Missed call ends Galarraga's perfect bid  —  Tigers righty loses perfect game on 27th hitter  —  DETROIT — Tigers right-hander Armando Galarraga nearly made history, and might have anyway.  He fell one batter and a disputed call shy of a perfect game, settling for a one-hitter …

Seattle Mariners announce Ken Griffey Jr. retiring … SEATTLE — The Kid has called it quits.  —  Just the way Ken Griffey Jr. wanted, there will be no farewell tour for one of the greatest players in baseball history.  Instead, Griffey simply informed the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night his career was over.

Recap: Red Sox 6, Athletics 4  —  Another roll of Dice  —  THE BIG PICTURE  —  The question, posed only half-seriously to Red Sox [team stats] manager Terry Francona before last night's game, drew a frank response.  Asked what may be expected from right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka [stats], Francona said, “I don't know.”

No Cubs breakup just yet  —  Hendry still thinks club can contend, but struggles could bring sale mode  —  PITTSBURGH — As teams push into the middle third of the schedule and start evaluating whether they're winners or losers — and, more important, buyers or sellers — the Cubs could be one of the more intriguing teams to watch.

It's time: Posada should be full-time DH  —  Yanks' soon-to-be 39-year-old catcher must give up his beloved perch behind the plate  —  NEW YORK — You already know a final decision will come with some resistance.  —  There's no way catcher Jorge Posada wants to be a full-time designated hitter and give up his perch behind the plate.

Blister puts Bush's next start in doubt  —  MIAMI — Dave Bush's next Brewers start is in doubt after the right-hander exited his outing on Tuesday after six innings because of a blister.  —  Asked on Wednesday afternoon whether Bush would be able to start as scheduled against the Cardinals on Sunday …

Crawford's ninth-inning slam lifts Rays past Jays  —  TORONTO (AP) — Down by a run heading into the ninth inning, the Tampa Bay Rays had the Toronto Blue Jays right where they wanted them.  —  David Price became the American League's first eight-game winner, Carl Crawford hit a grand slam …

Mickey Mouse statues arrive in So.  Cal  —  All-Star-themed versions of icon displayed in 36 locations  —  In celebration of All-Star Week festivities, Major League Baseball Properties and Disney Consumer Products began populating key locations throughout Southern California with 36 varieties …

Bisons lose; Mets may be thinning the Herd  —  The Buffalo Bisons are in line for plenty of roster shuffling in the next couple of days.  —  The Herd could use some relievers, as another bullpen blowup led to Wednesday's rain-delayed, 6-3 loss to the Syracuse Chiefs in Coca-Cola Field.