Alou's homers help Mets avoid sweep  —  NEW YORK (AP) — After the Mets endured tough losses the previous two nights because of bullpen meltdowns, Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner were hoping for a chance to redeem themselves.  —  So it was appropriate that the New York bullpen found itself in another squeaker Sunday against Florida.

Mariners' Weaver blanks White Sox 6-0  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Jeff Weaver is accustomed to slow starts.  He's also getting used to dominating late in the year.  —  Weaver pitched his second shutout of the season and Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer to lead the Seattle Mariners past the Chicago White Sox 6-0 Sunday.

Tigers' Ordonez hits 2 HRs in 2nd inning  —  DETROIT (AP) — Detroit's Magglio Ordonez hit two home runs in the second inning Sunday against the Oakland Athletics, joining Hall of Famer Al Kaline as the only Tigers to accomplish the feat.  —  Ordonez led off the second by sending a low pitch over the right-field wall.

Other side of the story  —  Union: Writer got scoops with dirty tricks  —  Two recent incidents, in which players' quotes resulted in disciplinary action taken against them, have prompted the Major League Baseball Players Association to condemn the reporting tactics of USA Today baseball columnist Bob Nightengale.

BABE HOMERED WITH GIRLS, TOO  —  THE Yankees had their hands full with the Alex Rodriguez scandal a few months back, but A-Rod's alleged dalliances with a busty blonde don't hold a candle to the wild and unquenchable sex life led by home-run king Babe Ruth in the 1920s, a new book on the Bronx Bombers reveals.

ENCORE!  ENCORE!  Ankiel puts on show on offense, defense  —  They may remain waist-deep in a quicksand season, but the Cardinals and their second-chance right fielder have used the last several days to accomplish the improbable.  —  They've turned a slog into a stage for something remarkable.

CUBS IN BRIEF: Rumored deal for Podsednik dead  —  DENVER — The rumored waiver-wire trade talks between the Cubs and White Sox over Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik are dead, and, in fact, never had much of a pulse in the first place.  One source suggested the chances were never better than ''one in a thousand'' from the outset.

Final analysis: Sox may have fatal flaw  —  Ultimately, in any sport, the challenge is to execute at the most critical moments.  That is why Patriots [team stats] coach Bill Belichick is willing to give up yards, but not points.  That is why third-down conversions and red-zone efficiency are at the core of any team's success.

One Game a Week  —  Kevin Millar made the Red Sox miss him a bit as he hits a three-run homer in the bottom of the tenth to give the Orioles a 6-3 walk off win as Baltimore takes two out of three from Boston.  Once again, the bullpen, which was supposed to be strengthened at the trading deadline, falls short.

KENNEDY COULD START VS. BIRDS  —  Hot off the success neophytes Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees are "seriously" considering promoting Ian Kennedy to complete the Trinity of Pitching Prospects for Tuesday's start against the Orioles at Yankee Stadium.

Notes: Texas tries to sign Draft picks  —  1st overall pick Beaven, 44th pick Ramirez still unsigned  —  ARLINGTON — Neil Ramirez has four days left to sign with the Rangers.  He has already signed with Georgia Tech, but would rather sign with the Rangers.  —  "I'm pretty set on signing with the Rangers," he said.

Some gas for Yankees' tank  —  Battling team turns to young fireballer  —  The Yankees' fate this season still rests in the hands of Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Alex Rodriguez, and Derek Jeter, but 21-year-old fireballer Joba Chamberlain, the centerpiece of a revamped New York bullpen, is also a member of that group.

With His Bat, Abreu Is Making a Case to Stay  —  At the end of May, it seemed preposterous to think that the Yankees would pick up Bobby Abreu's $16 million option for next season.  The team was struggling, and Abreu was batting .228.  —  Now, with the Yankees surging and Abreu helping lead the way …