Outspoken Brandon Phillips was in the middle of a first-inning altercation between the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, who evidently don’t appreciate being called complainers. The second baseman had words with Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina when he came to bat in the bottom of the first inning Tuesday night.

More than two months after the Texas Rangers filed for bankruptcy, the auction for the AL West-leading team has come down to a bidding showdown between a baseball legend and one of the most colorful owners in professional sports. Major League Baseball’s preferred buyer, a group led by Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan and Pittsburgh sports attorney Chuck Greenberg, was expected to face only one…

The Philadelphia Phillies’ season-long wave of injuries has claimed All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard for at least 15 days. Howard, who was leading the NL with 81 RBIs, went on the disabled list Tuesday because of a sprained left ankle. The Phillies said the sprain was moderate. “We’re hopeful he’ll be back in two weeks,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

Rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg was scratched from his scheduled start for the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night because he had problems warming up his prized and powerful right arm before the game against the Atlanta Braves. “Stephen was having trouble getting loose in the bullpen, and so I pulled the plug on it,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said, adding that he…

First came John Lackey’s no-hit tease. Then, a ninth-inning meltdown. Finally, extra-inning relief. This zany, 4-hour ride was perhaps Boston’s worst win this season — and Seattle’s best loss. Lackey came within four outs of a no-hitter, only to watch the Red Sox blow a comfortable lead and cost him a win before they beat the Mariners 8-6 in 13 innings Thursday night.

Yovani Gallardo is firm. Even if he’s fortunate enough to make the All-Star team again next summer, he’ll skip it. The Milwaukee Brewers pitcher says Monday he’ll boycott the game if it is in Arizona. A year before Phoenix is set to host baseball’s big event, the state’s new immigration law kept drawing the attention of major leaguers.

In the year of the pitcher, no-hit aces Ubaldo Jimenez and Roy Halladay lead a formidable National League All-Star staff. Rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg will have to wait at least another season before he gets the nod. AL MVP catcher Joe Mauer was announced Sunday by Major League baseball as the fans’ top choice for the July 13th All-Star game in Anaheim, Calif.

Braves manager Bobby Cox had a quick answer when asked how Tommy Hanson returned to his winning form. “Strike one,” Cox said. Hanson made an adjustment in his delivery and, relying on first-pitch strikes, did not give up an earned run in his recovery from back-to-back ugly losses, leading Atlanta to a 4-1 win over the Florida Marlins on Saturday.

The Boston Red Sox are putting together a rather impressive roster — on their disabled list. The latest additions to a group that features five former All-Stars among its 10 players are catcher Jason Varitek and right-handed reliever Manny Delcarmen. They were placed on the 15-day DL on Friday night before the Red Sox put together a makeshift lineup against the Baltimore Orioles.

The San Diego Padres looked anything like a team that was resting its top two hitters. Clayton Richard struck out a career-high 10 and drove in two runs, and Scott Hairston hit a three-run double and finished with four RBIs as the Padres routed the Colorado Rockies 13-3 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep.

From the very first inning of its existence, the Hall of Fame Classic resonated like no other exhibition game at venerable Doubleday Field. As it enters its second year, the old-timers’ game that replaced a long-standing tradition — the annual Hall of Fame Game — appears to have a foundation for future success.

The 20-year-old son of former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vandalism and assault charges stemming from a fight with his mother. Nikolai Bonds entered the plea Thursday as part of a deal with San Mateo County prosecutors. Three additional misdemeanor charges were dropped.

Kyle Kendrick kept the New York Yankees guessing and got the win. Placido Polanco, Jayson Werth and Jose Contreras all earned saves. Kendrick stayed ahead for seven innings and Polanco’s sprawling catch led Philadelphia’s great show with the gloves as the Phillies downed the Yankees 7-1 Thursday night to win the interleague series.

Alexi Ogando waited five years to make the major leagues. This week has helped make up for lost time. He pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings in relief for his second big league win, and added his first hit in the majors to help the Texas Rangers beat the Florida Marlins 6-4 Thursday night. “This is something incredible — five days in the Major Leagues and two victories,” Ogando said.

Tim Hudson and the Atlanta Braves felt good about winning a series against Tampa Bay. Jason Heyward homered and Troy Glaus drove in two runs to back seven strong innings by Hudson in Atlanta’s 3-1 victory over the Rays on Thursday night. The Braves took two of three games in an interleague matchup of division leaders.

Jose Reyes ignored an ugly gash on his right hand to help R.A. Dickey and the New York Mets keep winning. Reyes, spiked during a first-inning pickoff attempt, had three hits and Dickey won his fifth straight start as the Mets stretched their winning streak to seven games by beating the Cleveland Indians 6-4 on Thursday night.

John Lackey is part of baseball’s only trio of starters with at least eight wins, and he thinks his best is still ahead of him. Lackey pitched six innings, David Ortiz hit a two-run homer and the Boston Red Sox beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-5 on Thursday night to finish a three-game sweep. “It’s kind of exciting to be winning games right now because for my career I’ve always been…

R.A. Dickey won his fifth straight start and the New York Mets
stretched their winning streak to seven games by beating the
Cleveland Indians 6-4 Thursday night.

Mark Buehrle allowed two runs over 7 1-3 innings to become the winningest pitcher since interleague play began, and the White Sox ran the Pirates’ losing streak to 11 games by holding on to win 5-4 Thursday night. Buehrle (5-6) was in control until being pulled with the White Sox leading 5-1 in the eighth, when the Pirates scored three times against three pitchers to get to within a run.