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.

Lowell hits slam, Red Sox beat O's 9-2  —  BOSTON (AP)—The differences between big David Ortiz and bland J.D. Drew are striking.  So are the similarities.  —  The streaking Drew kept filling the hole left by Boston's injured slugger on Thursday night when he hit a two-run homer and a double …

Inoa, 16, at head of Latin American prospect class … Less than a month after Major League Baseball's first-year player draft comes the big auction for Latin American prospects.  No draft slot is necessary.  Just bring loads of cash and make your best pitch.

Phillies' Moyer goes to 9-0 vs. Marlins  —  MIAMI (AP)—By now, even Jamie Moyer doesn't understand why he has such mindboggling success against the Florida Marlins.  —  “Got any answers?” he asked.  —  The Marlins surely don't, not against the Phillies' veteran lefty.

Cabrera's HR in 9th gives Tigers sweep  —  DETROIT (AP)—Miguel Cabrera listened intently to Jim Leyland and did exactly what the Detroit Tigers manager told him to do.  —  Cabrera hit a game-ending solo homer in the ninth inning and the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1 Thursday to complete a three-game sweep.

Rick Sutcliffe is concerned for Erin Andrews' skirt in Chicago  —  Watch the Lassoed clip here.  —  To recap: Ms. Andrews was wearing a top that she described as “spelling bee yellow.”  She then said she was wearing the color for ol' Sut, who is currently battling cancer, before throwing it back up to the booth.

Injury-Depleted Indians Rout Twins  —  CLEVELAND — Ben Francisco and Jamey Carroll had four hits apiece to lead the injury-depleted Cleveland Indians to a 12-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.  —  Even with five key players from last year's AL Central champion team on the disabled list …

Cubs Beat Braves on Hit Batsman  —  CHICAGO — Jeff Ridgway hit pinch-hitter Reed Johnson with the bases loaded in the 11th inning and the Chicago Cubs beat the reeling Atlanta Braves 3-2 Thursday.  —  The Braves have lost six straight and can't seem to win away from Turner Field.

Nationals fall short in comeback attempt against Pirates  —  PITTSBURGH - Ryan Doumit finished an outstanding series against Washington, hitting another home run in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 7-5 win over the Nationals on Thursday.  —  In the three-game series, the Pirates catcher went 9-for-11 …

Pap to Rays: ‘Payback is a bitch’  —  In his weekly appearance on Comcast SportsNet yesterday, Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon said the Sox feud with the Rays is not over yet.  —  “Obviously as you can see it's a war when we go play those guys,” Papelbon said on the Sox rivalry with the Rays.

Rash of injuries to key players torments major league teams  —  Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren can't help but wince each time his phone rings these days.  —  “This is unbelievable,” Wren said Thursday from his overactive cellphone.  “I've never seen anything like it.