Phils need to sharpen mental game  —  The Phillies lost another home game Thursday, their fifth of their homestand, their19th of the season, their second in less than 24 hours.  —  Coincidence?  —  Or justice?  —  “It's done,” Ryan Howard said.  “I'm pretty much tired of hearing about it.

Mets' K-Rod can't close door as Orioles rally  —  BALTIMORE - It was only a matter of time, right?  For nearly three months, Francisco Rodriguez had been the one untouchable member of a Mets team that has been all too vulnerable this season.  —  That all changed Thursday night at Camden Yards.

Glavine Won't Pitch In 2009  —  Breaking news out of Atlanta: Tom Glavine told Buck Lanford of Fox 5 Atlanta that he won't pitch in 2009.  —  “I'm not going to pitch or do anything in baseball until at least next year.”  Glavine stopped short, according to Fox 5, of announcing his retirement, saying he plans to be “a full-time dad.”

Piniella holds off on lineup changes  —  Cubs manager talks with Soriano about going to right field  —  CHICAGO — So much for change.  —  Cubs manager Lou Piniella hinted after Wednesday's game that he might make some changes in the lineup, but changed his mind for the series finale against the Chicago White Sox.

Tigers Bench Magglio Ordonez Indefinitely  —  News comes from Tom Gage of the Detroit News that the Tigers are benching Magglio Ordonez indefinitely.  —  Ordonez hasn't been terrible with the average or plate discipline, but his power has disappeared.  His season line is .273/.347/.343 …

Rockies hang on to beat Rays  —  With 13 wins in their past 14 games, Rox move back even  —  A .500 record never felt so good.  —  By defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 this afternoon at Coors Field, the streaking Rockies improved to 33-33, squaring their record for the first time since Tax Day.

Washington Nationals beat New York Yankees, 3-0, to win series … NEW YORK — The Yankees waited over five hours for this?  —  After one of the longest rain delays in Major League Baseball history, the Washington Nationals defeated the Yankees, 3-0, for their first winning streak in over a month.

Low A team riding high with Brewers  —  Wisconsin Timber Rattlers see attendance boost with new pact  —  APPLETON, Wis. — Rob Zerjav had high expectations for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' first season as a Brewers affiliate.  —  Even so, when Zerjav, who is in his seventh season …

Gardner carted off after wall collision  —  Yankees center fielder makes great catch before injury  —  NEW YORK — Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner was injured after colliding with the outfield wall while chasing down a deep fly ball Thursday at Yankee Stadium, leaving the field on a motorized cart.

Manny Ramirez now set to begin minor league assignment Tuesday  —  The suspended outfielder will play in a four-game series in Albuquerque first and then head to Class-A Inland Empire.  He is eligible to return July 3.  —  Manny Ramirez is tentatively scheduled to return to the field …

Mark Loretta gets the key hit for Dodgers  —  Joe Torre passes Sparky Anderson on the all-time win list for managers as Randy Wolf pitches well in another no-decision.  —  The names remain unknown.  The results remain the same.  —  The Dodgers' bullpen is still closing out games.

Arizona State ousts North Carolina with late outburst  —  OMAHA — Arizona State will get a chance at payback against Texas Friday because of Kole Calhoun and Josh Spence.  —  Calhoun drove in six runs with a grand slam and a double and Spence gave ASU enough starting pitching to overcome …

Red Sox Richer Yet For Having Penny  —  Red Sox starter Brad Penny, left, reacts after a great defensive play by third baseman Mike Lowell as they head to the dugout after the fifth inning of Wednesday night's game against the Marlins at Fenway Park.  At one time, Penny and Lowell were teammates on the Marlins.

Yankees reward fans for patience and understanding with free ticket offer  —  The New York Yankees announced that they are rewarding all fans with tickets for today's game vs. the Washington Nationals for their patience and support with a free ticket offer.  Please note that the Yankees …

The wonder years  —  The golden age of baseball?  It's not when you think.  —  ESPN The Magazine  —  This column appears in the June 29 issue of ESPN The Magazine.  —  We're going with a one-question mailbag this week, courtesy of Phil D. from Montclair, N.J.: “What was the purest baseball era, from a statistical perspective?”

The top trade-bait nominees in major league baseball  —  Buyers should include the following players on their pre-deadline shopping lists  —  There are six weeks left until the trading deadline, and the shoppers are out there.  They're scribbling their lists.  They have their carts.