Wells pronounces himself set to go  —  David Wells gave up two runs in five innings for Pawtucket.  He could be in the Boston rotation as early as Friday.  (AP Photo)  —  MOOSIC, Pa. — David Wells said he's ready, that five innings yesterday in Pennsylvania were enough to prove his right knee …

Tony La Russa on Ozzie Smith: 'He's not welcome'  —  KANSAS CITY  —  Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, after reading a story in Sunday's Post-Dispatch that, in part, reiterated Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith's disinclination to participate in club-related field activities as long as La Russa was manager …

Pierzynski's grown tired of controversy  —  Catcher loved by teammates, hated by opponents  —  CHICAGO — There probably never was a time where A.J. Pierzynski enjoyed his somewhat controversial reputation more than when he stepped into the athletic entertainment venue of professional wrestling last December in Orlando.

A rare form of futility  —  ST. PETERSBURG - The odds are staggering, but the Marlins are bucking them.  —  The chances of a team losing four consecutive games in which they've taken a lead into the ninth inning — something only the Marlins and 2002 Tampa Bay Devil Rays have managed to accomplish — come out to about one in 160,000.

Wagner's rough ninth leads to Mets loss  —  Closer walks three, hits a batter in allowing four runs  —  NEW YORK — Denials could be heard in every corner of the Mets' clubhouse on Saturday.  Losing as they had lost, the Mets insisted, was no worse, no more horrifying because it had happened …

Soler Is A Better Choice For Now And The Future  —  So the ol' riverboat gambler pushed all the chips to the center of the table holding an off suit 2-6 and what happens?  The boat catches on fire — and somehow, miraculously, Omay Minaya walks away with his future intact, as all bets are off.

Sale of the Braves Fuels the Corporate vs. Family Ownership Debate  —  They say that the only sure thing in life is death and taxes.  They didn't say that the sale of the Braves would be involved, but that may well be the case.  —  Bear with me.  —  While the sale of the Nationals …

Pre-dawn vote gives Twins their stadium  —  After hours of committee meetings, years of waiting and dozens of starts and stops, the Legislature Sunday passed a $522 million measure to build a new Minnesota Twins ballpark in Minneapolis.  —  The bill will soon be on Gov. Tim Pawlenty's desk …

Mixed emotions  —  Fans, players express admiration and trepidation  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Tyler Snyder caught Barry Bonds' 714th homer on the fly Saturday, snagging it cleanly with his glove.  The people around the 19-year-old Athletics fan cheered wildly, with nobody assaulting or gouging him.

Dodgers Flip the Switch on Angels This Season  —  The kid third baseman settled in for the sort of sixth-inning battle that the Angels always won.  —  Only, this kid played for the Dodgers.  —  Willy Aybar fouled off the first pitch.  He fouled off the third pitch.  He sawed off his bat in fouling off the fourth pitch.

Notes: Lawton sent packing  —  Veteran designated for assignment; Morse called up  —  SEATTLE — With playing time becoming increasingly infrequent for Matt Lawton, the Seattle Mariners decided to sever ties with the veteran outfielder by designating him for assignment before Saturday's game against San Diego.

For the Nationals, Unrivaled Results  —  Team Takes 2 of 3 From O's With Basic Approach: Nationals 3, Orioles 1  —  Remember the images, even if they mean almost nothing to the players on the field.  The "Let's Go O's!" banner along the right field line.  The occasional T-shirt telling …

Phillies' Gonzalez decides to retire; Coste called up … PHILADELPHIA — Veteran infielder Alex Gonzalez of the Philadelphia Phillies has decided to retire, effective immediately.  —  Phillies general manager Pat Gillick announced on Sunday that Gonzalez has been placed on the voluntarily retired list.

Royals' skid reaches nine games  —  Elarton remains winless with loss to Cardinals  —  KANSAS CITY — It was sweep and sour for the Royals.  Very sour, in fact.  —  "We're pretty much bad in every facet of the game," pitcher Scott Elarton said, warming to the topic.  "It doesn't look like anybody in here cares.