Gordon Edes - Long shots; Devil Rays cash in as Red Sox relievers fade at the finish

Amalie Benjamin - Bullpen is able to share the blame; Failure to protect lead a group effort

Gordon Edes - Red Sox Notebook: Ortiz is charter member; 3 straight 40-HR seasons team first

AP MLB Roundup - Burnett ends Blue Jays' skid

David Ginsburg, AP - Yankees regain stroke; Bats come around with four homers

Sports Log: Mets extend Wright 6 years at $55m


Ortiz hits 40th HR for 3rd straight year

Devil Rays beat Red Sox in 10 innings

Baseball Transactions

Arizona Diamondbacks - Recalled pitcher Jeff Vajanero and infielder Alberto Callaspo from Tucson (PCL); optioned pitcher Dustin Nippert to Tucson; designated pitcher Randy Choate for assignment.
New York Mets - Signed third baseman David Wright to a six-year contract extension.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Optioned pitcher Edwin Jackson to Durham (Int.); activated pitcher Dan Miceli from the 60-day disabled list.
Washington Nationals - Optioned pitcher Roy Corcoran to New Orleans (PCL); recalled pitcher Billy Traber from New Orleans.

As of August 6, 2006, at 11:27 PM ET

Michael Silverman - Memory loss: Sox forget how to beat bad teams

Michael Silverman - Red Sox Notebook: Hitting 40 doesn’t ever get old for Big Papi

Michael Silverman - No silver lining for Johnson

Steve Buckley - Poison ’pen inks sad end: Relief crew writes it wrong

Steve Buckley - Hip to a return: Wallace set to take over as pitching coach

The Providence Journal


Steven Krasner - Boston's collapsing bullpen blows big lead; Four Red Sox relievers -- including Jonathan Papelbon -- fail to hold off the not-so-mighty Devil Rays.


Steven Krasner - Red Sox Notebook: Ortiz overcomes the shifty Devil Rays


Joe McDonald - Choi's mission: Get fit, play at Fenway

Baseball Notebook: Wright signs 4-year deal

David Borges - Red Sox get stung again; ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --- Time to panic? Not quite yet. But there is sufficient reason to worry about your Boston Red Sox at this point in time.



Jon Baker - Pedroia takes a stab at hot corner; PAWTUCKET - For the second time in as many days, Dustin Pedroia spent nine innings at third base, and he admitted it's been a rather weird transition.

David Heuschkel - Meltdown; Papelbon And Company Fail To Hold 6-2 Lead

David Heuschkel - Hitting 40 Not So Bad





THEM

Matt Eagan - Solo Flights Exit Camden Yards; Yankees' 4 Homers Back Wright's Pitching

Matt Eagan -Pavano Set For Rehab Start

Bill Ballou - Sox zapped by Rays; Norton’s walk-off adds to Boston’s woes


Bill Ballou - Red Sox Notes: Biding time on Foulke’s return; Reliever may rejoin Boston on Friday after stint in Pawtucket

Tim Bresnahan - Ellsbury on the fast track

PORTLAND, Maine - Known for his humility, Jacoby Ellsbury doesn't seek the hype, but it certainly seems to follow him.
His first pro manager, ex-Spinners boss Luis Alicea, said he liked everything about Ellsbury, and joined a lengthy list of baseball minds who compared him to Johnny Damon.

His college coach, Oregon State's Pat Casey, proclaimed him ready for the major leagues six months after he was drafted.

And his new skipper at Double-A Portland isn't shy about forecasting big things for the center fielder, either.

"He's got the potential to be a major league impact player," said Todd Claus. "Not just a big leaguer, but a guy who can change a game on a nightly basis. I think his power eventually will develop, but I think he's got a chance to be a five-tool player. And we've already seen four of those tools in play.

The Tampa Tribune

Carter Gaddis - Rays' Victory Right Out Of Red Sox Playbook

Damian Cristodero - A little pain, a lot of joy; The pile-on that greets Greg Norton is plenty worth it after his homer clinches a series win.


Damian Cristodero - Zobrist compensates for a rookie mistake