Davis scratched from Thursday's start  —  Gonzalez will make first start in Brewers uniform  —  CHICAGO — Milwaukee scratched Doug Davis from his scheduled start in Thursday's series finale against Chicago.  The Brewers will instead go with right-hander Geremi Gonzalez, a former Cub who will be making his first Brewers start.

Gammons in good condition after surgery  —  BOSTON (AP) - Peter Gammons, an ESPN analyst and member of the writer's wing of the baseball Hall of Fame, was in good condition Wednesday at a Boston hospital after surgery for a brain aneurysm.  —  The 61-year-old Gammons was treated at Brigham …

The good son returns home … BOSTON — The wrapped bottle of Cristal champagne was sitting in his new chair.  A case of his country's Presidente beer was nearby on the floor with a card on top from Jason Varitek addressed to "Petey."  Tommy McLaughlin, the visitors' clubhouse manager at Fenway Park …

Phils fall to Red Sox in 12th  —  BOSTON - This latest loss left Charlie Manuel at a total loss.  —  His players can't explain it, either.  —  "I don't know what we can do," Manuel said after yesterday's 8-7 loss in 12 innings to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Reds reward Narron, Krivsky  —  Manager, GM have helped Cincinnati to surprising success  —  CINCINNATI — The Reds have been surprise playoff contenders this season, but chief executive officer Bob Castellini didn't wait for the race's final outcome to reward his two main architects.

Padres continue to treat fallen LaChappa as one of their own  —  Matt LaChappa hasn't thrown a pitch professionally in 10 years.  He is confined to a wheelchair, and constrained by the physical fallout from back-to-back heart attacks.  —  Yet the Padres continue to pay him as if he were an active player.

Hensley looks to get back on right track  —  San Diego (40-36) vs. Oakland (41-35) 7:05 p.m. PT  —  The Padres managed to slow down the A's for one night, and will try to do the same in the second game of the series on Wednesday.  —  The A's had won 13 of their last 16 games going into Tuesday's contest …

Rangers' catching platoon a solid hit  —  Barajas and Laird are swinging mean bats at the same time  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Just three weeks ago, Rangers manager Buck Showalter said he heard Gerald Laird's noisy bat speaking loud and clear and indicated the backup catcher's playing time might increase.

Can the Cubs be fixed?  Here are 6 ideas  —  Let's assume the Cubs will fire Dusty Baker and part ways with pitcher Kerry Wood before Opening Day 2007.  Plenty of other work lies ahead if the Cubs are going to avoid that century-mark stigma in 2008 of putting 100 years between them and their last World Series championship.

Bowden's fiancee accepts plea deal  —  MIAMI (AP) — The fiancee of Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden accepted a plea agreement Wednesday to settle charges of battery and resisting arrest while in Miami Beach.  —  Joy Browning, 36, must complete 25 hours of community service …

Koshansky's big numbers quiet critics  —  Tulsa first baseman chosen to play for U.S. in Futures Game  —  Last year, critics said it was the wall.  They said the short right-field porch in Asheville's McCormick Field inflated left-handed first baseman Joe Koshansky's power numbers while he was with the Tourists in 2005.

Mid-Season Blockbusters: June (Part Three: 1975-2005)  —  We've examined the most prominent June trades from the early portion of the 20th century, as well as from the middle period.  Now we'll take a look at the big deals from the past few decades.  —  June 13, 1975: The Texas Rangers …

Firm seeks Sox radio network name deal  —  Entercom looks to recoup portion of cost of broadcast rights  —  The owner of radio stations WEEI and WRKO, fresh from signing one of Major League Baseball's most expensive radio rights deals, has found a way to get some money back: selling naming rights to the Red Sox radio network.

Whiz-kid Twins spin their wheels  —  Their hot streak is as impressive as it is frustrating.  They might not be gaining in the AL Central, but the team's youthful foundation is cause for optimism.  —  If they all keep up this pace, Joe Mauer will hit .632, the Twins will reach 120 victories …

Irate Pirates fans uncork wild pitches of frustration on Web  —  The Pirates' nagging habit of losing has angered the P out of more than a few followers.  —  Iratefans.com is one of the latest in a litany of Web sites that sling venom, vinegar and vitriol toward the cellar-dwelling baseball club heading …

Prospectus Notebook  —  Astros, Mets, Blue Jays  —  HOUSTON ASTROS  — Last week's Roger Clemens-Francisco Liriano matchup was a disappointment for Astros fans looking for a splashy return from the Rocket, but it underscored a bigger problem for Houston.