By Brett BallantiniCSNChicago.com

Leading off the second inning for the Boston Red Sox, noted slugger David Big Papi Ortiz laid down a bunt, attempting a single. Known more for clearing the table than setting it out, possibly even unable to outdash noted Chicago White Sox speedster Paul Konerko, the genial giant was retired by some two dozen steps on his sneak attack on the White Sox infield.

Later, Chicago catcher A.J. Pierzynski chided Ortiz, his former Minnesota Twins teammate, for his attempt at smallball, which earned him sunflower seeds tossed in derision from the Bosox bench.

Just a week or two ago, both Soxes were engaged in high-stakes, do-or-die fights for their playoff lives, but with both teams now eliminated from the postseason, tension gave way to relaxed play when the two teams tangled on Wednesday night.

Long after the seed wars, the White Sox used a three-run seventh to vanquish the Red Sox, 5-2. Freddy Garcia was outstanding in his final start for Chicago, hurling seven-plus innings of four-hit, two-run ball and registering his 18th quality start of the season, a percentage trailing only John Danks on the vaunted White Sox staff.

I wanted to finish strong, like I said before, show them here and everybody else I still can pitch, said Garcia, who raised his season record to 12-6 and his career mark vs. Boston to 8-2. I missed two starts with my back, but Im battling. Ive always been that way. I try to do my job, and today that was essential.

I said in spring training that if Freddys healthy, hes going to produce, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. Hes been doing that all his career. He was a very good pitcher before his shoulder injury and then he had to change everything; he was a power pitcher, and now he has to throw strikes, change speeds and be a very smart pitcher.

The winning rally began with a leadoff infield hit by Alejandro De Aza and was advanced by a soft bloop to left field by Juan Pierre. Omar Vizquel battled Red Sox starter Josh Beckett to 2-2, then lined a sharp single to center, scoring De Aza. Brent Lillibridge, subbing in the game for Carlos Quentin who withdrew with an ankle injury, then dropped down a sacrifice bunt that was so well-placed it drew an overthrow from catcher Victor Martinez, allowing Pierre to score from second. After A.J. Pierzynski was intentionally walked to load the bases, Alexei Ramirez tapped a single just out of the reach of Bosox shortstop Jed Lowrie, plating Vizquel and putting the White Sox up, 4-2.

We took advantage of Beckett, we moved guys here and there, a lot of hit and run, bunt, Guillen said. We made him throw a lot of pitches and the last couple of days weve been good at that.

But with the bases full, nobody out and Hideki Okajima on in relief of Beckett, Manny Ramirez looked at a called third strike and Mark Kotsay grounded into a double play, falling to 0-for-25 against lefthanders this season.

We even let Beckett off the hook a couple of times, Guillen said. We knew we were facing a good one, and overall we did a good job.

Scoring had opened in the fourth, the Red Sox striking with a double by Marco ScutaroBostons first hit of the gameand Ortizs two-out tapper down the left-field line, stymieing the defensive shift against him. Pierzynski answered for the White Sox in the bottom half, nudging out a towering fly that dropped mere feet beyond the 335 sign on the right-field wall.

In the eighth, Bostons Lowell slugged a solo shot that cut the White Sox lead to 4-2. Chicago countered with a couple of singles and a double-play off the bat of Pierre that plated Brent Morel and finished the games scoring at 5-2.

Matt Thornton came on for another what-new, inning-plus effort, tossing 1 1/3 perfect innings for his eighth save.

Brett
Ballantini is
CSNChicago.coms White Sox Insider. Follow him @CSNChi_Beatnik
on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Sox information.

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Garcia wins final start, reaches a dozen in 2010 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO – St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Blake Hawksworth has been hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of Cubs center fielder Sam Fuld.

Hawksworth had come in for starter Chris Carpenter in the fifth inning Saturday and was facing his second batter when Fuld’s liner hit him in the face and Hawksworth fell to the ground.

Though he initially appeared only shaken up, he remained on the ground for several minutes while trainers from both teams tended to him. He stood up with the help of the trainers and walked off the field under his own power holding a compress to his head.

His condition was not immediately available.

He was given a standing ovation by the crowd. The Cubs were ahead 5-3 at the time.

Cardinals reliever Hawksworth hit in head by liner | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

NEW YORK – Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto has been suspended for seven games for his actions during a brawl with the St. Louis Cardinals, and both managers were suspended for two games.

Major League Baseball said Thursday that Cueto, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and Reds manager Dusty Baker also were fined undisclosed amounts.

Four other players were fined but not suspended — Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter and catcher Yadier Molina, and Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and relief pitcher Russ Springer.

A fight broke out in the first inning of Tuesday’s game in Cincinnati. The Cardinals won the game and swept a three-game series to move into first place in the NL Central.

It wasn’t immediately clear if appeals were planned.

Reds P Cueto gets 7-game suspension for brawl (AP) | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

So the Florida International infielder swung away on a 3-0 count — and moved within three games of history.

Wittels extended his hitting streak to 55 games on Friday, lining a double just over the outstretched glove of Texas A&M second baseman Adam Smith to lead off the sixth inning in an opening-round game of the NCAA tournament. Wittels had gone hitless in his first two at-bats.

He could move closer to Robin Ventura’s Division I record of 58 games — set in 1987 — on Saturday, when FIU (36-24) meets either Miami or Dartmouth in the losers’ bracket of the double-elimination Coral Gables Regional.

Making their first appearance in the NCAAs since 2001, FIU lost to Texas A&M 17-3. Wittels finished 1 for 4.

Down 10-1 in the sixth, Wittels had the green light to swing on a three-ball count. The ball rose over Smith, rolling into the right-center field gap, and the smattering of FIU fans in the stands at the Miami Hurricanes’ home park gave Wittels a raucous ovation.

It was the first time in the streak that Wittels got a hit on a 3-0 count.

The Sun Belt’s player of the year, Wittels came into the NCAA tournament with a .412 average and as one of the best-known names in the college game, a stunning turnaround for a sophomore who struggled at the plate in 2009 (hitting just .246) and wasn’t even penciled into FIU’s everyday lineup when the season began.

He’s played in 55 games this season, getting a hit in every one.

Wittels hit a flyout to short right in the first, then grounded out to third base to end the third inning, shaking himself up on that play. Wittels appeared to turn his ankle in the batters’ box on the swing, came to a stop 60 feet short of first base and grabbed his right calf in obvious discomfort.

He stayed in the game, and on his next at-bat, gave the FIU faithful what they came to see.

Wittels emerged from the dugout to start the top of the sixth, hopped up and down a few times, then got settled at the plate. Time was called after he got to second, Wittels trotted over to the third-base line to remove his batting gloves, then retreated to second and eventually scored later in the inning.

Streak’s alive! Wittels gets hit in 55th straight | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitchers Jeff Gray and Ronny Morla as well as infielder/outfielder Matt Spencer from the Oakland Athletics for infielders Aaron Miles and Jake Fox and a cash consideration.

Gray has been added to Chicago’s 40-man roster.

Gray, 28, went 0-1 with a 3.76 ERA (11 ER/26.1 IP) in 24 relief appearances last season with the Athletics. The righthander walked only four batters in 26.1 innings pitched while striking out 19.

Gray did not allow an earned run in 15 of his first 19 outings, turning in a 1.71 ERA (4 ER/21.0 IP) through September 19, before allowing seven runs in his final five outings to increase his season-ending ERA to 3.76.

The six-foot-three, 196-pound Gray split the 2009 campaign between Oakland and Triple-A Sacramento. Gray went 2-2 with 16 saves and a 1.54 ERA (7 ER/41.0 IP) in 37 Triple-A relief outings.

Combined between Oakland and Sacramento last year, Gray posted a 2.41 ERA (18 ER/67.1 IP) and walked only 10 batters in 67.1 innings pitched.

Originally selected by the Athletics in the 32nd round of the 2004 June Draft, Gray made the jump from Single-A Kane County at the start of 2006 to Triple-A Sacramento by the end of 2007 before making his major league debut with Oakland in 2008.

He is 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA (15 ER/31.0 IP) in 29 career major league relief outings and is 21-21 with 36 saves and a 3.38 ERA (139 ER/370.2 IP) in 212 minor league outings (24 starts).

He has allowed only 15 home runs in 370.2 minor league innings, an average of one home run per 24.2 innings pitched.

Gray is a native of Texas City, Texas and pitched collegiately for Southwest Missouri State University.

Morla, 21, pitched last season for Single-A Vancouver and went 1-7 with a 4.86 ERA (34 ER/63.0 IP) in 17 appearances, 12 as a starter.

The six-foot-four, 200-pounder struck out 73 batters and walked 24, an average of 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings and a three-to-one strikeout to walk ratio.

Morla also allowed only four home runs in 63.0 innings pitched, an average of one home run allowed per 15.2 innings pitched.

The right-handed pitcher originally signed with the Athletics as a non-drafted free agent on February 10, 2006 and is a native of Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic.

He is 7-15 with a 4.52 ERA (99 ER/197.0 IP) in 48 appearances (36 starts) in three minor league seasons with Oakland’s rookie-level team (2007) and Vancouver (2008-09).

Spencer, 23, was originally selected by Philadelphia in the third round of the 2007 Draft and acquired by Oakland in the 2008 trade that sent pitcher Joe Blanton to the Phillies.

The left-handed batter and thrower combined to hit .289 (141-for-488) with 34 doubles, 19 home runs and 91 RBI between Single-A Stockton and Double-A Midland last season. He began the season by hitting 10 home runs in 30 games with Stockton to earn the promotion.

The six-foot-five, 240-pounder is a .281 hitter (321-for-1142) with 42 homers, 186 RBI, a .338 on-base percentage and a .463 slugging percentage in 300 career minor league contests. He played collegiately at Arizona State University.

Miles, who turns 33 on December 15, signed a two-year contract with the Cubs on December 31, 2008. He batted .185 (29-for-157) with five RBI in 74 games with the Cubs last season.

Fox, 27, batted .259 (56-for-216) with 11 home runs and 44 RBI in 82 games with the Cubs last season. He was originally selected by Chicago in the third round of the 2003 June Draft.

Cubs Acquire Right-Handed Pitcher Jeff Gray, Two More Prospects From Oakland | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Grabow, 31, combined to go 3-0 with a 3.36 ERA (27 ER/72.1 IP) last season in a career-high 75 relief appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cubs.

His season included a 3.24 ERA (9 ER/25.0 IP) in 30 games for Chicago after he was acquired with left-handed pitcher Tom Gorzelanny for pitchers Jose Ascanio and Kevin Hart, and minor league infielder Josh Harrison July 30.

All told, Grabow’s 72.1 innings of work in 2009 tied for third-most among left-handed relievers and his career-high 23 holds ranked ninth among National League pitchers.

He allowed five home runs, the fewest in any of his six full major league seasons, and limited left-handed hitters to a .222 batting average (18-for-81) and one home run. Grabow began his Cubs career with 16-consecutive scoreless appearances, spanning 13.0 innings, July 31-September 1, while stranding his first 11 inherited runners.

Originally selected by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 1997 Draft, Grabow is 20-15 with six saves, a 4.03 ERA (174 ER/388.1 IP) and 342 strikeouts compared to 179 walks in 420 major league relief appearances with the Pirates (2003-2009) and Cubs (2009).

He has stranded 176 of 236 inherited runners, as his 74.6-percent success rate ranks fifth-best among active left-handed pitchers (minimum 200 inherited runners).

Grabow has pitched in 63 or more games in each of the last six seasons, including 72 or more three times (72 in 2006, 74 in 2008 and 75 in 2009). His 149 relief outings since the start of the 2008 season are third most among left-handed pitchers behind only Pedro Feliciano (174) and Dennys Reyes (150).

The southpaw has recorded an ERA of 3.36 or better in each of his last two seasons, including a career-best 2.84 ERA in 2008 with the Pirates.

That season, he set a career mark with 76.0 innings pitched in 74 games. He has twice led the National League in percentage of inherited runners stranded, most recently done in 2006 when he allowed just seven of 40 to score (82.5 percent).

He first accomplished the feat in 2005, stranding 35 of 39 inherited runners (89.7 percent).

Chicago Cubs, Left-Handed Pitcher John Grabow Agree to Terms on Two-Year Contract | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The 26-year-old Diamond is 2-3 with a 4.20 ERA (26 ER/55.2 IP) and one save in 38 games (one start) with Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. He went 1-0 with a 6.55 ERA (8 ER/11.0 IP) in six games (one start) in the first Triple-A action of his career, April 10-May 1.

The 6-3, 230-pounder was sidelined, May 1-May 12, with right-shoulder tendinitis.

Diamond was selected by the Rangers in the first round (10th overall) of the 2004 June Draft out of the University of New Orleans. Following that season, he was rated as the top prospect in the organization by Baseball America.

Diamond was named the Nolan Ryan Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2005, after going 13-4 with a 3.53 ERA (59 ER/150.1 IP) and 169 strikeouts in 28 starts between Single-A Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco. With Bakersfield, he boasted an 8-0 mark with a shutout, a 1.99 ERA (18 ER/81.1 IP) and 101 strikeouts in 14 starts.

The New Orleans, Louisiana native did not play in the 2007 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March of that year.

Overall in 117 minor league games (77 starts), Diamond is 31-17 with two saves and a 4.01 ERA (194 ER/435.0 IP). Diamond has struck out 487 compared to issuing just 241 walks.

Chicago’s 40-man roster now stands at 39 players.

Chicago Cubs Claim Right-Handed Pitcher Thomas Diamond Off Waivers from Texas Rangers | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Caridad, who wears uniform No. 33, is available for today’s game at Citi Field against the New York Mets at 12:10 p.m. CT. The Cubs now have 31 players on their active roster.

The 25-year-old Caridad begins his second stint with Chicago after his contract was selected from August 10. He made his major league debut out of the bullpen with three relief outings before he was optioned back to Iowa August 25. He has no record with a 3.68 ERA (3 ER/7.1 IP), walking one and striking out eight, and his most recent big league outing was August 20 at Los Angeles (1.0 IP).

Caridad has spent the majority of the year with Triple-A Iowa, posting a 5-10 record with a 4.17 ERA (61 ER/131.2 IP) in 25 starts. He struck out 114 batters, good for an average of 7.7 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched, while walking just 46. Caridad limited right-handed hitters to a .223 batting average and walked two or fewer in 17 of his 25 outings.

Originally signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent prior to the 2008 season, Caridad split last year between Single-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee. He combined to go 13-7 with a 3.73 ERA (63 ER/152.0 IP) in 28 appearances, all but one as a starter, between the two spots. He also pitched for Mesa in the 2008 Arizona Fall League, going 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA (7 ER/16.0 IP) in 10 appearances.

A native of Haina, Dominican Republic, the 5-foot-10, 193-pound Caridad spent the majority of the 2007 season with the Hiroshima Carp’s Dominican Academy, though he did make two scoreless relief appearances for Hiroshima in Japan that year. The Cubs signed Caridad following that season upon the recommendation.

Chicago Cubs Recall Right-Handed Pitcher Esmailin Caridad from AAA Iowa | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Atkins, who will wear uniform number 60, joins his first major league roster and is available for this afternoon’s game against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field.

The 23-year-old Atkins is 6-10 with a 6.92 ERA (83 ER/108.0 IP) in 20 starts for Iowa this season, his first season pitching exclusively at the Triple-A level prior to today’s call-up.

Atkins was named the 2008 Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 17-7 with a 4.00 ERA (73 ER/164.1 IP) and 132 strikeouts in 28 starts between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa last year, leading all Cubs minor leaguers in wins and strikeouts. He earned Southern League mid-season All-Star honors, going 9-6 with a 3.76 ERA (46 ER/110.0 IP) in 18 starts at Double-A before his promotion to Iowa. Atkins recorded a 12-game winning streak between Tennessee and Iowa June 15-August 14.

The six-foot-three, 230-pound Atkins is 50-37 with a 4.34 ERA (316 ER/654.2 IP) in 125 minor league appearances, all but five as a starting pitcher. A native of Browns Summit, NC, Atkins was originally selected by the Cubs in the seventh round of the 2004 Draft out of Northeast Guilford (NC) High School.

Stevens has no record and a 2.84 ERA (2 ER/6.1 IP) in five relief appearances for the Cubs this season. He is 0-3 with two saves and a 2.18 ERA (10 ER/41.1 IP) in 30 relief appearances for Iowa this year.

Chicago Cubs Recall Right-Handed Pitcher Mitch Atkins, Option Righthander Jeff Stevens to Triple-A Iowa | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Stevens, who will wear uniform number 52, is available for this afternoon’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Stevens joins the first major league roster of his professional career.

The 25-year-old Stevens is 0-3 with two saves and a 2.18 ERA (10 ER/41.1 IP) in 30 relief appearances for Iowa this season. He has limited opponents to a .171 batting average, including a .157 mark by right-handed hitters and a .205 mark by left-handed hitters. Stevens has struck out 43 batters in 41.1 innings, an average of 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He has allowed only one home run in 41.1 innings.

Acquired from Cleveland with two additional pitching prospects for Mark DeRosa last December 31, Stevens is 24-21 with 11 saves and a 3.36 ERA (132 ER/353.1 IP) in 158 minor league appearances (29 starts). Since pitching exclusively in relief starting in 2007, Stevens has posted a 2.80 ERA (57 ER/183.0 IP) in 115 appearances. He has struck out 226 batters in 183.0 innings, an average of 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Stevens combined to go 5-4 with a 3.24 ERA (21 ER/58.1 IP), six saves and a .184 batting average against in 36 relief appearances between Cleveland’s Double-A Akron and Triple-A Buffalo affiliates in 2008. He also pitched for the United States Olympic Baseball team that won the bronze medal in Beijing last summer.

A native of Berkeley, CA, the six-foot-two, 205-pound Stevens attended Loyola Marymount University and was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth round of the 2005 Draft. He was traded by the Reds to the Indians for infielder Brandon Phillips in 2006.

Chicago Cubs Recall Right-Handed Pitcher Jeff Stevens from Triple-A Iowa | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.