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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

McLouth's home run lifts Pittsburgh Pirates past New York Yankees, 4-2  —  PITTSBURGH - Like a giveaway fake mustache, the Yankees' four-game winning streak provided only a mild disguise.  The streak ended tonight because of a problem that had not ever gone away: an inability to score runs.

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.

Morneau's 5 Hits Help Twins Edge Tigers  —  DETROIT — Justin Morneau hit an 11th-inning home run, tying a career-high with his fifth hit, and the Minnesota Twins overcame a four-run deficit to beat the Detroit Tigers 7-6 Thursday.  —  Minnesota, which stopped a three-game losing streak …

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.

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.

Dodgers agree to terms with first-round pick Ethan Martin  —  The right-hander is expected to get a signing bonus of about $1.7 million.  —  The Dodgers have agreed on the terms of a contract with first-round draft pick Ethan Martin, according to B.B. Abbott of Jet Sports Management, which represents the 19-year old right-hander.