Stroke is all Wright  —  David blasts way to 2nd in Derby  —  PITTSBURGH - David Wright practiced on Sunday morning, accepting Paul Lo Duca's offer to pitch and getting Xavier Nady to crouch behind the plate to provide a target at Shea.  And when Wright arrived at the Home Run Derby …

A-ROD KNOWS YANKS WON'T WIN WILD-CARD  —  July 11, 2006 — PITTSBURGH - The challenge of the second half is clear.  Alex Rodriguez sees it.  —  The Yankees must beat Boston or go home.  —  "The wild card will not come out of the East.  Period," Rodriguez told The Post yesterday at the American League All-Stars' press conference.

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 …

Baker at the break  —  After a difficult 2005 season, Dusty Baker returned to his California home from a Hawaiian vacation with a new mantra he hoped to carry into 2006:  —  "No worries."  —  But the first half of '06 has produced one headache after another, and now Baker's uncertain job status threatens …

Rangers have become true believers  —  For Gary Matthews, it's always been about trust.  —  Trusting his breeding.  Trusting his swing.  Trusting himself.  And, finally, trusting that someone, somewhere, sometime, would give him a chance to play.  —  Every day.  —  Every inning.  —  Every at-bat.

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.

Klesko, Castilla could be on way out  —  Padres eye trading veterans for hitters  —  The Padres are looking to trade Ryan Klesko in August, and to trade for a third baseman and possibly a relief pitcher later this month, General Manager Kevin Towers said yesterday.

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.

Lee gives loyalty oath  —  All-star might be too costly to keep  —  thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com  —  Pittsburgh - All-star leftfielder Carlos Lee said Monday that he had no desire to leave the Milwaukee Brewers.  —  "We've got a great team," said Lee, one of three Brewers on the National League all-star team.