Mariners release first baseman Richie Sexson  —  OAKLAND — Seattle Mariners Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Lee Pelekoudas announced today that the Mariners have released first baseman Richie Sexson.  —  “We felt that at this time it was in the best interest of the ballclub …

Longoria, Hart are fans' final All-Stars  —  Rays rookie, Brewers outfielder win voting to join rosters  —  Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria and Milwaukee outfielder Corey Hart have won the 32nd and final roster spots for the 79th All-Star Game on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium …

La Russa is seeking help now, not later  —  PHILADELPHIA — Moved by what he has received from a team recognized as overachievers, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on Wednesday urged that the front office and ownership “use every resource we can” to improve as quickly as possible following significant moves …

Zito factored tabloids into choice of team  —  (07-10) 04:00 PDT New York —  All week, the tabloids here have gone cuckoo over the impending divorce of Alex Rodriguez and his wife, Cynthia, as well as their alleged love quadrangle with rockers Madonna and Lenny Kravitz.

Pirates promote Munoz: Bullington lost to Cleveland  —  The Pirates today promoted starter Luis Munoz from Class AA Altoona to fill the roster spot left by the optioning of John Van Benschoten last night.  —  Munoz, 26, was 3-3 with a 5.45 ERA for Class AAA Indianapolis before being demoted to Altoona …

Trade involving Fuentes likely  —  MILWAUKEE — With the market for starters thin, there's growing buzz that Rockies closer Brian Fuentes will be the next pitcher traded this month.  —  Sitting in the visitors dugout Wednesday at Miller Park, general manager Dan O'Dowd said there was nothing brewing, if you will, at the moment.

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 …

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.

Inside Pitch: Cubs, Brewers aren't locks  —  Acquiring aces may not be enough to boost NL Central clubs  —  The Brewers and Cubs have drawn aces in CC Sabathia and Rich Harden, respectively, but not everyone is ready to stamp the two teams as playoff bound.

Blue Jays place Wells (hamstring) on 15-day DL  —  TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells is expected to miss four to six weeks with a strained left hamstring after being placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday.  —  Toronto did not immediately add another player to the roster.

HAL'S NOT HAPPY WITH YANKS' START  —  According to Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi, the meeting was routine, but Hal Steinbrenner emerged from a lengthy, closed-door session with his general manager and manager yesterday to say he was disappointed in the Yankees' performance so far this year.

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?