Along with being delighted to learn he had secured his eighth All-Star selection, Chipper Jones also matched a career-best five-hit performance while helping the Braves notch a much-needed 10-3 win over the Cubs.

The Indians rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning after giving up five in the top half of the frame as they beat the Angels, 9-5, on Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

Between record heat in Atlanta and the usual rigors of playing on the road, the Nationals admitted they were thrilled to return home after a 10-game road trip. Tuesday night at Nationals Park, their bats proved as much in backing Jordan Zimmermann in a 9-3 win over the Giants.

Playing in his third game for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday night, Ryan Howard put together the most productive of his rehab game performances. Not only did he play seven innings at first base for the first time, but the big left-handed slugger also launched his first home run.

The Yankees jumped ahead early for the second time in as many games, but Tampa Bay once again battled back for a 7-4 win on Tuesday to clinch the midweek series between the two clubs at Tropicana Field.

The Blue Jays batted around and pounded out eight hits in a six-run fourth inning that powered them past the Royals, 6-3, at Rogers Centre on Tuesday night.

The second half of the season started just like the first half finished for the suddenly sinking Phillies: with a loss. And so for another day, the questions will be the same, and the search for answers just as frustrating.

Jon Niese held the Phillies to just one run over eight strong innings, and Daniel Murphy, Ruben Tejada and David Wright paced a 15-hit attack to power the Mets to an 11-1 victory at Citi Field on Tuesday night.

After the Marlins fought back to erase a seven-run lead and take the lead in the 10th inning, Aramis Ramirez blasted a two-run home run to power the Crew to a 13-12 victory.

Chris Carpenter will undergo season-ending surgery after recurrences of numbness and weakness made it evident that the right-hander would be unable to pitch through thoracic outlet syndrome this year.

It is painfully clear the Phillies need Roy Halladay back in the rotation as soon as possible. He is getting closer. He threw his second bullpen session before Tuesday's game against the Mets at Citi Field. Halladay threw 56 pitches after throwing 33 on Friday in Miami.

On Tuesday morning, when the first updates on the 2012 All-Star Game Final Vote sponsored by Firestone were released, David Freese was in second place, trailing only Braves third baseman Chipper Jones. But by the afternoon, Freese was in the first.

It may be known formally as the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game, but this year, Major League Baseball might want to consider rebranding it as Futures Game: The Teen Sensations.

In Adrian Beltre, you know you're looking at a guy who'd be playing in a park or sandlot somewhere for nothing if he hadn't been gifted enough to earn millions — and draw the fans' vote as the American League's starting third baseman in the 2012 All-Star Game.

Long before he found out that he'd been named to MLB.com's Final Vote ballot, David Freese had his eye on being a 2012 All-Star. Personal recognition wasn't so much the goal. Rather, for Freese, there was something unique both about the setting and the company in this particular Midsummer Classic.

Andrew McCutchen could end the season at .300/.400/.600. If he manages this, he'd be the just the fifth Pirate to accomplish this feat in the modern era.

The Reds may not have all their weapons on Tuesday, but Johnny Cueto will try to deal Chris Capuano and the Dodgers a second straight defeat at Dodger Stadium.