Ugly Outing by Mussina Casts Cloud on Future  —  In a different time, when the Yankees were touched by magic, even their horror stories had happy endings.  David Cone went from pillar to punching bag in 2000, but his season ended with a clutch relief appearance that helped win the World Series.

Anderson leads Halos past Mariners  —  Left fielder drives in three; Lackey goes nine shutout innings  —  SEATTLE — For their biggest game of the season thus far, the Angels had the right combination to throw at the Mariners.  —  John Lackey — in a diminished condition with a throat infection …

Notes: Marlins look to play spoiler  —  Club hopes to knock Braves out of playoff contention  —  MIAMI — Stuck in last place in the National League East, the Marlins are now in position of playing the role of spoiler.  —  The Braves, meanwhile, headed into Monday seven games behind …

A's Loaiza auditions well in loss  —  Esteban Loaiza made his final start of August, and we'll know soon if it was his final start with the A's.  —  Contenders have until Friday, the final day of August, to add players to their rosters and make them eligible for the postseason.

Owner needs to let new hires do their jobs … It was only a matter of time before somebody got tossed overboard by the sinking ship the 2007 Houston Astros have become.  —  And that was so clear to one and all, you can bet your commemorative Jeff Bagwell T-shirt that Tim Purpura …

Howry: Cubs fans better than Boston rooters  —  USA Today recently proclaimed the Boston Red Sox America's team in a front-page article about their rabid fan base and national following.  —  Whether Red Sox Nation is bigger or more fervent than Cubs Nation is a debate that could draw some heated arguments.

MINAYA PLANS TWO WAVES OF SEPTEMBER CALL-UPS  —  The Mets plan to make minor-league promotions in two waves — one on Saturday on the first day permitted, and the second after Triple-A New Orleans' season ends, according to Minaya.  Joe Smith and David Newhan figure to be the first call-ups …

Column: Pirates need to talk to LaCava  —  Bob Nutting says the Pittsburgh Pirates' next chief executive officer will be a baseball man and recognizable to people inside the game.  —  Who the replacement for Kevin McClatchy will be, though, is anyone's guess.  —  Nutting is one of the most low-key owners in baseball.

Irked Wright ejected  —  PHILADELPHIA - David Wright jawed with C.B. Bucknor over disputed strikes in the fourth inning last night.  And when the plate umpire called Wright out on strikes for the third time in the game to end the top of the eighth, Wright had had enough.

Bloodied but unbowed in the NL East  —  After last night's 9-2 loss to the Phillies, Orlando Hernandez was the first one to get his hands on the remote control for the two hanging TVs in the near-empty visitors clubhouse.  Apparently, El Duque was uninterested in Pedro Martinez's start …

Sheffield goes on the DL  —  DETROIT — Gary Sheffield said this was the plan all along, that he would give his shoulder about a week to improve, and if it didn't, the next step would be the disabled list.  —  And that's what the next step was on Monday, when the Tigers placed Sheffield …

Grand old gamer  —  Resilient Timlin is closing in on 1,000 appearances  —  NEW YORK — This was the lead-up to the first of the 16,914 pitches Mike Timlin has thrown in the big leagues, which doesn't count the thousands he has thrown warming up in the bullpen, the thousands he threw in the minor leagues …

Martínez Is Pleased With Test  —  Pedro Martínez's normally pinpoint control was not present Monday night.  He threw far more balls against the Class A Palm Beach Cardinals than he had in any of his other rehabilitation efforts.  Yet Martínez said that was a good thing.