A Broken Wrist Ends Matsui's Streak  —  On one gruesome play in the first inning at Yankee Stadium last night, a streak ended and a problem intensified.  —  Hideki Matsui, the Yankees' left fielder who had played in 1,768 consecutive games, fractured his left wrist while trying to catch …

Sutcliffe gives rambling, slurred interview on Padres broadcast  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) -Rick Sutcliffe, a Cy Young award winner and ESPN baseball analyst, gave a rambling, slurred interview during the local television broadcast of the Brewers-Padres game Wednesday night.  —  Sutcliffe's microphone eventually was cut off.

Notes: Schneider still banged up  —  Catcher trying to overcome nagging injury  —  CINCINNATI — Catcher Brian Schneider was back in the lineup for one game, and what do you know?  Schneider now finds himself on the mend again.  —  His tender hamstring, which had caused Schneider to sit …

Rowand to have surgery on Friday  —  Phillies unsure of how long center fielder will be sidelined  —  PHILADELPHIA — Phillies center fielder Aaron Rowand left Thursday's game with a broken nose and lacerations to the face after crashing into the center field fence to make an over-the-shoulder catch …

Sox show gusto against Yankees  —  Loretta raps out four hits as Boston rallies late in Bronx  —  NEW YORK — For six innings on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox were left flustered and stranded, and certainly not contemplating the latest classic contest that was unfolding against their long-time rivals from the Bronx.

The Boss can get job done  —  NEW YORK — Think George Steinbrenner has lost his touch?  Think again.  Whether it's Costanza's calzones, putting coaches on notice, or embarrassing superstars, the Boss knows how to motivate.  Given the choice, George would rather be feared than loved.

Kotchman Is Forced to the DL by Illness  —  CHICAGO — First baseman Casey Kotchman, his energy level hovering somewhere around his batting average — a sickly .152 — was put on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of a viral syndrome, diagnosed in spring training as mononucleosis.

I WASSSS ONCCCCCE A MANN!  —  Boswell should be fired.  At least every column should come with a disclaimer.  Something like "Nats Fans Parking ONLY!" or "Denile isn't just a river in Egypt".  He's degenerating into a raving Nats fanboy before our very eyes.

Don't get sentimental about Babe being passed  —  In a recent airing of Bob Costas' show on HBO, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, when asked about Barry Bonds' place in baseball history, responded that it was Babe Ruth who would "always be the guy."  —  In a sense, this is spot-on …

Notes: Young's leg injury flaring up  —  Designated hitter could soon be back on the disabled list  —  BALTIMORE — Had the Tigers played on Thursday night instead of having their game against Baltimore at Camden Yards washed out, they would have done so without designated hitter Dmitri Young.

Tribe considering changes in 'pen  —  Indians bullpen ranks second-to-last in ERA in Majors  —  CLEVELAND — General manager Mark Shapiro said long before the '06 season began that the Indians' bullpen was his greatest concern.  —  That concern was justified.

Padres trade prospect Guzman  —  Center fielder, righty Rojas head to Texas for Hudgins, Sinisi  —  SAN DIEGO — The Padres made several Minor League transactions before Thursday's game against the Brewers.  —  The Padres acquired right-hander John Hudgins and first baseman/outfielder Vince Sinisi …

Future Shock  —  A Royal Blunder  —  At this point, everybody knows the rumor: The Royals, picking first in next months draft, will allegedly bypass Andrew Miller, the lefthander from North Carolina, and instead go in a northwesterly direction to select University of Washington righthander Tim Lincecum.