Schilling not overly concerned about elbow  —  CHICAGO — X-rays of Curt Schilling's right elbow were negative after the Red Sox ace was struck by Jim Thome's line drive in the sixth, the ball caroming more than 100 feet before landing in left-center field for a single.

Tempers are lost, followed by lead  —  NEW YORK — The Marlins have been the National League's hottest team since pitcher Scott Olsen got punched in the eye by a teammate and shoved against the wall by his manager during separate incidents in May.  —  They would like to think Olsen's latest altercation …

Measuring homers a guessing game  —  Pittsburgh - Bow-tied essayists and dyed-in-flannel traditionalists love small ball.  Most fans, however, love to see the ball get small.  —  Dating to 1883, there has been a fascination with big-league power, with watching a ball loosen itself …

Slammed players in an interview  —  KANSAS CITY, MO. — Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said he was speaking from frustration late last week when he criticized the team's play.  —  "I'd probably do it in a different way," Ricciardi said yesterday from his home in Worcester, Mass.

It's still Baker's team  —  Recent upswing and players' support could help the manager stick around in the 2nd half  —  MILWAUKEE — What funeral?  —  Sunday looked and sounded more like a revival for the Cubs and manager Dusty Baker after the team's third straight win, an 11-4 bashing of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Hughes: Wait and see  —  PITTSBURGH - Phil Hughes isn't buying it.  —  Not yet, anyway.  —  Maybe he'll feel differently if July 31 passes and he still can wear a Yankees cap, as he did yesterday.  —  "You never know," the righthander said at PNC Park.

Notes: Red Sox show strong interest in Abreu  —  The Red Sox inquired about Phillies right fielder Bobby Abreu, but the talks apparently failed to progress — even though a rival GM describes the Sox's interest in Abreu as "very strong."  —  Here's why Abreu could make sense for the Sox:

Bullpen Melts Down, Nats Limp Into Break  —  The phone rang in the Washington Nationals' bullpen in the middle of the sixth inning, with the home team leading by six runs, seemingly coasting to a series-salvaging win over the San Diego Padres.  Manager Frank Robinson was on the line …

Notes: Nats look toward second half  —  DC heads into break within striking distance of Wild Card  —  WASHINGTON — At the All-Star break a year ago, the Washington Nationals sat atop the National League East.  They were a surprising 16 games over .500 and led the division by 2 1/2 games.

Sheets feeling good after rehab start  —  Righty throws three innings for Triple-A Nashville on Sunday  —  MILWAUKEE — It wasn't the prettiest outing but at this point, Ben Sheets will take any outing.  —  Sheets threw 65 pitches — 45 for strikes — in three innings, gave up three runs on three hits …

Q&A with Tony Tavares  —  Departing president discusses franchise as tenure nears end  —  PITTSBURGH — One thing you can say about Tony Tavares: He has been never afraid to speak his mind when talking about the Nationals/Expos.  Last year, for example, it was Tavares who said that the team …

Patterson Will Rest Until He's Healthy  —  John Patterson left yesterday's game after the first inning of his start with a right forearm strain, the same injury that caused the right-hander to spend 57 games on the disabled list this season.  Both Patterson and Washington Nationals Manager Frank Robinson …