Padres catcher Eddy Rodriguez blasted a 416-foot homer off Reds starter Johnny Cueto in his first Major League at-bat Thursday. “I was just trying to see the ball and hit the ball … I still get goosebumps,” Rodriguez said. “It was unbelievable.”

Third baseman Trevor Plouffe did not make the trip to Boston, as he's continuing to rehab his bruised right thumb.

New acquisition Wandy Rodriguez seeks his first win in a Pirates uniform Friday night, when the second-place Bucs open a key three-game series with Mat Latos and the first-place Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Aided by a six-run second inning, Johnny Cueto won his 14th game as the Reds claimed a 9-4 victory over the Padres on Thursday afternoon at Great American Ball Park, taking three of four games in the series.

Seattle's Jason Vargas went 5-0 in six July starts, lifting the left-hander to his first career Pitcher of the Month Award.

Anthony Rizzo's first full month as a Cub earned the young first baseman National League Rookie of the Month honors for July.

Andrew McCutchen earned his second consecutive Budweiser Presents National League Player of the Month Award on Thursday, making him the first Pirate since 1988 to win the award twice in the same season.

Reds fans, players, staff and Planet Earth will be watching as Reds broadcasting legend Marty Brennaman is expected to have his head shaved on the field following Friday's 7:10 p.m. ET game.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that he remains optimistic that Pablo Sandoval will be healthy enough to return from the disabled list when he is eligible on Aug. 9, saying that the All-Star third baseman is “real close” to running on his strained left hamstring.

Things move fast in the hours before the Trade Deadline. They moved remarkably fast for the Phillies, who traded two-thirds of their outfield in an attempt to retool for 2013.

Johan Santana threw his first full bullpen session Thursday since landing on the disabled list last month with a sprained right ankle. Santana is scheduled to throw another bullpen on Sunday, before returning to the Mets during their homestand next week.

While Matt Treanor serves as the Dodgers' backup catcher, he monitors the Olympics, where wife Misty May-Treanor and her partner are in search of their third consecutive beach volleyball gold medal.

Major League Baseball's senior vice president of investigations Dan Mullin was recognized with a leadership award at a conference in New Orleans on Wednesday night.

“Bucks on the Pond,” a trivia game launched by MLB.com and hosted by Jeremy Brisiel, is giving people a chance to win money at the ballpark.

What's the key to making the postseason? D-backs second baseman Aaron Hill, enjoying a renaissance season, says it's not trying to pretend you're something you're not.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is making progress in his efforts to return from knee surgery, but he will not be available in this weekend's pivotal series against the Pirates.

After an off-day Thursday for both the Mariners and Yankees, Ichiro will meet his old team again — this time in his new home park. And it just so happens his old team is playing the better brand of baseball of late.