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.

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.

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.

Lowell can't avoid disabled list  —  Strained oblique muscle sidelines Red Sox third baseman  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox placed Mike Lowell on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday, one day after being forced to leave Tuesday's 19-17 victory over Texas in the seventh inning with a strained right oblique muscle.

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 …

Posey on the cusp of getting $7.5 million; Crawford signs, too (6)  —  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.

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.

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 …

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

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 …