Cubs' Alfonso Soriano out 2-to-4 weeks after injuring quad running the bases against the Mets  —  CHICAGO (AP) -Chicago Cubs star left fielder Alfonso Soriano strained his right quadriceps during Sunday's 8-3 loss to the New York Mets and will be sidelined 2-to-4 weeks.

Former Husker pitcher called up to New York Yankees  —  Joba Chamberlain has been summoned to the major leagues and is scheduled to pitch in relief of Roger Clemens Tuesday night as the New York Yankees visit the Toronto Blue Jays.  —  Chamberlain, a 21-year-old former Nebraska All-American …

Return engagement  —  Last week, in a trade deadline deal, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein made the best bullpen in baseball even better by landing closer Eric Gagne from the Texas Rangers.  Tonight, he and the Red Sox work on the other end of the pitching staff, as the best starting rotation …

Grit your teeth and give Young his due … Tampa Bay Devil Rays' Delmon Young connects for an RBI double.  —  ST. PETERSBURG - He is not a particularly patient man, which makes him something of a revelation on a team that is forever talking of tomorrow.  —  He wants to hit - this next pitch.

Sox sign Kielty  —  The Red Sox have signed outfielder Bobby Kielty to a minor league deal.  He is expected to report to Pawtucket to join the PawSox on Wednesday.  —  Kielty was released by the Athletics on Aug. 1.  He hit .200 in 13 games for Oakland this season and spent a significant amount …

Yankees beat Jays, run win streak to 4  —  TORONTO (AP) — Jesse Litsch's first pitch of the second inning went behind Alex Rodriguez's legs, an apparent message.  The Yankees responded with some hard play — and another win.  —  Robinson Cano hit a go-ahead, two-run double in a four-run sixth inning …

EXCLUSIVE: Barry Bonds' Home Run Record Tainted by Mechanical Device?  —  NEW YORK (Commentary) Beyond his alleged steroid use, Barry Bonds is guilty of the use of something that confers extraordinarily unfair mechanical advantage: the "armor" that he wears on his right elbow.

Prospect Hot Sheet: Aug. 6  —  It's easy to do a double-take when you see a 1990 birthdate.  But let's not focus on how if he were in high school, Triunfel would be entering his junior year.  Or how Roger Clemens already had 95 wins when Triunfel was born.

Byrd, Hafner help Tribe split with Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Cleveland's "Byrd Man" put the hard-charging Minnesota Twins on ice Monday night, giving the Indians' struggling offense a much needed breather.  —  Paul Byrd's first shutout in more than two years and Travis Hafner's homer helped …

Umpires reject MLB request for background checks  —  The Major League Baseball umpires union said Monday that it is refusing to cooperate with a request for background checks from commissioner Bud Selig's office, calling the initiative a "knee-jerk, misguided witch hunt" …

Wells gets Bonds' signature on rare ball  —  Padres pitcher now has top three homer hitters' autographs  —  SAN DIEGO — Padres left-hander David Wells is a baseball collector of sorts and one of his prize possessions just grew a lot more valuable.  —  Wells has an old, grainy …

Philly To Welcome Russians With, Uh, Vodka  —  Hey, guess who's in town later this week!  The Russian national baseball team!  And guess who they're playing!  An adult men's [softball] baseball team from Philly!  And... oh, just read the item from Inqlings.

Paul to Willie: &#%* play me!  —  CHICAGO - Paul Lo Duca was thrilled to catch Tom Glavine's 300th win.  It nearly didn't happen, though.  —  Lo Duca talked his way into last night's lineup during an intense conversation with Willie Randolph in the visitors' dugout before batting practice …