It's Official: Lerner Will Own Nationals  —  Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called Bethesda-based billionaire Theodore N. Lerner today to tell him he will be the new owner of the Washington Nationals, team sources said.  —  An announcement by Major League Baseball is expected shortly.

Notes: Dodgers lineup gets a shakeup  —  Little rearranges batting order in effort to spark more production  —  PHOENIX — Over the first 10 games of the season, the Dodgers offense averaged 6.8 runs.  Over the next 16 games, it averaged half that, 3.4.  —  So manager Grady Little said it was time for "a little tinkering."

Sox win in 11  —  With 37 come-from-behind victories and 35 one-run victories last season, you might think the White Sox had found every possible way to win a baseball game.  —  Nope.  They discovered a new one in Wednesday night's 6-5, 11-inning victory over Seattle—Pablo Ozuna's first major-league home run after 1,333 at-bats.

Notes: Shoulder sends Ohka to DL  —  Righty expected out at least one month; no surgery scheduled  —  MILWAUKEE — The Brewers placed Tomo Ohka on the disabled list on Wednesday with a shoulder injury that will sideline the right-hander for at least a month.

Can the Reds keep it up?  If they're healthy ...  The Cincinnati Reds just took two of three against Houston, swept a two-game set against the Cardinals, sit atop the National League Central (the toughest division in baseball thus far) and are on pace to win 110 games.

Hodgepodge Cards can't dodge defeat  —  CINCINNATI — The losing pitcher arrived at Great American Ball Park 90 minutes before the first pitch.  —  During the seventh inning, Cardinals replacement first baseman Jim Edmonds looked into the home dugout to ask half-jokingly if anyone could spare a first baseman's glove.

PLAYERS: JETER OVER-RATED  —  May 3, 2006 — BOSTON - Derek Jeter smiled at the news that his peers named him the most over-rated player in the big leagues.  —  In a Sports Illustrated poll of 470 players, Jeter was named on 9 percent of the ballots as the most over-rated.

Late long ball sinks Braves in Philly  —  Remlinger unable to preserve lead; Andruw hits ninth homer  —  PHILADELPHIA — Andruw Jones drilled the most impressive homer of the evening.  But it was Aaron Rowand who delivered the most meaningful one, handing the Braves yet another one-run defeat.

Solid start lacking national attention  —  Atlanta - The Rockies' search for respect remains an elusive thing.  —  Despite a 15-10 April record, appreciation hasn't arrived, at least not at the national level.  Highlights on ESPN or a kind word or two in national publications remain as scarce as two-dollar gas.

Notes: Lugo close to return  —  Shortstop has been sidelined by injury since Opening Day  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Julio Lugo has been absent from the Devil Rays' lineup since suffering an abdominal strain on Opening Day at Baltimore.  Now his return is close.

Once a Yankee: Wells backs Fenway fans' take on Damon  —  David Wells was not exactly in an agreeable frame of mind with his former manager Joe Torre last night.  —  When told how the Yankees manager expressed disappointment in Red Sox fans for booing ex-Sox and current Yankee Johnny Damon on Monday night, Wells said, "Awww, poor Joe.

The Diary of Carlos Delgado  —  The students wanted to present Carlos Delgado with a gift he could actually use, something that did not cost a lot of money but showed a lot of thought.  —  Johnathan Polanco was watching the Mets on television when he thought of the perfect thing.

Notes: Kotchman reveals illness  —  First baseman says he has contracted mononucleosis  —  DETROIT — Casey Kotchman revealed that he has mononucleosis before Wednesday night's game.  —  The infielder, who has started 19 games at first base this season, wasn't in the lineup.

Bonds expected to play after being hit by ball  —  MILWAUKEE — The Curse of the Bambino might have found its next victim: Barry Bonds.  —  Bonds, only two home runs away from tying Babe Ruth's career mark of 714, was left in a temporary daze after getting bonked in the forehead …

Astros talk to Clemens' agents, ready to pay  —  HOUSTON — It appears the Houston Astros are ready to show Roger Clemens the money.  —  The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Astros started negotiations with Clemens at no less than a pro-rated amount of the $18 million salary …

Barkley claims gambling problem has cost him $10M  —  Former NBA star and current TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley revealed his own struggles with gambling in an interview with ESPN after being asked about golfer John Daly, who claims to have lost between $50 million and $60 million in the past 12 years due to gambling.

Angels losing skid hits six  —  Offense struggles against hot Tigers' pitching  —  DETROIT — The Angels' hitting woes coninued Wednesday night.  —  Held to four hits by three Detroit Tigers' pitchers, Los Angeles dropped a 2-1 decision as it helplessly watched Alexis Gomez single …