DROPPING OUT  —  DAMON, A-ROD BLUNDERS COST YANKS  —  TORONTO - Another small nail was driven into the Yankees' pinstriped coffin last night by a leather hammer that was Johnny Damon's glove.  —  With the return of Hideki Matsui as the DH, Damon has been transformed from DH/left fielder to full-time center fielder.

Ex-Yankees Irabu arrested for alleged assault  —  TOKYO (AP) — Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu was arrested Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a bartender after drinking 20 mugs of beer, a police official said.  —  Irabu, 39, became angered after his credit card was rejected.

PELFREY TO PEN PERFECT IN PINCH  —  THE Mets have an aching need in their bullpen, and Mike Pelfrey is the best man for the Joba.  —  Pelfrey does not have the overpowering stuff of Joba Chamberlain.  But he has the best combination of skills to re-enact for the Mets what Chamberlain …

Yaz has triple bypass  —  Sox icon ‘comfortable’ after 6-hour operation  —  The greatest living Red Sox player, New England icon Carl Yastrzemski, underwent emergency triple-bypass surgery yesterday at Massachusetts General Hospital after being diagnosed with coronary artery disease.

For One Night, Relief Is No Issue for Manuel  —  Once Carlos Delgado's two-run double off the wall in left-center put the Mets ahead of the Atlanta Braves by one run in the eighth inning Tuesday night, and the roar from the crowd of 50,589 had died down, the next question was a big one.

Orioles stifled by Red Sox  —  O's muster nine hits and two runs off Boston starter  —  Melvin Mora shows his frustration after striking out in the first inning.  Mora went 1-for-5 and scored one run in the O's 7-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox.  (Sun photo by Lloyd Fox / August 19, 2008)

Harden-ed by his critics  —  Tired of ‘injury-prone’ label, Cubs right-hander just keeps mowing 'em down  —  Cubs right-hander Rich Harden wants to set the record straight.  —  Check that.  He specifically says he doesn't want to set the record straight.  It seems he has been there, done that enough times for his taste.

Thomas wants to return to A's in '09  —  Designated hitter believes young team is close to contention  —  MINNEAPOLIS — With 19 years of big league experience under his belt, Frank Thomas feels like he knows when he sees a team on the rise.  —  It is for that reason that he signed …

Latest injury may end Izzy's career  —  All-time Cardinals saves leader Jason Isringhausen walked away from the club Tuesday with what is believed to be a career-threatening torn flexor muscle near his right elbow.  —  Team medical supervisor Dr. George Paletta confirmed the finding …

PAVANO SKIPS BULLPEN SESSION  —  STIFF NECK PUTS SATURDAY START IN DOUBT  —  TORONTO — Yankees pitcher Carl Pavano came out of a minor-league rehab start Sunday with stiffness in his neck and didn't throw a bullpen session today.  —  Pavano has been sidelined seemingly forever with a list …

Marlins Notebook: Pinto attributes recent struggles to ‘bad luck’  —  Pinto attributes recent struggles to ‘bad luck’  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Renyel Pinto was all smiles in the Marlins' clubhouse before Tuesday's game against the San Francisco Giants, hardly looking like a reliever going through a rough stretch

Nolasco pitches, hits the Marlins to win  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Ricky Nolasco won a pot of cash for his first career complete game - thanks to the Marlins' nearly two-year drought without a pitcher going the distance.  —  Nolasco pitched a two-hitter for his first shutout and drove in two runs …

Dunn's homer helps Arizona beat Padres  —  PHOENIX (AP)—Adam Dunn confessed he had some jitters before taking the field for his home debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  —  But any worries disappeared when Dunn hit his National League-leading 33rd home run, powering the Diamondbacks …