Lowell on 15-day DL; Pauley recalled  —  Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell has been placed on the 15-day disabled list due to an oblique injury suffered during last night's game.  —  Righthanded pitcher David Pauley has been recalled from Pawtucket to take Lowell's spot on the roster.

Yankees expected to offer GM Cashman extension in offseason … Never mind the Yankees' current standing in third place, or their recent struggles.  Both Steinbrenner brothers are now said by people familiar with their thinking to be on board with Brian Cashman as their general manager, for now and long into the future.

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 …

CC earns seventh win in new uniform  —  Lefty allows one run over seven; Brewers win eighth straight  —  SAN DIEGO — CC Sabathia and the Brewers just keep on winning.  —  Sabathia worked seven innings to improve to 7-0 with Milwaukee and his new team won its eighth straight game, 7-1, over the Padres on Wednesday at PETCO Park.

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 …

DuPuy's plan would end TV blackouts  —  MLB president presents a solution to alter territorial rules  —  WASHINGTON — Baseball's current rules on territorial television blackouts were drawn up in the 1960s, long before the dawn of MLB.TV and the Extra Innings package.

Injury forces Giese out vs. Twins  —  Yanks hurler exits with stiff shoulder, shouldn't miss start  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Yankees right-hander Dan Giese left his relief appearance after 15 pitches on Wednesday with a stiff right shoulder.  —  Pitching in relief of starter Darrell Rasner …

Mets get Piazza to help close Shea  —  Before the Mets tear down Shea Stadium later this year, their plan is to honor their home of the past 44 years with a special ceremony during the final weekend of the regular season.  The organization has stayed tight-lipped about the details …

Major League Baseball's 25 Most Improbable Success Stories  —  The unlikely story of Mike Aviles' ascent from a measly $1,000 signing bonus to a place among the most productive shortstops in the American League got me wondering: Who else among the current major leagues is there improbably?

Orioles, Matusz closing in on deal  —  CLEVELAND - Orioles first-round draft pick Brian Matusz is scheduled to be in Baltimore tomorrow to take a physical, one of the final steps to reaching an agreement on a contract.  —  According to a source familiar with the negotiations …

Peter Gammons Q&A  —  Baseball icon Peter Gammons stopped by this afternoon to answer your questions about the Red Sox and the Hot Stove, Cool Music Summer Session concert taking place on Sunday at the Bank of America Pavilion.  —  JGIONTI3: Peter.. Thanks for stopping by.

Nine Down, One to Go, And It's Crow  —  With Friday's deadline to sign 2008 draft picks approaching, the Washington Nationals' first-round pick, Aaron Crow, remains unsigned.  —  Before last night's game against the New York Mets, General Manager Jim Bowden said the worst-case scenario …