Following a 6-4 loss to the Orioles on Wednesday night, the Red Sox find themselves holding a 2 1/2-game lead over the Rays and Angels with six games left in the season.

David Freese drove in five runs with a home run and a triple, and the Cardinals beat the Mets on Wednesday, 6-5, to gain a game on the Braves in the Wild Card chase.

Javier Vazquez kept up his torrid streak, setting the team record for consecutive scoreless innings while helping the Marlins play spoiler vs. the Braves.

It's safe to say that Danny Espinosa has a good time whenever he faces the Phillies, and Wednesday night was no different as his two-run homer helped the Nationals defeat the Phils, 7-5, at Citizens Bank Park.

Dan Haren fired eight stellar innings and Vernon Wells drove in four runs against his old team as the Angels topped the Blue Jays, 7-2, on Wednesday to keep pushing in pursuit of a postseason berth.

While Derek Lowe was solid on Wednesday night, the Wild Card-leading Braves were completely shut down by Marlins right-hander Javier Vazquez.

For a moment, as he recoiled in pain on the artificial surface at Rogers Centre, Dan Haren was worried that he'd broken his left arm. Luckily, it turned out to be a wrist contusion.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson briefed his team Wednesday on the potential changes to their home park and, as much as possible, on their possible effects.

After throwing 76 pitches in a loss to the Orioles on Tuesday night, including 53 in his third and final inning, Erik Bedard was ruled out of the running for Sunday's start at Yankee Stadium.

Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday took another small step forward on Wednesday in his return from a right hand injury.

Though Jair Jurrjens is not expected to be available for quite some time, he remains hopeful after a solid bullpen session on Wednesday.

Future Hall of Fame candidate Omar Vizquel has made it clear that he intends to play at age 45. "I already made up my mind that I'm coming back," Vizquel said.

Brett Lawrie's season came to an end after the third baseman fractured his right middle finger on Wednesday afternoon.

An MRI examination taken Wednesday on Phil Hughes' troublesome lower back showed only inflammation, and the Yankees right-hander is expected to make another start before the conclusion of the regular season.

Hunter Pence had a MRI exam Wednesday after he started limping in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals. The Phillies said Pence has a mild strain of the patellar tendon and is day to day.

With left-handers Tommy Milone and Ross Detwiler having started Tuesday's doubleheader, Nationals manager Davey Johnson has decided Detwiler will pitch on normal rest and take the hill against the Braves on Sunday. Milone will get the nod against the Marlins on Monday in Miami.

A 7-1 loss to the Cubs in Wednesday afternoon's rubber game of a three-game series kept Milwaukee's magic number at three with six games to play.