Another Win for the Braves  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Tim Hudson pitched six effective innings for his second win since major elbow surgery and the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 5-2 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.  —  Hours after announcing Bobby Cox will retire …

Nats dodge century mark by rallying to win  —  The way the first five innings unfolded for the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night - basically, the way their entire season has unfolded - it would have been wholly predictable for them to match five innings of offensive futility …

Tampa Bay Rays will change next season, but how much?  —  ST. PETERSBURG — The death of the Rays 2009 season arrived this week.  Belatedly, as it turns out.  —  We have known for about a month, and probably longer, that there would be no encore performance.

Duensing, Punto help Twins sweep White Sox  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Brian Duensing (FSY) won his fifth straight decision and the Minnesota Twins stayed on the heels of first-place Detroit in the AL Central with their ninth victory in the last 10 games, beating the Chicago White 8-6 on Wednesday night.

Hairston could have serious wrist injury  —  Jerry Hairston Jr. “felt a pop” in his left wrist while taking a practice swing in the seventh inning.  That's why he came out of the game.  —  Hairston said he felt a sharp pain.  He has been been having wrist issues on and off since diving …

Red Sox bounce back  —  Josh Beckett battles in win  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  KANSAS CITY - After beginning this week-long series on the road with a pair of underwhelming starts and surprising losses, the Red Sox [team stats] lifted their lonely eyes to Josh Beckett [stats] last night.

Posada's X-rays come back negative  —  Results good news after catcher fouled ball off right foot  —  ANAHEIM — Having clinched at least a spot in the postseason but still seeking loftier goals, the Yankees breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday after X-rays on Jorge Posada's bruised right foot came back negative.

Sources: Chicago Cubs' Milton Bradley to accept suspension  —  Milton Bradley has agreed not to appeal his suspension for the rest of the season, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.com on Wednesday.  —  Bradley  —  That decision came after Bradley formally apologized to the Cubs …

Minaya is running out of loyal followers  —  In happier times for the  —  Mets, during spring training of 2007, members of the team's front office wore caps with the letters F.O.O. stitched across the front.  The headgear marked them as “Friends of Omar,” a playful term tossed around among …

11 Blown Saves, 11 Games to Play  —  It is impossibly difficult to picture a Phillies repeat with more performances like this.  —  Charlie Manuel sees it, too.  —  “It's getting tough,” he said following a 7-6 loss to the Marlins last night at Land Shark Stadium.  “We've got to close the games out.

Uribe helps Giants gain ground in NL wild card chase  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Juan Uribe (FSY) hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs and San Francisco's bullpen backed Jonathan Sanchez (FSY) with 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief as the Giants gained a game in the NL wild-card race …

Disappointing Brewers weighing changes, but Macha appears safe … Brewers general manager Doug Melvin is said to be seriously weighing important changes after the talented team's surprisingly mediocre performance this season (74-77 through Tuesday), a year after the Brew Crew's first playoff appearance since 1982.

PADRES END ROCKIES' EIGHT-GAME HOME WINNING STREAK  —  Sports Network  —  Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Will Venable went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, four runs batted in, and two runs scored to lead the San Diego Padres past the Colorado Rockies, 6-3, in the middle installment of a three-game set at Coors Field.

Rockies' Marquis falters again in 6-3 loss  —  It is a cruel irony.  Every team Jason Marquis has been on has reached the playoffs.  Nine straight years.  And yet he has only pitched in the postseason in four of those trips, victimized by second-half slides.