Gammons stricken, undergoes surgery  —  ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons, 61, is undergoing surgery this afternoon for an aneurysm in his brain.  —  Gammons was stricken earlier today and was taken to a Boston-area hospital.  He is expected to be in intensive care for the next 10 to 12 days.

Perez Hopes to Make Impression  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Odalis Perez isn't demanding a trade, but he would be happy if the spot start he makes for the Dodgers today generates interest among other major league teams.  With the Dodgers trading for Mark Hendrickson on Tuesday and exploring trades for other starters …

Notes: Struggling Bucs shuffle staff  —  Perez sent to 'pen; Vogelsong designated for assignment  —  PITTSBURGH — With the Pittsburgh Pirates mired in an 11-game losing streak, everyone from the fans to the players to the Bucs' CEO has been calling for changes.

Womack demoted; Nevin next to go?  —  The Cubs sent second baseman Tony Womack to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, a move that could signal the beginning of a midsummer purge.  —  Manager Dusty Baker said Womack's demotion was made because catcher Henry Blanco had a sore neck …

Anatomy of a Tiger (Part 1)  —  Amid the continuing performance-enhancing drug scandal, Barry Bonds passing Babe Ruth on the all time home run list and yet another AL East race between the Yankees and the Red Sox, the season's biggest surprise has undoubtedly been the resurgence of the Detroit Tigers.

Call it a learning experience … MIAMI - Rookie James Shields has shown the Devil Rays a confident and aggressive attitude on the mound.  He has shown off a dominating combination of a fastball and a "power changeup" that allows him to breeze through innings.

REYES IS TOAST OF NL AGAIN  —  June 27, 2006 — MET NOTES BOSTON - Hope Jose Reyes enjoyed being named the NL Player of the Week last week, because he took the honors again this week.  —  Becoming the first Met in 23 years to win the award in consecutive weeks, Reyes won NL Player …

Mets get a feeler for Floyd  —  BOSTON - The Tigers recently inquired about the availability of Cliff Floyd, but were told the outfielder was not being traded, according to two baseball officials.  —  Floyd has been on the disabled list for three weeks with a sprained left ankle, but could return this weekend against the Yankees.

Cards skid now lengthiest in almost 18 years  —  Offering the definition of a slumping team, when the Cardinals hit, they don't pitch.  When they pitch, as was the case Tuesday night against the Cleveland Indians, they don't hit.  —  And for eight games now they haven't won.

Sox, Mets meet 20 years after Series  —  Boston (45-28) vs, New York (47-28), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  Twenty years ago, millions of baseball fans were mesmerized by the unimaginable drama of the 1986 World Series between the Red Sox and the Mets, but rookie sensation Jon Lester was just a 2-year-old infant …

Myers takes personal leave after assault charge  —  PHILADELPHIA — Phillies pitcher Brett Myers will take a leave of absence through the All-Star break, saying he has embarrassed his family and the team with his arrest on charges that he hit his wife in the face.

Notes: Clayton on hot streak  —  Washington's shortstop looking for consistency at plate  —  TORONTO — The Nationals have struggled at the plate recently, but don't tell that to shortstop Royce Clayton.  —  Clayton has been on fire as of late, hitting .563 (9-for-16) with four RBIs and three doubles in his last four games.

Hendry won't accept excuses  —  GM insists on better results despite youth, injuries  —  Dusty Baker will get "every opportunity" to turn things around, general manager Jim Hendry said before Tuesday's game at Wrigley Field.  —  But Hendry waltzed around the question of whether Baker deserves …

Notes: Chavez 5th in balloting  —  Third baseman likely to use time off to heal many injuries  —  SAN DIEGO — It's been clear for some time that none of the A's will be voted into the starting lineup for this year's All-Star Game in Pittsburgh, and the lone player remotely in the hunt is slumping and banged up.

Ellis' comeback off to good start  —  His Monday night at warm, breezy Raley Field was a successful step in the recovery, and Mark Ellis should know.  —  Not just because it was his right thumb that got its first game test since the break on May 30 that sent him to the A's disabled list.