Cardinals to a 6-3 victory

NEW YORK -- Trying to boost one of the weakest lineups in the American League, the New York Yankees acquired third baseman Chase Headley from the San Diego Padres on Tuesday for rookie infielder Yangervis Solarte and minor league pitcher Rafael De Paula. Wes Hopkins Youth Jersey . Headley arrived at Yankee Stadium right around game time Tuesday night and was in uniform shaking hands with his new teammates in the dugout during the top of the second inning. Before the game, New York manager Joe Girardi said he hoped Headley would be available off the bench. After that, hell become the everyday starter at a spot thats been a question mark for the Yankees all year following the season-long suspension of Alex Rodriguez. "I dont think were getting a big thumper," general manager Brian Cashman said. "But I do think were getting an upgrade and a professional at-bat." The 30-year-old Headley, drafted by the Padres in 2005, can become a free agent after this season. The switch-hitter was batting .229 with seven homers and 32 RBIs but has a .339 average with six extra-base hits in 13 games since July 4. He was a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner two years ago, when he had a huge second half and hit .286 with 31 homers and an NL-leading 115 RBIs. He moves from a cavernous ballpark in San Diego to a homer haven in the Bronx, and the Yankees think that can help him. "You look at his last month, its been really productive. Hes swinging the bat pretty well," Girardi said. "We feel that hes in a pretty good place." Cashman said he thinks an epidural injection that Headley had toward the end of June has a lot to do with his recent improvement. Headley had been playing through a herniated disk in his back. "Once he had the epidural, it seems like its had a huge impact," Cashman said. "Hes a rental for the next two months." As part of the deal, the Padres will pay $1 million of the $3,968,443 remaining on Headleys $10,525,000 salary this year. "Ive seen Chase grow up," San Diego manager Bud Black said in Chicago, where his team was preparing to play the Cubs. "To say farewell is a tough one. Hes meant a lot to the organization." With an injury-ravaged pitching staff missing four starters, the Yankees began the day 50-48 and four games behind first-place Baltimore in the AL East. They added Brandon McCarthy to the rotation this month, obtaining him in a trade with Arizona. But its the offence thats been a major problem -- New York ranked 13th out of 15 AL teams in runs with 391. "We just keep trying to find different ways to upgrade," Cashman said. "Were open to anything." The punchless Padres (43-55) are selling off pieces and trying to build for the future even as they look for a new general manager after Josh Byrnes was fired June 22. In the interim, senior vice-president for baseball operations Omar Minaya and assistant general managers A.J. Hinch and Fred Uhlman Jr. are handling GM duties. Cashman said he spoke mostly with Hinch about the Headley deal, as well as Minaya. "It was a move that we felt was needed to move this organization forward," Hinch said in Chicago. "We thought the return was right. For 64 games of Chase Headley, we knew that the time was coming for us to move in a different direction." San Diego also traded All-Star closer Huston Street to the Angels on Friday in a six-player deal that netted four minor league prospects. The 27-year-old Solarte was an extremely pleasant surprise early in the season as Rodriguezs replacement. The switch-hitter was batting .336 as of May 14 but has hit .180 since and was sent to Triple-A for a week this month. "He really saved our bacon early this year. When we had a lot of other issues going on, he stepped up and for that were thankful," Cashman said. "But he was a player that had to be in this situation for me to get Chase Headley back." Solarte was scheduled to join the Padres during Tuesday nights game at Wrigley Field, Hinch said. Black said the Padres might play Solarte at second base. "In the last few days, as this has been getting closer, Ive looked at the scouting reports. Ive called around, checked around. This guys a baseball player. This guy knows how to play," Black said. "Well utilize him around the diamond. I like the fact that hes versatile." The 23-year-old De Paula was 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 17 starts and three relief appearances this season for Class A Tampa. The right-hander was selected for the Futures Game last year. Miles Sanders Eagles Jersey .J. -- The Houston Astros had the No. Reggie White Jersey . Long snapper Patrick Mannelly announced Friday that he is retiring after a 16-year-career with the Bears, a span in which he played in a team record 245 games and snapped the ball 2,282 times. https://www.eaglessportsgoods.com/Womens-Wes-Hopkins-Inverted-Jersey/ . A groundswell for raising the number of playoff qualifiers to seven in each conference figures to get plenty of support from the 32 owners. Most notably, Arizonas Bill Bidwill, who saw his Cardinals go 10-6 and not get in, while Green Bay (8-7-1) qualified by winning the NFC North. CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Jaime Garcias 40th win in the majors will always be special. It took a lot of hard work and more than a year to get it. The left-hander took another step in his comeback from shoulder surgery by getting a win on Saturday night, and Yadier Molina homered again in the city where hes always booed, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals evened their series at a game apiece. St. Louis has won nine of the last 10 series between the NL Central rivals. Garcia (1-0) made his second start since recovering from surgery on his labrum and rotator cuff last May. He gave up six hits and a pair of runs in 5 2-3 innings, fanning seven and retiring 12 batters in a row over one span. Although he would have liked to have stayed in the game longer, it was encouraging to get a long-awaited victory behind his name. "I didnt go as deep as I wanted to," said Garcia, who threw 55 strikes out of 75 pitches. "But its a big win for me, for the team. Obviously Im excited to go out there and feel healthy." His first five innings were very encouraging. "He had exactly what we were hoping to have, right from the top," manager Mike Matheny said. "He just couldnt stay in the game longer." Ryan Ludwick homered in the ninth off Jason Motte. Trevor Rosenthal came on with two outs and fanned Todd Frazier with two runners aboard for his 15th save in 17 chances. Molina hit a solo shot off left-hander Tony Cingrani (2-4), who has lost both of his starts since returning from the disabled list. Cingrani, who had shoulder tendinitis, has given up eight runs and 14 hits in 12 innings his last two times out. Molina also homered off Johnny Cueto for a 1-0 win on opening day in Cincinnati. Two of his five homers have come at Great American Ball Park, where he is booed by fans who remember his 2010 brawl at home plate with second baseman Brandon Phillips. "I tell them to keep booing -- just to myself," Matheny said. "It seems the louder they get, the better he gets." Jon JJay, a late addition to the Cardinals lineup, had three hits and drove in a pair of runs. Shareef Miller Youth Jersey. St. Louis was forced to change its bullpen and its lineup before the game. Left-handed reliever Kevin Siegrist went on the 15-day disabled list with strained pitching forearm. Left-hander Sam Freeman was called up from Triple-A to take his spot. Centre fielder Peter Bourjos was scratched from the lineup less than half an hour before the first pitch because of a stomach virus, prompting Matheny to change three spots in the batting order. Jay, who wasnt in the original lineup, took Bourjos place in centre. The sixth inning proved pivotal, with second baseman Mark Ellis playing a role in both halves. The Cardinals loaded the bases with a single and a pair of walks, and Ellis hit a sacrifice fly to the wall in centre. Jay singled home another run for a 4-1 lead. Phillips doubled home a run in the bottom of the inning, leaving runners on second and third. Ellis jumped and caught Devin Mesoracos liner, helping Garcia hold the lead and stay on course for his first victory since May 17 last year. "An unbelievable play," Garcia said. "A game-changer right there." The Cardinals dugout couldnt believe Ellis got the ball. "The way I saw it, it looked like he had no chance when the ball left the bat," Matheny said. "Im still surprised. It looked like he jumped twice his height." NOTES: Adam Wainwright (7-2) tries to become the NLs first eight-game winner in the series finale. Hes 6-9 with a 4.75 career ERA against Cincinnati. Mike Leake (2-3) starts for the Reds. ... 3B Matt Carpenter extended his hitting streak to six games. ... Reds RHP Mat Latos is expected to make his first rehab start at Triple-A Louisville on Sunday. He hasnt pitched all season because of torn knee cartilage and a strained forearm. The Reds want him to make at least three rehab starts before theyll consider activating him. ... RF Jay Bruce has gone 1 for 8 with four strikeouts in two games since returning from surgery to repair knee cartilage. ' ' '