With third hit of night, Jeter ties Gehrig  —  Captain even with Iron Horse atop Yankees' list with 2,721  —  NEW YORK — With a bunt, a blast and a rip, Derek Jeter tied Lou Gehrig on Wednesday night for the most hits in Yankees history.  —  Jeter laced the first pitch Rays starter Jeff Niemann threw …

City police arrest 4 in theft of Ripken's No. 8 statue  —  Overnight incident at Camden Yards captured on surveillance video  —  Two barricades surround the remaining base of a statue commemorating the number of retired Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr. The No. 8 statue was stolen overnight …

Joba awaits playoff role  —  If the Yankees finish with the best record in the American League, they'll get to choose which division series schedule they would play, and that could determine whether Joba Chamberlain pitches in the bullpen or the rotation in October.

Pujols homers twice, Wainwright wins 18th  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Albert Pujols hit two home runs for a majors-leading 47 and Adam Wainwright picked up his 18th win with seven scoreless innings in the St. Louis Cardinals' 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.

Colorado Rockies' Dexter Fowler back; Troy Tulowitzki, Ian Stewart next?  —  DENVER — The banged-up Colorado Rockies got outfielder Dexter Fowler back Wednesday and two more key players also are nearing a return.  —  Fowler was reinstated from the disabled list, where he spent …

Astros correct Valverde's age mistake  —  GM Wade said closer's birth date listing was paperwork error  —  HOUSTON — Astros general manger Ed Wade said Wednesday a discrepancy in paperwork led to closer Jose Valverde being listed at two different ages in the team's previous two media guides.

Jose Reyes of New York Mets willing to play winter ball to recover from hamstring injury  —  NEW YORK — Jose Reyes is hoping to return to the New York Mets' lineup this season and is willing to play winter ball if it will help hasten his recovery from a torn right hamstring tendon.

Bumgarner solid, but Giants lose ground  —  San Francisco falls three games back in Wild Card race  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Tuesday was a good day for the Giants' future.  Their present-day prospects, however, dimmed somewhat.  —  Making a surprise start for Tim Lincecum …

Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky  —  Todd Drew's seats from Yankee Stadium II.  Now resting comfortably on Marsha Drew's deck down south.  —  I am honored to announce that Todd Drew's Lasting Yankee Stadium Memory has been selected by Leigh Montville to be in The Best American Sports Writing 2009 (due out next month).

Rangers complete sweep of Indians with 10-0 win  —  CLEVELAND — Scott Feldman pitched seven shutout innings, Esteban German went 5 for 5 and Marlon Byrd hit a three-run homer as the Texas Rangers beat the Cleveland Indians 10-0 on Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep within 24 hours.

Wakefield to get a cortisone shot tomorrow  —  Still hampered by nerve problems in his back, Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will get another cortisone shot tomorrow.  —  Red Sox manager Terry Francona met with team doctor Thomas Gill last night to discuss a plan for Wakefield …

How NY Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher got his groove back  —  NEW YORK — It was the middle of November and I was in Northern Virginia, trolling Redskins practice looking for stories to write for my old paper.  Nick Swisher was at his dad's house in Parkersburg, W.V., trying to figure out what had gone wrong and how to fix it.

On That Stuff  —  Justin Verlander.  A.J. Burnett.  Ubaldo Jimenez.  These are the names that make scouts salivate.  Why?  One word.  Stuff.  —  Two components determine how nasty a pitcher's stuff truly is: velocity and movement.  We've had radar guns to track the league's hardest throwers …

The magic number is ...  Derek Jeter did not make himself available to the media after the game, which is very unusual for him.  He is hitless in 12 at-bats for the first time this season.  David Price became the first pitcher to strike Jeter out three times in a game since Curt Schilling in on April 19, 2004 at Fenway Park.

Hank Steinbrenner staying silent this season  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Remember Hank  —  Steinbrenner?  —  How can't you?  —  The chain-smoking oldest son of George Steinbrenner catapulted himself into the spotlight late in 2007, after another early Yankees departure from the postseason.