Sosa's role reduced to reserve  —  Rangers want to look at Botts as designated hitter  —  CLEVELAND — Sammy Sosa, fifth on baseball's all-time home run list and the Rangers' leader in RBIs, will ride out the final two months of the season as a reserve outfielder and occasional pinch-hitter.

One Base Red Sox  —  The Red Sox picked up five hits and drew five walks through six innings against Steve Trachsel, but have scored just one run.  All five hits went for singles, and the walks are concentrated in two batters, Ortiz(2) and Crisp(3).  They're getting runners on, but they're not supplying any power to move them along.

Twins-Royals postponed on Thursday  —  Groundbreaking ceremony, game on hold after bridge collapse  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Thursday's Twins-Royals afternoon game has been postponed in light of the tragic I-35W bridge collapse that took place in Minneapolis on Wednesday night.

Bell stepping down as Royals skipper  —  Manager will stay on through season's end, then assist Moore  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Buddy Bell has decided to step down as Royals manager at the end of this season.  —  Bell made the surprising announcement Wednesday afternoon at the Metrodome, where the Royals are playing the Twins.

Franco designated for assignment  —  Braves clear roster spots for bullpen newcomers Dotel and Mahay  —  Julio Franco was designated for assignment by the Braves on Wednesday, but that doesn't necessarily mean the popular first baseman's playing career with the Braves is over.

First and goal: Stay there  —  Bases-loaded wild pitch in 9th lifts Cubs into Central tie  —  The more Lou Piniella tries to temper everyone's enthusiasm, the more it seems to backfire on him.  —  After the Cubs beat Philadelphia 5-4 Wednesday night on Brett Myers' bases-loaded wild pitch …

Selig to skip Bonds' series finale vs. Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig will follow Barry Bonds' home run chase through the San Francisco Giants' weekend series in San Diego.  —  Bonds entered Wednesday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with 754 home runs, one short of tying Hank Aaron's record.

Pirates Notebook: Wilson deal was close, still being discussed  —  The Pirates and Detroit yesterday continued talks aimed at trading shortstop Jack Wilson to the Tigers, multiple sources confirmed.  —  The sides failed to close by Major League Baseball's 4 p.m. Tuesday deadline for non-waiver trades …

The Washington Nationals  —  The transcript follows.  —  Svrluga covers the Nationals beat for The Post and writes the Nationals Journal blog for washingtonpost.com.  He's also the author of "National Pastime: Sports, Politics, and the Return of Baseball to Washington, D.C."  —  Discussion Archive

Angels rally, then lose in 12th  —  Matthews ties it with two-out home run in ninth, but Mariners come away with 8-7 win.  —  SEATTLE — A bizarre night that included wobbly performances from two of baseball's best closers and a check-swing double from Vladimir Guerrero that never left …

Cubs bidder builds roster  —  Canning assembling formidable group for possible team offer  —  Chicago private-equity titan John Canning may be the early favorite in the high-stakes bidding contest for the Chicago Cubs.  But he's taking no chances.  —  The Tribune has learned that Canning …

Schilling says he's ready to go  —  After strong rehab start, veteran could rejoin Red Sox's rotation  —  COLUMBUS, OHIO — Curt Schilling said he knew by the fifth inning.  —  But the veteran pitcher went another two frames for the heck of it, proving he is ready to rejoin his Boston teammates …

Dye, Sox talk about new deal  —  Hints he'd take less money to stay here  —  NEW YORK — Right fielder Jermaine Dye will remain a part of the White Sox's immediate future, and maybe longer than the final two months of the season.  —  Less than an hour after Tuesday's non-waiver trading deadline …