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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …