Cards lose game, Mulder  —  Phillies 4, Cardinals 2  • Up next: at Phillies, 12:05 today, FSN Midwest  —  PHILADELPHIA — Whatever organizational hope remained attached to Mark Mulder's twice-repaired left shoulder came undone Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park when his first major-league start …

Josh Johnson starting from scratch  —  SAN DIEGO - Called into the office at Double-A Carolina after his July 4 rehab outing, Josh Johnson experienced a bit a déjà vu.  —  “It was just like back in '05 when I got called up,” Johnson said.  —  After a prolonged absence recovering …

Fenway firepower cements Sox sweep  —  Each starter collects at least one hit in 23-hit attack on Twins  —  BOSTON — Just call it the Boston tee-off party.  How else to describe the utter destruction done by the Red Sox's offense in an 18-5 romp over the Twins on Wednesday?

Final Vote battles tight as deadline nears  —  Record number of ballots cast in support of 2008 candidates  —  Evan Longoria of Tampa Bay and Corey Hart of Milwaukee each were leading close two-man races with only hours remaining in the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Final Vote …

Door suddenly open for Mets to redeem themselves  —  Their one and only All-Star Game participant was handed to them on the electoral vote, and today they might sneak another player in on the popular vote.  Yet it really doesn't matter all that much that the Mets won't be well represented Tuesday in the Midsummer Classic.

The Verdict Is In  —  As we approach 100 comments and 1000 votes, there isn't what I would call a... wide variety of opinion.  So, now is as good a time as any to post a response.  —  The fact that the “buy” vote is residing in Nader neighborhood isn't all that surprising .

Breaking down the draft: Picks 27-35  —  Today, we look at picks 27-35.  As a reminder, here are the previous articles in this series:  —  THT Draft Primer  —  Breaking Down the Draft: Part One  —  Breaking Down the Draft: Picks 18-26  —  With that out of the way, let's get started:

RHP Harden joins Cubs from Athletics  —  CHICAGO (AP)—Rich Harden's baseball career took a major detour, and when he arrived at Wrigley Field a bit sleep deprived Wednesday he felt several emotions.  —  He'd gone from the West Coast to the Midwest, from the American League to the National …

Bob Sheppard not able to be at All-Star Game  —  Bob Sheppard, whose deep and unmistakable voice has announced the action at Yankee Stadium for 57 years, said yesterday that he is not feeling well enough to announce the upcoming All-Star Game in the Bronx.  —  “I am not going to be physically able …

Not a joke: Alou gets hurt again  —  NORWICH, Conn. - A dejected Moises Alou removed himself from a rehab start with Double-A Binghamton after six innings Wednesday night, sidetracking plans for him to rejoin the Mets Friday for their series opener against the Rockies.

Hal Steinbrenner disappointed in Yanks' season  —  NEW YORK — Hal Steinbrenner emerged from a closed-door meeting in manager Joe Girardi's office Wednesday to say he was disappointed in the New York Yankees' performance this year yet reluctant to trade prospects for veterans in hopes of a spark.

Build a Wiffle Ball Field and Lawyers Will Come  —  Some town-owned land in Greenwich, Conn., has been turned into a Wiffle ball field by teenagers.  Neighbors are complaining.  Jeff Currivan, 17, shown at bat, said, “They think we're a cult.”  —  GREENWICH, Conn.

Quentin's HRs rally ChiSox from 5 down  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Carlos Quentin's towering home runs kept Chicago close, then the White Sox went ahead without so much as a pitch being thrown.  —  Fighting back from a 5- deficit Wednesday night, the White Sox scored the go-ahead run …