Game 9: Yankees at Royals  —  YANKEES  —  Notes: Jorge Posada has been diagnosed with a shoulder strain according to the KC team doctor and should only miss a few days.  It doesn't look like a DL.  He had the MRI sent to Dr. James Andrews for confirmation and the Yankees will have their doctors look at it as well.

Phillies lose without injured Rollins  —  NEW YORK (AP)—The Philadelphia Phillies fell apart without Jimmy Rollins.  —  Mike Pelfrey gave the Mets' injury-riddled pitching staff an encouraging boost, and the Phillies played a painfully sloppy game without their MVP shortstop in New York's 8-2 victory Wednesday night.

Phil Hughes' Mechanics: What's The Deal?  —  When you are the youngest pitcher in Major League Baseball and being touted as the future ace of the New York Yankees, I suppose that it is normal to be under the microscope at all times.  And, boy has Phil Hughes been under the microscope.

Indictment: Agents steered clients  —  NEW YORK—A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday charged that unidentified agents for baseball players steered clients to a California physician linked in media reports to supplying Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis with illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

Tigers finally break into win column  —  BOSTON (AP)—The Tigers finally showed the offense that earned them preseason raves—and ended their winless start.  —  Detroit beat the Boston Red Sox 7-2 Wednesday night after scoring just 15 runs in losing its first seven games.

Dan Johnson designated  —  From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser in Toronto  —  Quick note: Dan Johnson's agent, Bobby Barad, tells me that the A's have just informed the first baseman that he has been designated for assignment.  That means they have 10 days to put Johnson on waivers, trade him or release him.

Smith set to make Majors debut vs. Jays  —  Oakland (4-4) at Toronto (4-3), Wednesday, 4:07 p.m. PT  —  Left-hander Greg Smith will make his Major League debut on Wednesday night when the Athletics visit the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.  —  Smith is taking over for injured starting pitcher …

Ouch: Floyd to DL, too  —  The injuries just keep coming for the Rays, with the news Wednesday that DH Cliff Floyd will have surgery Friday to repair a tear in the medial meniscus in his right knee, was placed on the 15-day DL and replaced on the roster by OF Justin Ruggiano.

METS POISED TO SIGN VARGAS  —  The Mets are on the verge of signing free-agent right-hander Claudio Vargas to a minor-league contract, and a deal could be done as early as tomorrow, The Post has learned.  —  Vargas' agent, Bean Stringfellow, told The Post today that the Mets have offered Vargas …

postGame: Mets 8 Phillies 2  —  The Mets (3-4) defeated the Phillies (4-5) by the score of 8 to 2 in Shea Stadium tonight.  —  For a boxscore, check out the new-and-improved … (by the way, the comments have not been shut off...i goofed something up in the admin panel, and am working to fix it …

A hero's welcome  —  Buckner gets love at Fens … One of the symbols of Red Sox [team stats] Nation's past frustrations was welcomed back with open arms yesterday.  —  With a packed house at Fenway cheering his every step, Bill Buckner slowly walked in from left field …

Strawberry added to SNY team  —  Darryl Strawberry's role with the Mets continues to grow.  —  After announcing last month that the long-troubled former slugger would be an outfield coach in spring training and “special ambassador” after that, the Mets have added Strawberry to broadcasts on team-owned SNY starting later this month.

Nats fall to Marlins for sixth straight loss  —  WASHINGTON - Mike Jacobs is providing the power for the first-place Florida Marlins.  —  Jacobs hit two homers, including one that capped a seven-run inning, to back Scott Olsen's solid pitching and help Florida beat the Washington Nationals 10-4 on Wednesday night.