Yanks Would Have Interest in Sabathia  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — A painful swing by the Cleveland Indians' Víctor Martínez on Wednesday could have significant ramifications for the Yankees.  An elbow injury to Martínez all but ended the Indians' flickering playoff hopes …

Matsui's slam helps Yankees beat A's 4-1  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Hideki Matsui had no use for the birthday cake he was given before the game, not wanting to add the extra calories to his waistline.  —  He found a much better way to celebrate his 34th birthday than eating a piece of cake.

Walked all over  —  Intentional free pass to Ramirez leads to Lowell's slam; Guthrie chased after 4 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the year  —  BOSTON - As good of a hitter as Mike Lowell is, Orioles manager Dave Trembley's decision in the bottom of the fifth inning last night was an easy one.

Spilborghs might play more in center  —  Taveras could lose time to hotter-hitting Rockies outfielder  —  DENVER — Willy Taveras once again started in center field Wednesday against the Giants, as manager Clint Hurdle gave Ryan Spilborghs another day to rest his sore lower back.

Abandoned Playground  —  Something about the way the sun hits Shea in late afternoon when almost everybody's gone home appeals to me.  Probably because it reminds me of the playground at East School.  That's where I did most of my balling, if you could call it that, in my youth.

Pain finally subdues Martinez  —  Catcher to have surgery on right elbow, miss six to eight weeks  —  CLEVELAND — Victor Martinez had played through a left hamstring strain since Opening Day and right elbow inflammation for more than a month.  —  Finally, the pain got to be too much.

Mets seriously considering a change … Willie Randolph's status as Mets manager is extremely tenuous now.  General manager Omar Minaya is seriously considering changing managers and at least a couple of the team's coaches, sources told SI.com.  —  A Mets official indicated that nothing …

SNY talks fairly, quietly about Mets  —  Sure, baseball gets mocked here for its glacial pace and out-sized role in Big Town media.  —  But this week's operatic events in Flushing were a reminder of what the fuss is about — a sport whose melodrama unfolds daily over an insanely long season, starring a familiar cast of characters.

Heat is on Loaiza if he can't bring the heat  —  DETROIT — Veteran right- hander Esteban Loaiza has been full of surprises for the White Sox.  —  They were surprised to find out he hadn't been working out or throwing before they signed him to a free-agent contract June 4.

Buchholz angling for return  —  He's working to be more consistent  —  Clay Buchholz, now pitching in Pawtucket, is making adjustments to his delivery before he returns to the Red Sox.  (Eric miller/Reuters)  —  PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Although the Red Sox hope that by the time Clay Buchholz reemerges …

Like Mets, Rangers Have Rich History of Frustration  —  Interleague play kicks off again today in an all-Texas way, with the Yankees visiting the Houston Astros and the Mets hosting the Texas Rangers.  As disappointingly and strangely as things have gone for the Mets this year …

Throwing out some pitchers for Phillies to consider  —  THE JULY 31 trading deadline may seem to be little more than a chimera glistening on a faraway horizon.  In fact, it arrives in fewer than 7 weeks, 48 days that will pass in a blink.  —  So with Phillies president Dave Montgomery's …

Ambidextrous pitcher headed to Staten Island Yankees  —  OAKLAND - Pat Venditte, the ambidextrous pitcher from Creighton whom the Yankees drafted in the 20th round last week and signed, will get a chance to pitch with both arms when he starts his pro career at Class-A Staten Island.