Yankees left fielder Johnny Damon challenges top of lineup to wake up … BOSTON — The production from top of the Yankees lineup has been a major part of the team's month-long resurgence.  But against the Red Sox thus far, the head of the Yankees order hasn't come close to matching that output …

St. Louis Cardinals' manager Tony La Russa defends Hal McRae  —  MIAMI — The Cardinals enjoyed the National League's most productive offense in April.  They have endured its least productive one since.  To manager Tony La Russa, the same players celebrated for the earlier breakout …

Yankees must put an end to Wang disaster  —  Now what?  —  What, in the name of Steve Trout, should the Yankees do about Chien-Ming Wang?  —  They can't possibly give him another turn in the starting rotation, right?  Even if that turn comes Tuesday night against the pathetic Nationals?

Autopsy: Driver of car Adenhart rode in was DUI  —  Courtney Stewart had a blood-alcohol content of .06, above the legal limit for someone her age, prosecutors say.  —  Recommend  —  An autopsy report showed Courtney Frances Stewart had a blood-alcohol content above the legal limit …

Utley homers twice, powers Phillies past Mets in extras  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Chase Utley led off the 11th inning with his second homer of the game, moments after right fielder Jayson Werth saved Philadelphia with a diving catch, and the Phillies beat the New York Mets 5-4 on Wednesday night.

Verlander's complete game helps Tigers edge White Sox  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched a six-hitter for his first victory ever at U.S. Cellular Field as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Chicago White Sox 2-1 on Wednesday night.  —  Jim Thome hit his 552nd career home run …

What's eating Raul  —  Raul Ibanez is one of my favorite people in baseball.  We can start there.  His oldest son Raul Jr. was born one day before our oldest daughter Elizabeth, and we exchanged little gifts for the kids once or twice.  We talked often about playing chess against each other …

Dodgers snag Big 12 Player of Year  —  Wise is first of three catchers team drafts on Day 2  —  LOS ANGELES — Five rounds is a fairly long wait for a player of the year from a major conference to get drafted.  —  North Carolina's Dustin Ackley, ACC Player of the Year, went second overall to the Mariners.

Mets grab pitching, outfielders on Day 2  —  Fourth-rounder Ceciliani in mold of Red Sox's Ellsbury  —  NEW YORK — You can forgive the Mets if they have a certain vision for outfielder Darrell Ceciliani, their fourth-round pick on Day 2 of the First-Year Player Draft.

Reading the Manuel  —  What Jerry should and shouldn't be criticized for  —  I'm frustrated when I hear people criticize Jerry Manuel for recent trangressions like his failure to argue when Fernando Tatis was called out at home in the bottom of the sixth inning in Saturday's …

Blue Jays Agree To Sign David Dellucci  —  ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports that the Blue Jays have agreed to sign David Dellucci.  The Indians released Dellucci last Monday after he started the season hitting .275/.333/.350.  He will report to Triple A and will likely be promoted to the majors soon.

Torre can use DH to give regulars rest  —  Los Angeles (40-21) at Texas (33-25), 5:05 p.m. PT  —  LOS ANGELES — A couple of days before the Dodgers began the two-game series against the San Diego Padres, a reporter casually asked manager Joe Torre if he was looking forward to his club's upcoming series …

Kershaw came out throwing strikes but ended up making the long walk  —  One thing I want to say about Clayton Kershaw's performance tonight is that he wasn't wild from the start. … In Kershaw's first eight pitches, he had seven strikes and one 0-2 ball.  He then pitched around Gonzalez …

K-Rod aiming to be greater than Rivera  —  NEW YORK - Francisco Rodriguez needed one pitch to feel at home in New York.  One pitch as a nobody rookie in 2002, as a kid who came out of left field and landed on the mound in the world's most famous ballpark.  —  His baptism by bullpen fire came …

The difference between real journalists and “basement bloggers”  —  Figured it was about time we had this discussion, given all the fuss about Raul Ibanez and his comments on that blogger who raised the “issue” that he “might” or “might not” be on performance enhancing drugs.