Around The Horn - 8/11

The Boston Red Sox have lost 5 straight games. That's hard enough to believe, but even tougher to swallow is that it has come at the hands of the two teams with the worst records in the AL. The Sox dropped the last 2 of a series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and then were swept by the woeful KC Royals. It was KC's first sweep of Boston in a decade. Overall the Sox have lost 10 of their last 14 games, going from a 3 game lead over the Yankees to a 3 game deficit.

The Minnesota Twins are very worried about Francisco Liriano. Doctors are not optimistic he'll pitch again in 2006. Tests showed a "mild chronic strain of his ulnar collateral ligament, and a clinical exam revealed weakness and stiffness in his shoulder that is causing the soreness in his forearm near his elbow".

Mike Piazza had a nice return to Shea Stadium with the San Diego Padres this past week. Piazza received numerous ovations on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The crowd got even louder when Piazza hit a pair of home runs, including one off of Pedro Martinez.

Ervin Santana only lasted 2 batters in his start against the Indians on Thursday night. The Tribe's Jason Michaels lined a pitch off of Santana's left knee, forcing him from the game. X-rays were negative and Santana is listed as day-to-day.

Roger Clemens' victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday was the 345th of his career.