Game 114: Yanks at Rangers (Joba on DL)  —  YANKEES (61-52)  —  Sidney Ponson (6-2, 4.23) vs. the Texas hitters.  —  Tommy Hunter (0-0, 10.80) has never faced any of the New York hitters.  —  JOBA ON DL: Joba Chamberlain has been placed on the 15-day DL.  RHP Chris Britton was recalled from AAA Scranton.

Yanks' I-Rod leaves game after collision  —  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—New York Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez left Wednesday night's game against Texas after bruising his right knee on a collision at home plate to end the second inning.  —  Rodriguez winced and writhed on the field …

Teixeira hears pleas of Orioles fans  —  Maryland native now focused on leading Angels to playoffs  —  ANAHEIM — Even from half a continent away, Mark Teixeira has heard the relentless pleas for him to come home.  The Severna Park, Md., native knows all about the online petition …

Bucs' Karstens near perfect in 2-hitter  —  PHOENIX (AP)—Jeff Karstens has given the Pittsburgh Pirates a perfect start.  —  Almost a perfect game, too.  —  The recently acquired right-hander set down his first 23 batters before Chris Young's two-out double in the eighth inning and finished …

Wakefield dominates but Youkilis injured in Boston win  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jacoby Ellsbury hit a three-run homer and Tim Wakefield's baffling knuckleball shut down Kansas City on four hits through six innings, helping the Boston Red Sox to an 8-2 victory over the Royals on Wednesday night.

Dukes headed to disabled list  —  Washington left fielder dealing with right calf strain  —  DENVER — Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes will be placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday, retroactive to Aug. 3, due to a right calf strain.  He is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Yanks give Draft pick $850K bonus  —  Prep pitcher's deal one of largest given to sixth-round choice  —  HOUSTON — The Yankees have signed Brett Marshall, a high school pitcher selected in the June First-Year Player Draft, to one of the largest contracts ever given to a sixth-round pick …

Kendrick pitches Phillies by Marlins 5-0  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Kyle Kendrick doesn't have overpowering stuff and he doesn't light up the radar gun.  Somehow he keeps finding ways to win.  —  Kendrick pitched six scoreless innings, Ryan Howard homered and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 5-0 on Wednesday night.

Starters leading the way for Brewers  —  Milwaukee (64-51) vs. Washington (42-71), Friday, 7:05 p.m. CT  —  CINCINNATI — It's no accident that Brewers starters lead the league in innings pitched, according to manager Ned Yost.  —  It helps that Ben Sheets has been healthy all season …

Baseball scout, author Karl Kuehl dies at 70  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Karl Kuehl, a baseball scout, coach, author and player development specialist known for his contributions to the Oakland Athletics teams that won three pennants, died Wednesday.  He was 70.  —  Kuehl died of pulmonary fibrosis in a Scottsdale hospital, son John said.

Zambrano unsure he'll return to World Classic  —  Four of the biggest-name players in Venezuela have pulled out of next spring's World Baseball Classic over a team power squabble, dealing a possible blow to the stature of the fledgling tournament.  —  And a fifth marquee player from that country …

Manuel's choice to let Pedro hit dooms Mets  —  Pedro Martinez reacts after giving up a home run to Brian Giles in the first inning.  (Newsday Photo / Kathy Kmonicek / August 6, 2008)  —  Pedro Martinez looked back at Jerry Manuel to see if the manager was really going to let him bat …

One year after No. 756, Bonds still conspicuous — by his absence  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The national spotlight has faded.  The kayaks mostly are gone, leaving McCovey Cove — once again — all to the fish.  The night-time chill and mist remain, but the carnival long ago left town.

Rays walk off on Pena's three-run shot  —  Late-inning drama and comebacks nothing new to Tampa Bay  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Just three outs from their first home series loss in 45 days, the American League East-leading Rays relied on what has been a tried-and-true formula this season: the walk-off.

Why the C.J. Wilson incident matters  —  Last night's game coverage could have been about Matt Harrison and his ability to get strike one, command the outside corner and to keep a very good offensive team off balance.  Or it could have been about Marlon Byrd following up his walk-off grand slam …