Mistakes sink Yankees against Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS - As Joe Girardi met with reporters after Wednesday's loss to the Twins, the makeshift banner bearing the Yankees' logo that had been put up in the hallway outside the visitors' clubhouse began to peel away from the wall.

With Lowell out, Youkilis trades places  —  Mike Lowell has one of those oblique injuries that requires lots of rehabilitation, and finger crossing that the two weeks on the disabled list will heal it.  If not, the Sox will be seeing Gold Glove first baseman Kevin Youkilis playing a lot of third base.

Marlins Notebook: Cantu could be candidate for Comeback Player award  —  MIAMI GARDENS — While struggling last season with Tampa Bay, Jorge Cantu said he found inspiration by watching teammate Carlos Pena, who revived his career by hitting .282 with 46 home runs and 121 RBI.

Fort Worth Cats sign major-league draft pick Aaron Crow  —  Pitcher Aaron Crow, who was selected ninth overall in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft by Washington in June, signed a minor-league contract with the Fort Worth Cats on Wednesday.  —  Crow was the Big 12 pitcher of the year at Missouri last season.

D-Backs notebook: Dunn rebuts ex-teammate's claims  —  DENVER - When Adam Dunn was traded, former teammate Bronson Arroyo said he could understand it because Cincinnati could not afford him.  —  “He was going to be moved no matter what,” Arroyo told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Cubs sweep doubleheader from Braves  —  ATLANTA — The 1984 season brings back memories both delicious and dreadful for Cubs fans, and now they have a companion piece to compare it to.  —  By sweeping Atlanta 10-2 and 8-0 Wednesday in a day-night doubleheader at Turner Field …

Nomar Garciaparra delivers walk-off home run  —  His drive leaves the Phillies on the field for the second consecutive game.  —  Something wasn't right with Brad Penny.  —  That was the impression Penny gave in the weeks leading up him being put on the disabled list in mid-June …

Jose Bautista demoted in surprise move  —  Pirates send third baseman to Class AAA, clear space for LaRoche  —  No more than a minute or two had passed after Jose Bautista learned that he had been demoted to the minors, and he was on the phone with his agent, Bean Stringfellow.  —  Probably no coincidence.

Orioles play their ace, shut down Indians  —  Guthrie allows one run in seven innings, wins fourth straight  —  CLEVELAND - In the two days leading up to his start last night, Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie barely set foot in the visiting clubhouse at Progressive Field.

Posey on the cusp of getting $7.5 million; Crawford signs, too (7)  —  According to industry sources, No.5 overall pick Buster Posey is a done deal.  It's expected to be a major league contract in the neighborhood of $7.5 million.  That shatters the biggest amateur bonus in franchise history — by nearly $5 million.

Holt's Melville hopes to sign deal with Kansas City soon  —  SPRINGFIELD, MO - Holt pitcher Tim Melville (9)  —  Much as he has done all summer, Tim Melville waits.  —  Selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round of the baseball draft in June, Melville, a hard-throwing righthander …

Ex-Giant Leonard still feisty as Reno manager  —  EX-GIANT TEACHES THE GAME AT LOWER LEVEL WITH RENO SILVER SOX  —  Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C6  —  Jeffrey Leonard, a.k.a. the Hac Man and Penitentiary Face, was an intimidating player in his day.  —  Randall Benton / rbenton@sacbee.com

Bullpen can't get the job done for Angels  —  Francisco Rodriguez can't save it in the ninth.  Mark Teixeira's two homers are wasted.  —  The Angels were dejected, ejected and somehow resurrected, all in the span of one wild ninth inning Wednesday night, but they eventually succumbed …