Smoltz set for Red Sox debut  —  WASHINGTON — After 20 seasons, John Smoltz will do something Thursday night he's never done before: Pitch for a big-league team other than the Atlanta Braves.  —  Smoltz, 42, who had shoulder surgery last June, makes his American League debut for the Boston Red Sox …

Game 71: Yankees at Braves (now with Sabathia update)  —  YANKEES (38-32)  —  Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (3-2, 3.89).  —  BRAVES (34-36)  —  McLouth CF  —  Escobar SS  —  Jones 3B  —  McCann C  —  Anderson LF  —  Kotchman 1B  —  Francoeur RF  —  Johnson 2B  —  Kawakami RHP

Manny Ramirez tests leg in rehab game with Albuquerque  —  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — There's been some talk about whether Manny Ramirez's legs would be ready for his return to baseball.  —  It didn't take long Wednesday night to put that to the test.  —  Ramirez

Rays even Series rematch with Phillies  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Matt Garza shut down Philadelphia's offense and ex-Phillies slugger Pat Burrell homered for the first time in over two months to help Tampa Bay beat his former team 7-1 on Wednesday night.

Ollie Perez in the bullpen?  Could happen  —  UPDATE, 5 p.m.: Manuel just said the Mets are going to have a meeting to discuss what to do with Maine and Perez.  —  At this point, it seems clear neither will be pitching in the majors this weekend.  One more outing for each in the minors …

Girardi's ejection sparks Yanks in win  —  Bombers reenergized in sixth inning to take down Braves  —  ATLANTA — Joe Girardi wasn't leaving the infield without putting up a fight, and by doing so, the Yankees' manager might just have injected some life back into his slumping team.

Matt Lindstrom (elbow) placed on disabled list  —  The Post's Joe Capozzi reports that Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom has been placed on the disabled list with a right elbow sprain.  Pitcher Chris Leroux, 25, has been recalled from Double-A Jacksonville.  —  Lindstrom, 29, has converted 14 …

MLB.com to broadcast Yanks in-market  —  Live local games to be aired over Internet in landmark deal  —  A week after launching a widely downloaded app that lets fans watch live games over an iPhone or iPod Touch mobile device for the first time, Major League Baseball continues …

CC Sabathia ready to make start for New York Yankees Friday  —  ATLANTA — New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia threw in the bullpen before Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves and said he'll be ready to start the opener of a weekend series against the New York Mets.

Aubrey to the O's  —  Michael Aubrey entered the Indians' organization in 2003 with all the tout and talent that comes with an advanced college bat taken 11th overall in the First-Year Player Draft.  —  Injuries robbed Aubrey, a Tulane product, of the ability to make good on all the lofty projections placed before him.

Harper looking for a challenge  —  Las Vegas prep phenom seeking better competition at higher level  —  CARY, N.C. — Bryce Harper recently announced he will take his GED, leave high school after two years and enroll at the College of Southern Nevada this fall.

Astros have deal in place with top pick  —  Mier, No. 21 overall, says last hurdle is passing physical  —  HOUSTON — Jiovanni Mier, the Astros' top pick in this year's First-Year Player Draft, told MLB.com on Wednesday afternoon he had reached a deal with the Astros, pending a physical to be performed later this week.

Kazmir likely to rejoin Tampa Bay Rays soon; question is who goes  —  LHP Scott Kazmir is likely to rejoin the Rays rotation this weekend, but a final decision on when, and who will go, won't come for another day or two.  —  “It's looking good right now to get him back out there,” manager Joe Maddon said.

LSU trounces Texas to win College World Series … OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — LSU, which two years ago wasn't good enough to qualify for its conference tournament, is the best team in college baseball again.  —  The Tigers won their sixth national title Wednesday night, breaking open Game 3 …

Signing Season Preview  —  While the draft is over, that doesn't mean that anyone can stop talking about it.  In fact, if you like your baseball peppered with a bit of espionage and intrigue, things are really only starting to heat up, as it's signing season.

Tim Lincecum guilty of using performance-enhancing ice cream  —  It wasn't that long ago that San Francisco was dominated by a baseball player who upped his performance by using any kind of substance, including the clear and the cream.  —  Thankfully for Giants fans, they've been freed from cheering the ways of Barry Bonds

Magglio gets a haircut  —  Magglio Ordonez is back in the Tigers lineup for a second straight night.  His long locks of hair, on the other hand, are somewhere on the floor, or wherever his barber left them.  —  With everything that has been going on this year, Ordonez was ready for a change.

Blue Jays dominate Arroyo again  —  This whole interleague thing might not be so bad for the Toronto Blue Jays if only they could face Bronson Arroyo on a more regular basis.  —  Playing exactly one year to the day they pummelled the right-hander for 10 runs in an inning-plus of work …

Ozzie and Oquendo will manage Futures Game … ST. LOUIS (AP) — Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith and St. Louis third base coach Jose Oquendo will serve as managers for the All-Star Futures Game.  —  Smith, who spent most of his career with the Cardinals, will guide the U.S. team.

Clippard Recalled; Wells DFA'd  —  A day after their relievers imploded in an eighth inning collapse, the Washington Nationals recalled Tyler Clippard from Class AAA Syracuse and designated Kip Wells for assignment in an effort to identify reliable options out of the bullpen.

Elbow pain slows LA's Ohman in Minors  —  Left-hander was on rehab assignment for sore shoulder  —  CHICAGO — Left-handed Dodgers reliever Will Ohman, on a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque for a sore shoulder, suffered an elbow injury Tuesday night while warming up after entering the game.