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Cardinals activate Adams from disabled list

Left-hander Greenwood designated for assignment

Cardinals activate Adams from disabled list

Matt Adams is returning to the field after an extended absence. The Cardinals activated Adams from the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday and designated Nick Greenwood for assignment. Adams went on the disabled list in late May with a strained right quadriceps injury that ultimately required surgery.

Adams, 27, missed 91 games while on the disabled list, and he's batting .243 with seven doubles, four home runs and 20 RBIs this season. The first baseman has played in 320 games for the Cardinals over four seasons, and he's a career .277 hitter with 38 home runs and 152 RBIs.

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Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

CC's return, deGrom-Stras top strong slate

CC's return, deGrom-Stras top strong slate

This is one of the most exciting points in the season, with every game carrying value and almost every intradivision matchup counting in a championship race. There's plenty on the line today.

Here are few things to look for:

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Joey Nowak is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @joeynowak. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB.com Columnist

Marty Noble

Mets look Amazin' with comeback win

Mets look Amazin' with comeback win

The word, as Casey articulated it some 53 years ago, was amazin'. Stengel was the one who dropped the G and popularized the term. Early on, the New York Post changed the adjective to a proper noun and uppercased the A, a change made necessary by the routinely implausible ways the Mets lost, won and performed. Quite often, they have been the Amazin's -- of 1969, '73 and, of course, Game 6 in '86. Some days they are more the Amazin's than they are the Mets.

So it was Tuesday night in D.C., where the New York City entry in the National League rose from the dead to inflict a most demoralizing defeat on its closest pursuers in the NL East race. The first-place Amazin's scored six times in the seventh inning and once in the eighth to cripple the championship chances of the second-place Nationals. The score was 8-7, but the game felt like a runaway for the Mets. And a dirge for the Nats.

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Marty Noble is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Today's starting lineups: Sept. 9

Below are today's starting lineups that have been made public by Major League Baseball's clubs.

A lineup is not official until it is handed to the umpire.

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West is 1: Rangers win, Gray blanks Astros

Mets, Blue Jays increase division leads with dramatic victories

West is 1: Rangers win, Gray blanks Astros

The race for the American League West is heating up with just four weeks remaining until the start of the postseason.

But that's not the only division worth following over the final month of the regular season. Here's a look at some key developments from Tuesday's action that helped shape the playoff picture:

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Austin Laymance is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Statcast: Martin's throw spoils steal attempt

Statcast: Martin's throw spoils steal attempt

The catcher with arguably the strongest arm in the Majors came through once again on Tuesday, using his skill behind the plate to help the Blue Jays defeat the Red Sox, 5-1, and extend their lead in the American League East to 1 1/2 games.

Toronto catcher Russell Martin helped preserve a late tie when he cut down an attempted basestealer with what Statcast™ shows is just the latest in a long line of incredible throws by the Jays' backstop. While he sits atop a key Statcast™ leaderboard, a certain Nationals player took a shot at climbing toward the top of another category by making one of the quickest trips around the bases this season in his team's pivotal game against the rival Mets.

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Paul Casella is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Fantasy Closer Report: Edition 24

Fantasy Closer Report: Edition 24

The Twins' playoff chances took a hit last week, when it was announced that Glen Perkins would be out indefinitely with back spasms, and so did the chances of fantasy owners with him on their roster. Although his second half hasn't been nearly as productive as his first, Perkins has been one of the most valuable fantasy closers this season.

Perkins seems a bit blindsided by the injury, and since it's one involving his back, there's no guarantee he'll be healthy again this season. If there's no room to stash him on the disabled list, he's a safe drop candidate in most redraft leagues.

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Matt Collins is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Extra effort: Jays extend AL East lead

Extra effort: Jays extend AL East lead

BOSTON -- After not scoring for eight straight innings, the Blue Jays came out swinging in the top of the 10th, scoring four runs en route to a 5-1 victory over the Red Sox on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.

With the Yankees losing in Baltimore, the Blue Jays increased their lead to 1 1/2 games in the American League East.

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Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne and listen to his podcast. Alec Shirkey is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB.com Columnist

Phil Rogers

Texas' experience adds intrigue to West race

Hot on Astros' heels, Rangers can keep cool down the stretch

Texas' experience adds intrigue to West race

Not only do we suddenly have a white-hot race in the American League West, but the grownups are threatening to come home early. It's going to be fascinating to see if the Rangers are soon telling the Astros to turn down the music and get back in their room.

Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels is looking very smart for picking up Cole Hamels, who on Tuesday beat the Mariners on a night when he was only OK. But the bigger development is that both Derek Holland and Yovani Gallardo have pitched even better than Hamels since he arrived in that July 29 blockbuster, and the Rangers are remembering what it felt like to win 90-plus games.

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Phil Rogers is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB announces tentative 2016 schedule

MLB announces tentative 2016 schedule

Major League Baseball on Tuesday released its tentative 2016 regular-season schedule, starting with the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball game on April 3 with a matchup to be announced, and then featuring 13 games on the first convergence of Opening Day and Square Root Day: April 4, 2016.

The 13 games on that first Monday include the traditional opener at Cincinnati (against Philadelphia), as well as six divisional matchups and an Interleague contest between the host Royals and the Mets. Eight games are scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, and the first full slate of 15 contests is scheduled for the next day.

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Mark Newman is enterprise editor of MLB.com. Read and join other baseball fans on his MLB.com community blog. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Kershaw runs Dodgers' win streak to 5

Kershaw runs Dodgers' win streak to 5

ANAHEIM -- Clayton Kershaw gave up a leadoff homer and recovered brilliantly on Tuesday night, holding the Angels to two runs over seven innings while leading the Dodgers to a 6-4 win, their fifth in a row and 13th in the last 15 games.

After serving up a home run to leadoff hitter Kole Calhoun -- a half-inning after Justin Ruggiano led off the game with his own homer -- Kershaw allowed only three other hits, struck out eight and gave up an unearned run to capture his 13th win and drop his ERA to 2.15. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner surpassed 200 innings for the fifth time in the last six years -- he's at 201 -- and is 8-1 with a 0.98 ERA over his last 13 starts, striking out 128 and walking 12 during that span.

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Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com and Steve Bourbon is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB.com Columnist

Richard Justice

Worthy of ace title, deGrom set for showdown vs. Nats

Worthy of ace title, deGrom set for showdown vs. Nats

The New York Mets were a long time figuring exactly what they had in right-hander Jacob deGrom. His career path was long and winding, and there was some disappointment and frustration along the way.

These days, they know. deGrom is a No. 1 starter. No doubt about that. He has the nasty stuff of a No. 1 as well as the absolute fearlessness of a No. 1. In a Mets season that has grown more magical almost by the day, deGrom has been their most impressive and consistent guy.

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Richard Justice is a columnist for MLB.com. Read his blog, Justice4U. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB.com Columnist

Marty Noble

The day Hendley allowed just one hit, Koufax was perfect

Fifty years ago, Cubs hurler had game of a lifetime and lost

The day Hendley allowed just one hit, Koufax was perfect

This could be another tale of the astounding exploits of Sandy Koufax, one more of so many; and each one warranted. Seldom has a person & pitcher pairing produced such excellence on both sides of the ampersand.

Koufax was as magnificent a pitcher as any who ever has stood on a big league mound. And he remains as splendid a human being as any who has graced the planet -- courteous, caring, generous and unassuming. Koufax pitched four no-hitters, won three Cy Young Awards -- each unanimously -- struck out all comers and routinely shrunk the biggest and baddest hitters to Eddie Gaedel proportions and turned their wooden bats into paper-mache replicas.

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Marty Noble is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB.com Columnist

Barry M. Bloom

Hudson's farewell adds to Giants' pitching woes

Hudson's farewell adds to Giants' pitching woes

PHOENIX -- Tim Hudson's sparkling comeback start on Tuesday night notwithstanding, an unparalleled era of success for the Giants' rotation is coming to an end.

In case there was any doubt about Huddy's future, the 40-year-old right-hander put all conjecture to rest after pitching six innings of four-hit, one-run ball in a 6-2 win over the D-backs at Chase Field.

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Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Boomskie on Baseball. Follow @boomskie on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

2015 Postseason Schedule

Wild Card Games to begin playoffs on Oct. 6-7; World Series to start on Oct. 27

The 2015 postseason schedule will begin on Oct. 6, with the 111th Fall Classic to open on Oct. 27 in an American League ballpark, thanks to the AL's 6-3 victory in last month's All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile. The full postseason schedule can be found at MLB.com/postseason.

Following the scheduled regular-season finales on Sunday, Oct. 4, potentially necessary regular-season tiebreaker games would be telecast exclusively by ESPN the next day. Then the postseason will begin that Tuesday, with the AL Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser on ESPN. The National League equivalent is scheduled for Oct. 7, televised exclusively by TBS.

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Mark Newman is enterprise editor of MLB.com. Read and join other baseball fans on his MLB.com community blog. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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MLB.com Columnist

Mike Bauman

Maddon thrilled with competitive NL Central

Cubs skipper: Division with three postseason frontrunners is 'only place to be'

Maddon thrilled with competitive NL Central

ST. LOUIS -- Joe Maddon has found a happy baseball home in the highly competitive confines of the National League Central.

Maddon is speaking of the division in superlatives, and he has his reasons. It's not just the competition, although Maddon, in his first season as manager of the Cubs, says it is the best baseball has to offer.

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Mike Bauman is a national columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB.com Columnist

Lyle Spencer

Kershaw continues to cruise with ace form

Kershaw continues to cruise with ace form

ANAHEIM -- Timing is everything in baseball. The Angels had the misfortune of running into Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw on consecutive nights at Angel Stadium. It left their clubhouse quiet and their position in the American League playoff scramble even more precarious than it was when the Dodgers arrived on Monday.

Kershaw backed Greinke's solid effort in the series opener with another gem in a remarkable stretch of dominance. The bullpen -- we've seen and heard this before -- made it interesting on Tuesday night before Kenley Jansen closed out a 6-4 victory that moved the Dodgers a step closer to a third consecutive National League West title.

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Lyle Spencer is a national reporter and columnist for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @LyleMSpencer. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Mets' DC rally: 'This was amazing!'

Mets' DC rally: 'This was amazing!'

WASHINGTON -- The way the Mets' season has gone, maybe they saw a remarkable comeback in the offing. But the Nationals and their fans had every right to be stunned as New York rallied from six runs down to beat Washington, 8-7, at Nationals Park on Tuesday night. And even the Mets had to admit that this one stood out.

With the victory, the Mets are now six games ahead of the Nationals in the National League East race with four head-to-head games remaining between the rivals.

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Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDiComo and Facebook, and listen to his podcast. Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All theTime. He also can be found on Twitter @WashingNats This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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A-Rod ties Aaron with 15th 30-HR season

Slugger accounts for Yankees' only run during loss to O's

A-Rod ties Aaron with 15th 30-HR season

NEW YORK -- The significance of Alex Rodriguez's latest home run was not lost on the slugger, who has now equaled Hank Aaron's Major League record of hitting 30 or more homers in 15 seasons. Yet the fact that it came in a defeat left something to be desired.

Rodriguez's sixth-inning shot off Kevin Gausman accounted for the Yankees' only run in a 2-1 loss to the Orioles on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, which dropped New York 1 1/2 games behind the division-leading Blue Jays in the American League East chase.

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Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch, on Facebook and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Cards' Central lead cut as Cubs gain ground

Cards' Central lead cut as Cubs gain ground

ST. LOUIS -- Having watched his club be swept and outscored by 11 runs during a June visit to St. Louis, Cubs manager Joe Maddon hoped they would make a September statement upon returning to Busch Stadium for a series budding with playoff implications. Consider that challenge met, as the Cubs, despite a spirited comeback attempt by the Cardinals, held on for an 8-5 victory Tuesday night behind seven RBIs from Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo.

"We're moving in the right direction," Rizzo said of the Cubs. "I feel like this team, every day, we're getting more confident and more confident. With the group we have, that can be really scary."

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Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, By Gosh, It's Langosch, follow her on Twitter @LangoschMLB, like her Facebook page Jenifer Langosch for Cardinals.com and listen to her podcast. Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings. You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat and listen to her podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Royals ride 4-run 1st to trim magic number

Royals ride 4-run 1st to trim magic number

KANSAS CITY -- Right-hander Edinson Volquez turned in seven strong innings and Eric Hosmer delivered a three-run double as the Royals snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Twins on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

With the victory, the Royals' magic number to clinch the American League Central dropped to 13. The Twins, meanwhile, fell 2 1/2 games behind the Rangers for the second Wild Card spot with Texas' 9-6 win at Seattle.

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Jeffrey Flanagan is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @FlannyMLB. Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Bucs top Reds, inch closer to Cardinals

Bucs top Reds, inch closer to Cardinals

CINCINNATI -- Left-hander Francisco Liriano threw six scoreless innings and the Pirates used a third-inning balk and a blast to beat the Reds, 7-3, on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park.

The Pirates' 82nd win of the season -- a figure that would have been celebrated wildly only a few years ago -- clinched their third straight winning season and brought them within 4 1/2 games of the Cardinals in the National League Central. They also maintained a two-game lead over the Cubs in the NL Wild Card standings.

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Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Harvey chased in sixth before Mets stun Nats

Righty moves 5 1/3 innings closer to 180 IP limit

Harvey chased in sixth before Mets stun Nats

WASHINGTON -- In the visiting clubhouse, Matt Harvey scurried to complete his usual post-start routine, eager to return to the sunflower-seed littered confines of the dugout bench. Harvey had just moved 5 1/3 innings closer to his much-debated season cap, allowing a career-high tying seven earned runs in the process. But the Mets were rallying, en route to an 8-7 win Tuesday over the Nationals. Harvey wanted to be a part of it.

So he finished his exercises and hustled back out to the bench, where he acted not like some mercenary putting in his time. Harvey cheered and whooped and hollered alongside the rest of the Mets.

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Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDiComo and Facebook, and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB.com Columnist

Fred Zinkie

Guyer, Rays could excel in matchup vs. Tigers

Guyer, Rays could excel in matchup vs. Tigers

Welcome to DraftKings fantasy baseball, the Official Daily Fantasy Game of Major League Baseball.

The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Wednesday.

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Fred Zinkie is the lead fantasy baseball writer for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @FredZinkieMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Mets' improbable rally another step toward goal

Mets' improbable rally another step toward goal

WASHINGTON -- As the Mets' season-long accomplishments seemed to come unspooling around them in the early innings Tuesday, closer Jeurys Familia sat in the bullpen and watched, and waited, biding his time. Hours later, Familia was asked if, in the deepest part of his heart, he believed the Mets would call on him to close out a victory.

"The way we've been playing this year?" Familia replied after the 8-7 win, not even the faintest of grins crossing his face. "Yes."

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Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDiComo and Facebook, and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Jansen's presence is vital to Dodgers' success

Jansen's presence is vital to Dodgers' success

ANAHEIM -- The Dodgers have won 15 of the games Clayton Kershaw has pitched this season, and 20 of the games Zack Greinke has pitched.

But where would they be without the 45 games that Kenley Jansen has pitched (40 of them victories)?

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Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Mets, Cespedes amend deal ahead of free agency

Adjustment enables lengthier negotiations with newly acquired outfielder

Mets, Cespedes amend deal ahead of free agency

WASHINGTON -- The Mets no longer need to negotiate with Yoenis Cespedes during a pennant race or risk losing him forever. The team announced Tuesday that it and Roc Nation Sports have negotiated an amendment into Cespedes' contract, allowing the Mets to pursue him for the entirety of this offseason's free-agent period.

Under their old arrangement, the Mets could negotiate with Cespedes for only five days following the conclusion of the World Series. After that point, Cespedes' unique contract language would have made the Mets ineligible to re-sign him until May 15, making his return to New York a near-impossibility.

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Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDiComo and Facebook, and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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In 'uncharted territory,' Cole OK with extra rest

Pirates ace won't make next start until Sept. 15 as season winds down

In 'uncharted territory,' Cole OK with extra rest

CINCINNATI -- Gerrit Cole made it clear Tuesday afternoon: His focus is on each game he pitches, no matter when he's asked to take the mound. That "small picture," as he put it, is his job.

But the Pirates had the bigger picture in mind in several ways when they chose to skip Cole's next scheduled start, as manager Clint Hurdle announced Monday at Great American Ball Park. Even as good as the All-Star right-hander feels, Cole understood the logic behind the decision.

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Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Donaldson once again delivers in clutch

After just missing homer, MVP candidate hustles for triple

Donaldson once again delivers in clutch

BOSTON -- A matter of inches could have been the difference between two homers and none for Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson on Tuesday night, but the third baseman's bat and baserunning remained a deciding factor in sparking his team's 5-1, 10-inning victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Leading off the 10th inning, Donaldson pummeled an 0-1 fastball from Boston reliever Alexi Ogando that bounced off the top edge of the Green Monster and back onto the outfield grass. Unsure if it had cleared the wall, he sprinted around second base and quickly set his sights on third.

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Alec Shirkey is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Grandal out with inflamed left shoulder

Grandal out with inflamed left shoulder

ANAHEIM -- An MRI exam on Tuesday revealed that Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has inflammation in his left shoulder that will keep him out of the lineup for the next few days. He will have to play through it for the rest of the season.

Grandal will need rest to get the inflammation down to a manageable level, then he will be day to day the rest of the season.

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Steve Bourbon is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.