Mota lowers ERA during off-day  —  Successful scoring appeal helps reliever's statistics  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Guillermo Mota lowered his ERA by more than half a run on Thursday.  What made the development especially interesting was that Milwaukee was enjoying an off-day.

Phillies may move Myers to bullpen  —  Struggling righty endured shortest start of career Friday  —  ARLINGTON — Struggling starting pitchers typically say the worst part about a poor outing is waiting five days until the next one.  —  Brett Myers may have to wait longer.

Orioles storm past Nationals  —  Scott, Hernandez homer in rain-delayed game before 39,479 at Nationals Park  —  By the time a severe thunderstorm drenched a history-making crowd at Washington's new ballpark, the Orioles had already dampened the enthusiasm of most of the 39,479 fans.

Game 81: Yankees at Mets  —  Sorry for the technical difficulties.  But we're back.  —  YANKEES (43-37)  —  Damon LF  —  Jeter SS  —  Abreu RF  —  Rodriguez 3B  —  Giambi 1B  —  Posada C  —  Cano 2B  —  Cabrera CF  —  Pettitte LHP  —  METS (39-40)  —  Reyes SS  —  Easley 2B

With a Few Powerful Swings, Giambi Turns His Season Around  —  Jason Giambi insisted he was not thinking about the possibility of making the American League All-Star team.  Giambi moved his head from side to side and widened his eyes to punctuate his point.  Really, Giambi said and tried to show, it is something he has not pondered.

3,494 and counting: Ballhawk in league all his own  —  DENVER (AP) — Zack Hample can beg for a baseball in 32 languages, including Swahili, Swedish and sign.  —  The baseball-seeking savant from Manhattan has tricks galore to help him snare a prized souvenir at a major league game …

Pettitte outpitches Santana as Yankees edge Mets  —  NEW YORK — Andy Pettitte was getting antsy during a sixth-inning rain delay.  He figured he owed the New York Yankees at least a few more outs, but his body was beginning to stiffen up in the clubhouse.  —  So the 36-year-old lefty went …

Webb wins 12th, helps Arizona end slide  —  MIAMI (AP)—Brandon Webb slammed a water bottle into the trash can and paced the dugout yelling after he was taken out, showing the kind of emotion that's been missing from his recent outings.  —  Webb returned to his All-Star form …

Ohlendorf to start in AAA  —  Word floating around the clubhouse last night was that Ross Ohlendorf was going to start when he got to Triple-A. But, seeing as the player who told me Ohlendorf might start also that said it might have been a joke, I didn't want to post anything just yet.

Robertson to New York  —  Don't know yet who's coming down, but David Robertson is in New York.  Seems like his audition for the eighth inning will begin any day now, possibly tonight.  No doubt Robertson earned the opportunity.  He has a 1.64 ERA in Triple-A, with 48 strikeouts in 33 innings.