Going, going ... gone  —  Indians go deep as Sox fall a game behind Yankees  —  While Craig Hansen warmed up to begin the eighth inning, a trivia question flashed on the JumboTron in center field.  Who was the last Red Sox pitcher to homer in a game?  —  The answer?  Josh Beckett.

Aaron on hook in loss to Fish  —  Fails in 8th, Mets waste Pedro effort  —  MIAMI - Pedro Martinez envisioned Dontrelle Willis in a Mets uniform by now.  Instead, the aces remained opponents last night, delivering a stellar pitcher's duel in a game that wasn't decided until Martinez turned the ball over to the bullpen.

Wainwright's next stop: The rotation?  —  As the Cardinals' starting rotation has hit skids and had its moments in flux throughout the past two months, a pitcher groomed to be a starter for the Cardinals has hummed along as one of the teams' most reliable relievers.  —  Supply meet demand.

Royals agree with top pick Hochevar  —  Former University of Tennessee righty signs Major League deal  —  KANSAS CITY — Pitcher Luke Hochevar has become a Royal.  —  Hochevar, the No. 1 overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft this year, agreed to a four-year Major League contract, the Royals announced on Thursday.

Giambi has familiar look  —  Cory Lidle was having flashbacks yesterday, and they weren't caused by the heat.  Instead, Jason Giambi was the one responsible.  —  When Giambi blasted a three-run home run in the first inning of yesterday's 8-1 win over the Blue Jays, and later knocked …

Liriano earns second rookie honors  —  Southpaw gets AL Rookie of the Month Award for June, July  —  Twins rookie pitcher Francisco Liriano was scratched from his first August start with soreness in his left forearm, and Minnesota is hoping that its 12-game winner is out just temporarily.

Can Tribe scare up runs for Westbrook?  —  Cleveland (46-60) at Boston (64-42), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  Jake Westbrook could use a little luck.  —  The Indians' sinkerball-throwing right-hander hasn't had much of it his last two starts.  In those starts, against the Twins and Mariners …

Dukes plans return; Bulls say no thanks … ST. PETERSBURG - Suspended Devil Rays prospect Elijah Dukes has no intention of quitting baseball and is eager to return to the field, his agent said Thursday.  But the vice president of the Rays' Triple-A Durham team said Dukes is not welcome to rejoin the Bulls.

Pirates Q&A with Dejan Kovacevic  —  Q: Is it too soon to put my name on the waiting list for playoff tickets?  Shawn Chacon, a couple of middling Class AA players and a part-time outfielder ... Woo-hoo!  We will!  —  We will rue the day that the Pirates made a colossal blunder …

Doc writes that life behind bars is 'torture'  —  The reunion at Shea is scheduled for Aug. 19, when everyone will officially be transported back to 1986.  On that day, Keith Hernandez will still be the lean, chiseled hitter who was impossible to retire after the seventh inning.

Tex messaging: Teixeira lifts Rangers, 7-6, in 12  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - Hello, AL West, it's Mark Teixeira calling.  —  Long distance.  —  As the race began in earnest Thursday, Teixeira continued to dial things up a bit.  His ringing homer off Kevin Gregg in the 12th inning pushed …

Pirates Notebook: Wilson shrugs off calf injury  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  Jack Wilson shrugged off the strained right calf that kept him out of the Pirates' lineup yesterday, even though he might miss today and tomorrow, too.  —  "It's no big deal," he said.

Mets lock up Reyes with four-year, $23.25 million deal  —  NEW YORK — Jose Reyes can count on buying a nice, big house in New York.  —  The speedy All-Star shortstop signed a $23.25 million, four-year contract extension with the Mets on Thursday, the sides working quickly this week to ensure him a home through the 2010 season.

With Deadline Past, What's Ahead?  —  Schneider, Johnson — and Maybe Soriano — Give Nats Base to Build On  —  Their lockers are all in a row at RFK Stadium, Brian Schneider's followed by Nick Johnson's followed by Alfonso Soriano's.  Each day over the previous month, they would arrive at the ballpark …