Kent, Martin Homer for Dodgers in Win

Girl undergoes surgery; Dodgers' Martin offers to pay

(NEWSER) - A 3-year-old girl underwent surgery today to repair a skull fracture suffered when a line drive screamed into the Dodger Stadium stands. Dodgers catcher Russell Martin smacked the ball past third base at about 5:30 last night, the LA Times reports. Her father was seen carrying her unresponsive body to a first aid station, while a tearful Martin looked on and shook his head. He has offered to pay the child's medical expenses. More»

(NEWSER) - The Dodgers cut Philadelphia's NLCS lead to 2-1 tonight, riding a 5-run first inning and the mental boost of a bench-clearing standoff to a 7-2 victory in front of a record Dodger Stadium crowd of 56,800. The teams exchanged errant pitches in the second and third innings before the benches and bullpens emptied for a spell of shouting and sniping but no violence or ejections, the LA Times reports. More»

(NEWSER) - The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the NL West today before they even got on the field. Because the Arizona Diamondbacks lost to St. Louis, the Dodgers are assured of their first division title in 4 years, the LA Times reports. "The main goal is to get to the World Series," said big-name acquisition Manny Ramirez. The Dodgers and the LA Angels are the only teams to clinch NL berths so far. More»

Outfielders go noisily, quietly

(NEWSER) - The Red Sox traded Manny Ramirez at the deadline today, shipping the disgruntled outfielder to the Dodgers in a three-way deal that sends outfielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh to Boston, reports New England Sports Network. Earlier, Ken Griffey Jr. agreed to a trade from the Reds to the White Sox, boosting the odds that the 20-year veteran will finally play in a World Series, Fox Sports reports. More»

Rays at the head of the class—Rockies, Marlins at the back

(NEWSER) - Report card time! Here’s how the rambunctious kids of MLB are doing so far, in Yahoo Sports’ Steven Henson’s estimation. A students—Rays, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, White Sox Particular kudos go to the Rays, the poor kid who went to the head of the class. B students—Cardinals, Brewers, Twins, Phillies, Yankees, Athletics, Marlins, Orioles The Cardinals have a slight edge in the wildcard race. The Yankees, meanwhile, barely scrape together a B. More»