Ankiel shelved for rest of year  —  Pitcher-turned-outfielder may be ready for Spring Training 2007  —  PITTSBURGH — The Cardinals confirmed on Wednesday that pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel has undergone left knee surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2006 season.

Ortiz's money already had gone to waste … The Arizona Diamondbacks made a solid baseball decision Tuesday when they kicked Russ Ortiz to the curb — but contrary to what you'll read about this almost anywhere you look, they won't be "eating" $22 million of his salary (which appears …

Mets cruise to seventh straight victory  —  Wright goes deep, Delgado drives in three in rout of Phils  —  PHILADELPHIA — Suspense, the intangible that makes pennant races compelling, memorable and delicious, appears to be leaking from the 2006 National League East even now.

Mets are running away with NL East  —  PHILADELPHIA — Ask an '86 Met what it's like to watch his 2006 descendants, and it's like examining a genealogy tree.  That's us, is what the retro Mets must be thinking, as this year's squad has taken a 7½ game lead in the East, ready to use the summer as calisthenics for the playoffs.

Fogg sharp, bats hot as Rockies win  —  Barmes drives in three, Holliday adds two in victory  —  WASHINGTON — It was a game of slump-busting for the Rockies Tuesday night as they defeated the Nationals, 9-2, at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.  —  First, it was two individuals.

Timlin returns; Foulke put on DL  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Just as Mike Timlin and his rested shoulder rejoined the Red Sox bullpen, Keith Foulke assumed his own place on the disabled list yesterday, with an elbow issue that was labeled ``tendinitis.  Manager Terry Francona said after the game that an MRI confirmed the diagnosis.

Gagne Is Put on DL, Feels 'Helpless'  —  SAN DIEGO — With pain still flaring from a nerve in his right elbow, closer Eric Gagne will visit a neurologist today for a consultation that could include additional tests and result in new treatments.  —  The Dodgers put Gagne on the disabled list Tuesday and activated infielder Jeff Kent.

Notes: Milledge likely headed to Minors  —  Outfielder expected to be sent down to make room for Nady  —  PHILADELPHIA — The days Lastings Milledge will spend in the big leagues in the immediate future appear numbered, though the number hasn't been determined.

Parc Jarry relives a taste of its major league past  —  MONTREAL (AP) -Andre Dawson, Steve Rogers and Warren Cromartie began their major league careers at a place where a tennis stadium now stands.  —  All that now remains of Parc Jarry, the original home of the defunct Montreal Expos, is the press box and grandstand.

Reliever Santana out for the season with elbow injury  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Julio Santana will miss the rest of the season because of a right elbow injury that will require ligament reconstruction surgery to repair.  —  Signed to a one-year contract last winter in the hopes that he would strengthen …

Foster believes Griffey should give up playing center field  —  MIAMISBURG |  Former Cincinnati Reds great George Foster is not pleased with some players on his former team or the team in general.  His critical comments were specifically aimed at Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. …

2006 College Player Of The Year  —  Andrew Miller's 13-2, 2.11 season stands as a key reason for North Carolina's first College World Series berth since 1989.  But the junior lefthander would rather be known as one of many Tar Heels piled atop one another after Chad Flack's game-ending home run …

Get some PrOPS  —  A couple of years ago, economics professor and die-hard Braves fan J.C. Bradbury got sick of watching Chipper Jones rip line drive after line drive right into the gloves of the opposition.  One of his beloved Braves was having a great season at the plate and it wasn't showing …

Tribune May Be Knight-Ridder Redux: Sell Newspapers or Break Up  —  June 14 (Bloomberg) — Tribune Co., under pressure from investors to revive newspaper and television profits, may find itself on the same course that led Knight Ridder Inc. into the arms of a suitor.