Order Is Restored: Yankees First, Red Sox Second  —  There are stretches when all the world seems pinstriped, and the Yankees are in one now.  They moved into first place in the American League East last night by beating the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-1, finding an invigorating way to cap three blissful days.

Sox can't catch a break  —  They lose to Indians — and also will lose Varitek, who needs knee surgery  —  There's a vacancy sign on the captain's chair in the Red Sox clubhouse.  That doesn't bode well for them on a night when they lost, 6-3, to the Cleveland Indians and fell into a virtual tie …

Perez is intriguing addition  —  MIAMI — The "other guy" in the trade that sent Xavier Nady to the Pirates and brought reliever Roberto Hernandez back to the Mets, Oliver Perez, was at Dolphin Stadium yesterday.  "A get-to-know-you session," general manager Omar Minaya said.

Cirillo suggests balls at Coors Field waterlogged  —  DENVER — Illegal, waterlogged baseballs are the real reason runs are harder to come by at Coors Field nowadays, Milwaukee infielder Jeff Cirillo suggested Tuesday.  —  Cirillo said that on Monday he compared a baseball from Milwaukee …

Under The Knife  —  I'm hitting the road for the rest of the week, another in my summer travels.  UTK continues, due to the magic of the internet.  So let's get right to this today—no long intro and not even a powered by.  Just injuries:  — This is one you do not want to see, especially if you're a Twins fan.

For Cuban Players, a Waiting Game  —  The sports agent Gus Dominguez, who has represented 38 Cuban defectors, sees a better day coming for baseball players on the island now that an ailing Fidel Castro has ceded power to his brother Raúl after more than four and a half decades of restrictive rule.

Familiar Faces Lift Nationals Past S.F.  —  After Deadline, Team Makes Do: Nationals 4, Giants 1  —  Livan Hernandez used to do this all the time.  He pitched seven innings every time out, baffled batters with his ridiculously slow curveball, shrugged his shoulders as he walked off the mound, as if to say, "Hit that!"

Liriano scratched from start with pain  —  Left-hander taking precautionary measures  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins are scratching pitcher Francisco Liriano from Wednesday's start against the Rangers because of discomfort in his left forearm.  The decision was made after Liriano threw …

Ortiz goes on Foxx hunt: Wants to know who he's chasing  —  It has become a disturbing trend in sports: Modern-day athletes not only are ignorant of the history of their sport, but they seem almost blissfully ignorant.  —  Not only are they unfamiliar with those who came before them, they simply don't care.

McClatchy: Savings from trades will go back into team  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates' ownership will take the money saved by the four trades Monday and reallocate it to general manager Dave Littlefield's budget for 2007, managing general partner Kevin McClatchy said last night.

Injuries made Stocker's career come up short after Abreu deal  —  It appeared to be just another innocuous baseball trade.  —  On Nov. 18, 1997, the Phillies, coming off a 68-94 season, dealt shortstop Kevin Stocker to Tampa Bay for Bobby Abreu, the Houston Astros outfielder the Devil Rays …