Street was finally trusted with the ninth inning work Wednesday

Injuries, moves, rumors and newsmakers...

The Cards get big games from unexpected names; August-to-August, it's been a great year for Nick Markakis; Huston Street finally lands another save; the Diamondbacks shake up their roster; the Tigers promote a top prospect; and more...
 

  CARDINALS SOAR

Righty Joel Pineiro appears to be a changed man since heading to the Cardinals in a deadline deal with the Red Sox. With his 5.02 ERA as a reliever with the Red Sox, no one could have predicted that being an impact move for the suddenly-contending Cards, but it has been.

He was immediately inserted into the rotation and has gone 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA in his three starts, and after Wednesday's strong outing against the rival Brewers, he's put together his first back-to-back 7.0-inning quality starts since September 6 and 12 of 2005.

Further good news for the Cards is the mini-hot-streak of third baseman Scott Rolen, whose bat has been soft all season. He followed up Tuesday's 2-for-5 with a 4-for-5 night on Wednesday, going a triple shy of the cycle.

Rolen and the Cardinals are suddenly within 3.5 games of the NL-Central-leading Brew Crew and look for a huge sweep in Milwaukee Thursday afternoon.

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  ON THE MARKAKIS

Someone please tell us when Nick Markakis learned to steal bases. As a rookie last year, he swiped just two in as many attempts, but the breakthrough right-fielder stole his 16th of the year Wednesday afternoon in his 20th attempt. His 16 steals are not just a career high in the majors but for his pro career.

While we're at it, let's also talk about the 2003 first-rounder's .300 average, which he reached after Wednesday's 3-for-5, and the 100 RBIs he's on pace for. After a rough start to his career early last season, here's what he's done in the last calendar year: .295 AVG, 97 R, 42 2B, 22 HR and 99 RBIs. That looks like a young star in the making to us.

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ATHLETICS 
It would appear that Huston Street may finally have his closer's role back. Since coming off the DL July 23, setup man Alan Embree has done a good job of nailing down saves, as the A's took it slow bringing their young closer back into big-time pressure situations. But Wednesday night, Embree was used in the eighth inning, earning a hold despite allowing a couple of runs, while Street came on in the ninth and tossed a perfect inning with three strikeouts for a decisive save, his first since May 6.

BREWERS 
In the midst of a nasty August funk, big reliever Chris Spurling has been designated for assignment. Rather than calling up another arm to replace him, the Brewers decided to deepen their bench by bringing back outfielder Gabe Gross, who hit .355 with four homers and 10 RBIs in 20 games for Triple-A Nashville since being sent down on July 21... Meanwhile, NL home-run leader Prince Fielder was dealt a three-game suspension on Wednesday due to an incident with an umpire that occurred on Sunday. Having appealed the ruling, he'll remain in the lineup for now.

DEVIL RAYS 
The top pick of the 2007 draft signed as the August 15 deadline came dangerously close on Wednesday. Lefty David Price becomes one of the game's top prospects after signing for six years and $11.25 million. Always struggling for pitching, the former Vanderbilt star is just what the Rays need and could find himself fast-tracked.

DIAMONDBACKS 
Byung-Hyun Kim's second stint with the Diamondbacks was a short one, and a train wreck at that. Two starts and less than two weeks after he was claimed from the Marlins, he's been released. In those two outings, he wasn't able to get out of the third inning in either and was yanked after just one out in the first on Tuesday, allowing a total of nine runs (seven earned) in 2.2 innings. Oddly, he had been pitching fairly well with the Fish before they let him go, so he should resurface elsewhere fairly soon. The club is expected to recall young righty Yusmeiro Petit to replace him in the rotation on Sunday. Also, the D'backs designated for assignment lefty Joe Kennedy, while calling up reliever Jailen Peguero and outfielder Jeff Salazar, who will take a reserve role... Meanwhile, third baseman Chad Tracy has been dealing with a sore knee for about a month now and it finally got him placed on the DL on Wednesday. Hot-hitting rookie Mark Reynolds will take over at the hot corner full-time.

PADRES 
As expected, it looks like Wil Ledezma's start last week was merely a spot-start for the departed David Wells. Ledezma will head back to the bullpen, with righty Clay Hensley popping up from the minors and returning to the rotation full-time starting with Thursday's game against the rival Rockies. He'll hope he can recapture the magic that led him to a 3.56 ERA in his 29 starts in his first full season last year.

PHILLIES 
Without a quality start since July 3, a span of seven outings, Adam Eaton was placed on the DL Wednesday with shoulder inflammation, a condition which probably hampered many of his recent starts. While rookie southpaw Mike Zagurski was recalled to take Eaton's roster spot, joining the bullpen, J.D. Durbin is expected to pop back out of the 'pen to take Eaton's starting role. Durbin's had mixed results in his four starts this year.

RANGERS 
The pitching staff underwent a few changes in Texas Wednesday. In the rotation, they lost one to the DL and regained another from it. Young righty Brandon McCarthy went down with a stress fracture in his right shoulder that could keep him out for the rest of the season. It's bad timing for the big kid, who was finally heating up after a disappointing first half. On the positive side, veteran Vicente Padilla returned from the DL to make the start Wednesday and tossed 5.0 excellent innings, allowing one unearned run, striking out eight, in a no-decision. Struggling southpaw A.J. Murray was removed from the bullpen and sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma.

REDS 
Just a day after the Reds sent veteran utility infielder Mark Bellhorn back to the minors, the Reds decided they needed him again and brought him back up on Wednesday. The move was made because starting shortstop Alex Gonzalez was placed on the bereavement list. Bellhorn will again add depth to the bench while Jeff Keppinger takes Gonzalez's place at short.

ROCKIES 
Already floundering to find starters with Rodrigo Lopez and Jason Hirsh on the DL, the Rockies lost quality righty Aaron Cook to the infirmary on Wednesday, down with a strained oblique muscle. Veteran righty Elmer Dessens is expected to be called up to take Thursday's start for the Rox, while the club also acquired another veteran right-hander in Ramon Ortiz from the Twins on Wednesday... 

TIGERS 
In need of a fifth starter with lefties Kenny Rogers and Andrew Miller on the DL and the flu bug running through the clubhouse, the Tigers called up their top right-handed pitching prospect to make Wednesday's start. Just 21, Jair Jurrjens came up from Double-A Erie, where he was having a strong season, and was solid against the rival Indians. He allowed four runs on five hits through 7.0 innings and took the loss. Hopeful to have Miller back soon, this could be Jurrjens' only start for now. Reliever Yorman Bazardo was sent down to Triple-A to make room for the kid.

YANKEES 
There was a bullpen shakeup in the Bronx before Wednesday's loss to the Orioles. A couple of righties were sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in veteran Jim Brower and youngster Jeff Karstens, while donning the pinstripes anew were lefty Sean Henn and righty Edwar Ramirez. Henn has been up and down all season and will slip back into a middle-relief role, while Ramirez spent his first three weeks in the majors with the big club in July, allowing four runs in 2.1 innings. The two combined for 4.0 scoreless innings Wednesday afternoon.