NL Central race quickly gets a lot more interesting

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The Chicago Cubs couldn't let their neighbors to the north, theMilwaukee Brewers, improve their pitching staff without a response.
So they made a move — a bold move — yesterday, acquiring frontline starting pitcher Rich Harden along with pitcher Chad Gaudin from the Oakland A's.
"This gives us another weapon," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella, whowatched last year's closer, Ryan Dempster , improve to 10-0 at home with his victory against Cincinnati lastnight. "This shows the Cubs are going to do everything in theirpower to get where we want to go,"
That would be to become Worlds Series champions for the first timein 100 years.
Chicago GM Jim Hendry insisted the trade was not a "reaction move."
"We would have gladly had Rich two or three weeks ago," saidHendry, noting that CC Sabathia , who went to the Brewers on Monday, and Harden were the best twopitchers being shopped by other teams.
In return, Oakland general manager Billy Beane did what he doesbest, collecting four players with talent enough to pay dividends.At the time of the trade, the A's were six games behind the LosAngeles Angels of Anaheim in the AL West and 3 1/2 games behindBoston in the AL wild-card race.
Oakland gained a game on the Angels last night, getting a superbpitching performance from All-Star Justin Duchscherer , who fired a two-hitter in a 2-0 victory against Seattle. In hisfirst complete game, the right-hander allowed only a two-out doubleto Richie Sexson in the fifth and a leadoff single by Miguel Cairo in the sixth.
Beane said he believed his team was taking a "step forward for thenext three to five years," with the acquisition of right-hander Sean Gallagher , outfielders Matt Murton and Eric Patterson and minor league catcher Josh Donaldson.
Harden, who has been on the DL six times in six seasons, mostrecently with shoulder strain, is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA and canbecome a free agent after next season.
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti wonders if Beane knows something about Harden the Cubs might not .
Gaudin could also become a big factor for the Cubs. He's 5-3 with a3.59 ERA in 26 games (six starts) this season.
In Gallagher, the A's are getting a promising right-hander who hasgone 3-4, 4.45 in 12 games (10 starts) this season.
Murton has been unable to win consistent time in the Chicagooutfield. Patterson, brother of Corey Patterson , has hit .237 in 38 at-bats for the Cubs.
Oakland made another key off-field move yesterday, signing the 12thpick in the June draft, Jemile Weeks , with a $1.91 million bonus. Weeks, who starred at the Universityof Miami, is the brother of Milwaukee second baseman Rickie Weeks .
Meanwhile, in Chicago, Dempster became the first Cubs pitcher sinceRick Reuschel in 1977 to win his first 10 decisions at home. Mike Fontenot and Geovany Soto homered in the 7-3 victory.
CC's debut
CC Sabathia wasn't perfect but he was good enough to win his debut for theMilwaukee Brewers, giving up two earned runs in six innings of a7-3 victory against Colorado.
Staked to a 4-1 lead, he gave up a two-run double to Yorvit Torrealba but exited with a 4-3 lead. He helped himself out of the inning,grabbing a Jayson Nix liner and throwing to third to double off Scott Podsednik .
Ryan Braun 's 22nd homer, a three-run shot off Mark Redman , helped Sabathia to the early lead.
AL East tightens
It's unusual for the Red Sox to be rooting for a Yankees victory,but that's the situation they'll be in for a second straight gameon Wednesday.
Boston got its wish Tuesday as the Yanks got eight shutout inningsfrom Andy Pettitte on their way to a 5-0 victory against first-place Tampa Bay. Manny Ramirez keyed a four-run eighth inning with a two-run homer as Bostonrallied for a 6-5 victory against Minnesota and pulled to withinthree games of the division-leading Rays.
In New York, Derek Jeter doubled home an early run against Rays All-Star Scott Kazmir and preserved a two-run lead in the seventh getting a force playon Willy Aybar 's grounder to the outfield grass beyond the shortstop hole. Kazmirstuck out nine, including seven of the first 10 batters he faced
At Boston, after Ramirez homered, Kevin Youkilis doubled and Brandon Moss singled him home with the running run. Jonathan Papelbon struck out pinch-hitter Jason Kubel and got Alexi Casilla to ground out, stranding Nick Punto at third for his 27th save.
Pitching stars
Arizona's Brandon Webb became the majors' first 13-game winner, hurling six shutoutinnings in the Diamondbacks' 2-0 victory at Washington. Chad Qualls , Tony Pena and Brandon Lyon supported Webb (13-4) with three perfect innings of relief.… In similar fashion, Joel Pineiro (3-4) and three relievers combined on a six-hit shutout as theCardinals blanked the slumping Phillies 2-0. Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick homered for the only runs against Cole Hamels (9-6). … Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey permitted just three hits over seven innings in New York's 7-0victory against the Giants. New York beat All-Star Tim Lincecum (10-2) who had gone 6-0 in 12 starts since April 29. Pelfrey isunbeaten in eight starts since May 26.
Hitting stars
Miguel Cabrera homered twice and Marcus Thames cracked his 17th of the season to back the pitching of Justin Verlander as the Tigers sent Cleveland to its ninth consecutive loss, 9-2 atDetroit. Verlander is 4-0 since starting the season 2-9. …Another Cabrera — White Sox shortstop Orlando —delivered Alexei Ramirez with a hit-and-run double, lifting Chicagoto its 8-7, 13-inning win at Kansas City. … All-Star catcher Brian McCann homered twice and Yunel Escobar clocked a three-run double as Atlanta bounced back offensivelywith a 9-3 victory against the Dodgers. After being one-hit byHuroki Kuroda on Monday, Atlanta was held hitless by LA's Chad Billingsley until its bats came to life in the fifth inning. … Adam LaRoche went 3-for-4 with a home run and Nate McLouth capped a three-run eighth inning with a two-run single as thePirates came from behind to send Houston to its seventh loss ineight games, 4-3.
Young guns
The Texas Rangers handed lefty Matt Harrison the ball and the 22-year-old lefty went seven strong innings towin his big league debut, 3-2 against the Angels and All-Star Joe Saunders (12-5).
Josh Hamilton had his big league-best 87th RBI for the Rangers, who planned tocall up Michael Ballard to start today's game. If they do, they'llbe the first team since Milwaukee in 2002 (Ben Diggins, DavePember) to have rookie pitchers debut in consecutive games.
Meanwhile, the Padres called up three players from Triple-APortland (Ore.), plugged them into the starting lineup, then wentout and ended a nine-game home losing streak with a 10-1 demolitionof the Marlins.
Chase Headley led the young guns with three hits and four RBI. Brian Myrow hit his first major league homer — a pinch-hit shot in theseventh. Rookie catcher Nick Hundley picked up his first RBI with a sacrifice fly.
Good injury news
An MRI on the right knee of Tigers left-hander Dontrelle Willis revealed tendinitis but no structural damage. Willis is expectedto return to Lakeland, Fla., to work on his control. Signed to athree-year, $29 million deal after his acquisition from Florida,Willis began the season with 21 walks in his first 11 1/3 innings.… The Angels learned that catcher Mike Napoli 's shoulder is irritated and won't require season-ending surgery.
Noteworthy notes
Emergency crews worked feverishly to mop up the outfield and repairthe warning track at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium after nearlythree inches of rain fell in a half hour yesterday afternoon. Waterreached both clubhouses. The problem was caused by a temporarywall, part of a $250 million renovation project underway at the35-year-old stadium. … Vladimir Guerrero , left off the AL All-Star roster, made it official that he willnot go to New York to defend his title in the Home Run Derby nextweek. Ryan Braun yesterday joined Chase Utley , Dan Uggla , Lance Berkman , Grady Sizemore and Josh Hamilton as confirmed participants. … Nationals starter Odalis Perez was ejected for arguing a balk call in the third inning ofWashington's 2-0 loss to Arizona. Washington, losers of sixstraight, has been shut out 11 times this season. …Philadelphia has lost nine of 11 at home and its NL East lead isdown to 1 1/2 games. … Chipper Jones went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts as his average dropped to .379.
Fenway South
The Naples Daily News reported Tuesday that the Red Sox talking to Lee County, Florida,officials about building a new spring training facility, complete with 37-foot Green Monster and a Pesky Pole in right . The Red Sox currently train within the county in Fort Myers butare being pursued by Sarasota, which is losing the Cincinnati Reds.
Hairy situation
The Yankees are making the most of Jason Giambi 's mustache, giving away replica Giambi staches to 20,000 customersat today's game against Tampa Bay. The giveaway is in conjunctionwith the team's "Support the Stache" initiative to get Giambi ontothe AL All-Star Game roster via the ongoing fan vote. The Yankeesare also giving away five Giambi-autographed prizes to fans whovote at their online site www.yankees.com . "Just think of it — the Big G, a fashion icon," it said.
Giambi, who is batting only .256, but has 18 homers and 53 RBI. Heis one of five AL candidates in the voting which concludesThursday.
Save the name
NASCAR driver Robby Gordon will have a car of interest to Cubs fansat Saturday night's Lifelock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Gordon's No. 7 Jim Beam Dodge will carry the message of SaveOurName.com thanks to Beam's "TheStuff Inside" campaign. The www.saveourname.com website is dedicated to urging fans to sign a petition to save thename Wrigley Field. "This is right in line with Beam's mission tochampion people with 'The Stuff Inside,'" Gordon said. "PuttingSaveOurName.com on the hood of the car is my way of showing supportfor the Chicago community and I'm excited to help spread the word."
How boring
Tigers manager Jim Leyland called Sunday's 15-inning victory atSeattle one of the most boring games he'd witnessed. "I'd ratherwatch the Perrysburg water tower rust," Leyland told writers,referring to his Ohio hometown. "But it turned out great. I evenhad a beer after the game — and I don't drink beer."