Quentin hits 1st homer; Bonds hits No. 722  —  Barry Bonds moved within 33 home runs of career leader Hank Aaron and left the ballpark without talking to the media.  Carlos Quentin moved within 754 of Aaron and was talking up a storm.  —  Bonds hit his 722nd career home run hours …

E-Rod here to stay  —  After another Alex error, Jays smack Mo, Yanks in 11  —  TORONTO - Not long after watching the unlikeliest of endings, Alex Rodriguez stood in front of his locker and answered what ought to be the unlikeliest of questions.  —  Across the room, Mariano Rivera …

'It was either him or me'  —  Jays manager challenged Hillenbrand to a fight  —  TORONTO (AP) — After Shea Hillenbrand wrote on the clubhouse bulletin board that the "ship was sinking," Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons challenged him to a fight.  —  There was no brawl …

Guillen's Trade Value Takes a Hit  —  Elbow Soreness Sends Right Fielder to the DL  —  MIAMI, July 20 — Washington Nationals right fielder Jose Guillen was placed on the disabled list Thursday with an elbow injury that could cost him the rest of the season, and General Manager Jim Bowden spent part …

Indians and Braves complete trade  —  Closer RHP Bob Wickman sent to Atlanta; Indians receive C Max Ramirez from the Braves  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has completed a trade with the Atlanta Braves, sending RHP Bob Wickman to Atlanta in exchange for C Max Ramirez.

TBS may pitch to Costas  —  Could the arrival of a new player - Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) - on Major League Baseball's national TV landscape signal the return of Bob (Rapping Roberto) Costas, one of the game's marquee play-by-play practitioners, to the broadcast booth?

From worst...to first: Making the most of empty seats at a Marlins game  —  "Blue seats," my editor says.  "That's the challenge."  —  The glee in his voice is usually reserved for assignments such as asking five "wacky questions" of Barry Bonds, but I'm calling his bluff.

Guillen: MLB now game for 'weasels'  —  Longs for time when it was 'man's game'  —  DETROIT — White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he's fed up about the lack of action of today's players when they take exception to an opponent.  —  Guillen wasn't singling out Detroit's Craig Monroe …

Notebook: Mets check out Batista, Cruz  —  The New York Mets have scouted the starts by Miguel Batista and Juan Cruz the last two days amid reports they were looking for more pitching for the stretch run, and the teams have had preliminary conversations about a possible deadline trade.

Pirates Notebook: Randa not entirely without destinations  —  MIAMI — Joe Randa is skeptical he will be traded, no matter how hard the Pirates try.  —  And he has cause: There is not much demand for third basemen around Major League Baseball as the July 31 trading deadline nears.

Prospectus Q&A  —  Tom House … Baseball Prospectus: You last spoke to BP a couple of years ago.  Just to get started, what's new at NPA since then?  —  Tom House: Probably our relationship with Titleist golf.  They have 30,000 golfers in the computer with the same technology we have …

No goose egg, but Sox offense delivers  —  Last weekend, when the sky was falling, the pitching was being bludgeoned, and the Oakland Athletics were making the unbearable Boston heat even more annoying, panic was never an issue.  —  The Red Sox, 1-3 on the homestand after Oakland left town …

Moehler's return will create jam in rotation  —  MIAMI GARDENS — A decision about the starting rotation is looming for manager Joe Girardi.  —  With injured starting pitcher Brian Moehler expected back by July 30, Girardi will have to pick between putting Moehler back in the rotation or sending him to the bullpen.

Cards Minor League Report: Memphis Blues  —  Searching for ways to spur a club that has struggled by way of an overtly inactive offense and an overactive roster, Class AAA Memphis manager Danny Sheaffer has convened his coaches to brainstorm approaches.  —  They tried guys in unexpected spots in the lineup.

Oneonta beats Brooklyn 6-1 in 26 innings  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Shortly after Oneonta beat Brooklyn 6-1 in 26 innings Thursday, Mark Wright could hardly believe he had played in the longest game in New York-Penn League history.  —  "It kind of gets to the point where you get in a rhythm …