Lannan Receives Plenty Of Help  —  Rookie Earns First Victory : Nationals 7, Reds 2  —  Good or bad, Washington Nationals starting pitcher John Lannan said it didn't matter.  As he entered last night's game with the Cincinnati Reds, he simply wanted to give fans something else to talk about.

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.

Analysis: Why trade for Morris now?  —  Job security surely a factor for Littlefield in seeking another quick fix  —  Let this much be clear, in the aftermath of the Pirates' sudden, stunning acquisition of pitcher Matt Morris that made him the highest-paid player in franchise history:

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.

The dismantling of the Yankee empire  —  YES Network is the MVP of Steinbrenner's business empire, and it's for sale, report Fortune's Jon Birger and Tim Arango.  Will the team end up on the block too?  His son Hal says no.  —  NEW YORK (Fortune) — The New York Yankees' cable network …

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 …

Baseball Gets Into Resale of Tickets  —  Major League Baseball once frowned on scalping, the resale of tickets among fans and sidewalk entrepreneurs.  On Thursday, professional baseball will announce plans to get into the business.  —  In a nod to the growing strength of Internet ticket exchanges …

Late bloomers  —  Sox score four in seventh to overtake Orioles  —  Jonathan Papelbon wasn't looking over his shoulder in the ninth inning last night, even as No. 83 in your program, Eric Gagne, began throwing in the Red Sox bullpen.  —  Papelbon, the once and future closer …

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.

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.

Mets' Perez is striking figure  —  There is the good Oliver Perez and the bad Oliver Perez.  —  The good Oliver Perez is the one who records strikeouts at a breathtaking pace between hurdles across the foul line.  The bad Oliver Perez is the one who self-destructs, losing his control and his head …

Breaking down trade deadline's winners and losers  —  Was that the deadline that just went by?  Or the deadly?  —  Unless you're the most hardcore of baseball fans, you probably fell asleep about the time the trade deadline rolled around Tuesday afternoon.

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.

The Orioles have a new fan: Leroy the Duck  —  OK, OK.  I have to confess, I held out on posting a video yesterday because I felt a bit badly for the individual who posted it.  I mean, surely, someone can't love producing a daily videocast on Baltimore Orioles baseball for free, right?

Sheffield to see doctor about shoulder  —  Right shoulder continues to bother Tigers slugger  —  OAKLAND — A week after Gary Sheffield received a cortisone shot in his aching right shoulder, it's bothering him again.  This time, it's creating a lot more worry.

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 …

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.