David Wells agrees to deal with Dodgers  —  NEW YORK — David Wells is back in the pennant race with a new team: the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Wells and the Dodgers agreed to a contract Thursday and the big lefty plans to make his first start for Los Angeles on Sunday night against the Mets in New York.

Piazza's 5 RBIs power A's over Rays 12-2  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Mike Piazza hit his 424th homer, had four hits and drove in a season-high five runs, powering the Oakland Athletics to a 12-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Thursday night.  —  Piazza hit a two-run shot …

Cubs land Monroe in deal with Tigers  —  Experienced outfielder expected to produce against lefties  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Cubs, needing an experienced bat against left-handed pitching, acquired outfielder Craig Monroe from the Detroit Tigers on Thursday for a player to be named.

Hand injuries have been a problem  —  Kotchman is the latest to be sidelined, and Morales is called up from Salt Lake.  —  Hands down, this has been a strange year for injuries in the Angels infield.  —  Third baseman Chone Figgins sat out the first month of the season because of two fractured fingers …

Drew has the tools, lacks the numbers  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  He is the baseball equivalent of unreleased vasocongestion, arousing us with his limitless potential before thwarting us with his all-too limiting indifference.  —  The strong, accurate arm.  The swift, powerful legs.

Ye old ball game  —  WESTFIELD, Mass. - For his latest muse, Jim Bouton traveled back, back, back, beyond the warning track of the modern era, through the Field of Dreams cornfield and into the 19th century to a place far different from the dysfunctional clubhouse he chronicled …

AL West lead is down to one  —  Santana can't hold a 3-0 lead and Guerrero's two homers are wasted.  —  Ervin Santana has had better starts, and as anyone who has watched the enigmatic right-hander this season knows, he has had worse starts.  Far worse.  —  But mediocrity on the mound …

East the least of concerns  —  Mets drop game and series to Padres after spirited rally  —  Billy Wagner and Trevor Hoffman have a combined 867 saves.  They both blew chances on the same night for only the second time in their distinguished careers as the Mets overcame their largest deficit this season …

M's only one back  —  Seattle keeps pressure on with win over Texas  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Jose Vidro was the last guy to join the club, and the Mariners were happy to welcome him.  —  Vidro capped a seven-run sixth inning with a two-run homer Thursday night as the Mariners beat Texas 9-4 …

Rangers astonished by record night  —  Club scores 30 times; Littleton records save with 27-run lead  —  ARLINGTON — Wes Littleton got the last out, retiring Brian Roberts on a grounder to shortstop.  —  But he forgot to keep the baseball.  —  "I didn't think about it," Littleton said.

Lester update  —  Red Sox lefty Jon Lester was sent down to Double-A Portland today.  Lester is 2-0 with a 5.67 ERA in six starts since being recalled from Pawtucket on July 23.  —  Lester will miss one start and is scheduled to return to start for the Red Sox on September 2.

Pirates Notebook: Doumit has setback  —  DENVER — The Pirates will be without right fielder Ryan Doumit longer than expected.  —  A second examination of his sprained left wrist prompted the team's medical staff to order him to not use the wrist in any capacity for another week.