Public Apology  —  Everyone has days and events in life they'd love to push the rewind button on, yesterday was one of those days.  Regardless of my opinions, thoughts and beliefs on anything Barry Bonds it was absolutely irresponsible and wrong to say what I did.

Marquis tosses brilliant three-hitter  —  Righty gets first complete game since '05; Soriano goes deep  —  CHICAGO — Jason Marquis gave the Cubs exactly what they needed Wednesday night.  —  Alfonso Soriano hit his 34th career leadoff homer to back Marquis' three-hit shutout and lift …

Paying the Price For a Plan  —  Stan Kasten is an idiot.  Admit it, that's what you want to scream.  The Washington Nationals' president gambled that his team's luck wouldn't be too bad this season.  That way, despite a payroll purge, he might avoid having a historically awful team.  So, what happens?

Smoltz, Braves beat Padres  —  It was a classic pitching matchup for the (middle) ages, and its outcome was ultimately decided by the Joneses.  —  Chipper Jones drove in the tying run, and Andruw Jones drove in the winning run on consecutive pitches in the seventh inning …

Why the defending World Series champs struggle  —  Maybe the Cardinals turn this around.  They are, after all, the Cardinals, defending World Series champions, a post-season club six of the past seven seasons, the team with perhaps the best G.M./manager/pitching coach combination in the game.

Notes: Acta says attitude is important  —  Nats skipper likes effort; hitting hasn't meshed with pitching  —  MILWAUKEE — Despite watching his team lose seven out of its first eight games on this current road trip, Nationals manager Manny Acta continues to be optimistic that his team can turn the season around.

Yankees enjoy Nieves' landmark hit  —  Backup catcher draws laughs following slump-busting single  —  NEW YORK — Wil Nieves entered Wednesday's game against the Rangers having renewed his driver's license since his last Major League hit.  —  On Wednesday, the Yankees' backup catcher recorded …

Matsuzaka sharp, BoSox top reeling Jays  —  TORONTO (AP) — Daisuke Matsuzaka won his third straight decision, Manny Ramirez hit his 476th career home run and the Boston Red Sox beat Toronto 9-3 Wednesday night to hand the Blue Jays their eighth straight loss.

Notes: Owings staying consistent  —  Rookie doesn't change his ways in Major Leagues  —  PHOENIX — You might think that a pitcher who went undefeated in 15 Triple-A starts last season might not want to change a thing when he moves to the Major League level.  —  You would be correct.

Notes: Day off for Garciaparra  —  Slumping Dodgers first baseman gets breather in Florida  —  MIAMI — Manager Grady Little tried to load the Dodgers' batting order with right-handed hitters to oppose Florida left-hander Dontrelle Willis Wednesday night, but one key right-handed bat was conspicuously absent.