Martinez accepts challenge of knuckler  —  Chicago (63-63) at Boston (72-53), 7:10 p.m. ET  —  BOSTON — At 30 years of age, Victor Martinez already has quite the Major League resume.  —  A veteran of 843 career games, he's made three trips to the All-Star Game, finished in the Top 10 …

Joba to go on regular rest, start Sunday  —  Yankees look ahead on young righty with eye on innings  —  NEW YORK — Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced prior to Tuesday's game that Joba Chamberlain will make his next scheduled start on Sunday against the White Sox.

Court: Investigators wrong to seize MLB drug list  —  SAN FRANCISCO — An appeals court ruled Wednesday that federal agents were wrong to seize the infamous drug list and samples of 104 Major League Baseball players who allegedly tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.

Angels had interest in reliever Billy Wagner  —  General Manager Tony Reagins says he continues to explore waiver claims and trades.  But Angels could face Red Sox in the playoffs.  —  Former Mets reliever Billy Wagner went to the Red Sox on Tuesday as the Angels continue to look for bullpen help.

The Rockies' Road to the Playoffs  —  With another extra-inning win, their second straight, the Rockies closed the Dodgers' National League West lead to just two games, the closest any NL West team has been to Los Angeles since April 24, coincidentally a day the Dodgers won at Coors Field.

Would You Have Asked?  —  The Yankees were staging a dramatic comeback against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.  They scored four runs in the ninth inning to trim their deficit to 10-9, and they had runners on first and second with no outs.  Frank Francisco, the Rangers' closer, was aching to get an out.

Nats sign Hernandez to ease burden on young arms  —  Not wanting any of their young starting pitchers to pile up too many innings at this early stage of their development, the Washington Nationals turned to an old friend to help get them through the rest of the season.

Defenders locked out of Holman  —  sports@nashuatelegraph.com  —  NASHUA - Parked at nearly the same spot at home plate in Holman Stadium where the Nashua Pride era began 11 years ago, a city tractor may have signified the end to the American Defenders of New Hampshire era.

Willingham, Dukes Flex Muscle for Nats in Rout  —  Though he's been gone for a solid decade now, Jim Riggleman knows how it sounds — that communal sigh of sadness and acceptance that falls heavy upon Wrigley Field every year.  Maybe it comes in August.  Maybe, in the rarest seasons, it comes in October.

Rockies activate Rincon from DL  —  Righty headed back to 'pen; Murton designated for assignment  —  The hot Colorado Rockies got a bullpen boost Wednesday when they reinstated reliever Juan Rincon from the 15-day disabled list.  —  Rincon, the veteran right-hander, will take the roster spot …

Hunter's HR, Saunders' return lead Angels by Tigers  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Torii Hunter (FSY) hit an early two-run homer, Joe Saunders (FSY) pitched five effective innings in his return to the Angels' rotation and Los Angeles snapped its three-game skid with a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.

Stairs wants to return to Phillies in 2010  —  PITTSBURGH - Matt Stairs expressed two wishes yesterday, one obvious and the other newsworthy: to break out of an extended slump and return to the Phillies for one more season before retiring.  —  “I'll play one more year and I'm done,” …