OMAR KEEPS HURTIN' AMAZIN'S REP  —  FOR a little while, yesterday could have been classified as one of the finer days of the Mets' season.  —  SHERMAN ON TWITTER  —  Sure, Johan Santana needed surgery and all the Mets received for Billy Wagner were two players Boston considered non-prospects.

Livan signs deal, returns to Nationals  —  Right-hander pitched with franchise from 2003-06  —  CHICAGO — The Nationals signed right-hander Livan Hernandez to a Major League contract on Tuesday night, six days after the Mets gave the veteran his unconditional release.

Rox win in 10th inning, slice Dodgers' lead to two games  —  DENVER (AP) — Not nearly as dramatic as Ryan Spilborghs' (FSY) game-ending grand slam 24 hours earlier, Troy Tulowitzki's (FSY) line-drive single was just as fruitful.  —  Tulowitzki lined a fastball into center field off James McDonald …

Strasburg, top picks highlight AFL  —  2009 Arizona Fall League rosters dotted with future stars  —  The important numbers are: 1, 5, 12 and 18.  —  That's the No. 1 player taken in the 2009 Draft, five of the top 10 from the first round of said Draft and 12 of the Top 50 …

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,” …

NY Mets reliever J.J. Putz has new elbow injury and will miss rest of season … MIAMI — Add J.J. Putz to the list of Mets players done for the season.  —  Putz has been shut down indefinitely and will not return this year after an MRI on Tuesday found that he has some new fraying …

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.

Gardner on mend, aims for next week  —  Outfielder takes swings, throws to test injured left thumb  —  NEW YORK — Injured Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner tested his left thumb for the first time in nearly a month on Tuesday afternoon, and if all goes well, he could be activated in the next week.

Melvin not inclined to trade veterans  —  Milwaukee (61-64) vs. Cincinnati (53-71), 7:05 p.m. CT  —  MILWAUKEE — The metaphorical buzzards are starting to circle above Miller Park.  —  Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said he has been receiving calls from rival GMs interested …

Punishment on horizon for MLB umpires  —  Watson looks into ump's comment, players' conduct  —  Major League Baseball will punish umpires and players for their actions during and after Monday's game at Coors Field.  —  “We are investigating this, and it's not all against the umpires …

Zack  —  Some people have written in to ask if my quick, “This is the worst Royals team I've ever seen” line was some late night, spur of the moment, gut reaction thing.  I can assure you ... it absolutely was not.  I have quite a long, statistically-based thought behind all this.

Cardinals' Wainwright becomes NL's first 15-game winner  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright (FSY) worked eight innings of three-hit ball to become the National League's first 15-game winner and Albert Pujols' (FSY) rare hit off Wandy Rodriguez (FSY) drove in the lone run …

Dukes, Willingham power Nationals pasts Cubs  —  Elijah Dukes hit a grand slam in a six-run fifth inning, Josh Willingham had two homers and six RBIs and the Washington Nationals rocked Carlos Zambrano in his return from the disabled list, routing the Cubs 15-6 on Tuesday night.

Bradley: I face hatred on a daily basis  —  Milton Bradley said after Tuesday's loss he's “never” comfortable playing at Wrigley Field.  —  “It's hard to be comfortable when you don't get a hit and get booed every time,” he said.  “When I go home and look in the mirror, I like what I see.