Easley's wheels lead Lawrence to win  —  Veteran legs out inside-the-parker; starter wins first since '05  —  MILWAUKEE — Summer day games often are a setting for the unusual, particularly those preceded by night games.  For reasons of rest, day-game lineups often are missing regulars.

Scully rises to occasion  —  Legend gives vintage treatment to milestone chases  —  Two outfielders.  Two milestones.  One Vin Scully.  —  Yes, the famed Dodgers announcer has been conducting the orchestra for some time now.  On Thursday night, he presented a movement of Barry Bonds …

Guerrero plugs into power grid  —  Right fielder hits his first home run since June 23, then hits another one, a three-run shot that looms large in two-run victory.  —  OAKLAND — The first one was a high-arc shot that barely cleared the left-field fence.  The second was a towering blast …

A BIG INNING, A BIGGER LOSS  —  YANKS SCORE 8 IN 2ND, BUT SOX SWAT RALLY  —  Jeff Karstens got the loss, but Roger Clemens should get the blame.  And Kyle Farnsworth?  He should just go away.  —  While the Yankees were knocking the tar out of the ball during nine wins in their previous 12 games …

TRAGIC MADNESS OF KING GEORGE  —  BABBLING BOSS 'SHOCKS' PAL  —  A new report paints a disturbing portrait of Yankee owner George Steinbrenner as a befuddled, bloated old man in "dreadful" shape who bears little resemblance to the once-feared Boss.  —  An apparently addled Steinbrenner …

Pirates Notebook: Jocketty could be candidate for CEO  —  The Pirates do not have a complete list of candidates for their soon-to-be vacant CEO position, but it's possible Walt Jocketty is or will be on it.  —  "I can't comment on that," Jocketty, the senior vice-president/general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, said yesterday.

Voices of Padres dread Bonds call  —  If Barry Bonds were, well, anyone but Barry Bonds, this weekend could have been special for many people, including the men who broadcast Padres games.  —  But because Bonds is who he is and has done, well, whatever he's done, the local announcers …

Contreras: Start me or trade me in 2008  —  Jose Contreras has accepted his demotion to the bullpen.  —  But if he starts next spring as a reliever, the White Sox's struggling right-hander would rather play elsewhere.  —  "If they don't want me as a starter next year, I want to be out of here," Contreras said Thursday.

Dukes in trouble again after violating court order  —  Elijah Dukes faces the prospect of jail time after being charged Thursday with a single count of violating a domestic violence injunction.  —  Dukes, optioned to the minor leagues in June by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and placed …

Jake Brown, Immortal  —  So some of you probably watched the X-games last night, and some of you probably didn't.  Well for those who didn't, you missed some amazing television.  Jake Brown, a relatively unheralded skater from Australia, had the worst fall in X-games history- maybe …

On 'Big Train's' Day, Bacsik Keeps Rolling  —  As the numbers flashed across the scoreboard in right field between innings — 417 wins, 110 shutouts, a 2.17 ERA — Washington Nationals hitting coach Lenny Harris was in the ear of his team's manager, Manny Acta.  For goodness' sake, was Harris's sentiment.

Sports Hotties You Don't Know...Yet  —  If you ask me, I think that the world of sports ladies needs an infusion of new talent.  I am personally a little tired of hearing about Natalie Gulbis, Danica Patrick, and Maria Sharapova all of the time.  So today is the day to diversify …

Beltre is making a statement as American League's best defensive third baseman  —  Adrian Beltre raced forward Wednesday night and met Vladimir Guerrero's chopper about 40 feet from home plate.  —  The Mariners third baseman scooped the ball off the grass with his bare right hand, and then he made the most impressive part of the play.