Challenge Is Issued, and Maine Responds  —  The Chicago Cubs were threatening to break up a scoreless game in the sixth inning yesterday when John Maine reached a crossroads in his season.  From the dugout, Manager Willie Randolph could sense it, too, so he made a rare visit to the mound to offer him a challenge.

Big seventh seals Nats' sixth straight  —  Johnson, Kearns combine for three RBIs in decisive inning  —  WASHINGTON — Nick Johnson and Austin Kearns got clutch hits that sparked a three-run seventh inning and helped the Nationals complete a three-game sweep of the Giants with a 6-5 victory on Thursday before 29,717 at RFK Stadium.

Padres-Rockies Preview  —  Lots of pitchers fare poorly in Coors Field, but few have more trouble there than San Diego Padres starter Woody Williams .  —  Williams looks to end his struggles at the hitter-friendly Colorado ballpark and lead the Padres to their second five-game winning streak …

Foulke Considers Calling It Quits  —  Injuries Frustrating Former Closer  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Keith Foulke is trying to salvage more than this season.  Hampered by injuries the past 18 months, his career has taken such a drastic downturn that the former closer isn't sure he wants to pitch beyond this year.

Agressive Astros looking to add more 'punch'  —  The defending National League champion Astros plan a major push to add an impact hitter before Monday's non-waiver deadline.  —  How major?  —  The club intends to be "super-aggressive," one major-league official says …

ESPN's silence covers Reynolds rap  —  While responding to inquires concerning his demise at ESPN, Harold Reynolds presented a variety of answers, which only led to more questions.  —  Questions that will follow him for quite awhile.  —  Reynolds told the New York Post he wanted his job back …

Party crashers  —  Less than seven weeks since they were lifeless, the Minnesota Twins left Ozzie Guillen speechless and now everyone in the American League is sleepless at the thought of October in Minneapolis.  —  Or do you think dealing with Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano …

Lies, Damned Lies  —  Playing Matchmaker  —  How beautiful would it be to acquire Alfonso Soriano?  That depends on just who the beholder is.  There are probably seven teams that are legitimate contenders to acquire Soriano, or one of the two other big bats on the market—Bobby Abreu and Carlos Lee …

The Rumor Mill: The Maine Attraction.  —  As the trade deadline approaches, both New York clubs are still focused on their targets, but the cast of characters that are being discussed seem to be changing from hour to hour .  That's the word that Gotham Baseball Magazine is getting as we make the rounds for this latest Rumor Mill.

No room to keep Heath  —  Heath Bell proved the odd man out after yesterday's game.  The Mets sent the reliever to Triple-A Norfolk to clear room for Pedro Martinez's activation from the disabled list.  —  Martinez, battling a balky right hip and then suspected food poisoning …

Tales of Torre Tales  —  This is perhaps the only baseball story you will ever read that starts out with a snake.  —  Texas left-hander Kameron Loe has a pet boa constrictor named Angel.  It's seven feet long and he brings it to Ameriquest Field on occasion and lets it slither around the infield grass.

Rays Likely To Offer Lugo Long-Term Deal  —  No - his trade value will never be higher  —  More from this channel:  —  This feature requires the Macromedia Flash Plugin.  Please visit http://www.macromedia.com/go/ getflashplayer to download this plugin.  —  ST. PETERSBURG …

Batter up!  Sports economics hits field  —  WASHINGTON — Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan honed his math skills by perusing baseball data.  —  Current Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, for fun, has contrived ways to improve baseball's earned-run average — the statistic used to assess pitcher performance.

M's gain, drop a DH  —  Club trades for Broussard, sends Everett packing  —  Eduardo Perez and Ben Broussard began the season as platoon partners, and it looks like they'll end it the same way.  —  Less than a month after acquiring Perez from the Cleveland Indians, the Mariners …

TO TRADE, PERCHANCE TO DREAM  —  You ever wonder what you would do if you won the lottery?  Like Chester J Lampwick would you buy a solid gold house and a rocket car?  Or would you be like Peter Angelos and buy a proud franchise and run it into the ground?  A lighthouse?  Put on a Die Hard musical?