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The acquisition of Jorge Cantu on Thursday spelled bad news for Texas 1B Chris Davis, who was demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City after Thursday's game against Oakland, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. This is his second demotion to the minors this season.



Oklahoma City - Chris Davis - Triple-A - Fort Worth Star-Telegram - United States

Diamondbacks OF Justin Upton, who missed Wednesday's game with a tight right hip, went 1 for 4 with a double, a walk and a run scored in his return to the lineup Thursday at Philadelphia. He's batting .418 (23 for 55) with two homers and two steals during a 14-game hitting streak.



Justin Upton - Arizona Diamondbacks - Batting average - Run - Double

A's closer Andrew Bailey, who has been sidelined by back spasms, did not pitch in Thursday's game against the Rangers. According to MLB.com, the right-hander was examined by team trainer Steve Sayles and Rangers team physician Keith Meister before the game and was diagnosed with right intercostal strain. He threw a bullpen session before the game but is still experiencing pain in his upper back. Manager Bob Geren said he "still felt it a little bit." Geren did not rule out a trip to the DL for Bailey. He is 1-3 in the year with a 1.56 ERA and 20 saves.



Bob Geren - Andrew Bailey - Disabled list - Rangers - Rangers F.C.

With the trade of closer Matt Capps to the Twins on Thursday, the Nationals have a huge gap to fill at the back end of the bullpen. Washington has not yet named Capps' successor, but the leading candidates are likely rookie Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard.



Matt Capps - Washington Nationals - Tyler Clippard - Drew Storen - Closer

With the trade of closer Matt Capps to the Twins on Thursday, the Nationals have a huge gap to fill at the back end of the bullpen. Washington has not yet named Capps' successor, but the leading candidates are likely rookie Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard.



Matt Capps - Washington Nationals - Drew Storen - Tyler Clippard - Minnesota Twins

Redskins WR Malcom Kelly took part in practice Thursday despite injuring his hamstring earlier this month. "I didn't even think I was going to practice today," Kelly told the Washington Post. "I came out today and I was running full speed. I'm not really concerned. If I was going to be out a week maybe I would be concerned. But I'm not concerned."



Washington Redskins - Washington Post - NFL - sport - Football

The Twins pulled off a trade on Thursday, acquiring closer Matt Capps in a trade with Washington. The St. Paul Pioneer Press is reporting that Capps will inherit the closer's role in Minnesota, bumping Jon Rauch to a setup role. Manager Ron Gardenhire called Rauch to notify him of the change and Rauch responded by saying he will do whatever he can to help the team win.



Matt Capps - Jon Rauch - Minnesota Twins - Ron Gardenhire - Minnesota

Marlins 1B Gaby Sanchez, who has been batting third since the Marlins promoted OF Logan Morrison from Triple-A New Orleans, went 1 for 5 at San Francisco on Thursday, making him 1 for 12 in three games out of the three hole. He's 1 for 16 over his last four games and 2 for 21 over his last five.



Gaby Sanchez - San Francisco - Florida Marlins - New Orleans - Logan Morrison

Twins RP Joesph Testa was traded along with C Wilson Ramos to the Nationals in exchange for closer Matt Capps. Testa went 2-5 with a 5.50 ERA in 36 appearances between Class A Fort Myers and Double-A New Britain.



Matt Capps - Wilson Ramos - Home - Family - Multiple Births

The Eagles and first-round pick Brandon Graham have agreed on a five-year contract. A defensive end from Michigan, Graham was selected with the 13th overall pick. Philadelphia will hold its first practice on Friday afternoon.



Brandon Graham - Philadelphia Eagles - Michigan - Defensive end - NFL

Giants SP Todd Wellemeyer, who has allowed one run on three hits in 9 1/3 innings over his last two rehab starts as he works his way back from a strained right quadriceps, will start again for Triple-A Fresno on Friday, according to MLB.com.



Todd Wellemeyer - MLB.com - Triple-A - Starting pitcher - United States

Padres SP Clayton Richard picked up his seventh win of the year on Wednesday and impressed his manager with the use of his fastball. Manager Bud Black told MLB.com that he liked how the left-hander used his fastball, especially the velocity. "I think he was more effective. He's a fastball pitcher," Black said. "There have been a number of his games this year where he moved into his velocity [as the game wore on]. [Wednesday] he had it from the outset." Richard reached as high as 94 mph on the radar gun on Wednesday. Pitching coach Darren Balsley encouraged Richard to his his fastball more, which sinks a lot and causes plenty of ground balls. "[Balsley] noticed I wasn't pitching as well with my fastball as I'm capable of," Richard said. "So we made that pitch a point of emphasis. Sometimes I was thinking too far ahead in the count and I just got away from it."



Pitcher - Bud Black - Fastball - Darren Balsley - Baseball

Giants OF Andres Torres went 0 for 4 against the Marlins on Thursday, but after he went 4 for 6 against them on Wednesday, his manager had some pretty flattering things to say about him. "I think Andres has emerged as one of the premier leadoff hitters in our league, if you look at how well he's done," Bruce Bochy told MLB.com. "He's really turned himself into a fine leadoff hitter. I'm proud of this kid, how hard he's worked and what he's done to get this opportunity. He's done a great job." Torres is batting .364 (12 for 33) with a homer and a steal over his last seven games.



Bruce Bochy - Batting average - Sports - Leadoff hitter - Andrés Torres

The Jets placed QB Erik Ainge on the reserve-non football injury list with an undisclosed illness. He is expected to compete with Kellen Clemens, Mark Brunell and Kevin O'Connell for a backup spot behind starter Mark Sanchez. It's unknown when Ainge might return to the team.



Kellen Clemens - Erik Ainge - Mark Brunell - Mark Sanchez - Kevin O'Connell

Though he remained stuck on 1,501 with an 0-for-2 performance against the Marlins on Thursday, Giants 1B Aubrey Huff collected career hit No. 1,500 on Wednesday, going 2 for 3 with a walk an RBI and two runs scored. "It's a nice accomplishment," Huff told MLB.com after the game, before adding, "I like to count the thousands, not the five hundreds."



Aubrey Huff - Run batted in - Florida Marlins - sport - Hit

The Twins acquired closer Matt Capps from the Nationals on Thursday in exchange for catching prospect Wilson Ramos and pitcher Joseph Testa. Ramos hit .241 with five homers and 30 RBI in 71 for Triple-A Rochester before being sent to Washington.



Matt Capps - Wilson Ramos - Washington Nationals - Triple-A - Home

Jets rookie RB Joe McKnight failed his conditioning run Thursday and was placed on the active non-football injury list. McKnight, the team's fourth-round pick out of Southern California, struggled with his conditioning during rookie minicamp in May, sitting out a few plays while vomiting on the field.



Southern California - Joe McKnight - Running back - United States - Rookie

The Twins acquired closer Matt Capps from the Nationals on Thursday in exchange for catching prospect Wilson Ramos and pitcher Joseph Testa. According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, manager Ron Gardenhire said that Capps, who earned his 26th save of the year in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Braves, will serve as the team's closer with Jon Rauch to become the setup man. Capps is 26 for 30 in save chances this season with a 2.74 ERA. The Nationals have not named Capps' successor yet but Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard are believed to be the leading candidates to close games.



Matt Capps - Washington Nationals - Jon Rauch - Wilson Ramos - Ron Gardenhire