Kazmir hitches a ride to All-Star game on Air A-Rod  —  PITTSBURGH —Scott Kazmir needed a ride.  Alex Rodriguez had a plane.  —  The Devil Rays lefty went first class on Air Rodriguez to the All-Star game.  —  A-Rod and the Yankees played in Tampa on Sunday, the day before the midseason break.

Incidents tarnish Cabrera's stardom  —  PITTSBURGH - Cookie Rojas, a five-time All-Star in the '60s and '70s, has some advice for Miguel Cabrera: Cool it.  —  "He's going to have to understand the fact that he can't react all the time the same way,'' said Rojas, the Marlins' Spanish television analyst. "

Nats announce major changes to RFK  —  'Grand Reopening Weekend' to take place on July 21-23  —  WASHINGTON — Saying that there was no reason to wait until their new ballpark was opened in 2008 and that a decline in attendance this season was not the deciding factor, incoming Nationals …

Howard wins wet-and-wild HR Derby … PITTSBURGH — It was a Home Run Derby only Admiral Dewey, Charlie the Tuna and the star-studded cast of The Little Mermaid could have loved.  —  It wasn't the most spectacular Home Run Derby in history.  But it was definitely the most waterlogged.

All-Star players on Pirates' performance: No excuses  —  Game's best say other teams doing fine with low payrolls  —  Roy Oswalt, the Houston Astros' fireballing gem, was asked yesterday to try to imagine how frustrating it must be for Pittsburghers to put up with so much losing baseball for so long.

Guillen names Rogers AL starter, NL taps Penny  —  PITTSBURGH — Kenny Rogers has gone from all-star scourge to All-Star Game starter.  —  The Tigers' left-hander, the top winner for the team with the best record in the majors, will be on the mound for the AL on Tuesday night against Brad Penny of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Worst.  Post.  Ever.  —  First thought in my brain after the Giants won the third game of the series: Ooh.  Good.  Now the worst they can do is split.  —  Second thought in my brain after the Giants won the third game of the series: Dang it, they're going to split.

Zambrano: Get off Baker's back, let him finish year  —  PITTSBURGH — Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs' lone All-Star representative, conducted most of his hourlong interview Monday in Spanish, but he also defended beleaguered manager Dusty Baker against what are perceived as media attacks.

One Phillies owner speaks out on team's struggles  —  PITTSBURGH - The Phillies have been bloodied and beaten on the field, and intensely criticized off it.  —  The starting pitching and hitting have been awful.  Manager Charlie Manuel is feeling the heat.

Time to hand out some midseason hardware  —  The coolest thing about this year's awards races is that Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano might lose the American League Rookie of the Year award but win the Cy Young.  —  Red Sox closer Jonathon Papelbon, who didn't allow a run on the road until …

Soriano a star likely on the move  —  PITTSBURGH — When Alfonso Soriano leads off for the National League in tonight's All-Star Game, he will wear his third uniform in the Midsummer Classic; before his current Nationals employ, he represented the Yankees and Rangers.

Maddux on the move?  —  Brewers, Dodgers likely suitors; potential Abreu deal  —  PITTSBURGH — Cooperstown-bound Cub Greg Maddux has veto power over trades, but it's believed he'd accept a deal to at least two teams: the Brewers and the Dodgers.  —  If the noncontending Cubs decide to deal him …