The Wheels Come Off  —  Scott Kazmir and Grant Balfour pitched seven strong innings, holding the Red Sox to two runs as Tampa Bay took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth.  With two out, however, Dan Wheeler walks Youkilis and Jason Bay blasts a ball over the wall to put Boston up 4-3 and bring on Papelbon for the ninth.

SCHILLING RIPS NEW YORK FANS — AGAIN  —  FACT ‘YANKEES S**K’ MAKES US ‘BITTER AND MAD’  —  Before today's interview with WEEI radio in Boston, Curt Schilling walked the streets of New York polling fans to gage their feelings on Tom Brady's season-ending injury.  —  Well, probably not.

A's release 14-year veteran 1B/DH Sweeney  —  DETROIT — Mike Sweeney knows his major-league career might be over.  —  The Oakland Athletics released the 35-year-old first baseman-designated hitter on Tuesday after he struggled to return from operations on each knee.

Mets relief pitcher Ambiorix Burgos arrested for beating up girlfriend  —  Mets minor league reliever Ambiorix Burgos has been charged with pummeling his girlfriend at a hotel near Shea Stadium, authorities said.  —  The 6'3", 244-pound pitcher was arrested around 11 p.m. Monday …

Smoltz airs the possibility he'll play elsewhere in 2009  —  In interviews, it's always the question you toss off that gets you the most interesting responses.  Over the weekend, I was wrapping up an interview with John Smoltz for the upcoming Braves book (The Quiet Dynasty, on sale spring 2009.

Bank of America nearing major Yankee Stadium deal  —  In the name of tradition, the Yankees have opted to forego selling the naming rights on their new stadium.  Sports business analysts suggested that, in light of the Mets' deal with Citibank, the Yankees could have gotten upwards of $25 million …

O's bats quieted in loss to Indians  —  Orioles manage six hits against Cleveland; Liz allows eight hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings  —  Jeremy Sowers pitched eight innings of four-hit ball, Travis Hafner had two singles in his long-awaited return from the disabled list and the Cleveland Indians beat …

Is CC Sabathia's arm falling off?  —  CC Sabathia has been on a tear since joining the Brewers just before the All-Star break.  Okay, you knew that already.  Brewers manager Ned Yost has worked Sabathia hard with a 130-pitch game, two other games over 120 pitches and all but two games over 100 pitches in a Brewers uniform.

Twins top Royals, now 1 back of ChiSox  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—For the first time in a long time, everything went Minnesota's way on Tuesday night.  —  A 7-2 victory over the lowly Kansas City Royals and Toronto's sweep of a doubleheader against AL Central-leading Chicago has the Twins just one game back in the division race.

Baseball's closer-minded problem … Imagine if every NFL team used the same 3-4 defense, no matter their personnel or even the down and distance variables.  Ridiculous, you would say.  The NFL is a thinktank of innovators, all trying to deploy their personnel in the most advantageous manner.

With Boras in the picture, Alvarez's career put on hold … If and when Pedro Alvarez signs with the Pirates, he will automatically become the most hated player among fans since Dave Parker allowed himself to get woefully out of shape in the early 1980s and became the target of battery throwers …

Sabathia compensation still unknown  —  Player to be named may be chosen by odd arrangement  —  BALTIMORE — He has become the Indians' mystery man, and the details surrounding his eventual arrival to the organization are getting more and more mysterious, too.

FIGHT MARS LATEST BOMBER DISASTER  —  ANAHEIM - Seven days ago, GM Brian Cashman explained the Yankees' goal was to cut into the Red Sox' wild-card lead by one game a week to make the season-ending three-game series in Fenway Park meaningful.  —  At the time the Yankees were seven lengths behind their blood rivals.

Pujols considering elbow surgery  —  Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, riding what he calls his best wave of offense in a couple of years, raised the specter of his elbow injury Monday, saying in a televised interview that he's considering offseason surgery.