You Can't Go Home Again  —  BOSTON, June 28 — At 7:14 p.m. Wednesday, Pedro Martínez marched out of the visiting dugout to bask in yet another familiar standing ovation at Fenway Park.  When the sellout crowd offered its next one, at 7:31, Martínez wanted no part of it.

Notes: Rangers waiting on contract talks  —  GM Daniels doesn't want distractions during the season  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Rangers have at least six players who can become free agents after the season, but general manager Jon Daniels said this week he is reluctant to begin any talks on contract extensions.

Deaf to Boos, Rodriguez Finally Hears the Cheers  —  Alex Rodriguez must have heard the boos when he failed to reach base in the 1st and 10th innings, and again in the 11th when he made an error.  Or did he?  After yesterday's game, Rodriguez said his hearing was going bad, likening himself to a swimmer with clogged ears.

Pirates demote Perez to minors  —  Pirates demote Perez to minors  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates opening-day starter Oliver Perez was demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, the club's latest move to try to turn around the hard-throwing pitcher once viewed as their staff ace.

JUSTICE SERVED BY A-ROD HOMER  —  June 29, 2006 — FOR most athletes, it hurts to be booed, but they can take it because they generally have little respect for the opinions of fans.  However, when one of their peers lays them out, it stings.  —  On YES' post-game showTuesday night …

Phillies Notes |  Lieber could make his return July 7  —  Phillies Notes  —  BALTIMORE - The Phillies said there is a chance that righthander Jon Lieber could return to the rotation next week.  —  Lieber, who is on the disabled list with a strained left groin, made a rehabilitation start Tuesday with single-A Clearwater.

Last day to make All-Star vote count  —  Fans cast 2.3 million ballots on final day of voting last season  —  It's the bottom of the ninth for the Monster All-Star Online Ballot here at MLB.com, and let's assume that baseball fans once again break the record for number of ballots cast in the final 24 hours of voting.

Future Shock  —  Position Breakdown: Catchers … If there's one thing I've learned on this beat, it's that everybody loves rankings.  I love them too, and I don't want to wait until the end of the season to start breaking them out.  Every Thursday, I'll be ranking the top prospects by position.

Running in place?  —  Suddenly, the Twins can't lose.  They also can't win, either, at least when it comes to making up ground in the American League playoff race.  —  After losing to Seattle on June 7, they dropped to 25-33, 11.5 games out in the AL Central.

Figgins Receives Some Rest, Needed or Not  —  Some might find it curious that in the search for an offensive spark, Mike Scioscia would deprive his team of one of its most consistent sparkplugs.  —  But that essentially was the move made Wednesday by the Angels manager …

Rios hospitalized with leg infection  —  TORONTO (AP) — Blue Jays right fielder Alex Rios was hospitalized Thursday and expected to remain overnight to receive treatment on a bad infection in his lower left leg.  —  Rios fouled a ball off his leg during Tuesday's 6-0 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Full Play-by-Play Chicago vs. Detroit  —  TIGERS 1ST  —  Freddy An.  Garcia pitching:  —  Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Ball, Granderson walked.  —  Strike looking, Ball, Polanco flied out to left.  —  Pickoff attempt, Ball, Rodriguez flied out to center.

Lastings impressions made  —  The place: The visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park.  The time: About 10:45 last night, about 45 minutes after the Sox-Mets game had ended.  The situation: Lastings Milledge, chomping on a piece of chicken, reporters awkwardly waiting for him to finish his dinner …