Slide step  —  Sox drop another; division lead at 7  —  The fixation with the team that plays on 161st Street and River Drive in the Bronx makes it much harder for fans to abide the win-one, lose-one approach that has marked the Red Sox' play for the better part of two months.

Notes: Olsen returns from suspension  —  Left-hander pitches a bullpen session on Wednesday  —  MIAMI — After serving his two-game suspension for insubordination and conduct detrimental to the team, Scott Olsen rejoined the Marlins and the left-hander is on schedule to start on Friday.

Mets recall utilityman Anderson  —  SAN DIEGO (TICKER) — The New York Mets recalled veteran utilityman Marlon Anderson shortly after their series-ending 5-4 loss to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.  —  Anderson is expected to be with the Mets on Thursday after a weeklong stint with New Orleans - New York's Class AAA affiliate.

Gung-ho Floyd makes Piniella flinch a little  —  Cliff Floyd returned to the lineup with a pair of hits and an RBI Wednesday, after missing the last three games with a shoulder strain he suffered while attempting a diving catch Saturday.  —  The Cubs are 20-11 when Floyd starts in right field.

MELKY'S HARD WORK PAYS OFF  —  When Melky Cabrera's batting average was lean, he wasn't.  But Cabrera, one of the team's hottest hitters entering yesterday, has added bulk to his batting average while subtracting from his weight.  —  Hitting coach Kevin Long said yesterday Cabrera …

Big inning dooms Millwood, Rangers  —  Right-hander surrenders four runs in second as Texas falls  —  OAKLAND — The play was out of the Rangers' past, a vision of one of the most pivotal plays in club history.  —  Those who remember the 1996 division playoff against the New York Yankees remember …

Collaborative effort drops Phillies  —  Veterans, youngsters combine to deliver series victory  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are trying to have it all ways, infusing youth and clinging to proven product while contending for a title.  It's no easy trick for manager Grady Little …

SMITH-EREENS!  —  JOE'S MELTDOWN DOOMS MET COMEBACK  —  Ultimately it all turned out to be for naught.  It was an astonishing comeback but still inadequate.  —  Last night the Mets delivered a dramatic and stunning rally against the Padres, fighting back from a three-run deficit in the eighth inning with two outs and nobody on.

Ordonez leads Tigers past Santana, Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins were forced to take another frustrating step back, thanks to Magglio Ordonez's mastery of Johan Santana and the relentless Detroit Tigers.  —  Ordonez homered and drove in all three runs against his fellow Venezuelan …

Angels send struggling Santana to minors  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Struggling right-hander Ervin Santana was sent to the minors by the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, a day after he was shelled by Tampa Bay and lost his fifth consecutive decision.  —  Santana fell to 5-11 with a 6.22 ERA in 19 starts.

Padres shell out bucks for draft picks  —  The Padres have guaranteed a franchise-record $6.9 million to draftees this year and are still negotiating with three players chosen among the top 10 rounds.  —  The total includes $1.4 million paid to 2006 selections Matt Latos and Jeremy McBryde, two pitchers signed in May.

Angels drop second straight to Rays  —  Colon strong early, but walks get to right-hander  —  ST. PETERSBURG — There wasn't much to crow about on Wednesday night.  The pitching started strong, but it ended with a whimper.  The offense took charge, and then fell silent.