Cubs turn to Rusch in a pinch  —  Chicago (33-54) at Milwaukee (44-45), 1:05 p.m. CT  —  The Cubs won't have Mark Prior to close out the first half of the season.  —  Prior was a late scratch from his scheduled start on Sunday because of a strained left oblique muscle.

Plenty of sock  —  Ortiz homers again as Red Sox escape some deep trouble  —  CHICAGO — Morning having broken long before David Ortiz was prepared for it, the Red Sox slugger showed up for work yesterday and told his boss that he dreamed he'd overslept and that Terry Francona was mad at him.

Wood will miss rest of season  —  MILWAUKEE — Pitcher Kerry Wood's career suffered another serious jolt Saturday when it was revealed he has a partially torn right rotator cuff.  —  An MRI arthrogram taken Friday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital showed why Wood has been complaining …

Take your pick: Both struggling  —  Platooning outfielders Mench, Wilkerson are in a funk at same time  —  ARLINGTON - The informal platoon that has Brad Wilkerson and Kevin Mench essentially sharing a spot in the lineup doesn't seem to be working for either one.

Wang foils Devil Rays hook, line & sinker  —  ST. PETERSBURG - So much for mixing up your pitches.  Chien-Ming Wang's sinker, compared to a bowling ball by Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon - that's a compliment, mind you - was so effective last night that it was practically the only pitch Jorge Posada called.

Indians ink infielder Smit  —  Australian signs Minor League contract for 2007  —  CLEVELAND — For the second time in three days, the Indians have tapped into the international pool of player talent.  —  The Indians on Sunday signed Jason Smit, a 16-year-old infielder from Australia …

Santana strong in stifling Athletics  —  Right-hander wins his 10th game of the season for Angels  —  OAKLAND — The Angels finished the first half with a 4-2 win over the A's on Sunday to take the four-game series in front of 26,603.  —  Kendry Morales tripled in a pair and Jose Molina homered …

... Low-grade team / The Pirates' owners aren't playing ball  —  A lot has been written and much has been said about the abysmal play of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  And it's not the usual fleeting barroom talk about the latest slump or the breaks of the game.  —  Fans are venting a simmering anger …

Notes: Rotation set for second half  —  Skipper Hurdle has starters lined up after All-Star break  —  DENVER — The Rockies rotation coming out of the All-Star break is set.  —  Jeff Francis is scheduled to start the second half of the season at Cincinnati.

Endearing & enduring: The 1969 Seattle Pilots  —  Tommy Davis laughed heartily when asked for his prime recollection of the Seattle Pilots.  —  "Bunch of mutts, man," he said.  "Bunch of mutts."  —  Then Davis, a two-time batting champion and one of the Pilots' few players with stature …

Capuano added to NL All-Star roster  —  Brewers lefty replaces Mets' Glavine for Tuesday's game  —  MILWAUKEE — Chris Capuano was standing in the bullpen at Miller Park before Sunday's game, going through his normal throwing routine with pitching coach Mike Maddux.

The Breakup  —  In this exclusive excerpt from his new book, Feeding the Monster, Seth Mnookin explores the fascinating, curious, and combative relationship between Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino and the young man he hired to build a championship team, general manager Theo Epstein.

Izturis trade now unlikely  —  His smooth transition to third base has the Dodgers thinking twice about dealing him this season.  —  LOS ANGELES - From the moment the Dodgers signed Rafael Furcal as a free agent in December, it seemed obvious what role Cesar Izturis would fill when he returned from Tommy John surgery.