojeda drive in three runs, leads Diamondbacks over Padres, 7-4

PHOENIX — Augie Ojeda had three hits and drove in three runs, Chad Tracy hit his second home run in two games and Arizona beat San Diego 7-4 Sunday.

Showdown in Motown: Tigers split doubleheader with Twins to maintain 2-game lead in AL Central

DETROIT — Justin Verlander got a sense of what it’s like to follow baseball from afar.

A.J. Burnett pitches well in playoff tuneup, Yankees rally past Royals 4-3 in ninth

NEW YORK — A.J. Burnett pitched well in an encouraging playoff tuneup and the New York Yankees rallied for two runs in the ninth inning, beating the Kansas City Royals 4-3 Tuesday night for their seventh straight victory.

Florida Marlins ends Atlanta’s seven-game winning streak with 5-4 victory

ATLANTA — Jorge Cantu hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh and the Florida Marlins damaged Atlanta’s playoff hopes, winning 5-4 Tuesday night to snap the Braves’ seven-game winning streak.

Red Sox clinch AL wild-card berth despite 8-7 loss to Blue Jays (6 HR)

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox are back in the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years. The Red Sox clinched the AL wild-card berth when the Los Angeles Angels beat the Rangers 5-2 on Tuesday night and eliminated Texas from the race. That gave Boston its seventh wild-card berth — more than any other team in the majors.

Quentin homers, Hudson gets first win as White Sox beat Tigers 8-4

CHICAGO — Carlos Quentin hit a three-run homer in his second straight game, rookie Daniel Hudson earned his first major league victory and the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 Sunday for their third win in 11 games.

Cano hits grand slam, Pena hits first career homer as Yankees beat Royals 8-2

NEW YORK — Robinson Cano capped a five-run seventh inning with a grand slam, Chad Gaudin made a case for a spot on the Yankees’ postseason roster and a makeshift New York lineup beat the Kansas City Royals 8-2 Monday night for the team’s 101st win.

Jack Cust, Athletics rally past Angels 15-10 with 6-run 8th inning

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jack Cust homered and doubled in the go-ahead run during a six-run eighth inning, Kurt Suzuki and Mark Ellis also went deep, and the Oakland Athletics rallied from a seven-run deficit to beat the Los Angeles Angels 15-10 on Saturday night.

Feliz hits slam to back Happ, Phillies beat Astros 7-4 to trim magic number to 2

PHILADELPHIA — Pedro Feliz hit a grand slam, J.A. Happ pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies moved closer toward clinching their third straight NL East title with a 7-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

Morse homers for 3rd straight game and Detwiler gets 1st career win in 2-1 victory over Mets

WASHINGTON — Mike Morse homered for the third straight game and Ross Detwiler earned his first career win as the Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 2-1 on Monday night.

Tigers welcome back Sparky, Gibby, Tram, Jack & Co. from 1984 World Series championship team

DETROIT — Sparky Anderson says the reunion of the Detroit Tigers’ 1984 championship team is special because the whole squad will never be together again.

Ryan Dempster pitches five-hitter to lead Cubs to 6-0 win over Pirates

CHICAGO — Ryan Dempster pitched a five-hitter for his third career shutout, Jeff Baker had a two-run double and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-0 on Tuesday night.

Chicago’s John Danks gets first complete game as White Sox beat Indians 6-1

CLEVELAND — Gordon Beckham drove in three runs to help John Danks earn his first win in more than a month and the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 6-1 on Monday night.

Bruce leads Reds power display with 2 home runs in 7-2 win over St. Louis Cardinals

CINCINNATI — Jay Bruce homered twice and had a career-high five RBIs to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 on Tuesday night.

Remember the Braves? Once a playoff regular, Atlanta trying to get back with remarkable run

ATLANTA — Chipper Jones feels as though he’s returned to the 1990s.

Pat Misch pitches 8-hitter for first complete game to help Mets beat Marlins 4-0

MIAMI — Pat Misch pitched an eight-hitter for the first complete game of his career, and the New York Mets spoiled the Florida Marlins’ home finale by winning 4-0 Sunday.