Touch 'Em All: Twenty years later, Bucs back in first

Nearly 37,000 black-and-gold-clad fanatics thronged to PNC Park on Independence Day, and if that doesn't sound like a lot, remember that Pittsburgh's little gem of a ballpark holds barely 38,000.

As baseball rounded its traditional halfway point, the most shocking story in the sport is in a city that had nearly forgotten bats and balls.

"We're playing for a lot more [than wins] here," manager Clint Hurdle said Tuesday night. "We're playing for a city, the goal being to rebond the city with its ballclub."

The Pirates tied for first place in the NL Central on Tuesday and moved alone atop the standings with Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Astros. They are nine games over .500 for the first time since 1992, the last year they even had a winning record.

The Buccos are back.

Houston sent first baseman Carlos Lee to the Miami Marlins for third baseman Matt Dominguez and pitcher Rob Rasmussen, ESPN the Magazine reported.

Lee has a no-trade clause and declined a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. It was unclear Wednesday night whether he had agreed to move to Miami.

Boston's David Ortiz slugged his 400th home run Wednesday, putting the Red Sox designated hitter eighth among active sluggers and 49th all-time. Next up: Hall of Famer Duke Snider with 407.

The Red Sox used an irregular strategy to nail down a prospect in the recent draft.

On the morning of the draft's second day, Kyle Kraus was sitting in his room in Portland, Ore., with no expectations of hearing from a big-league team.

The 5-foot-11 righthander had been 7-6 with a 2.03 ERA as a senior with the University of Portland.

But his phone rang, and a Red Sox scout was on the line.

"He said, 'Hey, we want a senior in the seventh round that will sign for $1,000. Would you do it?' " Kraus recalled. "I said, Yeah.' "

Asked about the paucity of his bonus in a slot worth about $140,000, Kraus replied simply:

"Money is not the reason why I'm playing this game."

Dustin Pedroia's troublesome right thumb will get further tests Thursday after the Red Sox second baseman was held out of Wednesday's game in Oakland. DP tore a muscle in the thumb in late May and may have reinjured it Tuesday night trying to make a diving catch.

Andre Ethier went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left side muscle, leaving the struggling Dodgers without either of their all-star outfielders. Matt Kemp has been out since May 30.

Elsewhere: The White Sox placed reliever Jesse Crain on the 15-day disabled list (right-shoulder strain). . . . The Orioles sent second baseman Brian Roberts for further tests on his groin strain. . . . The Yankees claimed outfielder Darnell McDonald off waivers from the Red Sox. . . . Indians outfielder Shelley Duncan, whose wife is expecting twins, was placed on the paternity list Wednesday.