Roundup: Espinosa slam helps Nationals punish Mets

CBSSport Rookie Danny Espinosa drove in six runs, hitting a grand slam, a solo homer and getting two other hits and helping the Washington Nationals rout the New York Mets 13-3 Monday for their third straight victory.

Espinosa, called up from Triple-A on Wednesday, led off the third inning with a home run off Mike Pelfrey. Espinosa added an RBI single in the fifth, hit a grand slam off Ryota Igarashi in the sixth and doubled in the eighth.

Espinosa has three homers in his last three games.

Washington scored 13 unanswered runs to post its 60th win of the season, eclipsing the Nationals total from both 2008 and 2009. ...
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Rangers' Lee to skip next start with sore back

CBSSports 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 recently got a cortisone shot.

Rangers officials said Lee is capable of starting on Tuesday at Toronto, but they have opted to be conservative as Texas works to clinch the American League West title. It is unclear whether Lees s...
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A-Rod, Pettitte close to return to Yankees lineup

CBSSpo Injured stars Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte are getting closer to rejoining the New York Yankees.

Pettitte threw 50 pitches in a simulated game Saturday morning at Yankee Stadium and said he had no problems with the strained left groin thats kept him out since July 19.

"I didnt feel anything," Pettitte said. "It was great. A step in the right direction."

One of the batters he faced was Rodriguez, sidelined with a strained left calf. The slugger said hes close to being ready to play and will meet with Yankees staff to determine if hell come off the disabled list Sunday, the first day hes eligible.

...
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Strasburg has surgery, may be out until 2012

CBSSport Nationals rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg had reconstructive elbow surgery Friday that could keep him out of the starting rotation until the 2012 season.

Lewis Yocum performed the procedure in Inglewood, Calif., in which a piece of ligament was taken from the 22-year-old right-handers left leg and transplanted into his pitching elbow.

The Nationals said that Strasburg will be released from the hospital Saturday and begin rehab on Monday at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, Calif., near his home in San Diego.

"Everything went very smoothly and the reports were very good," Washington general manager Mike Rizzo ...
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Ford, family settle suit in death of Mets' prospect

CBSSports.co Ford Motor Co. on Thursday settled a Mississippi lawsuit over a 2001 accident in which New York Mets prospect Brian Cole was killed when his SUV crashed in the Florida Panhandle, a lawyer for the players family said.

The settlement came shortly after the jury in Jasper County had awarded $131 million in actual damages to Coles family and before it was to consider possible punitive damages, Tab Turner an attorney for the family of Brian Cole, told the Associated Press.

Turner, from Little Rock, Ark., said the settlement amount and terms were confidential.

"The family is glad this is finally over. I ...
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