Admit one — With wild card out of play, the games really matter  —  They play 19 games a year, every year, and we treat each unfolding drama as if it were the work of William Shakespeare.  Then the dust settles and the air clears, and in the aftermath, we come to a stunning conclusion.

Delgado and Maine Show Their Strength in Lifting Mets  —  From his two seasons as a Phillie, Billy Wagner considers himself somewhat of an authority on tape-measure home runs at Citizens Bank Park.  —  He has seen balls hit harder.  He has seen them hit farther.

Borowski proving to be a valuable commodity on young Marlins staff  —  If anyone should have wanted Joe Borowski gone at the trading deadline, it was Taylor Tankersley.  With Borowski pitching elsewhere, Tankersley probably gets first crack at replacing him in the closer's slot.

Angels-Rangers discipline announced  —  A total of 10 members of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Texas Rangers organizations have been disciplined for their participation in on-field incidents during their games on Tuesday and Wednesday at Ameriquest Field in Arlington.

Escobar holds down Mariners  —  Righty tosses seven solid innings for ninth victory  —  ANAHEIM — The way Mike Scioscia saw it, the Angels could have won an Emmy for their primetime performance on Thursday night, with Kelvim Escobar earning one for best actor.

Notes: Johnson healthy, productive  —  First baseman has avoided the injury bug in his best season  —  WASHINGTON — The 2006 season marks the first time since 1999 that Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson hasn't been placed on the disabled list, and he is having one of his better seasons with the bat …

Mulder struggles in third rehab start  —  OKLAHOMA CITY — Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder gave up five runs in four innings Thursday in a rehab start for Triple-A Memphis, but felt he made a slight improvement over his last outing.  —  The two-time All-Star walked five and yielded seven hits …

Summerall, Shocking And Sober  —  PAT SUMMERALL is 76, and is no longer the No. 1 voice of a network's N.F.L. broadcasts.  —  He does radio work for the Dallas Cowboys and sounds as happy as he has ever been.  He is in his 14th year of sobriety, and his transplanted liver is working well, more than two years since surgery.

Johnson in whole new atmosphere  —  His career itinerary reads like a who's who of major league teams more accustomed to playing for a higher draft pick after July 1 than for a chance to keep playing into mid-October.  —  Before joining the Red Sox this summer, hurler Jason Johnson toed …

Upton apologized before callup  —  ST. PETERSBURG - B.J. Upton wanted to make sure the slate was clean, the page was turned and the air cleared.  —  He also wanted to lift a weight off his shoulders.  —  So on Aug. 1, the day the Devil Rays third baseman arrived at the Trop after his promotion …

Power helps Traber, Nats top Braves  —  Zimmerman, Schneider go deep in second straight win  —  WASHINGTON — Rookie third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was in the middle of everything on Wednesday night, and, for the most part, it helped the Nationals win another game against the Braves …

Retired pitcher Brown in turf battle  —  The grass apparently is not greener on the other side of the fence for retired Major League Baseball pitcher Kevin Brown, who reportedly pulled out a pistol in a dispute with a neighbor over yard debris.  —  Bibb County sheriff's deputies were called …

August can be the cruelest month  —  Jim Thome hates days off.  At least that's what he tells himself this time of the year.  —  "When I have a day off, that's when I get tight," Thome said.  "Sometimes I'd rather we didn't ever have a day off.  That's when things get tight or lock up."

Blue Jays send Hinske to Red Sox  —  TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays traded outfielder Eric Hinske and $2.8 million to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday for a player to be determined.  —  Hinske, who also can play first and third, is hitting .264 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs.