A-ROD CONFRONTS MIRABELLI  —  May 25, 2006 — BOSTON - According to several Fenway Park sources, Alex Rodriguez called Doug Mirabelli over late yesterday afternoon and challenged the Red Sox' backup catcher over what Mirabelli said about A-Rod's actions at the plate Tuesday night …

Another home-groan loss  —  ARLINGTON - The Rangers' 8-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday left them with three thoughts about what needs to happen for them to make the playoffs:  —  They have to find a way to win more often at home.  They are 10-14 at Ameriquest Field in Arlington …

Mets fill big hole with El Duque  —  Tired of trying to mend a wounded rotation from the inside, the Mets acquired Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez yesterday from the Diamondbacks for the disappointing Jorge Julio.  It didn't take very long for general manager Omar Minaya to realize that Jose Lima …

Womack could be at 2nd base by weekend  —  MIAMI — It wouldn't be surprising to see Tony Womack show up at Wrigley Field this weekend as the Cubs' starting second baseman against the Atlanta Braves.  —  "I'm hearing good reports on him,'' manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday. "

Notes: Carpenter scratched from start  —  Cardinals cautious with ace, injury believed to be minor  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Cardinals scratched Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter from his scheduled start on Wednesday due to an inflamed bursa sac on his right side, below his shoulder.

Notes: Injuries ravage prospects  —  Pitchers drafted by Pittsburgh find way to DL  —  PHOENIX — In retrospect it is safe to say that the Pirates have focused hard on building a pitching staff largely through the First-Year Player Draft.  —  That strategy has worked, but not quite with the pitchers that the team expected.

Girardi: Olsen lost focus  —  Marlins manager Joe Girardi shed some light on his Tuesday night confrontation with Scott Olsen, saying he grabbed the pitcher by the jersey and pulled him into the dugout tunnel to get his attention.  —  ''I'm going to do things different ways sometimes,'' he said.

Aaron still getting snub of Ruthian proportions  —  WASHINGTON // Ihave spent the past month or so confused about what I thought was an indisputable baseball truth: Who is the major league home run king?  —  I was under the delusion that it was the player with the most career home runs, Hank Aaron.

HOMEMLBTEAMSNEWS STORYTowers struggles vs. D-Rays, sent down  —  TORONTO (CP)- Josh Towers' shortest start of the season will be his last with the Toronto Blue Jays for a while.  —  Towers allowed four runs in just 1 1-3 innings Wednesday as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated Toronto 10-8 …

Vero Beach Seeks Team  —  With the Dodgers exploring whether to move their spring home to Arizona, officials in Florida are preparing to lure other teams to Dodgertown.  —  Indian River County Administrator Joe Baird said Tuesday he had asked Grapefruit League officials about teams that might …

Dodgers roll to seventh straight win  —  Sele tosses seven shutout innings, improves to 3-0  —  LOS ANGELES — As Odalis Perez languishes, Aaron Sele thrives.  —  The contrast was clear again Wednesday night, as Perez watched Sele cruise through seven scoreless innings of another quality start …

Phils blow lead again  —  Fall 5 games behind Mets  —  NEW YORK - Frustration filled an otherwise quiet Phillies clubhouse last night at Shea Stadium.  —  Charlie Manuel expressed his concern about everything, but especially about his hitters who just cannot seem to put away anybody.