D-backs can't get bats untracked  —  Arizona manages just six hits in loss to Padres  —  PHOENIX — Although the D-backs missed Padres ace Jake Peavy Sunday afternoon, it did not matter the way Justin Germano pitched.  —  Germano, who got the start after San Diego moved back Peavy's turn …

Sox's old faces could end up in new places  —  BALTIMORE — American League Central "showdowns" with Cleveland and Detroit are looking more and more like a string of spoiler games and auditions for 2008 for the White Sox.  —  The Sox acknowledge that's their unenviable position entering …

Notes: Gotay going great as starter  —  Second baseman thriving in new role as everyday player  —  NEW YORK — It's been a tough summer for Jose Valentin.  The Mets' second baseman has been persistently plagued by a gimpy right knee, an injury that won't fully be healed without offseason surgery.

Time for Bonds To Go First Class  —  There is a way for Barry Bonds to redeem the irredeemable situation that baseball is in.  He could preserve the integrity of the game, assuming he wishes to preserve anything but himself, with a decent gesture that would earn back the public's trust.

Mets pen happy finish  —  Mets relievers know better than to crave attention.  Most of the time when they get it, it's for all the wrong reasons.  —  Now, though, it's for all the right ones.  —  The Mets got three more innings of scoreless relief yesterday - one each from Pedro Feliciano …

Phils handed 10,000th loss  —  Right-hander Eaton allows six runs in four-plus innings  —  PHILADELPHIA — Many of the Phillies' bags were packed and sitting by their lockers before Sunday's game against the Cardinals.  —  It's a standard practice of every road trip …

Jeter homers as Yankees climb over .500  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Alex Rodriguez concedes the New York Yankees have a lot of work ahead.  —  Still, winning three of four games against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to climb above .500 for the first time in more than three weeks is a nice start …

Reyes homers, Perez pitches Mets by Reds  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Oliver Perez was back on the mound for the New York Mets, and for one afternoon at least, their offense showed signs of returning to form, too.  —  Jose Reyes homered, Perez won in his return from the disabled list …

Ichiro smashes yet another barrier  —  Ichiro Suzuki was a revolutionary from the day he sent foot in the major leagues, so maybe it only stands to reason that he now has a revolutionary contract, too.  For all of the money that has been thrown around in baseball in recent years, never has so much gone to a man with so little power.

Lee ends HR drought as Cubs sweep Astros  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Derrek Lee knows the reason why the Cubs are winning now.  —  Lee broke a streak of 126 at-bats without a home run with a three-run shot in the second inning to help the Chicago Cubs complete a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 7-6 win on Sunday.

M's lose Suzuki, fall 11-7 to Tigers  —  SEATTLE (AP) — Marcus Thames made certain Sunday wouldn't be a repeat of the World Series for Jeff Weaver.  —  Thames hit a two-out, three-run homer off Weaver in the fourth inning, Justin Verlander pitched seven solid innings in Detroit's 11-7 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Pirates Notebook: Maholm tilts starters' scale  —  ATLANTA — Look at Paul Maholm as the swing vote.  —  When he pitches as well as he has in his past nine starts, the Pirates' rotation goes from having two steady contributors in Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny to a majority of three.

Bonds rips Bonds  —  SAN FRANCISCO& Remember the happy, playful Barry Bonds who welcomed one and all at the All-Star Game only five days ago?  —  He's buried under a 0 for 20 slump, including a humiliating series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that included three losses and a flurry of strikeouts …

Angels can't keep lid on Rangers  —  Teixeira's home run against Speier in 11th inning caps Texas rally, and Shields' scoreless streak is broken.  Figgins sets club record for steals.  —  The Angels won the cap-tipping contest, and the Texas Rangers won the war, ending Scot Shields' 24 2 …

SERBY'S SUNDAY Q&A WITH...RON DARLING  —  Q: The wildest story about what it was like to be young, single and a Met?  —  A: If we went to a nightclub, a restaurant or a bar, we were the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus every place we went.  We filled up the arenas, we thrilled people …

Notes: Decision looming on Otsuka  —  Young looking for extra bases; Cruz swinging with confidence  —  ANAHEIM — The Rangers are facing a Tuesday deadline with reliever Akinori Otsuka, who is still feeling discomfort in his right elbow and remains unavailable.