Offerman charges mound, hits two with bat  —  Associated Press, Updated 6 hours ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) - Former All-Star Jose Offerman was arrested Tuesday night after charging the mound and hitting the pitcher and catcher with his bat during an independent minor league game.

Orioles pound somber Yankees 12-0  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees are used to blowouts at home, just not this way.  —  After observing a pregame moment of silence in memory of Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto, the Yankees were taken out of the game early by Daniel Cabrera and the Baltimore Orioles' bats.

Nats' sixth-round pick to attend Stanford  —  McGeary was seeking first-round money from Washington  —  NEW YORK — With pitcher Josh Smoker signed to a professional contract with the Nationals, what does that mean for left-hander Jack McGeary, the team's sixth-round pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft?

Another transaction  —  I know the Hillenbrand move confused some people yesterday, but there was certainly reasoning behind signing him and then bringing him up.  Nomar Garciaparra, who has been dealing with a strained left calf for a while, has finally had to go on the disabled list …

De Aza will get a chance to impress in center  —  MIAMI GARDENS Center fielder Alejandro De Aza has found his name in the starting lineup all six games since coming off the disabled list Aug. 8.  —  He'll undoubtedly get at least a game, perhaps two or three, off in the next few weeks …

DIFELICE IS DIMAN  —  In his first start of the season, Mike DiFelice had one of the best games of anyone for the Mets last night.  —  DiFelice got the nod behind the plate in the 5-4 victory over the Pirates because Paul Lo Duca's on the disabled list and Ramon Castro's suffering from back arthritis.

Hill Picks Up Where He Left Off, but Nats Lose  —  When the fans at RFK Stadium last saw Shawn Hill on the mound, he was twirling five no-hit innings, making another step toward taking over the top spot in the Washington Nationals' rotation.  Last night, it was as if Hill merely had pressed pause …

Notes: Murray optioned to Oklahoma  —  Southpaw reliever sent down to make room for Padilla  —  ARLINGTON — The Rangers have sent left-handed reliever A.J. Murray back to Triple-A Oklahoma.  —  Murray was optioned after the Rangers 5-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday to make room for pitcher Vicente Padilla.

This is going to hurt for a while  —  The ball bounced under Matt Kemp's glove and rolled toward the right-field wall, a shiny white mistake in an embarrassing sea of green.  —  Groans.  —  The ball flew off Matt Kemp's bat and drifted over the center-field fence, a shiny white souvenir in a triumphant sky of blue.

Braves have major opportunity this week  —  They had a chance to make up ground on their East rivals in head-to-head games last week, and the Braves fell a bit short of their goal, coming away 3-3 on their six-game trip to pastoral Shea Stadium and Philly.  —  But they sent a message to the Mets …

Saunders settles, but Halos stall in loss  —  Starter gives up four runs to Blue Jays in first inning  —  TORONTO — Pitching like a man with a Cy Young Award on his mantle and the desire to add to his collection, Roy Halladay showed the Angels why the Blue Jays still have something to chirp about.

Tigers dump Tribe to reclaim AL Central lead  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — The staggering Detroit Tigers have the AL Central all to themselves — for at least one day.  —  Magglio Ordonez hit a three-run homer in Detroit's four-run 10th inning as Detroit moved one game ahead of Cleveland …

After minor difficulties, Pedro makes pitch for major move  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Pedro Martinez is very much aware that the Mets' lead in the NL East has grown precarious.  When the righthander stepped on the mound for his second rehab start yesterday at Tradition Field …

September vacation looming for Danks  —  OAKLAND — The latest option in the White Sox's wacky rotation plans could involve skipping several of rookie John Danks' starts in September.  —  Manager Ozzie Guillen and pitching coach Don Cooper were scheduled to present a plan to general manager Ken Williams …

Voting begins for 2007's top minor leaguer  —  Every year since 1988, USA TODAY has selected a Minor League Player of the Year from among the game's top prospects.  Previous winners include Carlos Delgado (1992), Cliff Floyd (1993), Andruw Jones (1995 and 1996), Josh Beckett (2001), Prince Fielder (2003) and Francisco Liriano (2005).