LAst Night's Action: Playing The Dozens

Dodgers 9, Marlins 3 - The Dodgers took out their slump frustrations on the Marlins, avoiding what would have been the first ever sweep by the Fish in Dodger Stadium. Russell Martin put on a clinic in the final game before the All Star break, reaching home on all three of his plate appearances. He smashed a two run homer in the first, singled and scored a run in the second, and notched his third run after being walked in the fourth. A fan rushed the field in the ninth, apparently unaware that just because most of the fans had left, security had not.

Yankees 12, Angels 0 - There were also a dozen runs in the LAnaheim game, but the Pinstripes didn't share any of them. Three players -- Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano -- hit three run homers. This might have been expected a few years ago, but the Halos are heading into the break on top of the AL West and the Yankees are under .500.

Beckham Watch - Our recurring "Beckham Watch" is just fun and games, but ESPN may have gone too far with the "Beckham Cam." Yup, his first game will include one camera that follows his every move, plus 18 others that will probably by focusing on him a fair amount. As excited as we are that a legit soccer star (from humble roots) is coming to town, that much attention at his first friendly seems a bit much. (That's an exhibition game, for those of you who don't know soccer lingo.) Did the boys in Bristol run out of spelling bees to cover?

Elsewhere - Dodger prospect turns some heads at All Star Futures game ... Thank you to Andrew Kamenetzky for the best sports related book review of the day. Short and sweet ... Does Deadspin have a sleek new look, or have we been on vacation for too long?

AP photo by Mark J. Terrill.