The Juice is back for its fifth season of fun! Stop by each weekday for an ample serving of news from the action, plus great photos, stats and video highlights.
Looking for a sign: If you're one of those people who believe winning a nutty back-and-forth ballgame is the sort of thing that sparks a team, then the Los Angeles Angeles are about to go on the biggest roll of the season. The Angels beat the Red Sox 14-13 in 10 innings Thursday night, coming back from six runs down early, and two more deficits later, including 11-9 in the ninth. The Angels went ahead for the last time when Kendrys Morales hit a tie-breaking solo home run against Alfredo Aceves in the 10th, and Vernon Wells added an RBI double for a two-run lead. The Red Sox set the stage for another comeback in the bottom of the 10th, but after Dustin Pedroia hit an RBI single against Ernesto Frieri, Adrian Gonzalez struck out to end the game.
A curious moment (OK, perhaps there was more than one curious moment) happened in the ninth when a home run by Wells appeared to hit the top of the Green Monster in left and bounce back onto the field. The Red Sox, still up a run at the moment did not request a review. It's OK; Bobby Valentine has a lot on his mind right now. The Angels probably would have come back anyway, right, what with that Mike Trout?
Don't look behind you, but...: The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Athletics 5-0 for their 14th victory in 17 games and their seventh shutout since July 19. Alex Cobb pitched a four-hitter and said the Rays' five-run fifth inning took away all of the pressure. Cobb struck out eight and walked two to help the Rays get within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Yankees in the AL East. It's the closest they've been since June 16.
Bar-ry, Bar-ry!: And not that Barry Bonds, either. San Francisco's Barry Zito looked like his pre-contract self for eight innings, taking a three-hit shutout into the ninth against the Braves before settling for a 5-2 victory. The big hit was a two-run double by Hector Sanchez in a four-run fifth inning against Tommy Hanson. The Giants, following a sweep of the Dodgers, have won nine of 12 to take a three-game lead in the NL West.
Austin Jackson, this is your fault: His unbelievable catch in the 10th inning obviously sparked the Detroit Tigers, who beat the Blue Jays 3-2 in 11. The Tigers, who had been shut out by J.A. Happ into the eighth inning, won on an RBI single by Alex Avila.
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Quote of the Day:
''I feel like I was in a fight, and I lost. I feel drained. I kept waiting for somebody to come home," — Phillies manager Charlie Manuel after a 4-3 victory in 11 innings against the Reds. After squandering opportunities in the ninth and 10th, the Phillies won on John Mayberry's RBI single and took sole possession of third place in the NL East for the first time since April.
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Photo of the Day: Show me your medal face!
Olympic gymnastics champion Gabby Douglas hanging out with Mets non-champion David Wright.
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Three Facts for the Water Cooler:
• The Astros are 0-4 and have been outscored 32-8 under interim manager Tony DeFrancesco after falling 13-5 to the Cardinals.
• Manager Ron Washington picked up his 500th career victory and Josh Hamilton drove in five runs to help the Rangers beat the Twins 10-6.
• The Mets are 11-28 — including 2-14 at Citi Field — since the All-Star break after falling 1-0 to the Rockies.
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