Balls Fly and Records Fall for Mets in Chicago  —  CHICAGO, July 16 — The Wrigley Field grounds crew can thank the Mets for livening up a drab Sunday evening.  In honor of the Mets' mind-boggling sixth inning, Cubs fans sitting in the sun-baked bleachers threw empty beer cups and home run balls onto …

Nats Use Clutch Hit To Drive Home Win  —  Johnson's Double Completes Comeback: Nationals 8, Pirates 4  —  PITTSBURGH, July 16 — Jose Vidro stood in the batter's box, bat rested on his shoulder, as Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Roberto Hernandez began lobbing balls toward the plate.

GM Interview: Andrew Friedman, Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Part I  —  Last week we had the pleasure of interviewing one of the bright young minds in the game of baseball today.  Andrew Friedman, Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, agreed to speak with us …

Five-run fifth dooms Sox to defeat  —  Boston batters struggle to solve Oakland starter Blanton  —  BOSTON — Through four innings, Red Sox righty Kyle Snyder was looking like he could be the ace of any staff in baseball, and not the No. 5 starter that Boston called up from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Santana talks, Silva listens  —  Twins' ace touts changeup to fellow starter  —  Twins pitcher Carlos Silva might have found the help he needed to turn his season around — and it was just two locker stalls away all along.  —  Silva said he has received guidance from Johan Santana …

Yankees look so glovely  —  Make 'em Stop-Stop Sox  —  Aaron Guiel hasn't been in the Bronx all that long.  But in his short stint, he has seen things he rarely saw during his days in Kansas City, where he spent his first 4-1/2 years in the majors.  —  "Since I've been here …

Willis makes day special  —  Brandon Martin, an 8-year-old Dontrelle Willis fan from Lauderdale Lakes, spent part of Sunday playing catch with, then taking batting practice against his favorite Marlin in an outing arranged by Chef David's Kids.  —  Brandon, who is afflicted …

Mets bring back Bell; Tides take on Fonzie  —  CHICAGO - Heath Bell, whose last trip to join the Mets resulted in a U-turn to Triple-A Norfolk, will be back with the big-league club today.  Bell replaces Henry Owens, who allowed four runs in his one inning of work yesterday, though the decision was made before the rookie's outing.

Petco gets case of Coors  —  Pitcher's park a homer haven for Braves  —  No one is sure exactly why, but Petco Park is playing much smaller this year.  —  Whether the enhanced home run climate works for or against the Padres remains to be fully seen, but the home team is grateful the Braves won't soon return.

Mench seeing more bench  —  Outfielder loses playing time; club may consider using him in trade  —  BALTIMORE - The Rangers do not want to trade Kevin Mench.  His play, however, makes them consider the possibilities.  —  Mench went 1-for-11 in the first three games of the second half …

Walker: You can pin game on me  —  Cubs' 2nd baseman takes blame for 2 costly errors in loss  —  Todd Walker was humbled by Sunday's experience at Wrigley Field, where the popular second baseman the Cubs tried to trade all winter was vociferously booed for his lackluster defense in the 13-7 loss to the New York Mets.