Dodgers deal Alomar Jr. to White Sox  —  CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox acquired veteran catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. from the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor-league pitcher B.J. LaMura on Sunday after designating backup Chris Widger for assignment.  —  A six-time American League All-Star …

Pedro starts day with cheer  —  Pedro Martinez bounded into the Met clubhouse yesterday morning with a wide grin and greetings for teammates, reporters and everyone else inside.  —  "Happy morning, everyone," Martinez exclaimed.  His buoyancy was the first sign that he was OK after Saturday's 80-pitch throwing session.

Sox can't get handle on Seattle  —  SEATTLE — Manny Ramírez may have done the smartest thing any Red Sox outfielder did yesterday afternoon when he took advantage of a break in the action in the sixth inning — reliever Craig Hansen was trotting in to pitch — to grab a seat in the Sox bullpen.

Showalter hospitalized for dehydration  —  Rangers manager misses Sunday's loss to White Sox  —  CHICAGO - Rangers manager Buck Showalter missed Sunday's game while being treated at a Chicago hospital for dehydration symptoms.  —  Showalter, 50, said he felt a fluttery heart Sunday morning …

Girardi: Willis won't be traded  —  MIAMI GARDENS - Expect pitcher Dontrelle Willis to finish the season with the Marlins, and expect his teammates to stick around all year, too.  —  "I really believe we're done trading for the year unless something happens in the off-season," …

The Bullpen Nails Down a Badly Needed Victory  —  TORONTO, July 22 — Their cleanup hitter, Alex Rodriguez, struck out four times.  Their starter, Chien-Ming Wang, allowed 10 hits.  They trailed in the seventh inning, with their fourth consecutive loss just seven outs away.

Nats Win, Soriano Watch Escalates  —  Kasten Weighs In On Slugger's Status : Nationals 7, Cubs 1  —  He draws the loudest cheers, hits the longest home runs, smiles the brightest smile.  When Alfonso Soriano launched a ball deep toward left field yesterday at RFK Stadium …

Johjima's Play Bridges the Communication Gap  —  When he was signed by the Seattle Mariners to a three-year contract for $16.5 million before this season, the concern about Kenji Johjima was whether he could communicate with the pitchers as the first Japanese catcher in the major leagues.

No storybook ending for folk hero Fasano  —  Backup catcher Sal Fasano's magical ride in Philadelphia has come to an end as the Phils designate the 34-year old journeyman for assignment.  —  Fasano became the first player since Rollie Fingers to gain recognition for ironic facial hair.

Zaun tells his side of Hillenbrand saga  —  Comments by former teammate prompt catcher's response  —  TORONTO — Gregg Zaun didn't want to get involved.  When he was approached in Toronto's clubhouse on Wednesday night and asked about Shea Hillenbrand, the typically vocal catcher decided he didn't want to comment on the situation.

Paul's rule of thumb: play hurt  —  While Paul Lo Duca thinks he may have a broken bone or an injured ligament in the hand he slips into his catcher's mitt, he has no intention of finding out exactly what the problem is anytime soon.  —  "It doesn't matter," Lo Duca said.

Pirates Notebook: Littlefield expects more than one trade  —  MIAMI — Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield expressed confidence that he will make more than one deal before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline, reiterating that his counterparts covet the veterans he is offering.

Sharp Garland pilots throwback thumping  —  Fails to plunk Kinsler but still razes Rangers  —  It was a game for throwback jerseys and throwing back at the opposition.  —  The White Sox went 1-for-2 Sunday.  —  They wore throwback jerseys from the 1906 World Series championship team …

Road getting rougher  —  Marmol latest starter to leave early as Nats rout slumping Cubs  —  WASHINGTON — The Cubs played Washington in the series finale Sunday at RFK Stadium, but after a 7-1 loss, it's debatable whether they actually showed up.  —  Nationals right-hander Tony Armas Jr. …

Radke, struggling with pain, plans to retire after season  —  Brad Radke has compiled an outstanding record of 7-1 in his past eight starts even though he is pitching with a right shoulder that would need surgery after the season if he continues to play baseball.

Padres-Giants Preview  —  The San Francisco Giants have surged their way back into first place in the National League West thanks to their longest winning streak of the season.  —  They try to keep it going and extend their lead when they wrap up a four-game series with the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park.