Brad Penny

Kerry Wood's right shoulder is bothering him again. Wood left his start early with tendinitis yesterday, but still got his first win of the season in the Chicago Cubs' 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. Pitching in 42-degree weather, Wood (1-1) said his shoulder was stiff before the game, but he loosened up and struck out a season-high eight in five innings. He was lifted after only 76 pitches because of discomfort that felt similar to what bothered him in spring training.

Brad Penny pitched more than adequately in his return to Dodger Stadium. His former protege was even better. Clayton Kershaw threw a two-hitter for his third career shutout and complete game, Juan Uribe homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers resumed their interleague schedule with a 4-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night. Kershaw (7-3) threw 112 pitches, tied a season high with 11 strikeouts and walked one in his second shutout of the season. The 23-year-old left-hander allowed a leadoff double in the third by Ryan Raburn and a one-out single in the fourth by Casper...

Kerry Wood pitched eight innings despite a shaky start, and Derrek Lee hit his 21st homer during a five-run second that lifted the Chicago Cubs over the Colorado Rockies, 5-3, last night in Denver. Wood (6-4) gave up three runs in the first inning, but allowed just three hits over the next seven. He struck out six and walked three to win for the third win in five starts since coming off the DL following a triceps strain. Sammy Sosa drove in a run and so did Nomar Garciaparra, playing his second game since the Cubs acquired him from Boston.

Derek Jeter got a standing ovation - when he came on the field for his pregame wind sprints at the start of a very long day. He didn’t give fans more to cheer about, failing to gain ground on Lou Gehrig. Jeter went 0 for 8 with a walk and remained three hits behind the Iron Horse as the Yankees swept a day-night doubleheader from the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-1 and 11-1, yesterday in New York. “I’m sure he wants to get this behind him so he doesn’t have to talk about it,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Jeff Weaver took a shutout into the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers ended an eight-game losing streak yesterday with a 7-4 victory over the Braves in Atlanta. Jason Grabowski hit a two-run homer in the Dodgers' four-run third. Alex Cora added a solo shot in the seventh as Los Angeles won for the first time since beating the Cubs May 12. Despite the losing streak, the Dodgers are still in first place in the West. Weaver (3-5) shut out the Braves before giving up a three-run homer to pinch hitter Dewayne Wise in the eighth.

DENVER -- A warm day at Coors Field helped out Brad Penny and his sore back. Penny allowed one run in six strong innings and Nomar Garciaparra hit a two-run single, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies yesterday. Penny (4-1) left after five innings in his last start because of a stiff back, but didn't seem to have any lingering effects, hitting the mid-90s with his fastball and keeping the Rockies off balance with a looping curveball. The righthander gave up three runs or fewer for the ninth time in as many starts this season, helping the...

There were plenty of deals the night before baseball's trading deadline, but the biggest may be yet to come. Los Angeles and Florida completed a six-player trade that sent Dodgers All-Star catcher Paul Lo Duca , outfielder Juan Encarnacion , and reliever Guillermo Mota to the Marlins in exchange for starter Brad Penny , first baseman Hee Seop Choi , and Double A pitcher Brad Murphy . Florida also gets cash as part of the deal....

Derek Jeter got a standing ovation - when he came on the field for his pregame wind sprints at the start of a very long day. He didn’t give fans more to cheer about, failing to gain ground on Lou Gehrig. Jeter went 0 for 8 with a walk and remained three hits behind the Iron Horse as the Yankees swept a day-night doubleheader from the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-1 and 11-1, yesterday in New York. “I’m sure he wants to get this behind him so he doesn’t have to talk about it,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

This stuff is supposed to happen at Coors Field, not Petco Park. Then again, Cory Sullivan and Colorado's other young hitters feel this is the year the Rockies ditch their reputation for being awful away from their mile-high home. The Rockies embarrassed the defending NL West champion San Diego Padres for the third straight game at sea level, chasing ace Jake Peavy during a seven-run fifth inning in yesterday's 10-4 romp. "I'd like to think we have a pretty explosive offense," Sullivan said.

Reed Johnson homered and had three hits to help the Toronto Blue Jays beat host Atlanta, 6-5, last night, extending the Braves' longest losing streak in 17 years. The Braves have dropped eight straight for the first time since April 24-May 2, 1989. Atlanta has lost 18 of 21 to drop to the bottom of the NL East. Alex Rios drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for Toronto, which rebounded from a three-game sweep by Florida over the weekend. In the eighth, Rios drove in pinch runner Eric Hinske from third with a single to left.

Reed Johnson homered and had three hits to help the Toronto Blue Jays beat host Atlanta, 6-5, last night, extending the Braves' longest losing streak in 17 years. The Braves have dropped eight straight for the first time since April 24-May 2, 1989. Atlanta has lost 18 of 21 to drop to the bottom of the NL East. Alex Rios drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for Toronto, which rebounded from a three-game sweep by Florida over the weekend. In the eighth, Rios drove in pinch runner Eric Hinske from third with a single to left.

DENVER -- A warm day at Coors Field helped out Brad Penny and his sore back. Penny allowed one run in six strong innings and Nomar Garciaparra hit a two-run single, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies yesterday. Penny (4-1) left after five innings in his last start because of a stiff back, but didn't seem to have any lingering effects, hitting the mid-90s with his fastball and keeping the Rockies off balance with a looping curveball. The righthander gave up three runs or fewer for the ninth time in as many starts this season, helping the Dodgers to their...

This stuff is supposed to happen at Coors Field, not Petco Park. Then again, Cory Sullivan and Colorado's other young hitters feel this is the year the Rockies ditch their reputation for being awful away from their mile-high home. The Rockies embarrassed the defending NL West champion San Diego Padres for the third straight game at sea level, chasing ace Jake Peavy during a seven-run fifth inning in yesterday's 10-4 romp. "I'd like to think we have a pretty explosive offense," Sullivan said.

Kerry Wood's right shoulder is bothering him again. Wood left his start early with tendinitis yesterday, but still got his first win of the season in the Chicago Cubs' 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. Pitching in 42-degree weather, Wood (1-1) said his shoulder was stiff before the game, but he loosened up and struck out a season-high eight in five innings. He was lifted after only 76 pitches because of discomfort that felt similar to what bothered him in spring training.

Kerry Wood pitched eight innings despite a shaky start, and Derrek Lee hit his 21st homer during a five-run second that lifted the Chicago Cubs over the Colorado Rockies, 5-3, last night in Denver. Wood (6-4) gave up three runs in the first inning, but allowed just three hits over the next seven. He struck out six and walked three to win for the third win in five starts since coming off the DL following a triceps strain. Sammy Sosa drove in a run and so did Nomar Garciaparra, playing his second game since the Cubs acquired him from Boston.

There were plenty of deals the night before baseball's trading deadline, but the biggest may be yet to come. Los Angeles and Florida completed a six-player trade that sent Dodgers All-Star catcher Paul Lo Duca , outfielder Juan Encarnacion , and reliever Guillermo Mota to the Marlins in exchange for starter Brad Penny , first baseman Hee Seop Choi , and Double A pitcher Brad Murphy . Florida also gets cash as part of the deal....

Brad Penny pitched more than adequately in his return to Dodger Stadium. His former protege was even better. Clayton Kershaw threw a two-hitter for his third career shutout and complete game, Juan Uribe homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers resumed their interleague schedule with a 4-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night. Kershaw (7-3) threw 112 pitches, tied a season high with 11 strikeouts and walked one in his second shutout of the season. The 23-year-old left-hander allowed a leadoff double in the third by Ryan Raburn and a one-out single in the fourth by Casper...

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff Josh Beckett's habit of hanging around the clubhouse during games is nothing new according to former Florida Marlins manager Jack McKeon. McKeon told the Palm Beach Post today that he locked the clubhouse door in 2003 to keep Beckett and Brad Penny from escaping the dugout during games. He even resorted to issuing bathroom passes. "In between innings they'd go to the clubhouse to get a drink or hang out," McKeon recalled. "I said, 'Hey, I got no rule against going up if you have to go to the bathroom or something, but get back.' A...

Jeff Weaver took a shutout into the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers ended an eight-game losing streak yesterday with a 7-4 victory over the Braves in Atlanta. Jason Grabowski hit a two-run homer in the Dodgers' four-run third. Alex Cora added a solo shot in the seventh as Los Angeles won for the first time since beating the Cubs May 12. Despite the losing streak, the Dodgers are still in first place in the West. Weaver (3-5) shut out the Braves before giving up a three-run homer to pinch hitter Dewayne Wise in the eighth.