Nolasco OK with splits  —  ATLANTA - The Pirates' telecast Tuesday night zoomed in on Ricky Nolasco's grip at one point.  It clearly showed Nolasco's index and middle finger spread wide over the ball before he threw a pitch that plummeted as it reached the plate.  —  No doubt about it.

Santana does it all as Mets end three-game slide  —  Mets pitcher Johan Santana rounds first base after hitting a double against the Nationals in the sixth inning of Wednesday night's game in Washington.  (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais / April 23, 2008)  —  WASHINGTON - Read into this whatever you want, but the

Sixth sins: Detroit's 11-run inning buries Texas Rangers, 19-6  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  DETROIT - And you thought the homestand was bad.  —  The Rangers today will conclude a nine-day road trip that has taken this team's record from bad to worst.  Each day seems to bring another on-the-field debacle and another roster crisis.

BIG ‘W’ FOR MOOSE  —  MUSSINA NOTCHES 252ND CAREER WIN  —  CHICAGO - Mike Mussina surveyed the crowd of reporters waiting by his locker from across the room and said he wasn't going to talk about what was easily his best game of the young season.  —  “I talked to Jamie [Moyer].

Sox' win streak broken  —  They can't expect to win every night.  Not with a flu bug that has ravaged their clubhouse, leaving them without their scheduled starter two games in a row.  Not with their infield fighting off injuries at every turn.  Even with six straight wins under trying circumstances, it had to end at some point.

Homers help Miller to first win  —  Ramirez, Jacobs go deep in opening frame to back lefty  —  ATLANTA — Home run totals keep rising for the upstart Marlins.  —  Hanley Ramirez and Mike Jacobs each went deep in the first inning, providing Andrew Miller with enough support to hold off the Braves …

A's claim outfielder Davis from Giants  —  Speedster to add different element; Saarloos designated  —  OAKLAND — Looking to add some speed and defensive versatility, the A's on Wednesday claimed outfielder Rajai Davis off waivers from the Giants and designated for assignment right-hander Kirk Saarloos.

Ellsbury quickly (and quietly) approaches Major League Baseball record  —  Jacoby Ellsbury is quickly (and quietly) approaching a Major League Baseball record held by future Hall of Famer Tim Raines.  At the start of his career (1979-1981), Raines was successful on his first 27 steal attempts …

Cubs get 10,000th win, need 10 innings vs. Rockies  —  DENVER - Most of the first 9,999 victories in Cubs history were fairly easy compared to Wednesday night's 10,000th at Coors Field.  —  In fitting fashion for a team with as much wacky history as the Cubs, they mounted a ninth-inning comeback …

Dodgers hand Arizona's Haren first loss  —  LOS ANGELES (AP)—The Los Angeles Dodgers wanted to show the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks that they weren't intimidated by their fast start—or Dan Haren's.  —  James Loney had a pair of RBI singles, Chin-lung Hu singled home two more runs …

Cole Hamels can't bring it home  —  MILWAUKEE - These are the moments Cole Hamels lives for.  —  These are the opportunities he expects to seize.  —  Hamels wanted the ball in the eighth inning last night at Miller Park.  He thought he had earned that chance, and manager Charlie Manuel felt the same way.

Gabbard's next start in question  —  Left-hander still feeling discomfort and stiffness in back  —  DETROIT — Kason Gabbard is still feeling discomfort and stiffness in his back and the Rangers are concerned he might not be able to make his next start on Saturday.

MLB: Ricciardi summons Rolen, deflects blame from Gibbons  —  Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi still believes in his hitters.  But if the offence fails to come alive, don't blame manager John Gibbons, he says.  —  “I don't think people should point at John Gibbons.

From the happiest place: Johnson gone, Gross in  —  Update, 5:35 Official word from manager Joe Maddon is that Scott Kazmir came through his rehab assignment fine, throwing 64 pitches, though there was some apparent confusion/miscommunication with the Vero coaching staff on how much he was supposed to pitch.

Dodgers to unveil plans for restaurant, shops at stadium  —  Renovation project is attempt to offer options to fans who come early or stay late.  In a letter, McCourts say they are committed to Dodger Stadium ‘for the long haul’ but such amenities are needed.