Ruben Tejada hit his first major league homer and drove in five runs, Ike Davis also connected and the New York Mets erupted for 21 hits and pounded the Chicago Cubs 18-5 Sunday to avoid a weekend sweep. The Mets' bats perked up for season highs in runs and hits even though David Wright got a day off and Jose Reyes was still nursing a strained right oblique.

Retiring Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox has received an assortment of going-away gifts this year from other teams, including a Wrigley Field seat and an autographed Stan Musial photo. The Florida Marlins gave Cox a snub. Florida's three-game weekend series against NL East rival Atlanta ended Sunday without any ceremony for Cox, who criticized Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria earlier this season.

Joe Girardi would still rather have Alex Rodriguez in his starting lineup. The Yankees had been riding a season-high eight-game winning streak while their star third baseman was on the disabled list with a nagging calf injury. They'd won 11 of their last 14 and pulled ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays by 2 1/2 games in the brutal AL East.

Phil Hughes gave up three home runs as the Yankees' eight-game winning streak came to an end on Sunday in a 7-3 loss to the Blue Jays.

A's third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff left in the bottom of the fifth inning in Sunday's contest with the Angels due to lower back spasms.

Indians manager Manny Acta was ejected from his team's game against the Mariners in the bottom of the fifth inning Sunday for arguing a call at second base.

Scott Cousins turned his first Major League hit into a walk-off single in the 10th inning Sunday that gave the Marlins a 7-6 victory over the Braves.

Bill Mazeroski, an elite fielder who made it to the Hall of Fame because of his many Gold Gloves and one big swing, now has a bronze statue honoring that most memorable moment. Four of Mazeroski's 1960 Pirates teammates tugged away a protective cover Sunday to unveil a 14-foot, 2,000-pound statue depicting the second baseman, the only player to end a World Series Game 7 with a home run.

On the 15th anniversary of the day Cal Ripken Jr. tied Lou Gehrig's major league mark for consecutive games played, the Iron Man returned to Camden Yards to celebrate the occasion. Ripken threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Baltimore Orioles faced the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He received a standing ovation as he fired a strike to backup catcher Jake Fox.

The Texas Rangers will take a cautious approach with pitcher Cliff Lee and he will not make his scheduled start Tuesday at Toronto because of a sore back. Lee, who the Rangers acquired earlier this season from Seattle, threw a bullpen session on Sunday and his back loosened up. Lee only threw in the outfield on Saturday and reported some continued discomfort in the area of his back where he...

The Rangers have officially scratched Cliff Lee from Tuesday's start against the Blue Jays because of a strained muscle in his lower back.

Though Kyle Lohse will get the ball on Tuesday in Milwaukee, that's all that's guaranteed to the St. Louis right-hander for the time being.

Rich Harden made his first bullpen appearance for the Rangers on Saturday. What's interesting is that the Rangers used him even though Cliff Lee had not yet been scratched from Tuesday's start. That's an indication that the Rangers want Harden to get used to the bullpen.

Elvis Andrus will be out of the lineup for at least a couple of days with some tightness in his right hamstring.

Things could always change, but as of right now, manager Terry Francona is leaning toward pitching Clay Buchholz on three days' rest on Wednesday night against the Rays.

Red Sox fans won't likely get a chance to show their feelings toward Manny Ramirez in the series finale with the Chicago White on Sunday. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen decided to give Ramirez a day off to keep him fresh after he played both games of a doubleheader sweep over the Red Sox on Saturday.

New York Mets ace Johan Santana's status for his next start remained in question after a bullpen session Sunday. Santana's scheduled start Tuesday at Washington has been up in the air since he left Thursday's win over Atlanta with a strained left pectoral muscle. Santana declined to talk to reporters following the session before Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs.

Prince Fielder blasted a three-run home run to right field off Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick in the top of the first inning on Sunday.

Cubs pitcher Carlos Silva is looking forward to Tuesday's start, his first since Aug. 1. "I feel very good, I feel great," Silva said Sunday. "My arm, my velocity, I feel really good."

Orioles manager Buck Showalter, who compiled a 313-268 record while managing the Yankees for four years, will be heading back to New York for a three-game series starting on Monday.