A's ire surely raised  —  Retaliation pitch causes backlash  —  With plate umpire Mike Reilly having warned both dugouts after Red Sox starter Curt Schilling hit Nick Swisher in the sixth inning last night in apparent retaliation for A's starter Dan Haren hitting Jason Varitek …

Bumbling in the Bronx  —  Buehrle gets bombed, fielding turns faulty as Sox lose 4th of last 5  —  NEW YORK — A malaise spread Saturday throughout the White Sox, well after first baseman Paul Konerko woke up with flu-like symptoms.  —  The Sox were deficient on the mound and in the field …

Pirates entertaining offers for Jack Wilson  —  But team apparently is not eager to trade shortstop  —  The Pirates are entertaining trade offers for shortstop Jack Wilson, multiple sources said yesterday, although it is unlikely he will be dealt by Major League Baseball's July 31 deadline.

Braves-Padres Preview  —  The Atlanta Braves are showing Petco Park is not just a pitcher's park.  They're also showing they may not be out of the NL East race just yet.  —  The surging Braves look for a third consecutive offensive outburst as they look to close out a three-game sweep against the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

D-Backs call up Drew  —  Shortstop set to make debut in place of injured Counsell  —  PHOENIX — The future is now for at least one Diamondbacks prospect.  —  After veteran shortstop Craig Counsell broke a rib in the seventh inning of Friday night's win over the Brewers …

Early Pitchers' Duel Turns Into Cubs Rout  —  CHICAGO, July 15 — The game was scoreless through five innings, a crisp pitchers' duel that nonetheless seemed ominous for Cubs fans as soon as their pitcher's focus on scoring runs disrupted his ability to prevent them.

Bonds' lawyer refutes report that indictment expected  —  While Barry Bonds' legal team is prepared if the Giants slugger is indicted on perjury and tax evasion charges, it remains hopeful it won't have to mount a defense at all, attorney Laura Enos told Bloomberg News.

Is Majewski Worn Out?  —  Bill Bray and Gary Majewski have been touted as everything from the next Nasty Boys to the cure for b.o.  Everyone who's supported this trade starts by saying that improved middle relief is essential to the Reds' chances of contention.

Lab is helping baseball to clean up its act  —  LOS ANGELES — You can't work here if you're an athlete.  And forget about getting a lab coat if you are a fan or rotisserie league geek.  The man who runs the world's best sports drug-testing laboratory has no interest in hiring chemists …

No saves recorded during full day of baseball  —  NEW YORK (AP) — There was no saving baseball during a wild Saturday full of blowouts and walkoff wins.  —  It marked the first time in nearly three decades a full day of major league games were played without a save recorded.

View from Pluto  —  Good signs in Vegas  —  How about some good news?  —  • It's just summer league, but the Cavaliers have reasons to like first-round draft pick Shannon Brown.  The 6-foot-3 guard from Michigan State played 30 minutes a game, averaged 14 points and shot 50 percent …

Notes: Denorfia glad to be in Majors  —  Rookie outfielder happy to have a spot in Reds outfield  —  CINCINNATI — Rookie outfielder Chris Denorfia's 26th birthday was on Saturday, but the biggest surprise already came on Thursday.  —  An eight-player deal that sent Austin Kearns to Washington …

The Future Is Now, or The Endy Of The Beginning  —  I told Mike, after he asked me what "Endy" is short for (the name of the Mets outfielder, and if you look at his baseball-reference.com entry, turns out it's not short for anything.  His full name is "Endy"), that I had to get "The Endy Of The Beginning" into this post somehow.

No simple solution for Selig  —  Cincinnati - It permeates the game like a bad odor, seeping through clubhouses and settling in the commissioner's office.  —  Barry Bonds' legal problems soon will intersect with Bud Selig's best interests.  —  The embattled San Francisco Giants slugger …