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 …

Nationals Rally in the Bottom of the Ninth to Defeat the Dodgers and Avoid Loss No. 100  —  Chances are, the Washington Nationals won't transform henceforth into a 99-loss juggernaut, finishing their season with 12 consecutive wins, avoiding the indignity of triple digits.  One more loss, and they've got 100 of them.

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 …

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.

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.

Chicago Cubs' Milton Bradley would return to team if allowed, his mother says  —  The mother of banished Chicago Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley said her son would consider returning to the team if it will have him back.  —  The Cubs suspended the volatile Bradley on Sunday for the rest …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Lidge blows another one: Carroll, Marlins rally past Phillies in 9th  —  MIAMI (AP) — Pinch-hitter Brett Carroll (FSY) capped a two-run rally against closer Brad Lidge (FSY) in the ninth inning with an RBI single, giving the Florida Marlins a 7-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.

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.

Back to TV for Bobby V.  —  It appears that BOBBY Valentine won't be unemployed for long.  —  Television industry and baseball sources say Valentine, completing his final season as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League, is on the verge of signing a lucrative multi-year deal with ESPN.

Murphy's law: Never say die  —  NEW YORK — It was the ninth inning Monday night, the stands depleted by another miserable performance by the Mets, when Daniel Murphy stepped to the plate in an 11-3 loss.  —  Though most of the fans already had given up and maybe his teammates were ready to hit the showers …