Roy Oswalt found a way to win without dominant stuff. Oswalt pitched seven effective innings, helping the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 7-4 Monday to split their day-night doubleheader. Placido Polanco had a double, triple and two RBIs and Chase Utley also drove in a pair as the Phillies moved within a half-game of NL East-leading Atlanta.

The staggering San Diego Padres scratched ace Mat Latos from Monday night's start against rival Los Angeles due to stomach flu. Latos said he lobbied manager Bud Black, but the skipper was concerned that the right-hander was dehydrated and weakened by the illness. Latos said he's feeling better and that'll he'll likely start Tuesday night.

Ubaldo Jimenez stuck around long enough to turn a clunker into a classic. Another bloop single or broken-bat flare from getting pulled in the third inning, Jimenez buckled down to win his club-record 18th game despite a wild outing as the surging Colorado Rockies rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-5 Monday.

Yadier Molina simply wanted a sacrifice fly. Instead, Molina's grand slam capped a six-run eighth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals overcame Corey Hart's two homers to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-6 on Monday. The Cardinals had taken a 4-2 lead in the eighth, and Molina came up with the bases loaded and one out.

Jim Thome's home run in the fifth inning was one of those shots that fans will remember for a while. But it was Jason Kubel's homer moments earlier that sparked the Minnesota Twins to another win. Kubel hit the go-ahead homer and Thome launched his 585th career home run one batter later, powering the Minnesota Twins past the Kansas City Royals 5-4 Monday.

Brian Matusz, Brian Roberts and Buck Showalter ended a frustrating stretch at Yankee Stadium for the revived Baltimore Orioles. Matusz won his fourth straight start and Roberts had a pair of two-out RBI singles off A.J. Burnett, including a go-ahead hit in the seventh inning that propelled Baltimore to a 4-3 victory Monday.

The Atlanta Braves lost a game they badly needed to win. Even worse, they lost to a Pirates team whose only apparent goal appears to be avoiding the franchise's worst season in nearly 50 years. Neil Walker hit a two-run homer, Brian Burres limited Atlanta to one run over six innings in his first start in more than three months and the Pirates beat the can't-get-hot Braves 3-1 on Monday.

The Chicago White Sox keep finding ways to win. A.J. Pierzynski hit a go-ahead single in the 10th inning and finished with three RBIs on Monday, and Chicago beat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 for their seventh straight win. The White Sox are second in the A.L. Central, 3 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins. "Keep battling, not giving away at-bats.

Andy Pettitte will make a rehabilitation start for the Yankees' Double-A farm team at Trenton on Thursday night. The 38-year-old left-hander has not pitched in a game since July 18 because of a strained left groin. He threw a bullpen session before Monday's 4-3 loss to Baltimore. "I feel good," he said.

Adalberto Mendez limped off the field with the same number of hits in his pitching and hitting lines. That's a memorable major league debut. Mendez pitched one-hit ball for six scoreless innings before injuring himself, and the Florida Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-1 Monday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

When they weren't beating up on the Texas Rangers, the Toronto Blue Jays had their own fans ducking for cover Monday. Vernon Wells hit a three-run homer, Aaron Hill had a two-run shot and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Texas 7-2, handing the reeling Rangers their seventh loss in nine games. Yunel Escobar added a solo drive for Toronto, which leads the majors with 211 homers.

In a surprising September move, the Oakland Athletics have optioned struggling starter Vin Mazzaro to Triple-A Sacramento. Rosters expand in September, so the A's could have chosen to sit Mazzaro and have him work things out in side sessions and bullpens. Instead, Mazzaro was sent down Monday and will pitch in the River Cats' rotation during the Pacific Coast League playoffs.

Derek Lowe's right elbow feels fine after throwing in the bullpen and he is scheduled to start Wednesday for the Braves against the Pirates. Lowe (11-12) missed his last scheduled start due to elbow soreness. He was encouraged after throwing lightly Sunday, and he threw in the bullpen Monday for the first time in three weeks.

Cubs slugger Aramis Ramirez missed Monday's series opener with Houston with a strained right quad and the length of his absence is uncertain. The Chicago third baseman, who homered for the second straight game in Sunday's 18-5 loss to the Mets, was replaced by veteran infielder Jeff Baker in the starting lineup as the Cubs and Astros met in a Labor Day matinee at Wrigley Field.

The Texas Rangers purchased the contract of infielder Esteban German from Triple-A Oklahoma City before Monday's game against the Blue Jays. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rangers designated infielder Alex Cora for assignment. An eight-year veteran who has also played for Oakland and Kansas City, German played in 19 games for the Rangers in 2009, batting .304 with no homers and four...

A season that is slipping away for the St. Louis Cardinals has turned personal, with star slugger Albert Pujols criticizing young outfielder Colby Rasmus. Rasmus has admitted he wasn't always happy while playing for the Cardinals as a rookie last year and this season. The 24-year-old center fielder is denying reports, however, that he asked in July to be traded.

The Giants admit they're watching the scoreboard, even though they're in control of their own fate. They already knew the NL West-leading San Diego Padres had lost 4-2 to Colorado earlier Sunday for their 10th consecutive defeat. The Giants then went out and kept up the pressure, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 to move within a game of first place.

The ballpark fell silent as fans rose in alarm after a foul ball felled Florida Marlins rookie Logan Morrison in the on-deck circle. Morrison wasn't seriously hurt but left the game. His spot in the lineup was filled by recent minor league call-up Scott Cousins, who had fans standing again moments later, this time to cheer a wild victory.

No matter what they try, the San Diego Padres just keep losing. The NL West-leading Padres lost their 10th straight game Sunday as Melvin Mora hit a go-ahead single that sent the Colorado Rockies to a 4-2 win. "We have a sense of urgency right now," Padres pitcher Clayton Richard said. "We have a special opportunity and we are going to do every thing in our control to take advantage...

AL batting leader Josh Hamilton isn't sure when his rib injury will heal enough for him to rejoin the lineup of the AL West-leading Texas Rangers. "I have no clue when I'll be back," he said Sunday. "I really don't. Your guess is as good as mine." Hamilton ran into the left-field wall at Minnesota on Saturday and bruised his ribs.