Sox creep closer to Tigers with win  —  This one came as a bonus, like finding a nice big bone during baseball's Dog Days of August.  —  Beating the Tigers is really nothing new to the White Sox this season, considering their 8-3 head-to-head mismatch.  Beating the Tigers with four unearned runs …

If 29 GMs pass on someone, it should be a sign  —  Giving Wilson chance to latch on with another team was the right call  —  Second-guessing is so easy, but it would be silly to blame the Astros for the Preston Wilson signing or the club's decision to designate the veteran outfielder for assignment Saturday.

Prior back on DL, could be done for the year  —  DENVER (AP) — The Chicago Cubs placed Mark Prior on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with shoulder tendinitis, a move that could mean an end to the right-hander's season.  —  Prior has been on the DL eight times in his four-year career in the majors, including three this season.

Yanks' Cano stays hot since return  —  Second baseman clubs three-run homer for winning margin  —  NEW YORK — Yankees players and manager Joe Torre went out of their way to make sure they didn't insult Miguel Cairo.  He did an adequate job filling in for Robinson Cano for about six weeks, they said.

Michalak saves the day for Cincinnati  —  Newcomer tosses 6 2/3 solid innings as Reds hang on  —  PHILADELPHIA — When Chris Michalak woke up on Saturday, he was a 35-year-old Minor Leaguer in a hotel room in Charlotte, N.C. He'd bounced around 10 organizations and was without a whiff of the Majors in four years.

Astros designate Wilson for assignment  —  Move made to make room for rookie right-hander Hirsh  —  HOUSTON — The Houston Astros were faced with a difficult decison on Saturday when they had to decide who to remove from the 25-man roster in order to open a spot for rookie right-hander Jason Hirsh.

Rangers' Wells may be out by foot  —  Injury could force right-hander to put off next scheduled start  —  ARLINGTON - Once again, the Rangers' rotation remains uncertain because of questions about Kip Wells' health.  —  Wells is scheduled to pitch Thursday at Detroit …

Olsen loses edge on road  —  PHOENIX — Until Saturday, there was no place like the road for Marlins pitcher Scott Olsen.  —  For no apparent reason, Olsen had been enjoying a 5-1 record this season when not starting at home, where he is 4-4.  —  But in one ugly inning Saturday night at Chase Field …

With Floyd out, club eyes Green  —  STAFF CORRESPONDENT; Staff writer Ken Davidoff contributed to this notebook.  —  WASHINGTON - The Mets have asked about Arizona's Shawn Green, a baseball official confirmed Friday night, but any deal could be held up by the fact that the outfielder has a no-trade clause that includes New York.

Billingsley in the Rotation 'Right Now'  —  The Dodgers' patience with rookie Chad Billingsley appears to be eroding.  After the latest start in which he walked too many and taxed the bullpen again, Manager Grady Little said it was "in discussion" whether Billingsley would make his next start …

Comcast To Raise Rates for Nationals  —  Comcast Corp. said yesterday that it would raise cable TV rates by $2 a month for its 1.6 million Washington-Baltimore area customers this fall because of the cost of carrying the network that broadcasts most of the Washington Nationals' baseball games.

Wells provides remedy  —  Five straight losses to teams that can barely string together five straight wins, and Red Sox Nation is gloom and doom, or better yet, ``sound and fury.  Trade-deadline decisions are second-guessed.  —  Playoff hopes are dashed.  —  Postseason reservations are again made at the drawing board.

Dodgers Take the Lead Out West, for Now  —  WHEN the Los Angeles Dodgers supplanted San Diego in first place in the National League West on Thursday, they completed a remarkable cycle.  Their climb to the top meant they had been in every one of the five places in the division standings since the All-Star Game.

The Mets' $oriano in 2007?  —  WASHINGTON — The Mets repeatedly tried to trade for Alfonso Soriano during his final two years in Texas, but they refused to give up Jose Reyes, Scott Kazmir or Lastings Milledge.  —  Once this season is over, however, all Soriano will cost the Mets is money …

Vazquez angry about his part in Indians maneuvers  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians made a flurry of moves on Saturday, and not everyone loved the results.  —  The Tribe recalled right-hander Jeremy Guthrie from Triple-A Buffalo to start Saturday's second game of a day-night doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals.

Notes: Aybar headed to DL  —  Chipper expected back at third for series finale on Sunday  —  ATLANTA — When Chipper Jones comes off the disabled list on Sunday, Willy Aybar will be going on it.  —  Aybar, who has served as the Braves starting third baseman while Jones …

Yost benches struggling Jenkins  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Milwaukee manager Ned Yost benched veteran outfielder Geoff Jenkins Friday and said he would look at prospects Gabe Gross and Corey Hart the rest of the season.  —  Jenkins, a 1995 first-round pick, ranks fourth on the team's all-time home-run list …

HOMEMLBNEWS STORYReds place Mercker on 15-day DL  —  Sports Ticker  —  PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - A troublesome elbow has again turned Kent Mercker into a spectator.  —  The Cincinnati Reds placed the veteran lefhander on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday and recalled lefthander Chris Michalak …